Arkansas Blog

Draft Jim Dailey for Mayor.

Here is what our current mayor is doing with his time instead of working on city business. He is focused on his paying clients and not Little Rock. Doubt he will have time to negotiate with anyone.

Tax vote critical to public safety (from the perry county newspaper)

Perry County residents will go to the polls Nov. 13 to vote in a special election whether to accept or reject two one-quarter of 1 percent sales and use taxes to build and maintain a jail facility and also to approve the bonds for the jail.
County Attorney Mark Stodola told Quorum Court members at the October meeting that the jail tax issues are "critically important to the safety of every resident in Perry County." Although flood plain coordinator Harrison Jones conducted a lengthy discussion regarding flood plain management and flood plain permits, the main topic of discussion and concern was the upcoming special election.
County Clerk Barbara Lovell explained to court members that new legislation shortened the number of days allowed for early voting for a special election. The early voting will begin on Nov. 6. Absentee voting began last week and is currently available to voters. The special election will be Tuesday, Nov. 13.
Jail Committee chair Justice of the Peace Jimmy Ray Evans voiced a concern regarding a misconception about the plans for the jail. He stated that a preliminary small-scale drawing was made in order to get an idea. The proposed 28-bed/5,000- square-foot jail will be designed to utilize space and address the detention needs of the county.
The court members discussed possible ramifications if the jail is closed. JP Wanda Smith asked what will happen if the county goes bankrupt because it has to pay to house inmates. Stodola's response was "if they close the jail, that means that the sheriff can't put anybody in jail. It is a fundamental question about law and order."
He went on to say that lawlessness will run rampant. He used the increase in criminal activity in Pulaski County as an example. "They are not going to jail at all and they know it."
He continued, "You have to have the beds as a deterrent. It is a basic issue. The cost is small in terms of what it will bring."
He explained that if the jail were to close, Sheriff Scott Montgomery will still have to deliver prisoners somewhere and the county will have to "foot the bill." Stodola pointed out that the sheriff will have to take prisoners from Perryville Police or other law enforcement entities in the county and he will have to confine them somewhere. "It is serious business."
Joe Tipton, a local businessman, stated that he and the men from his church discussed the issue at a recent coffee meeting. He stated that he and the other men had put a pencil to it to determine approximately how much money the new tax will cost per year. Using a scenario in which an individual spent $5,000 a year or approximately $500 per month in the county, the one-half cent tax will cost approximately $25 per year.
Tipton stated that most people do not realize how small the cost will be. He pointed out that you could not go out for a good meal on that amount. He asked what was being done to promote and educate the public regarding the small cost per person that the tax represents.
JP Jimmy Ray Evans encouraged all of the justices to call their voters and remind them of the special election and how crucial the need is to pass the jail tax. He told the other JPs that he has printed 1,000 cards to be handed out encouraging voters to vote yes to the three issues present on the ballot. Those issues are:
1. One-fourth of one cent local sales and use tax within Perry County, the net collections of which will be distributed only to the county and used for the purpose of operating and maintaining new or existing jail and criminal justice facilities and facilities related thereto or in support thereof.
2. One-fourth of one cent local sales and use tax within Perry County, distributed only to the county and used to retire bonds approved by the voters and issued by the county for the purpose of financing all or a portion of the costs of the acquisition, construction, furnishing and equipping of the new jail and criminal justice facilities including the new jail, administrative and sheriff's offices and any necessary land acquisition and parking, utility and road improvements related thereto or in support thereof.
3. Jail and Criminal Justice Facilities Bonds. Issue of bonds of Perry County in the maximum principal amount of $1,195,000 for the purpose of financing all or a portion of the costs of the acquisition, construction, furnishing and equipping of new jail and criminal justice facilities, including particularly, without limitation, a new jail, administrative and sheriff's offices and any necessary land acquisition and parking, utility, and road improvements related thereto or in support thereof and, in order to pay the bonds, the pledge of a new .25 percent local sales and use tax levied by Ordinance No. 2007-17 being approved.

Newly elected Mayor Stodola has encouraged this action. Rumor has it that Stodola promised activist Jim Lynch that he would not stand in the way of a push to change the form of government to ward only representation if Lynch supported Stodola's bid for Mayor. Many business people supported Stodola however with the belief that if they also supported a change in the Mayor's powers that it would circumvent the move towards eliminating at-large positions. Once again, the business community is hoodwinked by Lynch and his minions (this time including Stodola).

On behalf of retired educator...Thomas Brannon? The Thomas Brannon previously of the Racial and Cultural Diversity Commission? Has anybody read his book? For the love of God!!!!

This type of litigation has legs. The City of Dallas, Texas was forced to move from a 10-4-1 (10 ward reps, 4 "at large" reps and a mayor) to a 14-1 configuration years ago. Same issues.

From what I hear Stodola is not at his law firm office either. So if he's not at his law firm and not concentrating on the city.......................where is he and what is he doing? It doesn't take a genius to figure that one out. I do know that someone told him soon after he took office to hand over the "smile for the camera - ribbon cutting" duties to the vice mayor and Stodola would not hear of it. Smile for the camera Stodola! At least that way you won't have to open your mouth and spew those large lies you're so good at doing.

Two people on the Arkansas government retirement dole and a current Arkansas state bureaucrat are suing Little Rock, using a civil rights lawyer who has made his living off of the Little Rock School District. It seems, somehow, well, incestuous.

Seems to me Walker's got a legit point here. However, I don't look forward to a city board that is as sorry as our school board. Wonder if a new majority on the city board would be as accomodating to the developers?