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The Drew County Quorum Court met at 6 p.m. on Monday, May 12. After an invocation and the Pledge Of Allegiance, the roll was called. All Justices of the Peace were present except Sheila Maxwell and Ben Higginbotham. The minutes from April’s meeting were approved, and the agenda for the May meeting was also approved.
“The County is in good shape,” County Judge Jessie Griffin said. “I appreciate you all for the hard work you’re doing. The county is moving along with many different projects, and every one of our offices has something going on right now.”
Mike Kelley and Jim Langford with SouthBuild, LLC. came to speak to the Quorum Court to provide information on building a new detention center in Drew County. This presentation was informative only, no votes or decisions were to be made at this meeting. Kelley, the Construction Manager, and Langford, the Architectural Manager for SouthBuild wanted to inform the county of who they are and what their company does. They wanted to make this presentation so that if it was approved to build a new detention facility, and they were chosen to handle the project, people could put their faces with the company name.
SouthBuild has been building justice buildings, detention centers, and court buildings across the southern U.S. for 28 years. Their main focus is in Arkansas, with 39 of the 75 Arkansas counties currently holding a contract with the company. SouthBuild manages all phases of the construction process. They put out public bids for all of the construction areas. Their architecture team designs the facilities. SouthBuild does not do any of the actual construction, but they hold the contractors who are chosen accountable and make sure that they stay true to what they bid on.
Tommy Gray, on behalf of the Drew County Historical Society, came in to discuss the planned workdays to revitalize the Rough and Ready Cemetery. Gray noted that cutting and removing the trees and performing other necessary maintenance would cost $14,000. Gray petitioned the Quorum Court to help in any way that they could. Judge Griffin stated that the court would discuss the matter in depth.
The court then approved an appropriation ordinance to move funds from one of the Collector’s accounts to another to fund replacing the floors in her office.
The court also approved an appropriation ordinance to allow the Sheriff to move funds from one of his accounts to pay for website maintenance, radar equipment, and radios for the detention center.
The court approved a resolution stating willingness to use federal aid funds to replace the Seven Mile Creek Bridge.
Judge Griffin appointed Brandon Hogg to another term on the county’s Equalization Board.
With no further business, the Quorum Court was adjourned at 7:12 p.m.
