Editor’s note: Lisa Mills, contributor to The Grand Prairie Herald, is the author of this report.

The Prairie County Quorum Court has approved an ordinance to amend previous budgets to reappropriate funds received from a Sustained Traffic Enforcement Program (STEP) grant. The $19,100 in funding was previously expended from the county general fund and was reimbursed. The ordinance, approved during a meeting on Tuesday (May 12), allows the funding to go to the Prairie County Sheriff’s Office for the line item, allowing overtime to continue operations and support law enforcement.

Another resolution was approved showing the willingness of the county to participate in a proposed recreational trail program. Stretching from Lonoke to DeValls Bluff, the county will be one of seven entities participating. The DeValls Bluff City Council also approved a resolution showing its support of the proposed trail. 

A $50,000 grant will be applied requiring the entities to pay 20% of the grant. The grant is for the planning and design phase of the project. The county’s portion will be less than $2,000 and Clerk Gaylon Hale said a private donor has pledged to pay the county’s portion. 

Agent Jacob Holloway with the Prairie County Office of the Cooperative Extension Service presented an annual report and a demo book to members of the Quarium Court showing the office’s activities for the year. He also gifted each elected official a “Cookie in a Jar” prepared by the 4-H program.

Regan Martin with the Arkansas Economic Development Commission presented a resolution for the Quorum Court to certify the endorsement of White River Energetics to participate in the tax back program. The resolution authorizes the refund of local sales and use taxes for the construction of its facility. The ordinance authorizes the Department of Finance and Administration to refund the local sales and use taxes. The resolution was passed.