Jonesboro mayor talks tough about crime during his state of the city address

Jonesboro Mayor Harold Perrin vowed a strong crackdown on crime in Northeast Arkansas’ largest city during his state of the city address Thursday (Jan. 24). Two homicides in the city early in the year led to the formation of a crime fighting task force that includes the city, Craighead County, the 2nd Judicial District and other partners.

Perrin noted during his speech that Jonesboro’s crime dropped during the last 10 years at the second highest rate among all cities in the state during that time frame. The Jonesboro Police Department responded to 74,271 calls in 2018, and made more than 2,500 arrests through its Street Crime Unit. Those arrests netted about $1.1 million in drugs, he said. Perrin said he sees how the police work because he rides with on-duty patrol officers every Friday.

“Do we have a crime problem? Sure,” Perrin said. “ … cities across the country have a crime problem. … We are fixing to crack down extremely hard.”

The mayor looked back at a number of accomplishments during 2018. The city nearly doubled its building permit numbers ($288 million) last year as compared to 2017. The city’s audit was clean, a significant accomplishment considering the city has a budget of about $64.9 million, and this year that will include $4.9 million for capital improvements, he said.

“We are very pleased with that,” he said.

The city spent $1.092 million to place artificial turf, $1.001 million for maintenance, and another $580,000 to renovate the concession stands and restrooms at Joe Mack Campbell Park last year. About $940,000 was spent on the lighting systems at the Southside Softball Complex, and another $795,000 was spent on the concession stands and restrooms at that park. About $198,000 was spent on a pump track at Craighead Forrest Park, as was nearly $100,000 on R.V park, playground and retention wall efforts, he added.

“All of these things are touching quality of life,” he said.

Perrin warned residents there will be a lot of road construction in the city this year. Jonesboro has secured more than $90 million in grants for numerous highway projects, including a possible roundabout. At some point the city would like to build an amphitheater at Craighead Forrest, too, he said.

The address was the 10th time Perrin has given an update on the state of the city. It’s been more than a decade since the voters elected him to run Jonesboro, and he was humbled, he said.

“It’s indeed a privilege and honor to serve as the mayor of Jonesboro. … It’s hard for me to believe it’s been 10 years.”