KTHS Photo
Dave Tiegen, Carroll County Airport Commission Chairman, told J.P.'s at Friday's Quorum Court meeting, that the Airport was approved for a F.A.A. federal  grant of $207,307.  The grant will be used to construct a new south ramp at the airport.  The Airport has also received 2 additional state grants totaling $600,000.  J.P.'s approved the Resolution authorizing the county judge to accept those funds on behalf of the airport.  All work will be done by local contractors.

Up in Smoke!  Essentially, that’s what Green Forest has done with the hundreds of thousands of dollars they have paid to engineering consultants over the last few years to advise them on the wastewater treatment plant upgrade.  That would have cost about $6 million dollars.  About $350,000 was paid to the city’s first engineering consultants.  They fired them, and lost that money, to go with one recommended by Tysons Foods, Reid Engineering.  So far they have paid Reid Engineering over $160,000.

But, Monday night, June 14, the City Council voted to end that relationship to go instead with a purchase of a “Sludge Press” for the wastewater plant,  which would keep them compliant with the State requirements of effluent discharged through the plant.  The cost of the sludge press would be funded by a 75% grant from the U.S.D.A.  The city is down to only one farm to spread sludge residue.  The sludge could be pressed into bundles after water was extracted and land-filled. 

In other business, Mayor Charlie Reece, charged some councilmen with “personal vendettas” in regard to the Jerry Norris water usage issue.  He told the Council, the issue was mishandled from the beginning.  Norris was fired earlier this year for allegedly unauthorized use of city water.  It is alleged he removed a city meter to his farm, and replaced it with another, to which he reported to the city how much water he used, and this apparently has been going on for years.  Certain city employees have taken pictures of Norris’ alleged illegal hookup.  Mayor Reece put a “stop” to any further allegations against Norris, on advice from their attorney, Brad Barnes.  None of the allegations against Norris, can be proved without a doubt.  What they do know is that since the city re-installed their own meter at Norris’ farm, the usage has gone up significantly compared to what he had been turning in to the city.    The City Council asked for an audit of the water department and all city departments, to which Mayor Reece said audits were routine anyway.