LEGISLATIVE JOINT AUDITING-COUNTIES AND MUNICIPALITIES Committee
Event Log
Mark Johnson — The transcript appears to refer to Senator Johnson asking a question; the audio text is garbled as 'Coach Herr Johnson.'
Mark Johnson — Referenced as Chairman Johnson in connection with the discussion of constitutional issues and training emphasis.
Mark Johnson — His earlier point about emphasizing the topic is continued in the discussion of city official certification.
Mark Johnson — Senator Johnson raises concerns about the audit findings, focusing especially on Pulaski County because of the dollar amounts involved and his expectation that larger counties with full-time staff should be more attentive. He references a discussion with the Faulkner County judge, who described that issue as a documentation problem that might be corrected, but says the Pulaski County district’s advertising issues and the sale of equipment for far less than its reported value are troubling. Johnson asks whether anyone from the Pulaski County Solid Waste Management District is present to answer questions, later asks whether the district’s practice of not maintaining receipts for items like gas, meals, and office supplies complies with the law, and concludes by moving to defer the report until June and invite district representatives to return and answer the committee’s questions.
Steve Crowell — Steve Crowell repeatedly references and thanks 'Senator Critcher,' expressing appreciation for what they do. The exchange is brief and repetitive, with no substantive topic change.
Steve Crowell — Senator Crowell is introduced as the next speaker and then follows up by summarizing that the interlocal agreement and treasurer issue are being addressed.
Jack Ladyman — Representative Ladyman is called on after the discussion about outreach and education.
Jack Ladyman — Representative Ladyman is addressed as the next speaker/caller.
Jack Ladyman — Addressed by the speaker as Representative Ladyman at the close of the exchange.
Jack Ladyman — Representative Ladyman asks whether, in Pulaski County finding two, a credit card bill or statement showing purchases is adequate documentation for P-card expenses such as gas, meals, and office supplies.
Jack Ladyman — Asks about groundwater wells, number of wells, clarifiers, and whether there is one plant or multiple plants.
Charlie Camp — Charlie Camp, a staff member, presents the report on regional solid waste management districts, continuing his introduction and discussion of the report’s selected policies, procedures, and transactions.
Johnny Rye — Representative Rye twice emphasizes that the situation does not look good and questions whether district officials understand how badly they have messed up, expressing frustration and reinforcing his desire to have them present.
Johnny Rye — The chair calls on Representative Rye, followed by Representative Bady, after the witness's remarks, continuing the same procedural transition to member questions or comments.
Johnny Rye — Representative Rye is mentioned during a brief audit-related exchange in which the chair redirects the discussion back to the audit issue, thanks Representative Rye, and then identifies the next questioner. The sequence continues with a call on additional members, indicating the same ongoing discussion rather than a new topic.
Mayor Charlotte Young — Mayor Charlotte Young is present at the hearing and is identified as the witness available to answer questions, specifically regarding the repeat finding.
Charlotte Young — Mayor Charlotte Young explains that she inherited the city’s timekeeping issue and initially purchased software to address it, but that solution did not resolve the problem. She says Camden is now looking into different software in order to fix the issue.
Melanie Coel / Melanie Cal — Johnson County Treasurer-Collector Melanie Coel/Cal is present to respond to questions. She explains that she has been working with the person who handles the county’s final tax settlement and is getting help with bank reconciliations in order to avoid repeat findings. When asked about unrecorded withdrawals, she says they may be related to the Forster Davis grant, though she is not certain. She then finishes her response and thanks the committee.
Mayor Bruce Delaney — Invited to respond regarding the Town of Gilmore report but requested deferral due to a conflict.
Mayor Candace Miller — Mayor of Grubbs present to respond to the report.
Recorder-Treasurer Southern — Recorder-treasurer of Grubbs present to respond; first name not clearly captured.
