The meeting in its entirety can be seen in a video placed below the ordinance and photo.
In Old Business, JP David Clayton filled the court in on what changes were made to an ordinance first presented in last month’s meeting, meant to codify penalties that can be imposed on owners of dogs who pose dangers and do damage to people and property in areas of the county not covered by city ordinances.
He said the portion of the version presented in July that exacted penalties for harm posed to the mental health alone of a complainant had been removed, while penalties for physical harm were retained. The portion of the ordinance on pens and leashes was also changed in a couple respects, he said. Article 7 adds a clause for destruction of property by a vicious dog.
Article 8, Clayton said, “is the big one, because all of us rural JPs probably have heard or seen [this] all the time people dumping dogs. We put some serious teeth in the mind of the dog owner. It's $500 for first time to get caught. It’s $750 to get caught again within the first 12 months, and $1,000 on the third time. Of course, if you burn somebody for $750, they won’t want to do it again.”
A roll-call vote was taken on the motion to pass as amended. The ordinance was passed. The complete ordinance with these changes is featured below this article. Near the end of the meeting Sheriff Singleton said the ordinance would allow for greater ability to enforce safety. He also said regarding the dogs reported for bad behavior in the Gunter Addition last month that he had not heard of any incidents recently.
In New Business, Alice Ross, Administrative Assistant to County Judge Jerry Crane, presented the news that Hempstead County’s workers had won the Gold Star certification for the best safety record for the fourth year in a row. The plaques were displayed at the judges’ bench in the meeting room, which is a courtroom. Ross praised the diligence of County Shop Supervisor Jeff Yates for attending Association of Arkansas Counties sessions on the subject of minimizing incidents in which workers can be hurt. The evaluation process for the award took into account all county workplaces, including the sheriff’s office.
Sheriff Singleton reported that two doors at the jail had to be replaced because at ten years old parts could not be found to fix them. A second issue regards plumbing. He said that in the showers and pods the bottom had come out of piping, allowing wastewater to drain underneath. The water has been removed, he said.
“It took us about four hours to get all the water out of one of those pumping water out,” Singleton said. “It's going under the jail and causing a big pond-type thing, and we got all that pumped out.” He added that inmate labor was used to help make the repairs and that his office had purchased “concrete with gravel and new pipes. It cost about $1,700.” But the expenses may not be over, since there are eight more pods with potential problems in the 30-year-old jail.
Before the meeting adjourned, Hope-Hempstead County Economic Development Corporation Executive Director Anna Powell invited county officials to attend the annual economic development meeting, to occur September 12th at Hempstead Hall. “We would love to have you come learn in depth what we've been doing all year on behalf of the county and city and Hope, Water and Light,” she said.
Bonnie Raff of the John Cain Chapter of Daughters of the American Revolution received a Constitution Week Proclamation signature from Judge Crane during the meeting and reminded all in attendance. “They’re sure looking about some amendments to get in there. So keep your eyes and ears open.” Constitution Week is proclaimed in Hempstead County for September 17th through the 23rd.
