MonticelloLive

     I believe the long, hot summertime has arrived!  Last Monday began at the courthouse and then the shop.  From there I helped deliver a truck from Jerome to Baxter, checking our roads along the way.  Then I checked Baker Cemetery Road before returning to the office and office chores for the rest of the morning.
     Monday afternoon I went to check progress on Sanderlin Road before returning to the courthouse tasks for the rest of the day and preparing for the Quorum Court meeting.
     Monday evening the monthly Quorum Court meeting was held. 
     Tuesday began at the courthouse and shop.  Then it was back to the courthouse for office work the rest of the morning. 
     After lunch I went back to check progress on Sanderlin Road before going to check on a trailer for Friday and Saturday’s Relay for Life.
     Courthouse chores and calls finished the day.   
     Wednesday began at the courthouse and shop.  Then I left to go to Rogers, AR, for the annual spring meeting of the County Judges Association.  Wednesday afternoon was set aside for vendors to show their “wares” of products available and useful for the different functions of county judges’ offices and road programs.  
     Thursday was filled with meetings and classes on subjects relating to the office of county judge.
     First, the Continuing Education program was held on Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and their uses and relevance to counties.  Then the following session was presented by the Arkansas Department of Corrections and their proposed services relating to county government. 
     After a presentation on the PYRO MED program, the day’s activities concluded with a program and discussion dealing with issues affecting county government that will be presented during the upcoming General Assembly meetings next year. 
     A tour of Emergency Management and Preparedness equipment followed on the parking lot of the motel.
     Friday sessions dealt with pre-planning materials for the upcoming 2010 census and Act 2009 that assures the future of Arkansas airports. 
     Other topics included information about a sustainability program and how it affects our environment.  The main thrust of this was the movement to “go green”.
     The last session was an update on emergency management provided by David Maxwell, head of the Arkansas Department of Emergency Management.
     A brief business session concluded the meeting.  Then it was “home again”.
     Sunday we were privileged to attend a reception introducing Rev. Reginald Cleaver, Sr., the new minister at Pilgrim Rest AME Church, to the community.
     We are busy working on our chip and seal projects in the county.  Additionally, last Monday Grace Loop, Lephiew Road, 4 Mile Creek Road, Dollar Hill Road, Prairie Chapel Road, Longview Road, Deal Road, Deal Lane and the streets of Ladelle were graded. 
     Lake Wallace Road and Panther Break Road were bushhogged.
     Trash was cleaned up and brush removed from ditches on Landfill Road.  Limbs were cut back on Enon Deane Road.  Soil cement incorporation continued on Sanderlin Road. 
     A dump truck was serviced.
     On Tuesday the east end of Calhoun Street, Williams Lane, Shaw Lane, Bain Lane, Loafers Lane, Darnell Lane, Piney Creek Lane, South 16th Section Road, Sid Caperton Road, Van Cruce Road, Ponderosa Lane, Connie Veasey Road, Huskey Trail Road, Mhoon Road, Thompson Lane, Ozment Bluff Access Road, Gee’s Landing Road, Ben Loveless Road, James Glennon Road, Jones Loop, Carl O’Neal Road and Horn Loop were graded.
     Hill Community Road and Skipper Bridge Road were bushhogged.
     Work continued on Sanderlin Road. 
     Wednesday saw Green Mount Lane, Nolen Lane, Simpson Lane, Ganderville Road, Tara Lane, Ethel Lane, Ken Lane, Shultz Lane, Florence Road, Mount Tabor Road, Brixie Road, N. Garnett Road, Bowden Loop, Prairie Chapel Road, Prairie Corner Road, Pleasant Grove Road, New Light Road, Countryview Road, Seventh Day Adventist Road, Old Troy Road, Baker Road and Enon Deane Road graded.
     Grace Loop, North Grace Road and Lephiew Road were bushhogged.
     Chip and seal continued on Sanderlin Road.  Spraying was done on ½ of Midway Route.   
     On Thursday Loggy Bayou Road was graded.  Due to dry conditions, roads were checked on other routes.
     Chip and seal continued on Sanderlin Road.
     Setup for chip and seal began on Wilmar Loop.
     Old Warren Road was patched.  Mowing was done around the shop.
     Friday saw Dickson Road graded and roads on other routes checked.
     Work continued on Sanderlin Road.  Maintenance and upkeep work on equipment was done at the shop.
     An open public meeting will be held at Crossett (125 Main Street) on Wednesday, June 25, from 4-7 p.m. It is being held in regard to the I-69 Connector at Wilmar and its proposed extension to I-20 in Louisiana.  If you can, come by and show your support and interest in this project that should breathe new life into the economy of the area. 
   I have three other quick announcements:
 
Since July 4th falls on Friday this year, that Friday’s trash routes will be run on Thursday, July 3rd.
 
The monthly Bulk Pick-up will be held on July 12th.
 
Florence Road from Jose Chapel East will be closed for bridge replacement from Monday, June 30th, thru Thursday, July 3rd.       

 
Have a great week!!