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CrossroadsJPs Caught Between A Rock, Hard PlaceSome days, it seems, public officials find themselves between a rock and a hard place for voting their convictions and doing what they feel is in the best interest of the public.A good example was last week’s turndown by Quorum Court JPs of a $700 request to Blytheville Chamber 01 Commerce for the purpose of promoting Blytheville Air Force Base as the site for one of the Air Force’s Peacekeeper Rail Garrisons.JPs were split when the vote was taken, with a majority nixing the request.County Judge Joe Gurley called late last week, bemoaning the fact that flak was coming into the courthouse from some folks who misinterpreted the stand the JPs took.According to Gurley, he and those voting against the appropriation have been catching some heat because critics erroneously believe that Quorum Court is op-M art* It 9k 1lt;TMIThe installation of 88 new traffic signs on Blytheville’s streets has been completed, it has been announced by Police Chief E. A. Rice, who today told of the plans for enforcing the traffic laws. This makes a total of 112 signals nownlftppd strppf intorsppHnnsposing the rail garrison. Nothing could be further from the truth, Gurley assured.What opponents of the measure feared, explained Gurley, was that this would set a bad precedent and open the way for other Chambers of Commerce countywide to come to the JPs with hat in hand asking for county money to promote similar worthwhile causes in their respective individual communities.JPs know that the various Chambers — including Blytheville’s — have their own budgets from which expenditures of this sort can be made. It was the feeling that approval of the $700 request would lead the Quorum Court into uncharted fiscal waters from which there could be no return, said Gurley.As well, some of those who voted for the appropriation may have done so through fear that to do otherwise might make their constituents think mistakenly that they opposed the rail garrison.Gurley said all of the JPs fully support BAFB as a Rail Garrison site and asked for a resolution to that effect as a companion to the resolution which failed. For reasons unknown, the resolution of support was not introduced.As the public well knows, politicians never want to anger constituents, for whatever reason, and Gurley said he wanted to clear the air on this subject because the JPs were getting a bum rap for doing the right thing.
Newspaper Details
Blytheville Courier News
Blytheville, Arkansas, US
Mon, Mar 28, 1988
Page 2
Full Page
Clipped by
Arkansas S.
AR, USA 25 Aug 2021
Other Publications Near Blytheville, Arkansas
Blytheville Army Air Corps News
Blytheville Courier News
