Hunton elected to lead mobility authority

The Morning News

Local News for Northwest Arkansas


Hunton To Lead Mobility Panel

By Doug Thompson
THE MORNING NEWS
SPRINGDALE -- Departing Washington County Judge Jerry Hunton was chosen unanimously as the head of the state's first regional mobility authority on Monday by the authority's 13-member board.

Hunton, who is not running for re-election as judge, accepted the post only after getting assurances that his appointment would not bind the next Washington County judge in any way. He will head the new Northwest Arkansas Regional Mobility Authority at least until the next Washington County judge is sworn in January. That next judge can sit on the board or appoint a designee besides Hunton, Hunton and board members agreed. The board met for the first time Monday at the Northwest Arkansas Regional Planning Commission office in Springdale.

The Washington and Benton county judges or their designees sit on the board along with city mayors or their designees from cities within those two counties. The cities have to agree to join the authority first to have board membership. Also, only first-class cities have a board vote although any city may join the board and discuss transportation issues. By state law, a first-class city must have a population of more than 2,500 and must seek the designation.

The mobility authority has no taxing power, but may administer money raised by votes of the people for joint highway projects. Any tax or toll sought by the authority must be approved by the voters in elections called by the county involved. Also, the authority is prohibited by state law from putting a toll on an existing road. Tolls are only for new construction. Any taxes such as sales taxes must also be spent in the county where it is raised, state law also stipulates.

Mobility authorities will be vital to making progress on highways as federal highway funds tighten and state funds are stretched, said Dan Flowers, director of the state Highway and Transportation Department, said at the meeting. Flowers and state highway commission chairman Jonathan Barnett attended Monday's meeting. Representatives from the governor's office and 3rd District Rep. John Boozman, R-Rogers, also attended.

"There was concern that the highway department would let you take on projects and spend state highway funds elsewhere," Flowers said. "That won't happen. We're going to have to give priority to regional projects where partners are going to be able to contribute to do the most with what money we do have."

The board will spend the remainder of this year setting up bylaws and getting itself organized, Hunton said. The board probably won't be ready with any specific proposals until the spring of next year, after the money from federal and state taxpayer sources are clearer, he said.