Agriculture, Forestry & Economic Development - Senate

To the executive branch for approval or disapproval governor can veto any rule that any agency makes then send it to the legislature and then go through the normal process legislature so we have full oversight to of any rule that they would to to bring forward like any other agencies obviously we're not out during their in their meetings ten point two can do and can't do but anyway I wanted to to Bring that back to the tension put it in record so with that said I want to welcome our guests today. Many people here know that through executive order of president but in his kill the keystone XL pipeline and remove their permit of would hope that they would be You litigation to try to overturn that decision of most people many people in the legislature does not realize that the seventeen hundred miles of pipe that was being used in it is produced here in Pulaski County so I have I want to welcome the sector department of commerce mark Christian motion we all know him Brian day who's executive director of poor little rock in rushes to a colony whose chief operating officer with willful and pipes here in the in Little Rock and so I want you all to come and tell us the what has happened to all three can come at the same time please we will be among friends here today. get your microphone. Yeah you did come all the state for a. Get your seat and get your microphone. And I want you to the person if you would to begin with you but everyone please turn your microphones on in introduce yourself for the record and I'll let you begin my and and anyone can join in but we need to know not only just committee but as a legislator legislature and that the state what effect this is having the fact that who we see this on television we think this is in far far away land but it's it's our friends and our neighbors and and people in our community to be in effect which person if you would in addition if you're recognized thank you to appreciate the invitation and your willingness to listen to the Committee and then US commerce executive director of the Arkansas Economic Development Commission and good to see so many friends and family places in this room and you are much more. And so thank you for having this meeting and allowing us to talk about it because it is an issue that. And directly impacts Arkansas. With the with the of the paper to produce the plans through the Welspun Folks to the table and I won't take anything would come of rejection and speak a little bit more directly about the impact I will say that this is a fantastic company if the company that we recruited here from India and I was entered into North America. I've been here since two thousand nine and we've seen just exponential growth to this company because the keystone pipeline rejection we're talking know beforehand the. In April really in full a lot of people being laid off because of the other contract for the keystone pipeline and being able to continue to produce that will keep the folks employed so throughout the entire pandemic they were making type of approach. We're most has been made. Companies were not to fortune around the country they're gonna be negatively impacted. The company great run company great leadership and I know they'll find additional contractor this is a big step up speak will bit more specifically about. I do want to talk to the. This executive order is it relates to the keystone pipeline but we think about the the board and the executive order a lot of its deal with actually being produced in northeast Arkansas company called was to me. Large contract to the border of steel down to to the border so. In in the State northeast Arkansas. To be impacted because it is the result of these executive orders Four hundred or talking that in the litigation other means that the it will be resolved in that that that will continue to to operate because this is an important industry in Arkansas. But in the steel industry in the pipeline that is being produced so when you think about the jobs in the. The committee is focusing on it they're probably looking at your directly in the the fields in Canada. But the the support jobs to create Arkansas and if you think of a company like will spend will six hundred employees. Or take up to speak to this the specifics on that but all the support. Another six hundred well paying jobs supporting that are going on spending money in the economy here in Pulaski and an all around central Arkansas they're going on there they're spending their money to the bank to doing everything that keeps our economy going. Thank you for the again the Northeast Arkansas on the steel industry so. There is no what can we do in this room and continue to talk about it. The tension in the opinion of police are concerned thanks to the the working for wealth funding again their leadership that they'll they'll figure out new ways to to get new contracts in and continue to invest in is in and look at new opportunities and then. In his team at the port we're fortunate in central Arkansas to. Report it's when you need it them Arkansas but really in this region. Access to the Arkansas River rehabilitation to points all around the world will rely on. Something is a selling point economic development you can come in. And then of the workers and his team have been doing with our congressional delegation to moved if you all come that's a son you know a few thousand more acres for industrial development sites. Which is great so. The company's that we've been able to recruit including most bond but. Companies the legacy companies electrical steel to report to the top I was getting ready to open a massive facility we're waiting we'll come from the sees the wrong company and many others so. To to register as the CEO will spawn more detail about the specifics related to well spent in their company to the impact that they're seeing. Thank you so much Mike sixty dollars created and that was very encouraging remarks for by this one and I agree to the board is a very wonderful asset so just to introduce people whom I don't know me I'm graduation Connie officiating as the chief operating officer managing those funds business in North America. And one minute delays but we are one of the largest so far the employer and the board at a more than four thousand employees currently coming to the board and be engaged about thousand associates over there and the decision that was made last week hurts more than the project should be DC energy is a project which was originally you know a ward in two thousand and ten late of two thousand and ten and be producing two thousand eleven twelve and since then the project has really really evolved over a period of years what is true from DC energy after all these orders