Urban vs. Rural and Getting the Facts Straight
Note: Letters to the submitted to the editor of the Harrison Daily Times by Boone County Tea Party members are the opinion of the individual author only and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the Boone County Tea Party as a whole. Letters are posted here for the convenience of the general public.
January 6, 2012
Harrison Daily Times
Editor,
In my previous letter, I stated the urban JPs were pitting themselves against the rural.. Justice Roberts cornered me at Quorum Court and pointed out that my illustration was not correct. His statement was, in fact, true. At said meeting, two of his voting block, Jay Lawrence and Jerry Greenhaw were absent and Mr. Roberts was not able to get the necessary vote for his proposed budget. So my illustration was incorrect, but I stand behind the observation about the urban vs. rural power play.
At the last Quorum Court meeting, an even better example of power politics surfaced. Justice Dan Roberts’ stopgap measure for county roads illustrates his control tactics even more clearly. In Roberts’ ordinance, the Judge is permitted to pay salaries, but may NOT spend more than $20,000 without permission of the Quorum Court (and, obviously, the Dan Roberts voting block). When questioned from the audience about this extremely low limit with the last ice storm so clear in our memories, Justice Roberts gleefully said we can get here (to vote) even during one of those. Were you talking about your urban voting block Mr. Roberts?
The Washington style stopgap measure is in place and the County Judge has to come, hat in hand, to beg for funds. It appears to be party politics at its finest.
Dan Roberts said I needed to get my facts straight. Well, here are some facts he cannot twist or deny. First, he has been chairman of the budget committee for several years. The road budget in 2003 was $770,000 and increased over the next 6 years to $901,000. Then in 2010 it dropped back to $600,000 and then rose to $750,000 in 2011 . . . lower than in 2003! Does he think costs have dropped? He is quick to point out that road department salaries have increased. The fact is, if we don’t maintain our paved roads, we’ll lose them. Judge Norton points out the replacement cost of the county’s paved roads is $40,000,000. That’s a lot to lose for the sake of a power play.
Harrison’s population is, in round figures, 12,000. Boone County, as a whole, has a population of just under 40,000. How can Roberts’voting block think they are doing things for the good of the county when they vote as they have. Isn’t this a little like the tail wagging the dog?
One more point, after the last Quorum Court meeting (12-19-11), four of the voting block, including Justice Roberts met in the lobby of the Old Jail. Ann Kimes, and Jay Lawrence were included in the four and passersby heard them discussing “the agenda”. As a stickler for legality, Mr. Roberts should know that such a meeting is illegal according to the Arkansas Freedom of Information Law.
Sincerely, John Holmes