Article by Madeline Pyle, White River Now
The Independence County Quorum Court approved an ordinance to disburse $515,000 in grant funds to the White River Health System (WRHS). According to County Judge Robert Griffin, WRHS can use the federal funds for relief related to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The court met on Monday, May 11, to hold its meetings for the March and April reports.
During the meeting reporting on April, the court passed a resolution to continue county employee benefits during the 2020 furlough.
In his economic report, Judge Griffin grimly stated, “Nothing’s happening,” referring to the economic impact of the pandemic.
Though County Treasurer Bob Treadway reported a 4.24 percent year-to-date increase in the one-cent county-wide tax for April, Treadway explained the numbers “are sales actually done [in] February, sent to the state in March, and returned to us in April.”
Griffin stated, “There’s going to be a hit” to the economy, and the county would see it in upcoming reports.
During his report for March and April, Independence County Sheriff Shawn Stephens stated a county deputy had submitted his resignation and asked for approval to hire a new deputy. The court approved his request to fill the position.
In other news, Judge Griffin shared a directive from the Arkansas Department of Health released May 8. The directive issued several orders and protocols including an order that all businesses, manufacturers, and construction companies should “limit the number of people who can enter into the facility at any one time to ensure that people in the facility can easily maintain a minimum six-foot distance from one another.”
All members of the board were present either in-person or via Zoom video call.
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