Judge David Hudson/47 Desks & $1.7 million budget increase. February 17, 2011
No lecture to the judge and the J.P.’s that budgets are to be cut, not expanded.
Reading deeply into Rusty Garrett’s article Wednesday regarding Sebastian County and its upcoming expenditures is indeed alarming.
1. A $75,000 expenditure to buy special furniture that requires “anchoringâ€. Why? The furniture is for an alleged emergency Op center occupying the old National Guard Armory. Who knows how many governments and ever-expanding law enforcement agencies are involved in this very murky arrangement?
2. Who is to sit in these very unique and expensive desks and for what purpose?
3. There will be 47 “work stations†that will reside in the anchored down desks.
Fort Smith and Sebastian County have occasional tornedos, minor flooding, and a few fires that could be described as emergencies. Citizens, ask yourself how could our small area justify the magnitude of 47 work stations manned by government types at an emergency Op center? It just doesn’t add up.
Sheriff Hollenbeck is involved in this operation and if you haven’t noticed, the Sheriff’s department is militarized to the point that it could invade a small country, and all law enforcement agencies are equipped and trained military style.
Hudson informed the J.P.’s they must sign a document immediately or the county would lose “considerationâ€â€”Obama-style.
This operation is to be used as a training center—for what purpose? How many new employees? Full or part time?
And yes, the Fed, the State, and FEMA are rooted in this operation too.
It will be in the best interest of city and county citizens to demand immediately that Judge Hudson, Sheriff Hollenbeck, Fort Smith Police Chief, Fort Smith City Directors and Sebastian County J.P.’s call for an advertised public meeting to describe the real function and purpose of the 47 stations and the enlargement of the building.
This gives all the appearance of a regional entity for the express purpose of surveillance or locking down a segment of society. Perhaps one of the infamous Fusion Centers? Why haven’t our elected officials been transparent on this issue, particularly in a major recession?
Kindest regards,
Joe McCutchen