came in and we were working with them to get this pipeline built into the ground. I've committed that line is in operation that same twenty twenty three it will operate with net zero emission is the goal of a precedent by it and you know to support you know the projects which generates zero emissions I'm just imagine eleven thousand plus jobs would get impacted if this my plan does not happen despite plan has the potential to generate almost hundred million plus into the property taxes as a revenue for all the states we had these pipeline passes through billions of dollars which will help to you know gore GDP over a period of time DC energy came in job at this additional quantities for us in the may off twenty twenty delete or almost like four hundred associates and this helped us to in fact hired back about like fifty more associates we had laid over and were able to sustain six hundred jobs according this project obviously could pose challenges for those funds to sustain the job you know and and the understand that you know green headed over the energy is very very important the all should feel to speak a sponsor ability you know to work towards securing it and uh work towards our future generation but nothing should happen at the cost off two days job and well being of our fellow Americans and by phone lines are the most safest mode of transportation for oil and gas a study was done by DC energy with the help of a state department transportation that pipelines reduces the emission you know less than forty percent as compared records and trucks so the there is no reason why we should this pipeline should not happen and be confident that. knowing about the cool off DC energy pipeline but zero emission which supports you know goal of president Biden things will settle down and a decision will be was a date and and and be hoping for the best thank you. Of. March turn thirty why we have to be marginal. Senator Charles Beckham I have a question you alluded to the the. How much more efficient it is to move the crude by pipeline. The other options moving about trains that actor is that what they're currently doing that is correct what's the price differential to the consumer. So. To answer that question we know for sure that transporting oil and gas with the pipelines of the cheapest way of transporting my understanding is somewhere on the twenty dollar a barrel differential in price so and so I know for sure that is close to proximity like twelve dollars a barrel to transfer to the pipe and obviously the really becomes more difficult I mean that's what I know from my experience in the past I cannot you know say for sure what exactly Care Act cell line will lead to. Thank you. And referred to over to a monitor will bit more about the poor and the impact to the vacancy this the thanks to rejection his team for their continued commitment to to Arkansas into of Pulaski County living just a great partner since I've been here huge get for Arkansas and and actually traveled with the the governor myself we went to India a little over a year ago and governor. Into the official after the state of Arkansas over there says able to to show us around when we are in India but make introductions to other businesses and we certainly been benefiting from resources connection's in India and his support and in longer commitment Arkansas we're very appreciative of that and the fact that they've been able to find ways to keep those employees still employed we're certainly hopeful that no cooler heads will prevail and whether P. through the courts or through some other than ministration it'll continue because will stumble will reap the benefits long term if it doesn't happen then we we certainly unfortunate could see the other side of that and that is the loss of jobs right here in Arkansas will be turned over to the talk will be more specifically about the poor. Thank you secretary press during thank you Mister chairman senators for having us here I would just talk very briefly about kind of the ancillary impact of this decision first I want to say that Welspun is our flagship industry at the port a largest employer the large issues a railroad large issues barges and we're so grateful for all that they do not only an economic development but just also community development supporting calls is. When we made when this decision was made it was I got punch for all of this particular for well Spondon we don't know what the future holds but there are some ancillary impacts Secretary president talked about the port you know when Amazon's fully staffed sees these fully staffed HMS is fully staffed these are industries we recruited they will be seven thousand people that come to the port every day to make a living last year we did a labour said study and those seven thousand people came for twenty three counties a third of Arkansas all send someone to the port of Little Rock to earn a living every day because of companies like Welspun now and how it's going to impact us the port we don't get any public funding we generate revenue to the movement of rail cars through the movement not loading of barges from the lease of land well sponsor largest customer and the impact will be measurable if if the keystone does not happen is sector presents Senate and Rajesh is is very good at finding other business but we will have to talk about we may lay off an employer to we don't know the impact is real and that's what concerns me about the decision is all those ancillary jobs that we were not County you know the eleven or twelve thousand directly related to the pipeline but what about the folks there serving food the caterers you know the equipment rental companies the railroads like ours it's it's going to have a huge long lasting impact and we're optimistic that cooler heads will prevail and something will happen but the impact is real and it is going to hurt Arkansas. Question Senator Sturch. Thank Mr mistake to see again my friend I want to ask a question I had been seeing reports about the port in the loss of jobs and everything else and they were getting estimates like five hundred jobs plus lost and if things like that is that the NSA these other companies that are with the port not the board itself for could you kind of see about you know or can you give an estimate of what you're thinking as far as jobs lost this great question center so the port of Little Rock is an entity where a small staff or a staff of fifteen or so it's the it's the other the other thousands of other jobs in the industry that could be impacted by this decision and we again don't know the the true impact but it's more than Welspun I mean it's every will it's not everyone department while the full support the trucking companies the folks on the docks that are unloading barges you