Special Election for renovating courthouse to be held in February

OSCEOLA— The Mississippi County Quorum Court met Tuesday night to adopt seven ordinances and pass two resolutions.

Two of the seven ordinances and one of the resolutions dealt with setting a special election for the second Tuesday in February of 2019 (Feb. 12, 2019).

The special election will ask voters to approve a tax to renovate the Blytheville courthouse and to maintain the Osceola courthouse.

The first ordinance amended a previous ordinance that was passed on July 22, 2014. The title of the ordinance was, “An ordinance providing for the levy of a one-half of one percent (0.5 percent) sales and use tax for a five (5) year period within Mississippi County, Arkansas for repairing, improving, renovating, equipping, operating and maintaining the Mississippi County Hospital System; and prescribing other matters pertaining thereto.”

County Clerk Janice Currie read the ordinance to amend 0-2014-11 for the first reading. Justice Michael White asked to suspend the rules and read by title only the second and the third times before moving to adopt. Justice Bill Nelson seconded the motion for adoption and the vote passed unanimously.

Currie then read Resolution No. R-2018-11, which calls for the special election. White made the motion to adopt and Justice Neil Burge seconded. The resolution for the 2019 Special Election passed unanimously.

Ordinance No. O-2018- 26 was then fully read by Currie for the first reading. Then White asked to suspend the rules and read by title only the second and the third times before moving to adopt. Justice Howard “Bubba” Norvell seconded the motion to adopt the ordinance. Ordinance No. O-2018-26 passed unanimously.

Taylor Marshall from the Friday Law Firm in Little Rock is the bond council for the project, and he presented two ballots.

The first ballot states, “ An ordinance amending Ordinance No. O-2014-11 in order to (A) authorize the net collections of the 0.5 percent sales and use tax levied by Mississippi County, Arkansas under ordinance No. O-2014-11 (the “tax”) and the election held in the county on October 14,2014, to be used for one or more of the following: (1) to repair, improve, renovate, equip, operate and maintain healthcare facilities known as the Mississippi County Hospital System which is owned and operated by the county, as presently authorized and (2) As a new purpose, to pay and secure the repayment of bonds approved by the voters and issued by the county from time to time to finance capital improvements to and for county courthouse and (B) change the expiration date of the tax from March 31, 2020 to December 31, 2051; and prescribing other matters pertaining thereto.”

The second ballot states, “CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT BONDS. Issuance of bonds of Mississippi County in the maximum aggregate principal amount of $18,100,000 for the purpose of financing all or a portion of the costs of improvements to the County courthouse located in Osceola and Blytheville, equipment and furnishings therefor and any necessary utility, road, parking and drainage improvements related thereto. The bonds will be secured by a pledge as collateral of the net collections received from the local 0.5 percent sales and use tax levied within the County by Ordinance No. O-2014-11, as amended. The bonds may be issued at one time or in series from time to time.”

After explaining the two ballots Marshall explained that both ballots have to pass for everything to move forward with the renovation of the courthouse.

Other ordinances passed were for acquiring two road graders, the 2019 millage rates, amending Rattner Steel and deleting Olympus.

County Judge Terri Brassfield also took a moment to recognize Justice Ken Kennemore and Justice Aaron Fleeman for serving on the QC since both were not possibly going to be able to attend the December monthly meeting due to Christmas.

Brassfield awarded certificates honoring Kennemore and Fleeman for the their service as QC justices from Districts 10 and 1, respectively.

Brassfield stated that Ball was unable to attend the November meeting but stated he’d be there for the December meeting so he will receive his at the December monthly meeting.

The December meeting date has been changed due to Christmas and will be held on December 18.