BY HOLLY LATIMER
Staff Writer        20 Feb 2002

The county is starting off 2002 with $62,130 less than expected, according to County Treasurer Waylon Heathscott.

Heathscott told the White County Quorum Court that they needed to consider the amount of money the county would start with in 2003. "I feel we will meet projected revenue," he said, but added that the figures would be close.

Justice David Freppon also made a report regarding the flood plain ordinance. Freppon said that the current ordinance did not have enough bite. He indicated that the flood plain situation could make the county in violation of federal regulations and cost the county emergency funding.

During the meeting, Judge Bob Parish presented a trophy to White County Fair Board President Billy Davis. The White County Fair Board received a trophy for having the most representatives at the State Fair Board meeting.

This was the first time the county has won the trophy. Davis said that he wished that Ivan Quattlebaum had been there to see the trophy presentation because during his tenure on the fair board, the board had missed the trophy by only a few votes.

The court also heard a report from Jeff Smith, chair of Parish's appointed tax committee. Smith briefed the court about the four solutions proposed including increasing the millage, reapportioning money from the county road and capital improvement funding to county general, a sales tax increase and doing nothing. Later in the meeting, Charles Prier, a member of the audience, asked if the committee was to continue meeting. Smith said that decision belonged to the court. Prier stated that the decision that would be reached by the court would be by default to do nothing.

In other business:

-Attorney Bob Russell informed the court about Act 145 of 2001 which allows counties to join the Keep Arkansas Beautiful Commission or Keep American Beautiful Commission and keep the fines garnered by litters. The county will also be able to use the community service work enforced by the act.

-Parish was authorized to request approval to purchase a road grader, backhoe and dump truck.

-A replacement employee for Tax Collector Debra Lang was approved by the court.

-An appropriate ordinance for the operating budget for 2001 and an appropriation budget to recap 2001 were approved.

-The White County Sheriff was designated as the person who will be primarily responsible for the collection of fines assessed in circuit and chancery courts.

-A resolution stating that the county would use federal money to restore a historic bridge over the Little Red River in Judsonia was approved.

-Another resolution was passed authorizing the county judge to apply for a grant for Floyd-Romance Volunteer Fire Department for a new substation.

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