On February 18, 2026, Independence Watch obtained Quorum Court meeting minutes spanning January 2024 through December 2025 via a FOIA request to County Clerk Tracey Mitchell. Here are the key findings from our review of nearly two years of county government proceedings.
The Paper Ballot Saga: From Citizen Petition to Repeal
The most significant thread running through these minutes is the rise and fall of Independence County’s paper ballot ordinance.
In September 2024, the agenda noted that Ordinance 2024-18 had been assigned to “The Hand Marked, Hand Counted Paper Ballot Ordinance”:a citizen-initiated measure that would have required hand-marked, hand-counted paper ballots in Independence County elections.
By November 2024, County Attorney Daniel Haney was briefing the court on “court rulings and election results” related to the paper ballot initiative. In July 2025, he discussed another county’s paper ballot appeal.
The critical moment came in November 2025, when Haney told the court about a state supreme court ruling on conflicting filing dates for citizen-initiated petitions. He explained that the Independence County paper ballot petition “was filed during a time frame that was constitutional at the time but has since been ruled unconstitutional.” The court voted to table the discussion.
One month later, in December 2025, Ordinance 2025-27 was introduced to repeal the paper ballot ordinance and establish a new voting system. It passed on a roll call vote, 9-0, with two members absent (Jones and Jordan, whose votes were recorded as nay by default).
Key question: Was the repeal necessary based on the court ruling, or did county officials use the ruling as a convenient justification to overturn a citizen-initiated measure?
County Attorney Daniel Haney’s Central Role
County Attorney Daniel Haney appears at nearly every meeting and serves as the legal gatekeeper for the Quorum Court. His legal interpretations on the paper ballot issue directly shaped the court’s actions. He was also involved in:
- Advising on data/crypto mining center regulations (September 2024)
- Reviewing fire department funding ordinances (June 2024)
- Briefing on wind turbine moratorium legal authority (October 2025)
- Advising on community service laws (April 2024)
Election Security Briefing Before the 2024 Election
In October 2024, Election Commissioners Jennifer Emery and Wendy Henderson, along with Election Coordinators Cathy Drew and Barbara Henson, attended the Quorum Court meeting. They had attended an election security meeting earlier that day and discussed plans to keep voters and election workers safe. The timing:just weeks before the November 2024 election:raises questions about whether the paper ballot ordinance was creating administrative concerns.
VFW Permit Transfer
In August 2024, the court approved Ordinance 2024-17 authorizing a transfer of location for a private club permit. Attorney Blair Arnold represented the Harry B. Stokes Post 4501 Veterans of Foreign Wars. The ordinance passed without controversy.
County-Employee Business Transaction
In July 2025, the court quietly passed Ordinance 2025-17, authorizing “the transaction of business between Independence County and a county employee” under ACA 14-14-1202. No details were provided in the minutes about which employee or what business transaction was involved. This warrants further investigation:Arkansas law requires disclosure but the minutes are silent on specifics.
Other Notable Actions
Wind Turbine Moratorium
In October 2025, the court passed a moratorium on commercial wind turbines through December 31, 2028, after learning that land in the Oil Trough area was being considered for 50 windmills, each 695 feet tall.
$650,000+ Federal Building Deal
Judge Kevin Jeffery negotiated a deal with the USDA to renovate the old mental health building on Myers Street. The USDA agreed to pay $650,000-$700,000 for improvements. Olympus of Jonesboro won the renovation bid.
5% Employee Raise
In March 2025, Treasurer Bob Treadway revealed the County General Fund beginning balance was higher than previously stated, and a 5% employee raise was approved effective April 2025.
Bill Lindsey’s Passing
Justice of the Peace Bill Lindsey passed away in late 2024. A moment of silence was observed at the December 2024 meeting, and Cliff Barnett was appointed to fill his District 5 seat in January 2025.
FOIA Law Changes
In May 2025, J.P. Charles Jordan briefed the court on changes to FOIA laws discussed at an Association of Arkansas Counties legislative review meeting. No details were provided in the minutes about which specific changes were discussed.
Independence Watch will continue to investigate the paper ballot ordinance timeline, Ordinance 2025-17’s unnamed county-employee business deal, and County Attorney Haney’s advisory role in the voting system changes. If you have information about any of these matters, use our anonymous tip line.
Documents obtained via FOIA request to Independence County Clerk Tracey Mitchell, received February 18, 2026.