After the call to order by County Judge Jerry Crane, the Invocation by Justice of the Peace Jessie Henry, the Pledge of Allegiance and the roll call (all JPs were present), Crane acknowledged the absence of any business on the agenda.  

Here, JP and Chair of the Quorum Court’s Budget Committee Ed Darling announced that the work to repair the county jail’s plumbing problems had been completed at a cost of $535,000. The repairs were needed after it was found a sewer pipe under the jail’s floor had essentially disintegrated. Darling said the prisoners the county had had to pay to house at other area jails had been returned to Hempstead County’s facility. 

Sheriff James I. Singleton said a boiler pipe had ruptured just after the repairs on the sewer pipe and floor had been completed. This cost the county about $3,500 to fix.  He said the work had been guaranteed by the contractor to last ten years, which he said would probably last until a new jail is built. 

Hope-Hempstead County Economic Development Corporation Executive Director Anna Powell then told the court that as part of the EDC’s emphasis on rural development, a mayors’ summit would be held at the EDC’s headquarters at 108 West Third on Wednesday January 17 starting at 10:00 a.m. Lunch will be provided. She said active members of governing boards would also be welcomed. The agenda for the meeting would include sources of grant funding and ways of obtaining it for community needs. “We are leaving a lot of money on the table,” she said. 

In addition, the mayors’ summit would offer information about the Arkansas Broadband initiative. 

On January 24th, also a Wednesday, Powell said the first of what will be monthly meetings including Powell, Judge Crane and Hope City Manager J.R. Wilson would take place. She also announced that every business in the county would be receiving by early January a pamphlet communicating what the EDC does and its purpose. 

Judge Crane thanked the court for a “smooth” budget-making process this year, though admitting, “Some things on our wish list could not be included.”  He also said he was grateful JP James Griffin was present after having suffered a stroke recently. 

Terrie James of the Hempstead County Extension Service told the JPs she had provided them with copies of her office’s impact statement for the year. The service moved to a new location this year at 1800 East Third. An open house was held recently, James said, but the service is still organizing its materials. 

Adjournment happened at about 4:50 p.m with many exchanged wishes of Merry Christmas.