MonticelloLive

The Drew County regular session Monday night, at the courthouse.

Judge Damon Lampkin told the group that the county had received an Arkansas Preservation Program grant that awarded $135,000 to repair and re-grout a deteriorating portion of the east facade of the courthouse. 

The county also received a $5,000 grant to repair or replace windows at the Rosenwald School from the National Trust for Historic Preservation.

The Drew Memorial Hospital report was presented by Bart Milstead and Shannon Clark.  Milstead, the hospital’s interim CEO, will be leaving on July 9 to take another position.

It was pointed out that Dr. Collins is generating patients and surgeries for the hospital, and that Dr. Michael Fakouri is expected to begin practice in August.  The court was also told that nursing salaries at Drew Memorial are being increased to make them more compatible with other similar sized hospitals in the area

Beth Davis, the county’s tax assessor, asked the court to approve the purchase of a new computer server for the assessor’s office, at an expense of $5,384.  Her office is having constant computer problems, and the signature pads are worn out.  The court asked her about adding memory to the computer, and instructed her to obtain bids from other sources for them to decide on at a later date.

Tom Scott from Arkansas Gama Technology told the court that this is the third and final year of reappraisals for Drew County.  The process began in January of 2006 with data collection, and since then approximately 20,000 parcels have been visited and have had current data entered into the county system.  Amendment 79 set a property owner’s property tax credit up to $300, act 142 of 2007 increase this to $350.    He also pointed out that assessment rates do not increase for citizens age 65 or over.  Also, a citizen’s principal residence tax value cannot increase over 5% per year.  Contact the county clerk if you have any questions about your new property assessment, or to begin an appeal to the county’s equalization board by August 18.  Scott added that his office supports the county, as well as taxpayers, during the appeals process.

The court passed an ordinance to establish a drug enforcement fund.  Chief Deputy Robin Hood represented the Sheriff’s Department, and stated this is not an increase in funding, it’s the same amount that it has been for the past 15 years.   They’re just establishing a “drug enforcement fund” as required by state regulations.

The court passed an ordinance approving the purchase the Harvey property, adjacent to the Drew County Library’s parking lot.  The price tag of $49,000 will include funds from the Southeast Arkansas Regional Library of up to $14,000-$15,000.   The property’s appraisal value is $49,000.  The House will be removed, and parking space for the library will be added there.