know you pay and be and Lane people off because they're losing business and so the the circle or the net is very large and that was the number that was referenced. Thank you. One of. If we take. The oil out of the executive order right now and and the keystone was continuing can you give me an idea of the long. Range plan for Wells Fund in in Arkansas on in America but I know you've been here a short time if you had a good experience would you expect to state your extremely long term maybe expand give a little background on what what your game plan might would be absolutely Mr chairman we have been very very pleased with other investments and Arkansas and little rock and lost eleven years have been fantastic you know years for us producing all six days a week seventy beating that preventive maintenance purposes and engaging thousand associates nonstop you know for so long and and that's one has its own space and to the pike market into the oil and gas industry and the market cap is almost like sixty five percent you know which means that public project we get about like six six and a half project you know if you're after year so we have a very very optimistic you know that had been all other businesses you know cycle and we have seen that every three to four years that is a downturn but this time it is a prolonged run because of the cold eight you know playing its own role and impact on the oil and gas market directly so yes this project had helped us to sustain jobs so far we have between the hard for many many more projects you know to come into the industry and and for long term care for the short term we had a solid company you know the believe in the talent that we have and and the area for the long term and working on the different projects that are coming up in the market obviously with the change in the political scenario everybody is with building that capital investment just to see that how the you know policies David work you know but and gas is still our future we cannot you know shopping from their green energy yes it's very critical to the future but at present or in guest please of anybody critical role to run up the economy. It says. Thank you Mr what is your annual zero. So in a good year to shooting about thousand employees it is anything from sixty five million to seventy five million dollars annually thank you it's good to know. Thank you. Welcome Sir question answer on on the call per bill but. Going from Intervale to the increased emissions by CO two emissions by twenty eight percent so kind of you know contradicts what the ball and Administration of trying to get done. So just to give me a perspective. It'll be comic impact like as Brian was referring to I remember even in two thousand and ten like when I was court in the board meeting of the board and I was really coming for what business we date and port given to black and and not only the payroll but about more than seven thousand great Kerr said the other of the more more than two hundred fifty barges every year and be more like more than like you know five thousand Bucks every year so so that kind of an economic impact and economic value that goes fund creates its own business. If I may Mister chairman. And all that we will fund came to the poor it was a game changer it was it is the port to the ball onto a much higher level and and we use the profit that we make to buy more land invested more infrastructure the Secretary person since we're about to move this navigation aid with the help of the federal government and because of the money we've generated from well sponsor and other users were able to do this work a fifteen hundred acre supersite that paid the city can go out and market to the world right on the river to rail spurs to class one serving that site who knows what might come to little rock. Then possible without a company like Welspun who had such large use an option that the generating services that we provide if Welspun was to go away today and we're going to make sure they don't the poor little rock would be different and we would not be able to provide products for ADC to market to the world. Any other comment any question. Well. So often we sit here and talk about soybeans and rice chocolate Plant Board the specially for new members freshman senators I want you all to understand it the economic portion of our committee is is a tremendous responsibility eight years ago when I was a freshman senator we brought in the Big river steel project and we're able to get that past and instead reduction in the even double their footprint and recently sold you the steel of of may ask a question on the only come out to the other steel. Product being sold Allen of northeast Arkansas at one time Mississippi County was the largest steel producing county in the nation and so many people don't know that much like Welsh Fund very informative meeting performed about the port of Little Rock so again anything that we can do here to help promote the of project shall have worn out two of our door will always be open. Archer sampi of question. Thank you Mr Mr Garcia what is going to be the factor of what has been the effect of the of the blade company that is Leaving us. So we had is L. in glass fiber. E. G. who bought them they did relocate to North Dakota. Not anything I think directly related to the Arkansas all it was just it was logistically difficult to move a two hundred foot blade from the stated that have a longer way and to states that had when the good news is that an investment group out Northwest Arkansas has bought that property and that they are actually should they're gonna subdivided into several it was almost hundred fifty acres and they're gonna think you'll see over the next six months two or three new industries coming to that site creating new jobs creating new investment the whenever an investment group buys a property you get a little bit nervous because you don't know what they're gonna do with the this is a great investment group that has proven track records in manufacturing and industry and I think that it probably in the next couple months we'll start seeing some announcements on that property. Thank you thank Mr anyone else. B. we thank you all for coming take your time of is scheduled thank you very much thank you Mr chairman committee appreciate helping attention to this it is important one to continue to talk about so thank you all for your leadership on it thank you so much Mister chairman and thank you John for including me in this appreciate it. Johnson. Senator Mark Johnson. Sorry. Senate bill eight. Yes circuit the McKenzie did you get Senator Johnson share price please press without. If you do it yourself for the record you'll be recognized. Thank you Mr chairman mark Johnson states where District fifteen