Alcohol ordinance changes approved
The Pulaski County Quorum Court approved 15-0 Tuesday night changes to a county ordinance that established permit fees and supplemental taxes for selling alcoholic beverages in unincorporated areas of the county.
Pulaski County Attorney Amanda Mitchell and Circuit/County Clerk Larry Crane first discussed changing the county's ordinance last year but held off until they could complete their review of all relevant state laws.
At the Quorum Court's agenda meeting June 9, Mitchell said the county needed to change only its law charging $1,000 for permits to sell alcoholic beverages to $0 to be in compliance with the state. She added that the county had not charged anyone incorrectly while the ordinance was out of date.
$125,000 to work on health unit OK'd
Pulaski County justices of the peace passed a resolution 15-0 Tuesday night supporting spending up to $125,000 at a later date on improvements to the Jacksonville Health Unit.
The health center plans to renovate and expand, including upgrading the bathrooms to make them accessible according to the Americans with Disabilities Act, creating more storage and office space, and constructing covered parking.
The Arkansas Department of Health has provided $250,000 toward the project, and Jacksonville plans to pay the rest with the help of Pulaski County.
The health center, like others in Arkansas, is maintained through a partnership among all three levels of government. It offers immunizations; family planning; tuberculosis screening; Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children; and other services.
It serves from 60 to 75 people each day in an office of just more than 4,000 square feet, according to Arkansas Department of Health officials.
Center renamed in College Station
The College Station civic center will change its name this summer to the Wilma J. Walker Civic Center, after Pulaski County Quorum Court approval Tuesday night.
Justices of the peace, many of whom served with Walker on the Quorum Court last term, approved the renaming 15-0.
The renaming came at the request of the Progressive League of College Station board of directors.
Walker is a former justice of the peace in 2013 and 2014 who also briefly ran for county judge in 2013 and early 2014 before dropping out of the race after having surgery on her back. She missed all of the Quorum Court meetings after February 2014 for health reasons.
Walker, 77, is also a former state representative, serving three terms from 1997 until 2002. She worked for the Pulaski County Special School District for 30 years as a coordinator of parent involvement.
Metro on 06/24/2015