Article by Emily Wang, White River Now
Independence County Judge Kevin Jeffery (pictured above, right) kicked off the City-County Connections meeting on Thursday, highlighting significant progress and future plans for the community.
Jeffery outlined some of the county’s upcoming endeavors, including achieving 60% of the normal allocation for road maintenance ahead of schedule.
“This year has kept us busy, and fortunately, we’re ahead of schedule,” Jeffery said.
Jeffery also emphasized enhancements to the 911 emergency dispatch system, which involve reducing unnecessary analog phone lines, resulting in annual savings of $25,000. Additionally, a county website and a new communication system capable of sending mass broadcasts via text for emergency updates are planned for the near future.
The text will be used for mass broadcasts to provide updates on various events, such as accidents.
Jeffery also updated the group on other county matters, including an ongoing legislative audit, upgrades to the courthouse with necessary repairs and landscape improvements, and the procurement of 50,000 tons of gravel for maintaining the county’s infrastructure.
Among the new projects, the county has introduced a new automated leaf collection truck, which is operated by only one employee instead of the previous three, improving efficiency in local sanitation services. County residents are encouraged to place their leaves close to the road for effective collection by the truck.
In sharing key updates on the city, Batesville Mayor Rick Elumbaugh (pictured above, left) said, “The parks project is well underway,” noting he will soon meet with the water infrastructure construction team and architects.
Elumbaugh provided an update on the city’s efforts to purchase the VFW property on Chaney Drive. At last week’s Batesville City Council meeting, council members approved a motion for the city attorney to start the condemnation process on the VFW building. (Click here for that story from White River Now.)
The city has been in negotiations with the VFW since August to purchase the property and is eager to settle so that the parks project can begin this summer. Through their attorney, the VFW had recently rejected an offer of $800,000 from the city.
“We are still trying to work with the VFW to purchase that piece of property,” the mayor said. “Hopefully, we can come to terms.”
Also at the meeting, Elumbaugh welcomed John Scarbrough to his position of police chief after former Chief Alan Cockrill’s retirement.
The guest speaker for the evening, Senior Editor for the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette Rex Nelson (pictured above, center), introduced by Elumbaugh as “Mr. Arkansas, friend of cities and counties,” shared his insight on the past, present, and future of Arkansas and its economic ventures, while speaking highly of the regional cooperation between the county and city.
Nelson praised the visible community effort and engagement in Batesville, saying, “It’s an honor to be here. You can drive around and really tell if a place has something going on or not.”
Nelson highlighted broader economic developments across Arkansas from booming Northwest Arkansas, with Walmart’s $1 billion campus and Alice Walton’s initiatives at Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, to Northeast Arkansas’ Mississippi County, with its rise as a potential leader in American steel, recognized as the number one steel producing county in the nation, with billions invested.
“It’s a really good time for Arkansas to play its cards right economically,” said Nelson.
Central Arkansas is not left behind, he said, with significant investments taking place, such as Amazon’s massive distribution center, which employs more than 4,000 people, boosting employment and logistics capabilities, and the extraction of lithium in southern Arkansas, which positions the state as a key player in the electric vehicle industry.
“These developments are pivotal,” said Nelson. “As post-pandemic America reshapes living and working standards, Arkansas stands out with its lower cost of living, low crime rates, and rich outdoor activities. People are looking for a place where they aren’t sitting in traffic for an hour and where people are hospitable, with abundant outdoor opportunities within a short drive from where they live…That sounds a lot like Batesville. I truly believe the best days are ahead.”
The City-County Connections Meetings are set to resume in September after a summer break.
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