Saline County to consider 250 Commission and AEDC grant; Meeting June 2nd

Two Saline County committees will convene to discuss applying for a grant, and salary adjustments for two employee positions.

Read the agenda and previous meeting minutes below, including discussion about a county flag.

The Saline County Public Works and Safety Committee along with the Finance Committee will meet on Monday, June 2, 2025 at 6:00 P.M. in Courtroom #3. Doors open at 5:45 p.m. Enter the Courthouse by Main St. (east side), or on the Market St. (west side), which is ADA accessible.

AGENDA – JUNE 2, 2025

PUBLIC WORKS AND SAFETY COMMITTEE :

APPROVAL OF MINUTES

Exhibit A: Appointment to the Woodland Hills Water and Sewer Improvement District – Andy Mullins resigned; Chad Davis to be appointed.

Exhibit B: Resolution to recognize the Arkansas 250 Commission – a commission created by Arkansas Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders to plan, organize, and coordinate celebration activities and events in Arkansas, leading up to the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. See the full document below:

FINANCE COMMITTEE :

APPROVAL OF MINUTES

Exhibit C: Grant – Applying for the Arkansas Community Assistance Grant (from the AEDC). This is a state initiative providing funding to cities and community-based nonprofits to support initiatives that improve the quality of life for Arkansans. Specifically, the program aims to address issues like childhood food insecurity, unemployment, education, and resources for crime victims.

Specifically, this grant money would be used to purchase a UPS battery backup system for the 911 Center, a generator for the Courthouse, and to replace 12 HVAC units at the detention center. The county has raised $105,829 through community cash and or in-kind donations to be applied to the project as a local match. The county is requesting $423,318 from this state grant fund.

Exhibit D: Salary – Changing the Assessment Lead Specialist line to an Assessment Specialist II which will result in a savings for County General due to the budgeted amount being $43,746 and now that position will pay $35,290 for a new hire.

Exhibit E: Salary – Requesting the Collector to increase the pay for a rehired employee up to the budgeted amount for the position held prior to the employee’s departure on March 5, 2025; the position is budgeted at $39,066. No budget appropriation is needed, effective June 17, 2025.

MINUTES – MAY 5, 2025

Committee Members: Pat Bisbee, District 1. Josh Curtis, District 7. Wilson Hatcher, District 2. Ed Albares, District 8. Carlton Billingsley, District 3. C.J. Engel, District 9. Keith Kellum, District 4. Jim Whitley, District 10. Justin Rue, District 5. ABSENT. Rick Bellinger, District 6. Clint Chism, District 11. Stephanie Johnson, District 12. Karen Crowson, District 13.

PUBLIC WORKS AND SAFETY COMMITTEE MEETING

Chairman Pat Bisbee called the meeting to order and turned it over to Judge Brumley.

Judge Brumley then presented a Proclamation to Barbara McCreight, with CASA, declaring May as the Arkansas Foster Care Month.

After that was completed, Chairman Bisbee asked for a Motion to approve the minutes from the Public Works & Safety Committee Meeting held on April 7. 2025. Motion made by Justice Billingsley, second by Clint Chism, to approve the minutes. Vote was unanimous, motion carried.

DISCUSSION: Creation of a County Flag – JP Kellum spoke to the Committee Members about the idea of a creating a County Flag. After much discussion among all the members it was noted that a Committee needs to be formed to explore that idea.

EXHIBIT A: Appointments to the Shannon Hills Water and Sewer improvement District. Motion by JP Belinger, second by JP Engel to approve the appointments . Vote was unanimous, motion carried.

EXHIBIT B: Appointments to the Saline County Planning Board_ Motion to approve made by JP Bellinger, second by JP Kellum to approve the appointments. Vote was unanimous. motion carried.Chairman Bisbee stated he would entertain a Motion to Adjourn. Motion to adjourn made by JP Albares, second by JP Crowson. Vote was unanimous, meeting adjourned.

FINANCE COMMITTEE MEETING

Chairman Josh Curtis called the Finance Committee Meeting to Order. Motion made by JP Whitley, second by JP Billingsley, to approve the minutes from the Finance Committee Meeting held on April 7, 2025. Vote was unanimous, motion carried.

EXHIBIT C: Ordinance reclassifying the positions of Road Superintendent and Assistant Road Superintendent. Motion made by JP Bellinger to approve, second by JP Engel. Vote was unanimous, motion carried.

EXHIBIT D: Resolution authorizing the grant application process for the 2024-2025 STOP Grant Program, Motion made by JP Bisbee to approve, second by JP Billingsley. Vote was unanimous, motion carried.

EXHIBIT E: Resolution authorizing the grant application process for the 2024-2025 VOC AGrant Program. Motion made by JP Bellinger to approve, second by JP Billingsley. Vote was unanimous, motion carried.

ADD-ON: None.

OTHER BUSINESS:

JP Engel gave a report on the AAC Quorum Court meeting that he attended. He discussed some Acts that were passed that would impact the county and encouraged the other JP’s to familiarize themselves with them. Chairman Curtis stated that theAAC would have that information for the counties at a later date.

JP Bellinger stated that the clean up last Saturday went well. More than 45 volunteers showed up at six different pickup locations across the county – working together to clean up miles of county and city roads. They were able to collect over three truckloads of trash.

Motion to adjourn made by JP Engel, second by JP Bellinger. Vote was unanimous, meeting adjourned.

See the full agenda and documents at this link.

Browse MySaline’s list of all the events in Saline County, at www.mysaline.com/events.

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