Hempstead County Quorum Court Discusses Dog Ordinance, Flooding, and Staffing Issues

Hope, Arkansas – July 24, 2025 The Hempstead County Quorum Court convened Thursday evening (7/24) to address various concerns affecting residents, including a proposed dog ordinance, flood mitigation efforts, and staffing shortages in county departments.

The meeting began with an invocation and the Pledge of Allegiance. All eleven justices attended. The minutes from the June 26 meeting were approved as written.

A proposed ordinance addressing “vicious” and “nuisance” dogs was read aloud and discussed extensively. The ordinance aims to define aggressive behavior, specify penalties for unrestrained animals, and include exceptions for dogs acting in defense of their owners or while performing law enforcement duties. Several justices voiced concerns about the fairness of enforcement and the importance of protecting both victims and pet owners. Sheriff James Singleton urged the court to ensure the ordinance is enforceable and effective. The ordinance was tabled for revisions and will be reconsidered at the next meeting.

Teresa Smith, representing the Fulton Levee Board, presented a report on the declining condition of the levee at the Fulton and Farmer’s sites. She displayed photos showing erosion damage and warned that current budget allocations are inadequate for repairs. Smith stated that additional funding sources are being explored to tackle the issue.

Sheriff Singleton also addressed staffing shortages within the sheriff’s office and jail, mentioning the recent departure of three employees and the depletion of training funds used for mandated and specialized training. He provided budget information to each justice and requested their input. The Parks Department expressed similar concerns regarding hiring and retention. Meanwhile, Theresa S. “Terrie” James, County Extension Agent for Family and Consumer Sciences at the University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture, reported that “four Hempstead County 4-Hers competed as a team in the FCS Skill-a-thon and came in 6th place among 10 teams. This was the largest number of teams to participate in this competition in many years.”

The Economic Development office shared that a survey is in progress to understand the needs of residents working in Hempstead County but living elsewhere. The goal is to identify opportunities to attract more residents to the area. She also mentioned the upcoming County and District Fairs. The meeting was adjourned with plans to revisit the dog ordinance and continue discussions on budget and staffing needs at the next session.