The Carroll County Quorum Court held its final meeting of the year on Monday, Dec. 19, approving the 2023 operating budget and bidding farewell to four justices of the peace.
The quorum court approved the budget ordinance on its second and third readings without discussion. The budget includes raises of $1.25 an hour for all county employees, with some library employees receiving larger raises to bring them in line with other employees.
JPs also approved the second and third readings of an ordinance establishing salaries for elected positions for 2023 — $61,952.76 for the county judge; $54,868.80 for the county clerk, circuit clerk, county treasurer, county tax collector and county assessor; $60,380.95 for the county sheriff; $8,763.50 for the county coroner; and $325 per regular or special meeting and $100 per committee meeting for quorum court members.
The court also approved several appointments to various boards and commissions: Anita Engert and Joe Hill to the Carroll County Library Department Board of Trustees; Chris Eagleson and Suellyn Fry to the board of commissioners for the Eastern Carroll County Ambulance District; Morris Pate and Sandy Martin to the Carroll County Airport Commission (both reappointments); Teresa Swallow to the Green Forest Library Board (a reappointment); Joe Jenquine and Chuck Olson to the Sylvan Shores Subordinate Service District; and Katie Zerr to the Eureka Springs Library Board.
The court also scheduled a Jan. 3 special meeting to set the date, time and place of its monthly meetings in 2023 and 2024. The Jan. 3 meeting will be held at 5 p.m. at the Eastern District Courthouse in Berryville.
The Dec. 19 meeting was the final meeting for longtime JPs Larry Swofford (30 years), Don McNeely (16 years) and Chuck Olson (six years), who were presented with plaques from their colleagues in appreciation of their service. It was also the final meeting for JP Duane Coatney, who was appointed to fill a vacancy in the District 4 seat, and for County Judge Ronda Griffin, who was appointed earlier this year to complete the term of Sam Barr upon Barr’s resignation.
