Jonesboro, AR – (JonesboroRightNow.com) – Nov. 26, 2024 – The Quorum Court approved an ordinance on Monday allocating over $144,000 for a new generator for the Craighead County Road Department.

The county will allocate $144,446.68 from county funds to a new fund, Fund 2996, to pay for the 100-kilowatt, diesel-powered generator. Along with the generator, the price includes the cost of labor, installation of a concrete pad for the machine, warranty and taxes on equipment and more.

The generator will be used to keep the Road Department Shop running in case of emergencies.

The total cost is a turnkey price, meaning it includes both direct and indirect costs as one lump sum. The project must be completed within 80 days of the ordinance’s approval.

Seventy-five percent of the funding, totaling $106,743, comes from the Fiscal Year 2025 Hazard Mitigation Grant program, a state-funded grant from the Arkansas Department of Emergency Management. Craighead County will match 25% of that amount, which is $37,712.68.

The county can either pay the full $144,446.68 upfront or in monthly installments. The state will reimburse the county the grant total of $106,743.

Justice of the Peace of District 4 Linda Allison questioned the turnkey price, asking if there was a possibility of getting specific breakdowns on the cost of the machine itself, electricity and more.

Craighead County Judge Marvin Day said it that was not possible, as they are required by state law to bid out projects over $35,000. He added that having this as one project made it easier for the county if there was an issue with anything purchased.

“Let’s say you buy the generator from one vendor and install it from another vendor and there’s a problem, then who’s at fault?” Day said. “It’s really easier to bid it out as a project so that you have one person responsible to take care of it.”

The ordinance passed 11-2.

Justices of the Peace Brad Noel, Garrett Barnes, Barry Forrest, Barbara Weinstock, Richard Rogers, David Tennison, Josh Longmire, Steve Cline, Dan Pasmore, Terry Couch and Kevin Williams voted for the ordinance. Allison and Justice of the Peace District 6 Darrel Cook voted against it.

Cook voted against the ordinance as he thought the price of the project was too high. Cook had previously spoken out against the ordinance in the Nov. 12 Finance Committee meeting, citing high costs.

More: Ordinance for new generator to go before Craighead County Quorum Court – Jonesboro Right Now