The Dallas County Quorum Court heard end-of-year hospital financials and various department reports at its regular monthly meeting on Tuesday (Feb. 17).

Dallas County Medical Center administrator David Mantz reported the hospital closed 2025 in the black, showing a bottom line net profit of $216,233.92.

“Most Arkansas small hospitals operate in the red. We are blessed to have great people and community support. This year will be a challenge with some changes in funding, and we will have to make adjustments,” said Mantz.

There were 24 admissions, 1,289 clinic visits, 677 Nutt-Walley Clinic visits, and 301 emergency room patients in the month of December.

In the budget review, Treasurer Louann Clayton showed current balances of $138,537.71 in county general funds and $274,600.22 in the county road account.

“There are always extra expenses in an election year and the reimbursement amounts owed to the county by the cities of Fordyce, Sparkman, and Carthage remain unpaid for the previous election,” said Clayton.

Sheriff Mike Knoedl reported $154,101.10 collected in January for the housing of prisoners at the Dallas County Jail. There are 99 inmates currently held, with 52 of those being federal prisoners.

“We are still negotiating with the federal Marshals’ Service for an increase in housing fees. We currently receive $68.26 per day and are expecting a substantial raise,” said Knoedl.

Knoedl addressed the recent local homicide on Feb. 1, expressing pride in his department, the Fordyce Police Department, Arkansas State Police, and the U.S. Marshals for their quick response and arrest of the suspect.

Ladarius Deshon Johnson of Pine Bluff was arrested Wednesday (Feb. 4) for the murder of Jerron Lucas Rayford, Sr. Rayford was killed in a fatal shooting that happened around 3:00-3:30 a.m. on Sunday (Jan. 31) at a private club on 109 East First Street in Fordyce.

James Goodwin, Director of Operations for the Valor EMS, spoke to the court providing a 2025 fourth quarter report. He showed the ambulance service responded to a total of 127 calls, including 116 in Fordyce, 7 in Sparkman, 4 in Carthage, and 6 out of county calls.

A review of last year’s programs was given by Dallas County Cooperative Extension Agent JoAnn Vann. She reported 63,559 educational contacts made and 4,788 volunteer hours given in 2025. Programs include 4-H agriculture, family, and community services.

In other quorum court business:

–  To correct an error in the recently approved revised personnel policy, Ordinance #2026-04 was presented by Dallas County Clerk Dori Keeton. Full-time employees’ health insurance provision was shown as “at no cost” to the employee and is being corrected to read “at minimal cost” to the employee. After three readings, the final motion to approve came from Justice Donny Ford and the correction passed after a second by Justice Robert Seale.

–  Melissa Robbins of Fordyce Hope Place shared information on their services and educational programs provided to help local expectant mothers and those with babies. She said the facility needs a medical director.

–  Since questions have come up recently about collecting glass for recycling, Bob Crawford of Epic Glass Recycling informed the court of his company’s operations. Discussion was held, but no action was taken.