Last Word


‘Come on in, let’s make some sausage’ Story of one Quorum Court that throws open the doors, invites the neighbors in


(Editor’s note: This story ran on the opinion page of The News up in Fulton County in early August. Whether this is your style of running a meeting or not, we found it tells the story of many local government entities, at least around the South, where: Agreeable or cranky, all citizens are welcome at the table, because they are, after all, our neighbors...)


By Richard Irby Areawide Media (Salem)


aws are like sausages, it is best not to see them being made.” After more than 30 years covering gov- ernment meetings, I would say the public and government officials seem to agree with that old adage. So, my first visit to an Izard County Quorum


“L


Court meeting was a surprise. Te Quorum Court and County Judge opened the door and invited every one in: friends, enemies and malcontents. Teir slogan seemed to be, “We’re making sausage tonight. Come on in and help!” Te business session began with an item that sounded innocent enough. Arkansas Emergency Management and


FEMA officials were called up to praise county government for its proposal to write a mitiga- tion plan listing disaster threats the county fac- es. Once a plan is in place, the county can seek FEMA grants to fix drainage problems, build public storm shelters and the like to reduce losses when future disasters hit.


Sixty-four of Arkansas’ 75 counties have mitigation plans and seek the FEMA grants but suspicious citizens in the Izard County audience went on the attack. Let me paraphrase: “You just want to use the plan to take our land and water!”


“Tis is just a scheme for a grant writer to make a lot of money.” “You just want to meddle in our business and take away our rights!!”


Te barrage, which backed the state and fed- eral visitors into a corner, continued for nearly an hour. Tey finally escaped, and further dis- cussion of a Mitigation Plan ended, when Judge Rayburn Finley called a five minute recess. When the court went back into session, local business owner Randall Lovelace was allowed to address the Quorum Court. He spent several minutes calling members complacent and in- competent for deciding to buy and remodel a vacant building across from the courthouse to create space for a new Drug Court. Despite complaints and controversy, the


Drug Court project was approved months ago and renovation work is nearly complete. Most government bodies would have re- jected Lovelace’s request to speak as “old news”. Instead, these court members sat quietly as Lovelace attacked and insulted them and con- cluded with a threat: Concerned citizens think you are wasting money and will hold you ac- countable.


While money has already been appropriated, the JPs later deadlocked, three to three, killing


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an ordinance to authorize paying contractors for completed Drug Court work. When Judge Finley suggested the matter would be voted on again next month when three absent Justices may be present, Lovelace yelled from the audience, “You can’t…keep vot- ing on something until you pass it the way you want it passed.” Tat’s another Izard oddity. Troughout the night, audience members frequently yelled out questions or comments. Usually, an audience must remain quiet as official business is conducted. I’ve been at meetings where police have hauled off citizens who insisted on spouting off during meetings. In Izard, though, the audience is apparently an honorary member of the court. When the long, fiery Quorum Court meet- ing finally ended after two and a half hours, there was no shoving or yelling in the hallway. No fist fights on the courthouse lawn. People quietly filed out or gathered in small


groups to discuss the night’s events. I guess the meeting is proof tensions can flare as people work closely together in a hot room over the course of a long day. But, when the whistle blows, most are willing to let bygones be bygones. Tere is always more sausage to be made to-


morrow.


(Tis column and others of interest can also be viewed at www.writeforarkansas.org)


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COUNTY LINES, FALL 2010


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