The incoming Miller County Judge Cathy Hardin Harrison says she does not want a new vehicle when she takes office in January. A well-cared-for used one will do just fine.
The issue came up at a Miller County Quorum Court budget committee meeting Monday.
"We need to spend every penny on paving the county roads instead of seeing new county vehicles," Justice of the Peace John Haltom, who represents District 9, said then.
Harrison said Wednesday she didn't know how her comments got turned around.
"During the budget process, they (budget committee) were looking at cutting the amount in the vehicle line to less than what it has been in previous years," she said. "I made the comment that some good used trucks need to be purchased next year, and I would like to pass the large truck that the current County Judge (Roy John McNatt) drives down to the road department and get me a good used SUV."
She said she has been looking at SUVs from Missouri, where the state government has a replacement program to sell its vehicles at 50,000 miles.
"The price range on the SUVs ranges from $15,000 to $18,000," she said. "The Miller County Sheriff's Department and TAPD (Texarkana, Ark. Police Department) have both made purchases from Missouri without issue. JP John Haltom made the assertion of me buying new vehicles. The only vehicles we will consider purchasing new would be for the Miller County Road Crew."
She said she never asked for a new vehicle, only a small, used SUV, and that the truck currently used by the county judge be reassigned to the road department.
And "that was only after the Quorum Court was going to make cuts to that line item," Harrison said in a Facebook statement.
Haltom was unavailable for comment Wednesday.
"While we are on the subject of vehicles, I know the citizens of Miller County want the roads paved. But the employees need some better vehicles than they are currently using. No cuts were made to asphalt. In fact they actually increased asphalt by $250,000," she said.
"I did ask for a new position for the road department at $37,500. The current road supervisor is paid $20 an hour but only works part-time. I want to do away with the three part-time positions for one that is full-time. The temporary part-time consultant at $20 per hour is for the JDC (Juvenile Detention Center). No position is being requested to write grants," Harrison said.