Addressing the public : County judge candidates voice negative views about proposed parking garage
Posted on Saturday, September 6, 2008
Neither candidate for Washington County judge supports spending millions of dollars to build a parking garage on College Avenue across from the Washington County Courthouse.
Republican candidate Earvel Fraley estimated the cost of building the parking garage at about $ 7 million.
"I just can't see spending that kind of money," Fraley said, adding that the old library building behind the courthouse could add to the county's acreage in that area.
When contacted Friday, Washington County Judge Jerry Hunton estimated the cost - including a skywalk - at $ 7. 5 to $ 8 million.
The other candidate, State Rep. Marilyn Edwards, D-Fayetteville, said she, too, has reservations about spending that kind of money on the parking garage.
"I can't see spending $ 7 million to build a parking garage," she said. "I'd have to do more study."
They voiced these views Friday during a candidates forum sponsored by the Governmental Relations Committee of the Fayetteville Chamber of Commerce. Fraley also voiced concerns about the ongoing maintenance of the garage after the initial construction cost.
The candidates also outlined their positions on other issues, as well as their qualifications to serve as county judge.
"The county is a big business, and they should be treated as a big business," Fraley said.
His 45 years of experience in heavy equipment sales and operation, he said, is important to oversee the county road and bridge department that includes 90 employees.
Fraley said he owned E & E Parts in Springdale for more than 33 years and attended the International Harvester Farm and Heavy Equipment School. He served on the Washington County Quorum Court for six years, from 1997 to 2003.
In addition, Fraley said he has been a member of the Springdale Jaycees and Rotary clubs. He said he has lived the past three to four years in the Greenland / West Fork area. He has served on the Greenland School Board and the Greenland Parent Teacher Association. He has been married for 47 years and has two children and five grandchildren.
Edwards has been married to George Edwards for 52 years. They have two children and three grandchildren. She is a member of Central United Methodist Church.
"I'm running for county judge because I want the job and I feel like I'm the most qualified," Edwards said.
She was elected in 1976 as Washington County Probate and County Clerk and served 13 terms - 26 years.
"I have managed budgets, and I have managed employees," she said.
Edwards said she never had a bad audit in all her time as county clerk.
She was elected in 2002 as state representative to the newly formed House District 88. She was re-elected in 2004 to a second term as state representative for the district.
State Sen. Sue Madison, D-Fayetteville, asked the candidates what resources they had in terms of working with the state and federal governments.
"It appears that's a setup question," Fraley told Madison, referring to her "good friend"Edwards. Edwards, explaining her connections, answered," I can pick up the phone. I can call Little Rock and Washington, D. C."
Priorities Both candidates answered questions about their priorities if elected. Fraley said the roads in the county need attention because of damage from recent rains. Edwards said there are many more responsibilities of the county judge besides overseeing roads. She mentioned other duties, including overseeing the county fire marshal, 911, juvenile detention, planning, the comptroller and human resources.
She said Hunton, who is retiring, and his predecessor, Charles Johnson, have set precedents in running the county that she wants to continue.
"Washington County has a staff of people that is outstanding," Edwards said.
She said her platform is to continue to provide services for the people of Washington County. She also talked about the importance of working with cities and the state.
"Unless we work together, we're going to be losing a lot," she said.
Asked what the most important issue in the county was, Fraley said it was taking care of the roads that have been damaged by the rains.
"Rural areas, in my opinion, are where we need to start first," he said.
Fraley said he believes the current county judge and Quorum Court have already addressed the facilities needs of the county.
Answering the same question, Edwards said the county has the finest drug court in the state and needs to maintain it.
"We need to support our judges," she said.
"I am totally attuned to trying to take care of our roads and bridges," she said, adding, however, that the budget is going to be tight.
Both candidates spoke about what might happen to current employees when they take office.
"A businessman cannot go in and fire staff," Fraley said but stated he would assess the performance of employees.
Edwards said," I don't think county government can be run like a business."
In county and city business, she said," The people are your boss."
She said elected officials in the county have their own people to supervise and run their offices. As for other employees, she said," I'm not going to fire people unless I have a good, legitimate reason to do that. "She said employees hired by Hunton and Johnson "have gone way beyond the line of duty. "Fraley said," Nobody's going to lose their job, if they're doing a good job."
Courthouse security Milton Jones, who was in the audience, asked if the security setup at the front door of the courthouse, which includes metal detectors, is necessary. He said the security could be moved to the courts, instead of inconveniencing people who appraise property or conduct other county business. Edwards said the security at the front entrance is needed to protect people in the courthouse. She said it is worth the inconvenience "if you save someone's life. "She said more security units would be needed to protect each judge and courtroom. Edwards said that she had a problem with a person when she was county clerk and felt threatened by the person. She said there are people who come in to the courthouse and are hostile about different issues. Fraley said if he is elected he will remove security from the entrance to the courthouse.
Animal control Eva Madison, a board member of the Humane Society of the Ozarks, asked about animal control issues in the county and the status of the spay and neuter program.
Edwards said the county needs to have animal control. Referring to the spay and neuter program, she said, there is a limit to how much money can be spent each year. There has been about $ 25, 000 budgeted this year by the county to help people afford spaying and neutering their animals.
"Money only goes so far," Edwards said.
Fraley said he has rescued a Rottweiler that was dumped on his property and spent about $ 500 on health care for the injured dog. He said farmers know how to control the stray animals that threaten their livestock. He also talked about the contract the county has with the Fayetteville Animal Shelter to help euthanize or adopt out stray animals.
He said the more money that is spent on spaying and neutering, the less of a problem there is with dumped animals in the county.
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