Senate bill eight is. It was a real simple bill it seems a little complicated but to give you background I think you'll understand why we're here and why represented back Senator Rapert I introduced this bill Thank you state park it was described to me as a friend who's on the Arkansas partridges station I think it's still the name and they change the name of the Commission again it's the commission the parks commission he described as the jewel of the State Parks it is the first state park it's historic in so many different ways and and I think the most beautiful although some will have some in your districts I know you're very proud of as well The the father of both Petty G. state park and the Park system through that was Dr TVB Hardison he was a medical doctor it lived in Conway County live non Petty gene and was Just such a driving force to create this he was a doctor for the number company force with lumber company that actually log the mountain and he saw how beautiful it was and wanted to preserve the try to get to become a national park because they will do that but was able to create what became our first state park doctor Hardison was someone I was not that familiar with until I became Senator and. Learn that there was a. The original CCC building that was built that was named for him all paging Hardison hall had been demolished and a new building was being built and that the Commission had voted to name it for Mister Richard Davies who is a fine gentleman a great public servant and a friend of mine but in doing so they missed out on back to twenty five of twenty thirteen which basically says you can't name things for people that under salary and government and until they're either route for the retired and over seventy five years old or deceased there is an exception for former P. O. W.'s but otherwise this was not legal to do that at the same time I started getting calls and emails from constituents that were upset about the fact that Dr Hardison would not have his name on the new building represented back also experience the same thing and it was I think the the This during that the the the the fact that people were extremely upset about this and felt that some of their heritage had been taken away the people in Conway County the the the feeling was something that. Really understand in September of twenty nineteen we convene the public meeting at the Winter Park of filler Institute on petty Jean we have over a hundred people attend and and Mr chairman when the you see a hundred people from one small area show up at a meeting to support the memory of a man that died in nineteen fifty seven it makes you realize how beloved he was in this community and how important he was to develop a part system Secretary person some per step were there we had as I said we had the county judge who's has a letter in your pocket the mayor malt and Alan lips Meyer stated that the chamber people it was it was unanimous in their support this beautiful new building should also be named for the father's state park system The our guests there are we feel like we were on their on their legacy but ms Lee Sandrock Feller and her son will Rockefeller were also there in support of of this move. I basically waited for months and months and months for this to be corrected the the secretary and her staff acknowledge that act to twelve twenty five did apply and that it was inappropriate and again took to name it for anybody else and I certainly have made clear I have no problem with all right Mr Davies I consider my friend I think he's it was a great public servant I wish you very well in his retirement but the to do this with he needs to be a little bit older and if it's the law and we won't change a lot that's fine but that that's where we are but we don't take away the memory of someone that that died before we were really paying attention in some cases some of this one point at all I would just barely I was three years old when he died so I didn't know about him but it's important that we we protect that heritage and again it's what the people of the area one so I will give you a very very short thing about doctor colors and just this is from the encyclopedia of Arkansas. It said that he served. Jean mountain when the Great Depression struck he became the township chairman for relief leave relief operations distributing Red Cross assistance in later years the public welfare foundation chose him as the agent to dispense financial aid and academic scholarships to needy citizens he helped tremendous way over appointments and one future governor Winthrop Rockefeller settled on the mountain in nineteen fifty three he depended on Harbison's judgment to find the right property and applicants for employment in the building when rob farmers. The. The twenty was out later in life and before he died he contracted prostate cancer and Hendrix College his alma mater my alma mater conferred upon him with a doctor or a doctor's of law he died on April seventh nineteen fifty seven and his close friends George Reynolds and Winthrop Rockefeller flying in governor Rockefeller's plane scattered his ashes over petty Jean mountain of. Note middle having descendants of Dr Mrs Hardison remind the. The state's long monument to the park to the founder the park system was Hardison hall which was demolished in twenty nineteen in twenty thirteen the directors of Arkansas country doctor museum unanimously voted to indict Dr Hardison into their hall of fame so. Try to give you a brief outline of who this person was but probably the most important thing is that this is important to the people of that area he was a beloved man I come up and say he delivered My Baby he delivered. Probably half the babies in the county he was that backbone of the community that many of you can relate to because you have some of our people both in the past and currently that are the backbone of your committee and and the appropriate thing is to honor his memory the I do not fault anything that the Department has been doing and I I just wanna say that they seem to be moving extremely slow they've they've. Like I said we had this meeting with the community in September of twenty nineteen and since that time represented back and I have been trying to get this done and and. I just I promise the people at a meeting in Los I said if if it's not taken care of I will introduce a bill we will ask the General Assembly to to make this this to name this after doctor Hardison in perpetuity something that you know won't be changed so that's the entire purpose of Senate bill eight there's no appropriation anything involved that this is just appropriate. Really just a reinstatement of an existing honor to the gentleman who was probably more responsible than anybody else for the wonderful state