Miller County officials OK purchase of land to provide economic incentive

TEXARKANA, Ark. - Miller County joined Texarkana, Arkansas, in an agreement to buy land for future commercial development.

Miller County Quorum Court members on Monday approved an agreement with the city to buy 1,362 acres of land for economic development in the county. The measure received approval from all nine Justices of the Peace present at the meeting.

"This looks like one of the best things to ever happen in Miller County," said Justice of the Peace John Haltom.

The court's Budget and Finance Committee recently agreed to propose this joint land purchase and acquisition in order to secure industrial development in the county, which could lead to job growth in the area.

The agreement allows the county to contribute funds to the Arkansas-side's Public Facilities Board to help buy the land designated for enticing businesses and industrial manufacturing.

By approving the agreement, the county plans to contribute roughly $69,000 a year for the next 20 years to obtain the land.

The Public Facilities Board will technically own the land until both the city and the county pay off the bonds held by the Farmers Bank and Trust Co., which will provide the financing.

The land-purchasing idea initially came before county officials in February, when Rob Sitterly, CEO of the regional economic development advocacy group AR-TX REDI, made the proposal.

In other business, the court's justices of the peace agreed to a request by Miller County Emergency Management Services Coordinator Joe Bennett to help the EMS office replace its outdated radio communications console, which will cost $76,454.

Bennett recently said the console is at least 15 years old and reached the end of its useful life about five years ago.

Miller County Judge Cathy Harrison said the county should soon be receiving $1.4 million in Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act (CARES Act) funds. Once these are received, Harrison said funding priority will go toward securing county employee pay.

Harrison also said the county will receive $33,000 in Arkansas State Hazardous Mitigation grant funds to help repair more than half a mile of County Road 29.

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