Former AG Dustin McDaniel Submits FOI Request To Mississippi County Over Courthouse Battle

Former Arkansas Attorney General Dustin McDaniel, representing the city of Osceola in an ongoing battle with Mississippi County over where the county’s new courthouse would be located, filed an Arkansas Freedom of Information Act request Monday seeking answers to nearly 40 questions.

McDaniel, who is representing Osceola on the issue, sent the request to Mississippi County Judge Randy Carney about 4:30 p.m. Monday.

According to the FOIA request, McDaniel and the city of Osceola are asking for information about a possible move or consolidation of the county’s courthouses in Blytheville and Osceola.

The county is one of several in Northeast Arkansas that have two courthouses, with Clay and Craighead counties being the other two.

In the past, Mississippi County officials have said that a consolidation would help save money on repairs to both the Blytheville and Osceola courthouses.

Supporters have said the consolidation would help streamline services, while opponents have said the closure of either courthouse would deliver a blow to the county’s history.

In a press release accompanying the FOIA request, McDaniel said that Carney and a “faction” of the quorum court have spent “at least $176,000 to purchase land and hire an architect as part of a plan to close the current courthouses in Blytheville and Osceola and build a multimillion dollar new facility.”

FOI REQUEST
According to the Freedom of Information Act request, McDaniel is seeking information on a variety of issues.

Among the requests for information include “copies of all public records, files, logs and/or communications between county employees and/or public officials and any other person including one another and other documents in the possession of Mississippi County.”

Most of the records requested deal with the decision to build or move courthouses; as well the consolidation of the county seats and the historic preservation paperwork for both courthouses.

McDaniel is requesting plans, drawings and renditions for a new courthouse; as well as “any documents reflecting the decision making process and authority to select and purchase the property selected on U.S. 61 for $150,000; as well as “all communications and contracts between Mississippi County and any attorney, construction contractor, architect, civil engineer or other professional retained for any purpose relating to any issue related to the courthouses.”

RESPONSES
McDaniel said the city of Osceola has tried to work with Mississippi County on the issue, offering the county money to help maintain the Osceola courthouse.

However, McDaniel said in a statement that the FOI law helps create a proverbial check on the actions of public officials.

“The (Arkansas) Constitution says that no county may change a county seat without an election of the people,” McDaniel said in a statement. “The city of Osceola is shocked to see how much money has been spent and progress has been made in this effect without the inclusion of the taxpaying public. The people are tired of elected officials deciding what’s best for them and spending their money when they have a lawful right to have their voices heard. The Freedom of Information Act exists so that the people may see how their representatives are conducting their business. The citizens of the County want to know how far this plan to spend these millions of dollars and when they were going to be included in it.”

Late Monday, Carney said he had just received the request.

“We just got it. We will respond to it and follow the law,” Carney said. “We will abide by the law.”

Carney said the Mississippi County Quorum Court will have a special meeting Thursday to discuss an air conditioning issue at the county jail in Luxora.

At the meeting, Carney said he plans to update justices on the hiring of an attorney on the issue.