parks we have in Arkansas and I'll be glad to answer any questions Mr questions from the committee. There's several. Senator Johnson thank you for reading in the US I think this Senate bill eight. Has gotten their attention. I was told in a text message before came over here that that this would be the first item on the the they're commission's agenda and that they would nine the hall after Dr Harbison and so you you served your purpose will and I signed it that probably within the next ten minutes our receive a text saying that that is being done and so you've accomplished what you started out with very well thank you thank you senator sampling and certainly as I told. One of my friends who is also a commissioner last night on the phone. When with redundancy backup plans and and while I know that this commission and the secretary will do the right thing I want to make sure that fifty years from now we don't see a similar situation where it this this man's memory loss we we're teaches under attack not just from people that want to hire someone a little differently is certainly I would encourage not just supporting courage something that would recognize Mr Davies accomplishments he is with my is my friend and worked with him for over thirty years so that's okay but please let's not forget those that came before us because we stand on the shoulders of giants and it's incumbent upon General Assembly to to protect that memory and so I thought any of the question be glad to answer Mr any other questions from committee. If doctor strange are issued. Thank you for bringing this to us What. It is just the way the reason all right of a bill for this. Is that the the reason just to explain. Persecuting agency that you. Don't want to pick on the agencies I understand the the issues that anybody government has to do as far as is working through the the. The the maze and some of that is we've created that for my I get all that but after public over a year and a half and and and my constituents Putting pressure on me and and that's great as a set before the start I never heard doctor cars and by learning about him it was a wonderful education for me. Represented becks hear us I don't want to steal his thunder he can fill in a lot of that but but Sir Malcolm this is this is just a simple thing that when we're not in session we can't fix little things like this but when we are in session we can fix little things like this so that's one of the bills here constituents really want this and I'm. We should ever your question it and I hope that answer to that good luck to you more. So Johnson you mentioned the be in perpetuity. The question more for the agency but I don't know what the process is that over time if you all make this change can that be changed at a later date or is this. And so I maybe I don't know what your thoughts on this is this a permanent fix in your mind this bill or something that could be I guess change later by the agency and I guess well I reserve that question to for. I think that for you senator You no more The. I went online and started five and thirty six a page one and over on page two it says that the name shall only be changed by an act of the General Assembly which basically means if for some historian comes up and. I say this very tongue in cheek and discovers that the doctor Carson was it was a. Because it seems trying to overthrow the government of the United States then then of course the General Assembly could step in and and and make a change but that's that's a reserve thing by putting it in statute it would only have to it can only be changed by statute and Paul. The reason I ask that is because you you mentioned that the previous building had been torn down and I guess obviously is name was removed from that as a result yes and so therefore his recognition was no longer existed until I guess now so I would bring that up is saying that you know. Maybe it's a good idea and I wait to hear what the agency says that maybe it's a good idea to do something like this so for future reasons or perhaps. I couldn't agree more but the thing is it says it's it's a statutory change or not up regulatory checks. Sherri hill. Johnson with the with the board of the commission meeting today. And approving the go ahead on the S. is this not counted relevant that take place I don't think it's a relevant I think it's more probably more element that they just got around to reading to meeting senator hill I will say it may be redundant but again there action you know we're all sitting here we're all term limited even our our young ones like Senator Sturch center back I'm sure it will some day because they're not in the General Assembly and someone to come in and say well you know we're we we've done do that we were may be coerced into doing that and we want to change it and this would keep that from happening it would make it up up up more or less permanent change lesson General Assembly it might change. But in the General Assembly we kind of overstepping our boundaries since the not going to the proper protocol since they're doing this on their level to to go ahead with it. So I think that there are appropriate things that that could be done it should be done at the agency level they're wonderful state employees out there that that done a good job and and having a process to our them in some way I think it's purpose perfectly appropriate but every now and then the General Assembly has and does name things after people or events and we do it in statute and I don't think I don't think it's it's contradictory to do that with with the action that that this commission or any future commission could do this is as I said it's it's not it's redundant perhaps but there's no guarantees that when we turn sine die that they wouldn't undo it I don't will cues will do something like that but certainly legally that could happen short of this bill being passed. sample. Thank you Mr chairman and senator Johnson I just received a text that they unanimously. Name the structure after dark reports so so we've already got several votes supporting this thing they're saying is that. Any other questions. Sturch. Mr I have a question for the department if you don't mind what we're there we're going to remove the minute okay thank. Where would you come to the table. For the record under several other question for. Rick Beck state Representative for district sixty five which includes paging park. I would like to hear some of your thoughts on this because since you're so close to it I would I would like to be here. Your ideas and and some history that you not sure what this. Again I don't know that you know Senator Johnson will be a tough act to follow it he does a good job of getting all the details and all that so so what I would like to do