On Tuesday night, the Mississippi County Quorum Court agreed to set up a Blytheville Courthouse Construction Fund in the amount of $15,252,847.39 and an Osceola Courthouse Construction Fund in the amount of $2 million.
Mississippi County made history last Tuesday afternoon in Little Rock when County Judge John Alan Nelson and other elected officials accepted bond proceeds from Stephens Inc., totaling $17,252,847.39 to fund renovations for its courthouses in Blytheville and Osceola.
The county has received the first bill for the project — $73,000 from architect Aaron Ruby.
Meanwhile, Mississippi County justices of the peace also allocated $350,200 for the construction of a new landfill cell. Justices also approved $100,000 in economic development funds for Frigortec, offering $10,000 per Mississippi County resident job for the 10 new positions the German company plans to add to its Blytheville location.
Frigortec produces specialized cooling machines, which are installed in cranes at Nucor, Tenaris and Big River Steel and keep motors from overheating. The company makes another machine that cools grain down.
In other news, the court amended an ordinance to provide an additional $45,000 for A&J Aviation. The county originally appropriated $480,000, plus an additional $30,000, for the project and has spent $13,000 to get engineered specifications for the building. A&J’s bid is $45,000 more than originally appropriated.
Also Tuesday night, justices agreed to spend $96,500 on a workforce study by Tadzo Consulting Company.
The “economic tactical plan” will look at how to grow the county’s population and examine its work program.
Meanwhile, the board agreed to rent storage space for the Circuit Clerk’s office at a total cost of $2,275. The storage area behind First Commercial Bank in Blytheville rents for $325 per month.
In other news, the quorum court agreed to do business with Fleeman Auctions and Realty in Manila, which is owned by Justice of the Peace Fred Fleeman. Fleeman abstained for voting.
County Judge John Alan Nelson said the Sheriff’s Office wants to hold a small auction and Fleeman offered his services.
Nelson also introduced new landfill director James Rountree during Tuesday’s meeting.