Quorum Court signs off on Carvana incentives

Former county employee arrested for 2018 theft from jail commissary fund

news@theeveningtimes.com

Crittenden County Quorum Court justices unanimously passed a required tax-back resolution related to the construction of the recently announced multimillion- dollar Carvana processing and distribution center being constructed in the new industrial park just north of U.S. Highway 70 in West Memphis.

West Memphis Economic Director Phillip Sorrell, accompanied by Mayor Marco McClendon, said the tax back resolution is part of the agreement endorsed by the Arkansas Department of Economic Development and is similar to the resolution recently passed by the West Memphis City Council.

“This is just standard procedure,” Sorrell told justices when asked exactly what does the resolution mean. Sorrell said the tax back incentive is solely for the construction of the massive distribution facility and equipment.

And, he said, it ends once the construction phase is complete.

In explaining what Carvana actually is, Sorrell said what is being built in Crittenden County is a procession and distribution center that will accommodate up to 12,000 late-model vehicles.

When completed the company is expected to employ 400 workers, many of whom will be mechanics charged with a 500-point inspection process.

Phase 2 of the project calls for an additional 200 employees who will all be paid above average annual wages.

“This is simply great positive news for Crittenden County,” Judge Woody Wheeless said. He said he is just glad that Crittenden County can play a part in this major economic development. “I am just excited for Crittenden County, and this is just great positive news.”

With that, justices voted on and approved the resolution.

In other quorum court business:

• Justices postponed taking any action on an ordinance that was added to the agenda calling on the county to pay $20,530 stolen from the Crittenden County Detention Center’s Commissary fund.

The theft, which occurred in 2018, was money from the inmate contributions for various items and supplies inmates are allowed to purchase.

Justice Vickie Robertson immediately raised the red flag by asking Treasurer Matt Thompson why the county was responsible for reimbursing the $20,530 when it should come out of the sheriff’s office budget.

Robertson also wanted to know who was responsible for the theft and details of the restitution.

All that justices knew about the theft was that the “state” handled the investigation, the employee charged in the theft was terminated and no knowledge of the punishment.

Robertson was of the opinion that the person charged with the theft should be held accountable for returning the funds and that any liability should be on the sheriff’s office and not the county’s general fund.

But, Thompson said because “it was the public’s money” the county is held responsible for reimbursement.

Because justices were asking questions that no one could adequately answer the motion was made to table any action until next month. Sheriff Mike Allen, who usually attends quorum court meetings, was absent due to a family emergency.

Following the meeting, the sheriff’s office put out a news release seeking help locating Wesley Neil Leggett, 32, accused of fraudulently obtaining checks in his name using the Sheriff’s Department’s commissary account numbers.

A warrant was issued for Leggett’s arrest, and on Wednesday evening, he was picked up by the Bartlett, Tennessee Police Department.