rather than that it's it's maybe just talk a little bit about the connection with with the the mountain and the communications I've gotten I worked in industry for for many years and I've always said that communication is is at the root of almost every problem they communications is at the root of this problem. It is not the point are assigned guilty anyone. We went back to September two thousand nineteen but this goes further back than that a point that maybe got lost was. Arsons hall was torn down so that the new visitors center could be put up it was not torn down before this so that was actually the first thing that the the community up on page email and they did not want that structure torn down they wanted to be read into the new visitor center. Time I was very much in support of the committee and the Department saying in all these older structures like that are you know there's will expenses and all these other issues and I have a side with them in saying it probably need to be torn down so we can build a more a better center more up there. So that was the first thing and then as as time went on I get notice from some of the individuals up amount actually travel to commission meetings to speak to say that this thing should be named after Dr Harrison is built on the side of the of the and and. At least one case actually a couple cases people so they work hard in the committee so I don't know I can't say what was in the heart or the intentions of the committees but the people are being heard hello when they first came to me and talk to me about this again going back to my initial thing is I thought it was just a communications I said I'm sure that they just don't understand the intent of the committee or something it's communications about dropped here something like that and that's when I approached the department. In order to talk to them about you know this is there's a lot of community involvement what ownership up there on page in mountain four name this thing Harsin hall. Now at that point nothing progressed nothing progressed any further it was like one word it's is welcome we're trying on the outside looking worse roadblock while we're not looking for the everyone seems to be okay with the people on the mountain one of the the hardest thing for the people amount will we had the meeting was they came to me beforehand this is a September million for two in their very good friends with the Davies it is like it was it was it was kind ten the community apart because it'll be one in conflict with each other none of them want to say anything bad about today the Senate babies as a matter of fact to also at the meeting agreed that you know maybe it should be that Harston mentor Dr Harsin so my point in saying all of that is is. There was no communication on this I was constantly and I and I contacted the department several times and said you know just any information that we could be feeding the people of the amount you know a meetings being held we're discussing the new rules I actually work on the radio at one point and and in defense of the department saying you know that after after the September eighteenth hearing you know they're going to come up with the procedure and they're gonna move this thing forward well that was fine for a few months but then as things struck on and on and on into fifteen months and still nothing is done now. Finally I. And I've contacted apartment where we going this way and with never got a draft of the rules never got any notification that the rules were being discussed our anything so that was a concern so. The last time that I contacted the department I'll admit I was a little bit frustrated when I found out that the rules have already been drafted already been sent out for public comment in no notification now I'm not over playing my role in this at all. But I communicate with the people up in the mountains I'm I'm the one who put the meeting together on the eighteenth I'm the one that was after saying to them we're gonna take care of this and to this is called a slap in the face of the community up there to have all these hearings and all this and in the committee did not hi so at that point was that was a point we decided that to the Committee we had to tell them this we will handle this end we will have to build. Senator Johnson drafted the bill we will drop down we will get it named. with the legislation's permission and that was the reason for that now. Senator hills coming about as being redundant I think it's redundant on the other side now I say that the legislation should go forward to rename it hearts and haul it will save them a lot of problems on the other side so with that all right thinking of the question but. Shed a little light there. Yes you did and and I appreciate everything you said because I thank. For some of us have been here. Hello as the length of time we didn't all been in your situation. and it is very uncomfortable but that the Davis is a with a very big part of that I understand that the complications of this because is that this is a bill part of that community for years and not and I understand that that not only Richard was involved in it but his dad was very involved with the state park there so I can understand. All of this and and and out of the appreciate what all you've done for not I thank you you have. Having learned before this like to be a legislator in a in a small community. What is just one more thought. One of the things that I was very proud of the committee because there were a lot of passions around but almost everyone who went up and talked and that should be named Carson hall would almost preference their statements with their admiration for the day these and that they should have something named after them but this is not the this the place. Thank you Committee any other query person represented but. Any other question for Senator Mark Johnson. Not. Well we have someone to speak against and I will bring bills. This is going to come in the table please. Thirty five. You would please enter dishwasher for the record and you're recognized. Yes Stacey her secretary of the Arkansas department of parks heritage and tourism. Mr. Good morning unless like this kind of chief of legislative affairs with Arkansas department of parks heritage and tourism you're recognized for your statement. Thank you I'll just give me a perspective from the department's point of view and from my point of view so we do not certainly disagree that doctor Hardison is certainly worthy of this honor he is and he has an extensive background with Petty gene so it is absolutely appropriate when I was first appointed in twenty nineteen I immediately began hearing from stakeholders in that area and learning about the situation that had occurred in twenty fifteen