Quorum Court approves changes at the county jail

— During the Ouachita County Quorum Court meeting on Thursday night, the quorum finalized items need by at the Ouachita County Detention Complex, as outlined by Ouachita County Sheriff David Norwood.

The requests from the sheriff were made after Ouachita County Detention Complex inmate Austin Hill escaped from the county jail on Wednesday, Sept. 9, while being transported from the Ouachita County Medical Center after suffering a broken wrist during a fight with another inmate.

Hill managed to take off his restraints and bolt from the jail grounds because the sallyport section was not immediately closed when the jail van entered the area. Also, Hill managed to get out of the irons on his wrists due to the placement of a cast on his injured wrist.

Hill ran into a wooded area near the county jail and was not captured until Sept. 14 after stealing a vehicle and traveling to Bryant.

During Thursday’s meeting, the court read the request as an appropriation ordinance, and the ordinance passed.

Terms of the new items/changes at the local jail are:

• Implementing four direct supervisors with starting pay at $13.50 per hour.

• Installing auto-timed doors in the sally port and outer gates.

• Using zip-ties during transfer if cuffs cannot be worn due to medical interference.

• All commissary products will no longer be accepted from outside the jail.

• Purchase 30 one-piece leg iron and cuffs.

During audience participation portion of the meeting, Pauline Seals - who lives in the Harmony Grove area - questioned whether a salvage yard can be placed in the middle of a neighborhood. Ouachita County Judge Robbie McAdoo stated that his office would do research on the matter.

It was stated that the the first Primary Election for 2016 has been change from May to March. For those who wish to run for office in the March Primary, the filing period for party candidates and independents starts at noon on Monday, Nov. 2, and ends at noon on Monday, Nov. 9. Primary Election day begins Tuesday, March 1, 2016.

Other discussions during the meeting were:

• Approval of a resolution confirming the appointments to the Ouachita County Historical Commission.

• Jerry Willsey requested direction from the court about how to deal with a sunken riverboat on the Ouachita River near the Arkansas 7 bridge. The court told him that he would have to contact the owner of the boat before anything could be done.

• Harmony Grove School District will be put its mileage request back up for election on Tuesday, Feb. 9.

• McAdoo announced that Ouachita County Road and Bridge Crew has successfully completed three bridge replacements in a period of two months.

• Ouachita County Extension Services Agricultural Agent Kerri Welch introduced the new Family Consumer Sciences Agent, Addie Wilson, to the quorum court. McAdoo then presented a proclamation to Welch, Wilson and 4-H members stating that Oct. 4-10 as 4-H Week.

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