The meeting is available to view in its entirety just below this article.

First, discussion turned to federal disaster funding that has yet to be released.

Emergency Management Coordinator David Gummeson said reimbursements expected from FEMA and the Department of Homeland Security for storm recovery spending by the county remain delayed due to ongoing federal shutdowns.

“We were in a shutdown back then,” Gummeson said, referring to last year. “We’re now in another, so this will be the third week of DHS in a shutdown, and TSA is in a shutdown.”

Gummeson said more than $300,000 in funding has been appropriated but not yet released.

“Until it’s signed off, it’s just still held up,” he said. “It just is what it is.”

County Judge Mike Otwell asked how long the county could expect the delays to continue.

“I don’t know any way to fix it,” Gummeson said. “Most of that money was appropriated, but until it’s signed off, it’s still held up.”

The court then moved to a presentation on broadband expansion by Danny Stewart, director of the Nevada County Broadband Office, who was introduced by Economic Development Director Mary Godwin.

Stewart provided a historical overview of internet service in the county, beginning with dial‑up access in the mid‑1990s.

“You remember good old dial‑up modems back then and all the sounds they made,” Stewart began.

He explained how internet usage has changed dramatically over time.

“Video takes a lot of bandwidth,” Stewart said. “All at once, the amount of speed you needed has ramped way up, and we quit calling it internet and started calling it broadband.”

Stewart said broadband is currently defined as 100 megabits per second download and 20 megabits per second upload, with proposals to raise that standard even higher.

He outlined how various grants over the years expanded DSL, cable, and fiber service throughout the county, and focused on the federal Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment program created under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2021 passed by Congress, signed by President Biden and modified by President Trump.

Last year, Stewart said, every location in the county was evaluated to determine whether it was served, underserved, or unserved.

“There were about 710 locations identified in Nevada County,” he said.

Under the BEAD awards, BrightSpeed was granted funding to serve 644 locations with fiber, while, because of Trump’s modifications of the program, SpaceX Starlink was awarded 64 locations and Amazon’s Project Kuiper three locations.

“BrightSpeed will be building fiber to every one of those locations,” Stewart said.

He noted that some rural locations remain unresolved due to providers defaulting on earlier grants.

“There were hundreds of thousands of locations across the nation that were defaulted,” Stewart said. “Hopefully there’ll be a second round of BEAD funding that will pick up those locations.”

Stewart said the broadband committee believes fiber service is essential.

“Any location that is not being served with fiber optic internet is going to be impaired at least to some extent,” he said.

Godwin thanked Stewart for his work.

“He’s determined not to let anyone in Nevada County not get served,” she said.

Gummeson later introduced Code Red, a new emergency notification system replacing CivicReady.

“It was getting to the point where there were more users of CivicReady that had passed away or moved than there were actually using it,” he said.

Gummeson said residents must sign up for the new system to receive alerts.

“If you think you’re covered, you’re not,” he said.

Godwin also announced an upcoming regional economic development event hosted by the Southwest Arkansas Development Alliance.

“It’s going to be called the State of the Southwest,” she said. “We’re going to bring in experts from around Arkansas to talk about where we’re at.”

She said the event, to be held in Nashville, Arkansas, will include presentations on broadband, utilities, rail, workforce development, and industry sectors including timber, lithium, defense, and health care.

“It’s a two‑hour event,” Godwin said to the JPs and Judge Otwell. “Our office will buy a ticket for you if you want to come.”

The court then approved moving forward with two bridge projects by applying for potential state assistance.

Judge Otwell said County Road 11 and County Road 63 were selected.

“We’re going to see if ARDOT will take over and help us on those,” he said.

Godwin said the funding is first‑come, first‑served. “There is no deadline.”

Godwin also presented research on animal shelter funding and spay‑and‑neuter options, which a newly begun local dog shelter asked about in the last meeting.

“I don’t have a lot of hope for any of those grants, to tell you the truth,” she said.

She said a mobile spay‑and‑neuter clinic recommended by a local veterinarian is already booked through 2026.  The prices, though, may be prohibitive for many pet owners.

“There’s not even a good solution for spay and neuter clinics,” Godwin said.

Stacy Stone with the Nevada County Cooperative Extension Service provided a brief report, noting recent youth participation.

“We had over 800 kids here for a judging contest back in February,” Stone said.

He thanked the county judge for assisting with equipment during the event.

County Treasurer Lorelai Hale reported that bank statements were not included in the financial report packet provided to the JPs due to timing but would be available.

County Clerk Tammie Rose presented an updated interlocal agreement for financing of the county landfill, which the court approved by roll call vote.

Judge Otwell then addressed financing for two motor graders with balloon payments coming due.

“We have to settle the debt with Caterpillar,” Otwell said. “They agreed to take the motor graders in on a trade‑in.” The trade-in would eliminate the balloon payment and allow the county to purchase new motor graders, which would then be traded again in about ten years.

Otwell said financing through the Bank of Delight instead of through Caterpillar would save money.

“It’s money here in Nevada County,” he said.

The court also approved the trade‑in and replacement of a trash truck.

Justices approved Ordinance 26‑1, appropriating $6,000 in juvenile grant funds for officer bonuses and contract labor.

“These funds are subject to all normal county budgeting regulations,” the ordinance states.

The court then unanimously approved Resolution 26‑1 endorsing Amrize’s participation in the state’s Tax Back incentive program.

Otwell emphasized that the county does not issue refunds to Amrize directly under the program.

“The state will write a check back to Amrize,” he said.

Godwin said the company employs more than 650 people, with 194 jobs located in Nevada County.

“They voted for it unanimously,” she said of the Prescott City Council. “The state of Arkansas has already approved.”

Godwin also said Amrize has committed to donating 30,000 square feet of roofing membrane for the courthouse roof project.

The meeting concluded after a little over an hour.