SWA board hires new administrator
During a meeting of the Hot Spring County Solid Waste Board Monday, the board directors voted to hire a new SWA administrator. The board voted to appoint Ray Cook as administrator with Director Jerry Dodd abstaining.
Cook was slated to begin the new position immediately.
Raymond Yerby, chairman for the board, told the Malvern Daily Record that dozens of people applied for the position and the board interviewed five people before selecting Cook.
During a discussion about Cook, members of the board said that he has experience with the United States Environmental Protection Agency and the Arkansas Department of Energy and Environment, as well as, experience doing maintenance and caring for equipment. The board also voted to set Cook’s salary at $55,000.
Also during the meeting, the board met in executive session for about two hours.
After returning to the open session, the board voted to withdraw a disciplinary letter from an employee’s file.
It was mentioned by the board that the hiring of the new administrator had resolved previous complaints and grievances.
“In the interest of everyone starting with a clean slate, the disciplinary letter will be withdrawn,” according to the motion approved by the board.
The next day during a meeting of the county justices of the peace Hot Spring County Judge Dennis Thornton read a letter written by Cook. In the letter, Cook announced he would be resigning from his position as justice of the peace.
Fellow JPs commended Cook and said that he will be missed on the court.