Just over a week ago, following record flooding impacting communities along the Arkansas River, Gov. Asa Hutchinson issued executive order creating the task force. Hutchinson named the first eight members of the new task force and announced he would appoint additional members.
Today, Hutchinson appointed 17 additional members including three county judges, two state senators, two state representatives, a county clerk, two mayors, two engineers, an attorney, a levee board member, and three citizens representing flood impacted areas.
The first meeting of the Arkansas Levee Task Force will be held on Friday, July 12 at 1 p.m. The location will be announced later.
The latest appointments are:
Chicot County Judge Mack Ball
State Sen. Jason Rapert
State Sen. Gary Stubblefield
State Rep. Mary Bentley
State Rep. David Hillman
Yell County Judge Mark Thone
Jackson County Judge Jeff Phillips
Pope County Clerk Pam Ennis
Dardanelle Mayor Jimmy Witt
Pine Bluff Mayor Shirley Washington
Rob Rash, St. Francis Levee Board
Mike Lowe representing Miller County
Tim Ralston representing Pope and Conway counties
Marty Shell representing Sebastian and Crawford counties
Evan Teague, engineer, Farm Bureau
Tommy Bond, engineer, Pulaski County
Hal Kemp, attorney, Pulaski County
Hutchinson previously appointed:
Jami Cook, Secretary, Department of Public Safety
Tommy Land, Arkansas Land Commissioner
Wes Ward, Secretary, Department of Agriculture
Larry Walther, Secretary, Department of Finance and Administration
Bruce Holland, Director, Arkansas Natural Resources Commission
A.J. Gary, Director, Arkansas Department of Emergency Management
Deidre Smith, Director, Arkansas Waterways Commission
Shelby Johnson, Director, Geographic Information Office
The task force will also identify sources and requirements for funding the construction, repair, and maintenance of the levees; study prospective monitoring and reporting systems for maintenance of the levees; and review adequacy of current laws and organizational structure of the levee system and levee district boards.
The task force will provide a report of its findings and make recommendations to the governor for improved monitoring and maintenance of the state’s levee system by December 31, 2019. The Task Force may provide additional reports and recommendations to the governor as necessary.