Candace Miller — Candace Miller, mayor of Grubbs, introduces herself and apologizes while explaining that she had to educate herself on proper procedures after taking office. She says that after the 2022 election, the entire council and mayoral administration changed in 2023, prompting the need to correct compliance issues and understand the town’s records and audit requirements.
Eugene Chisholm — IRS agent Eugene Chisholm came to the town and informed officials that they owed $97,959.93 in taxes, warning that the property could be seized if the debt was not addressed.
IRS agent Wiseman — IRS agent Wiseman contacted the mayor, apologized for the delay, and said he had a form to move the town back to collections. He later reported that the fax he tried to send was kicked back and said he would mail the form within two or three days.
Mayor — The mayor is thanked for coming and sharing the story about the town's IRS problems.
Rita Fight / Ms. Fide (questionable) — Recorder-Treasurer Rita Fight is identified as present to answer questions; the transcript also says 'Ms. Fide,' which is likely a transcription error.
Ms. Fide (questionable) — The witness is asked to identify herself and present her response.
Recorder-Treasurer of the City of Sparkman — The recorder-treasurer explains the finding involved not giving the council a monthly financial statement and says she had help before that person left.
David King — David King, the operator/manager of the Cross County Rural Water System, explains that he was called to the hearing mainly about audit issues and says he became manager in 2019 after working for the company since 2002. He notes that annual audits were done, though one older audit from 2006 was still missing, and says prior managers also did not understand the requirement. He adds that the board has five certified members, elections are held annually and recorded in the minutes, and the system serves about 5,000 customers across six counties with only two licensed laborers. He also acknowledges the system received a loan and says the related projects are underway, though he was not prepared to discuss the broader funding details.
Mr. King — Mr. King is invited to identify himself and make a statement.
Clarke Tucker — Asked questions of Mr. King and identified himself as representing Woodruff County in District 61.
Clarke Tucker — Explained that constituents have repeatedly complained since June 28, 2023, about brown water and poor water conditions.
Clarke Tucker — Described repeated complaints about poor water quality and said the lack of audits while receiving state funds is concerning.
Clarke Tucker — Continued questioning about the loan and project timing.
Clarke Tucker — Pressed on the loan timing and project details.
Clarke Tucker — Pressed on annual audit requirements, training, and oversight.
Clarke Tucker — Continued the line of questioning about annual audits, training, and oversight.
Clarke Tucker — Asked whether Arkansas Rural Water Association had previously been asked to help manage a water crisis.
Clarke Tucker — Senator Clark is called on to ask a question, then takes the floor to address the chair and begin a brief comment referencing a law passed about four years earlier and Senator Love.
Dave Wallace — Asked about the board size and how long David King had been on the board.
Dave Wallace — Suggested that public notice of election times should be posted and referenced prior legislation on public contact information.
Stan Berry — The chair says Representative Barry will be allowed to go first with questions.
Jimmy Hickey — Referenced as having been crucial when he was in the House in advancing the issue being discussed.
Carol Dalby — Representative Dalby commends the Municipal League and the city’s efforts.
Richard Womack — The transcript appears to say 'Representative Rack,' likely a mishearing of Representative Womack, who asks whether federal and state income tax issues have been corrected.
Richard Womack — The chair calls on Representative Bady/Beatty amid a discussion of long-standing water quality problems. The exchange references that Representative Beatty and others have complained for years about the issue, and then Representative Beatty asks the witness how long they have worked with the water district and how long the water problems have existed.
Matt Stone — The chair is addressed as 'Mr. Chair' during the motion to file the report.
Matt Stone — Matt Stone repeatedly thanks and addresses the chair during the exchange, alternating between 'Mr. Chairman' and 'Mr. Chair' in brief, polite remarks.
Mark McElroy — The transcript appears to say 'Mayor Howell'; this likely refers to Mayor Howell of Strong, not a listed legislator. No legislator is clearly speaking here.
Mark McElroy — Representative McElroy was called on and then thanked the witness, noting his own experience running a water company before asking how many customers the witness has.