JPs approve $8,000 for 3 bridges' lights
Pulaski County will pay $8,000 to maintain lights on three downtown bridges, after a 14-0 Quorum Court vote Tuesday night.
Justice of the Peace Tyler Denton, D-Little Rock, was absent from the meeting but voted to give the measure preliminary approval Nov. 10.
The measure passed Tuesday night asks that the county enter into a memorandum of understanding with Little Rock and North Little Rock for the operation, maintenance and repair of lights on the Junction Bridge, the Clinton Presidential Park Bridge and the Main Street Bridge, with each entity providing $8,000.
Maintenance will be provided by Koontz Electric for $20,000.
According to a letter from Little Rock Mayor Mark Stodola to County Judge Barry Hyde and North Little Rock Mayor Joe Smith, the previous agreement among the entities had expired and required renewal. Stodola suggested that the entities contribute $8,000 each, leaving them with extra money in the account for the project.
The county also pays for the lights on the Two Rivers Park bridge and the Big Dam Bridge. Those lights have cost more than $1 million since 2013 but are intended to last for several years.
For Verizon Arena, 2 board stints OK'd
A member of the Verizon Arena board was reappointed, and another person was given his first appointment to the board after a unanimous Quorum Court vote Tuesday night.
Christopher Bell, 36, of Little Rock is the founder and CEO of the Complete Consulting accounting firm. He has a bachelor's degree in accounting from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock and a bachelor's in applied mathematics from the University of Central Arkansas. His first-time appointment will last five years.
Betty Anderson currently serves on the board -- often called the Pulaski Public Facilities Board. Her reappointment would put her on the board for five more years. A resume for Anderson was not provided to the Quorum Court.
Sheriff's office now can buy 14 vehicles
The sheriff's office will buy nine vehicles for the jail and five new vehicles for its enforcement branch using $351,195 from four revenue sources, under a measure approved by county justices of the peace Tuesday night.
Most of the money -- $225,253 -- will come from Act 1188 funds.
Act 1188 levies a $20 court fee on people found guilty of misdemeanor and traffic offenses in the county, as specified by county ordinance setting that fee. In 2015, the funds have been used for a grinder to prevent sewer-pipe clogs and for a barrier to keep suicidal inmates from jumping from the second floor of certain jail units.
The rest of money -- $125,942 -- will come from insurance claims, auction sales and communication funds.
Metro on 11/25/2015