The Cleburne County Quorum Court heard of the improvements made to the old hospital during their regular meeting March 8.
According to Cleburne County Judge Claude Dill, the renovations to the old hospital are coming along nicely. “The hospital has been transformed,” he said. “There has been a tremendous amount of work done.”
The building has been cleaned and painted, the floors have been repaired where needed, stripped and re-waxed, the bathrooms have been converted to handicap accessible, even the grounds have had work done. “The biggest expense has been the heating and air,” Judge Dill said. “Followed by the ceiling tiles that needed to be replaced.”
According to Judge Dill, the renovations should be complete in 6-8 weeks.
While discussing the new renovations, it was brought up that a new name was needed for the facility. Justice Wetzel Stark proposed to change the name to the Claude Dill Cleburne County Office Complex. The justices discussed the pros and cons of this move, stating they would check with the attorney to see what could be done.
During the meeting Alma Smith and Sharron Brown with the Cleburne County Aging Program thanked members for all the work the county has done to help the seniors and that they appreciated the support for helping to continue to feed the seniors.
In other business, justices passed a resolution to apply to the State of Arkansas for an Arkansas Community and Economic Development grant to construct drainage improvements on Tiger B Road.
A resolution also passed to enter into an administrative agreement with the White River Planning and Development District. Inc. This agreement allows WRPDD to help Cleburne County identify and implement the regulations pertaining to the grant to help with drainage improvements on Tiger B Road.
The Justices also passed an ordinance to appropriate funds for Act 799 allowing the funds to be used for Fish and Wildlife Conservation. The money will be used in the form of grants for established school education programs of fish and wildlife conservation. Concord/Wilburn School District, Heber Springs School District, Quitman School District, and West Side School District will all receive $2909.06 each for conservation programs.
A resolution calling on the State of Arkansas to provide funding for sufficient bed space for state prisoners and that it fully fund the counties for housing those prisoners until the state can take them into custody in a state facility was passed. Counties are required to hold prisoners until the Department of Corrections or Department of Community Punishment can take physical custody of the prisoners. Having to house state prisoners in the county jails is putting a strain on the county jails and that they need to be reimbursed for the period that they are required to house and provide for the state prisoners.
According to the resolution the county is being paid on a delayed basis due to inadequate administration and funding and is paid at a rate inadequate to cover Cleburne County’s costs for housing prisoners. Cleburne County and other counties are asking that the General Assembly and the governor immediately provide for adequate prison space and sufficient funding for all state prisoners in state custody and to immediately provide funding to counties housing and providing for prisoners in state custody.
Judge Dill told the Justices that in the last four weeks he has signed in at $1 million for federal help from past flooding problems. The county can start working on repairing flood damage and then turn it over to the state for the rest of the funding, which should receive in four – six weeks after turning it in. The federal government is set to give 75 percent of the funding with the state giving 12 and a half and the county giving 12 and a half.
It was also brought up in the meeting that something should be done to show appreciation to the volunteer fire departments, EMT’s, and search and rescue members for all they do for the county. A discussion was held on how to honor these volunteers. “We have a bunch of good volunteers, not only fire fighters, but also search and rescue, first responders, EMTs, and so many more,” Judge Dill said. “We need to show our appreciation to this wonderful group.” Plans are in the works on showing appreciation to the volunteers.
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The Cleburne County Quorum Court heard of the improvements made to the old hospital during their regular meeting March 8.
According to Cleburne County Judge Claude Dill, the renovations to the old hospital are coming along nicely. “The hospital has been transformed,” he said. “There has been a tremendous amount of work done.”
The building has been cleaned and painted, the floors have been repaired where needed, stripped and re-waxed, the bathrooms have been converted to handicap accessible, even the grounds have had work done. “The biggest expense has been the heating and air,” Judge Dill said. “Followed by the ceiling tiles that needed to be replaced.”
According to Judge Dill, the renovations should be complete in 6-8 weeks.
While discussing the new renovations, it was brought up that a new name was needed for the facility. Justice Wetzel Stark proposed to change the name to the Claude Dill Cleburne County Office Complex. The justices discussed the pros and cons of this move, stating they would check with the attorney to see what could be done.
During the meeting Alma Smith and Sharron Brown with the Cleburne County Aging Program thanked members for all the work the county has done to help the seniors and that they appreciated the support for helping to continue to feed the seniors.
In other business, justices passed a resolution to apply to the State of Arkansas for an Arkansas Community and Economic Development grant to construct drainage improvements on Tiger B Road.
A resolution also passed to enter into an administrative agreement with the White River Planning and Development District. Inc. This agreement allows WRPDD to help Cleburne County identify and implement the regulations pertaining to the grant to help with drainage improvements on Tiger B Road.
The Justices also passed an ordinance to appropriate funds for Act 799 allowing the funds to be used for Fish and Wildlife Conservation. The money will be used in the form of grants for established school education programs of fish and wildlife conservation. Concord/Wilburn School District, Heber Springs School District, Quitman School District, and West Side School District will all receive $2909.06 each for conservation programs.
A resolution calling on the State of Arkansas to provide funding for sufficient bed space for state prisoners and that it fully fund the counties for housing those prisoners until the state can take them into custody in a state facility was passed. Counties are required to hold prisoners until the Department of Corrections or Department of Community Punishment can take physical custody of the prisoners. Having to house state prisoners in the county jails is putting a strain on the county jails and that they need to be reimbursed for the period that they are required to house and provide for the state prisoners.
According to the resolution the county is being paid on a delayed basis due to inadequate administration and funding and is paid at a rate inadequate to cover Cleburne County’s costs for housing prisoners. Cleburne County and other counties are asking that the General Assembly and the governor immediately provide for adequate prison space and sufficient funding for all state prisoners in state custody and to immediately provide funding to counties housing and providing for prisoners in state custody.
Judge Dill told the Justices that in the last four weeks he has signed in at $1 million for federal help from past flooding problems. The county can start working on repairing flood damage and then turn it over to the state for the rest of the funding, which should receive in four – six weeks after turning it in. The federal government is set to give 75 percent of the funding with the state giving 12 and a half and the county giving 12 and a half.
It was also brought up in the meeting that something should be done to show appreciation to the volunteer fire departments, EMT’s, and search and rescue members for all they do for the county. A discussion was held on how to honor these volunteers. “We have a bunch of good volunteers, not only fire fighters, but also search and rescue, first responders, EMTs, and so many more,” Judge Dill said. “We need to show our appreciation to this wonderful group.” Plans are in the works on showing appreciation to the volunteers.
