Boone County Quorum Court September Meeting

The Boone County Quorum Court met Tuesday to vote on several ordinances and receive updates from county leadership.

Sheriff Roy Martin opened the session by reporting that the county jail received high marks during an August inspection by the Department of Public Safety. Judge Mitchell Archer described the inspection report as "impressive".

Sheriff Martin also urged the public to support the quarter-cent sales tax on the upcoming November ballot. He noted that the tax has been in place for 20 years and is essential for maintaining county services and the jail, which serves surrounding cities. Justice David Thompson added that the tax's sunset clause allows voters to hold officials accountable, noting that the Sheriff's Office has used the funds responsibly.

In other news, Judge Archer announced a public hearing on October 13 at 5 p.m. The meeting will allow citizens to voice their opinions on the use of UTVs on county and qualifying state roads, an authority granted by Act 922 of 2025.

The court unanimously passed several appropriation ordinances to manage county funds:

• Employee Development: Funding was approved for professional development payments for five employees in the Assessor's Office.
• Departmental Support: Funds were allocated to the County Coroner, the Sheriff's Office (via a Harps fundraiser), and the local library for a scholarship.
• Fire Services: $24,300 from the Arvest Foundation was designated for rural volunteer fire departments.
• Courthouse Construction: Over $550,000 was moved into the new courthouse fund to ensure the government center becomes operational.
• Infrastructure and Facilities: The court expressed support for Issue 4, which provides state funding for water infrastructure. Additionally, $10,000 was approved to upgrade the HVAC system in the dispatcher's room.

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