Tammy Curtis, Managing Editor

The Sharp County Quorum Court met in its regular session on Aug. 12. Among the topics discussed were upcoming bond payments, which Sharp County Treasurer Wanda Girtman assured the court would be paid by Sept.1. 

Sheriff Shane Russell provided an update on revenue for the jail, which included inmate commissary, for $24,981.27, Nicotine, $5782.89, ADC Housing of state inmates $23,520,  Inmate reimbursement $467.42 and Commissary $1956.00 for a total revenue of $34,207.58

Russell explained that the jail was attempting to cut costs in any way it could. Last year, at this time, they had spent $53,450.50; now, they have spent $46,310, a little over $7,000 on food, and they are even housing more people and able to save. He said there could possibly be one more invoice coming out of the savings, but, regardless, the savings would remain about $3,000 over 2023.

Russell said they are working on the AC problem. He isn’t satisfied but said mold is no longer growing, and they are trying to reduce humidity and the cost of electricity. He also updated the court on the installation of the new camera system.

Treasurer Girtman asked the sheriff if could check with someone in Little Rock about the reason the Arkansas Department of Corrections had not been sending inmate housing money to her in several months. 

In the new business, Sharp County Judge Mark Counts explained that the parking lot expansion had begun at the courthouse. He said he hoped to see some progress in 2-3 weeks. The judge advised that the sidewalks would be built first, and then move to the parking lot construction. Counts explained at the May meeting this is a project he has wanted to see completed since he took office to provide ample parking on court days

He said the road department has one road to complete work on from the state funds from the winter freeze and is still working on tornado damage on the north end of the county. He told the court he had an 82-year-old lady who lost her home in the tornado and had to spend over $1000 on hotel bills, so he gave her $1000 of the money allocated to the county to assist families with damage. 

The sheriff advised the court that, in addition to his discussion, the sheriff’s office had purchased a small SUV for the department for $11,000. He said that Randolph County had given them a car with 280,000 miles on it. They had been keeping it on the road, but it had become questionable how long it would last. 

Justice Briana Diorio advised the court of a meeting she attended, at which representatives from other counties also spoke about the state not paying for prisoner housing and possible solutions, as well as Prosecuting attorney salaries not getting money. She said she would follow up. All counties are having problems with the state not paying. 

At the end of the meeting, Sharp County resident  Robert Lashley, who lives on Cedar Glade Road off Simstown Road, spoke to Counts about an issue with gravel roads. Lashley said he wanted to know why it had been seven months since his road had been graded. He said to Counts,” I feel I am being brushed off. That is the reason I came here. A week later, they came up and graded the road about a half mile from my house, then left. I am trying to find out when they will grade again. Will it be half the road or two years before I get a road graded out there?” 

Counts said he had visited with Lashley and explained, “The lady that lives just past him got aggravated that we turned around in her road. She it is at the end of the road and doesn’t want the grader past there. So, the guys, I think, turned around in your driveway.” 

Lashley said she moved his decorations so they could go back in and grade. Counts said it had “been a few weeks.” Lashley disputed that and said it had been much longer. Counts told him that the road department would be back and grade his road, but he stated he was unaware of where they were or when they would be out. He said he would inquire.