I am happy to report that our resolution to require Pulaski County J P's to attend continuing education classes passed with a unanimous vote through both committees and will go to the full Quorum Court this Tuesday evening. The next step is to begin working out the details of what is needed to build a course curriculum that will benefit the Quorum Court members present and future. I hope this will be the beginning of a model for all Arkansas Counties and their Quorum Court members.

The April Quorum Court meetings will bring new, ground-breaking legislation for education. Not education for our children and young people, but education for our elected officials!

The UALR task force study (Part 10, recommendation 4) brought up many issues, not only about finances for the county and evaluation of the jail population, but it also pointed out that elected officials for the county and city governments may not possess or be getting the education and knowledge needed to perform their duties. In this study, it was pointed out that just because a person is elected to an office, while they may have many other talents and experience, it does not mean that they have the knowledge they need to make the proper decisions the taxpayers expect in performance of their office.

That is why UALR has graciously offered their services to implement a continuing education (CE) program to fill in the gaps where needed. As a result of this, I have written and sponsored Resolution #08-I-51 for county elected officials to attend finance classes sponsored by UALR each year.

In the business world, it is very common for professionals to be required to attend continuing education classes in their field. Professionals such as Insurance agents, CPAs, attorneys, securities professionals and even health care professionals are required to attend continuing education classes in their fields in order to stay abreast of constant changes in their industries so that they may give the public the best service possible. It is only natural that this same practice be expected of those who make vital decisions with our tax dollars every day.

Allen Kerr

Click here to read the Arkansas Democrat/Gazette (Northwest Arkansas Edition) March 19, 2008 news article.

Progress with the Pulaski County Jail is well under way with the ordinance passage of the contract with Siemens Inc to repair all the mechanical and fixtures in all county owned buildings starting with the detention center. The Sheriff has been appropriated funds to repair the roof over the old section of pods A and B. In the next 30 days, the prisoner work center will be vacant and ready for non-violent offenders, such as burglars and car thieves.

Unfortunately, even with all the progress the county has made in the past year the City of Little Rock is still threatening a lawsuit against the county. But, the good news is, after some meetings with a few of the city board members, a solution may be reachable. The city attorney and the county attorney along with a third party lawyer will meet to arbitrate the issues in question by the city. I have great hopes that, with both parties sitting down at the table, both views can be heard and we can come to a reasonable solution.

I would be in favor of throwing out the current inter-local agreement between the county and the cities and re-writing an agreement that makes sense for all the citizens of Pulaski county, one that will keep us safe.

Click on the link below to read the entire Local Legislative Newsletter which was mailed to District 32 residents.
LRN_News_20080227_web.pdf