at the commission level when the commissioners at that time led by a commissioner John gill I'm voted to name the new Petty gene Mr center which was in the works but not even plant fully planned yet to name the new investor center far Richard Davies and Richard actually was at that meeting and that so it was a very emotional meeting he was retiring he was a well loved at public servant so that action was taken and twenty fifth fifteen when I came on board in twenty nineteen I began to learn about this controversy will issue heard from a lot of stakeholders and I suggested to Representative back bad a public hearing be held and that I would love to come in here from people I did went to that meeting in September had several staff members there as well and our general counsel I asked him to begin to look into this because I was not convinced that the commission had the authority to name a public structure after anyone and what he learned quickly was that it was contrary to state law and says the action of the commission had taken in twenty fifteen. Name was essentially null and void so we took a little while to digest that and then we informed our commission and I will tell you many of them were disappointed because many of them had worked for many years with Richard Davies but we moved beyond that and we understood that we needed to promulgate some rules because within state parks and within natural heritage we have a lot of public facilities that are highly used and attractive opportunities to name buildings are lands for people that that desire that sort of recognition. We started out promulgating rules doing research looking at universities and other institutions of state government city governments that have a naming process for public facilities it took us a little while but we didn't do that we then started the process of promulgating rules which takes time the corona virus hit and that did distract us for a little while I will agree not to acknowledge that but we then completed the process to the TV including public notices we were approved by the legislature with these new rules and that was in late twenty twenty November December early December and January is the first opportunity that we have for a commission to get together. So the way the rules read now that have been approved by the legislature is that a member of the public can make a nomination and they have to get signatures to support that nomination OR a sitting member of a commission can make a nomination and they have to get a second we been going to a public hearing and review and then ultimately is it is approved by the commission and the secretary in consultation with the governor so it's a very transparent process and that was something that was missing prior to these new rules also it does give the commission a role which again was missing prior to the adoption of these new rules so what we would very much like a senator sample mentioned the commission has already made the nomination it is got a second so we will quickly be able to act on this I would gas within two to three weeks we can get this done and the naming can be complete we have a ceremony planned early March to I have doctor heart assistance name on it. I'm happy to answer any questions questions in one room Committee. Welcome. Yes I misunderstand the timeline here it looks like we have. Was the meeting in September of nineteen nineteen and the rules are written in. August of twenty. Yes Sir okay. Actually we were we were researching looking into talking to our stakeholders we had to present it to our commission and get their sign off we presented that we have ten boards and commissions within our department and we send it to all of their commissions to get there by an and then that's when we officially submitted the rules. VOL turned back. What's the the procedure for changing the name what's his name now. There is no estoppel establish process to remove a name are changing name the process we have establish is to name a public facility. Someone we don't we don't have a process to a name a facility. This isn't what we're doing though correct. No so what we're naming is a brand new visitor center that was built and is almost completed okay now it's a brand new facility the structure that was torn down and that was torn down again when Richard Davies was still there so twenty fifteen or before it was a historic building that had been at packaging for a long time and I had been used and number of capacities they tore that down and they are bill are the new visitor center has been built very close to that old structure. Sir several. Go yes I'm so I just wanna make one of all of the center of a construction I think would you speak into your monthly yes I'm sorry I think on the on these rules for the for the remaining or prohibition of trying to think can you hear me. Your call to I think what we could also through under the administrative procedures act we can come back and we can amend these rules about something that this committee would like for us to do we can come back in and out and amend these rules for a probation or change of name or things like that. My concern is that the next board meeting you change it again. It's not necessarily the next group of people whatever center center Senate Johnson's point is that. Someone of this caliber this important to the state park system to petty Jean. We need to make sure to protect. We agree I mean that the commission can make a nomination or make a recommendation as can a member of the public but it would still have to go through the regular rigorous process of review recommendation from the division director approval by the full commission and then the secretary and the governor consult on that as well so it it it is not an easy it would not be an easy thing to do. Sure sure your your troops are broken venture chapel and the. I will segue into into center back of has other than when the law was changed I think the reason that was nine or structure after or former Speaker why has there been any instances that we have gone in and change the name of a structure no Sir I am the only naming opportunity that I'm aware of that has happened at a state parks facility was far Jim Gaston and that's the visitor center at up in northeast Arkansas north central Arkansas double bill shall sense the only one that I'm aware of okay and. I think I would like to tell you can and the State Board of center Beckham is it what I what I think we would all appreciate some sort of. Of action from the. From your department to take in and be reassured may be by us a rule or something that. Before you change the name of a structure that you have to bring it before the legislature for. Proof. Yes Sir in the rules now it it's recommended that they get