Nicole Tracy
Reporter
NASHVILLE – As the season for
elections approaches, County Judge
Kevin Smith’s current tenure as Howard
County Judge shows there have been
many things that he has accomplished
and is proud of.
Under his leadership, Howard County
has put a lot of time and energy into
the development and maintenance
of the county’s Road and Sanitation
department. With the assistance of a
grant, the adjoining City Shop and property
was purchased to properly house
all of the County’s road and sanitation
equipment.
Smith also oversaw the update to
the Road and Sanitation Department’s
equipment, and further plans to continue
to upgrade the Road and Sanitation
Department’s Equipment to be more efficient.
“Employees of the department are
competent, reliable, dependable and an
asset to Howard County.” Smith stated.
The budgets for Road and Sanitation
are “healthy”, and stated that “all Road
and Sanitation department issues will be
addressed as soon as possible.” Smith
also stated that he has plans to implement
a ditch maintenance program
for the County’s roadways, as well as
continuing the weed control program
on all right of ways.
He also plans to continue to maintain
the County’s paved
roads, and have the older
paved roads in the county
restriped to make them
safer to drive on. Road repairs
from the tornado and
flooding damage earlier this
year are almost completed.
He has also overseen the
completion of updating several
of the county’s roads.
Judge Smith has also
overseen the repair and
upgrades to the runway
and lights at the Howard
County Airport, using FAA
and State grants, at no cost
to the County.
Grants have also been instrumental
in the upkeep of
the Howard County Courthouse
under his tenure.
Security upgrades, including
cameras and upgraded
panic buttons have been installed, at
no cost to the County. Working with
the Arkansas Historic Preservation
Program, who has in the past granted
monies to Howard County for work such
as repair walls, interior painting, new
downspouts, and landscaping the boiler
with heat pump systems throughout
the Howard County Courthouse, will
be replaced, at no cost to the County.
Howard County has also assisted the
Howard County Fair Association, the
local fire departments, and the Howard
County Farmer’s Market in acquiring
grants for various purposes as needed
for the organizations.
Under his tenure, approximately 1/3
of the funds needed to abate the old
Howard Memorial Hospital have been
obtained. Progress has also been made
on the debris removal and restoration
of the grounds at the old hospital site.
