Joe Roosa of New York says he still has a vision for the 70 acre site at I40 and Weir Road that he bought 13 years ago, but development is on hold until the casino issue is resolved. (May 13, 2019 article)
“Every business we talk to wants to know what is happening with the gaming casino. When we say we have no answer, they say call us when you know. We get a lot of questions, and we don’t have an answer for them. Everybody is in a kind of wait and see, holding pattern. Where will the casino end up? That is what everybody is talking about.”
Before he was sworn into office as county judge, Ben Cross expressed his opinions on the casino:
Cross said the county plans to spend no money funding any litigation to avoid the casinos since he says state law bars county judges and quorum courts from taking any action that would supersede state law, or in this case a constitutional amendment.
Obviously sympathetic to the cause, Cross believes the Citizens for a Better Pope County initiative likely doesn’t have a legal leg to stand on. The group was about to pass an ordinance on the same ballot as Issue 4, requiring another local vote on a Pope County casino.
“I don’t think it will stand the legal test because it’s in direct violation of state law as it stands,” said Cross.
At a meeting on Wednesday morning, the Arkansas Racing Commission delayed a decision on the appeal of Gulfside Casino Partnership, whose application to build a casino in Pope County was rejected by the Commission in June, along with those of four other applicants, because none of the applicants had letters of support from current government officials.
Gulfside’s application, submitted on May 17, included letters of endorsement from Jim Gibson, the previous county judge of Pope County, and Randy Horton, the previous mayor of Russellville. Both letters were issued at the end of December, shortly before the officials left office. But earlier this year, the commission ruled that the endorsements must come from officials who were in office at the time a casino’s application was submitted. Casey Castleberry, an attorney for Gulfside, said this ruling is unconstitutional because this requirement was not included in the constitutional amendment approved by voters statewide in November. (read more at Arkansas Times)
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (KATV) — The Arkansas Gaming Commission is in the process of hearing an appeal from Gulfside Casino Partnership. This comes after the commission denied Gulfside’s application to build a casino in Pope County. (—more—)
ALL of the justices will be up for reelection in 2020. If they are opposed by someone of the same party, they will appear on the March 2020 primary ballot.
Arkansas County Judges 2018 Procedures Manual
The legislative body of county government is called the quorum court and is composed of 9, 11, 13 or 15 members depending on the population of the county. The quorum court members are called justices of the peace and are elected for two-year terms from districts within the county. These district officials meet each month, more often if necessary, to conduct county business and review ordinances and resolutions for passage. The county judge is the presiding officer over the quorum court without a vote, but with the power of veto. This veto can be overridden with a 3/5ths vote of the total membership of the quorum court.
Search Public Records—Use this to search for existing permits, plans, inspections, code cases, requests and licenses.
ReImagine Russellville 2040—September 2020, a narrative report on the Comprehensive Plan for Russellville. The plan serves as an official policy statement of the City of Russellville for directing growth and development within its city limits and planning area.
Litigation
There are currently NO active cases related to the Pope County Casino. There have been 18 cases filed so far, including appeals:
58CV-18-768—Knight v. Gibson; filed 12-27-2018
58CV-19-439—CFABPC & Knight v Cross et al. filed 8-13-2019.
60CV-19-5832—Gulfside Casino Partnership v. ARC, filed 8-15-2019. This was a judicial review of the ARC denial of Gulfside’s application. Judge Tim Fox ruled in favor of Gulfside. This ruling was reversed and remanded by the Arkansas Supreme Court. Fox again ruled in favor of Gulfside. The Arkansas Supreme Court reversed his ruling and dismissed the case.
60CV-19-5858—Knight et al v.ARC, filed 8-15-2019
58CV-19-462—Gulfside Casino Partnership v. ARC, filed 8-22-2019. A week after 60CV-19-5832 was filed in Pulaski County, Judge Tim Fox said the proper venue was Pope County and sent it there, where it was filed under this case number. Judge William Pearson found that the proper venue was Pulaski County. The case was returned to Pulaski County, where it was refiled under the original case number and Judge. filed 8-22-2019
CV-19-968—Gulfside Casino Partnership v. ARC, filed 12-23-2019
60CV-19-9172—CFABPC & Knight v. ARC, filed 12-27-2019
CV-20-145—CFABPC & Knight v Cross et al., filed 3-2-2020
CV-20-211—CNB v. Gulfside, filed 4-2-2020
CV-20-438—CNB v. ADFA, filed 7-8-2020
58CV-20-429—Cross et al. v. ARC, filed 10-13-2020
60CV-21-1217—Legends et al v. ARC et al., filed 2-16-2021
60CV-21-1653—Gulfside v. ARC, filed 3-09-2021
CV-21-289—CNB v. Gulfside, filed 6-28-2021
60CV-21-7742—Goodin v. ARC, filed 12-7-2021
CV-23-50—Legends v. Gulfside, filed 1-26-2023
CV-23-541—Knight v. ARC, filed 8-11-2023
60CV-23-7266—Goodin & Thone v. ARC, filed 9-25-2023
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Your voter registration information at Arkansas Secretary of State website: address, party association, ballot statuses, and polling place locations – also all of the districts that are applicable for your location.
Article 5 § 1 – Initiative and Referendum–“no local legislation shall be enacted contrary to the Constitution or any general law of the State, and any general law shall have the effect of repealing any local legislation which is in conflict therewith.