legislative support for at whoever represents the district that the structure is located in. But we can certainly add to that if if if that would be helpful that I think would would come right help this matter out thank you thanks you to my knowledge there has not been any removal of an existing name and the remaining ever my example Mr gassed and that again was a new facility that was built within the past ten years and they attached his name to that it wasn't renaming. Thank you more. Senator Hearst personal thank you so much for all that you and your department do but. So I guess I'm still have a couple questions on maybe the time line. I guess so I know that you all were in the process of doing this when this bill came back out with that correct or is amended your certainly engage center and and represented in the process but so I guess my point is knowing that this bill was going to come about obviously come for committee and before the legislature. Was it incumbent to go ahead and state and have those rules have this plot before the commission and I applaud you for bringing you for getting rules promulgated because I do think it's unnecessary process at some point but given the nature of this was it necessary to I guess start with this particular name change. But. Well this this started again after the public hearing when we realize that in twenty nineteen I mean we realize that this was an issue that the commission had taken an action that really they had not heard from the public on it was inconsistent with state law and so we started then the discussion on promulgating rules because I'm we have so many public facing. structures lands and they are good opportunities to recognize people so that's it we started the discussion and the process to promulgate rules and the fall late fall of twenty nineteen. I pledge for that I think it's going to be the necessary at some point I guess the the other the other thing too though I look at this is probably a wedding correct if I'm wrong that would alleviate a lot of hurdles for you all as an agency to jump through and I could be totally wrong I don't know all your processes but it seems like it would be an easier fix to have legislation drafted and brought for legislature and you don't have to go through a lot of the the hurdles that you balances that is that the case or my misunderstand. I think eighty eight transparent process like we have drafted and that has been approved by the legislature is a very reasonable way to approach this and it's it's a it's a model that is followed by other places other states other cities and other universities so I think it is it's appropriate and we started it because it is necessary and all we're asking now it's too late our process that has been approved take place but. General questions. Thank you Shekhter hers Senate Johnson. Cool I'm sorry she register images to reveal a question you do. Thank you of all the. Would remain notice. Thank you Mr chairman Couple short things that close The the rule that sector Hirsch referred to I was received no notice or anything about that and I was sent a copy of a signed copy of it I believe it was Approved in November is that correct I am sector is first part of it was last night someone sent me a copy of that rule setting up that procedure and and and one of my concerns in it is with all the petitions and actions by the commission and all that these are simply recommendations and the. The gist of the rule is that the secretary and the governor will make the decision. And I'm a little concerned about that because Sunday will have a different Secretary eleven different governor and I'm not comfortable with that procedure in any instance I think that and again that we're not here not will get off the tainted to much Mister chairman I'll stay on the bill but I think it's instructive that the we're we're not only wanting to to get Hardison hall properly name but we're also wanting to to make sure whatever something like this comes up in the future we're prepared to to handle it in in the appropriate manner that the people want in and read it at least most people would approve of so I did have a little problem when I read that I'm. I'm very supportive of a nomination process madam secretary where citizens can step and again it can't just be one person shown up in the happy with the original number signatures or even a commissioner coming for that part I have no problem with but I would I would like to see where if it's something that's paid for with state dollars that day something somebody comes in and you know like the Wingate foundation gives a building D. ECA or are you a are which they have their name goes on at that's one thing they write a check of that that's okay Donald W. Reynolds razorback stadium probably being the biggest example of it but I would like to see that the General Assembly has some approval process in that and perhaps it is the rule should be changed to have any such change once considered by the commission in there and the staff to come back to the Legislative Council for for that to be approved but back on on a Senate bill eight This was simply response to a lack of responsiveness and a extremely strong ground swell of support for that building that had is replacing the previous Hardison hall also be nine for Dr Hardison so there be some day all have similar procurement used in your own district and I look forward to supporting what you're focusing your is one and I would be equally appreciative of a good vote on this bill today thank you Mr chairman thank you members of the committee thank you for your support what will committee. Search. Mr Allen to make a motion to table. The the second table all in favor say aye. All opposed motion so your bill table transaction we'll come back we'll see what to do. Thank you Senator Blake Johnson. Senate bill one forty eight. Johnson viewed in addition so for the record you're recognized. Senator Blake Johnson District twenty chair members thank you for allowing me to come today the Senate bill one forty eight it is a matter survey GIS and transformation shared services brought this and and may in survey requires long time ago those regional. The corner post and and and to triangulated. This this is correcting language from nineteen ninety one since we have the GPS and is no longer needed these these original corner post and survey and property the version question I've got back up over here I'd appreciate a good vote. Members will have a question for senator Johnson. The Bill. Motion to pass second. Hello yep you're right you're speaking for. The personal. All in favor say aye All opposed congratulations. She can call you of centuries motion do pass. General. Get your free okay. There you go. The no further business we're Jr. That.