Craighead County Justices Discuss Roads, Security, Circuit Clerk Budget

The need of a better transportation system was driven home Monday night as Craighead County justices listened about opportunities now and into the future. Erica Tait with the Jonesboro Metropolitan Planning Organization spoke to justices about transportation funding and the Momentum 2040 program.

Justices were also given a quiz about transportation issues, with some surprising answers. Brookland is the fastest growing city in the MPO, which includes Jonesboro, Bay and Bono. People over 65 years old were the fastest growing age group, officials said, with the growth leading more elderly people not driving.

Tait also spoke about the Momentum 2040 plan, which sets transportation goals for the region.
The plan calls for minimizing traffic goals and getting more feedback from the public, Tait said. A community values survey showed maintaining streets and highways and relieving traffic problems as key goals.

Tait said a recent study conducted by Texas-based Avalanche Consulting on behalf of the Jonesboro Regional Chamber of Commerce showed transportation as a key obstacle for growth. Local officials are awaiting approval of a federal highway bill to help with funding key projects. The funding for the highway bill runs out Thursday (Oct. 29), with an extension expected to fund major projects.

Tait said a key focus of the Momentum 2040 plan is safety and quality of life, with the proposed Highland Drive overpass and the JET transfer station as examples. The transfer station was built with $1.3 million in funding from the Federal Transit Administration, Tait said. Also, the vast majority of the MPO’s funding comes from federal and state highway revenue as well as grant funding, Tait said.

2016 BUDGET
Discussions about the 2016 county budget centered around safety issues. Sheriff Marty Boyd said the security issue centers around the court system in the county. He said he would like to build a facility adjacent to the Craighead County Jail outside town. Under a plan, the county’s circuit and district court system as well as the circuit clerk’s office would move to the new facility.

A possible example of what is needed is what was done in Sebastian County, Boyd said. A $19 million complex was built in that county several years ago, Boyd said. Another plan to add security and equipment at the courthouse would cost $236,000 a year, Boyd said.

Justice Ray Kidd asked Boyd about using private security at the courthouse. Boyd said he would support either concept and would check on the cost of contracting out security. However, Justice Max Render said the issue has been debated for several years and that no “elected official is willing to stand the heat.” Boyd said he is willing to take the heat.

EAST VERSUS WEST
Justice Terry Couch also asked that the circuit clerk’s office budget and the eastern district clerk’s budget be separate in the 2016 budget. Couch, whose sister in law, Lesia Couch, is running for circuit clerk as a Democrat in 2016, said he felt like the issue was being made into an east versus west issue.

Couch said family concerns were not the reason he brought up the issue, noting the people in the eastern district have faced a constant battle for many years over its survival. Lesia Couch has served as eastern district clerk for many years at the Lake City courthouse.

Circuit Clerk Candace Edwards said she was not attempting to divide the county, noting the Eastern District Clerk serves in an advisory position with its operations under the circuit clerk’s office. By state law, Craighead County has two county seats: Jonesboro and Lake City. The county elects a sheriff and circuit clerk, while voters in the Eastern District elect a district sheriff and district clerk.

Edwards and Justice Garry Meadows said the officials in the eastern district do a good job and are willing to help people, but Meadows said the officials do not attend quorum court meetings. Edwards said she will meet with Terry Couch and Lesia Couch on the issue to find a solution.