Gov. Asa Hutchinson announced Monday additional appointments to the Arkansas Levee Task Force he created by executive order two weeks ago, following record flooding along the Arkansas River in early June.
The task force will study conditions of the state's levees, provide a report of its findings and make recommendations to the governor by Dec. 31.
The group's first meeting is set for 1:30 p.m. Friday. The location of the meeting will be announced later this week, according to a news release.
The new appointments are:
- Sen. Jason Rapert, R-Maynard;
- Sen. Gary Stubblefield, R-Charleston;
- Rep. Mary Bentley, R-Perryville;
- Rep. David Hillman, R-Almyra;
- Yell County Judge Mark Thone;
- Jackson County Judge Jeff Phillips;
- Chicot County Judge Mack Ball;
- Pope County Clerk Pam Ennis;
- Dardanelle Mayor Jimmy Witt;
- Pine Bluff Mayor Shirley Washington;
- Rob Rash of the St. Francis Levee Board;
- Mike Lowe, who will represent Miller County;
- Tim Ralston, who will represent Pope and Conway Counties;
- Marty Shell, who will represent Sebastian and Crawford Counties;
-
Evan Teague, engineer with the Farm Bureau;
- Tommy Bond, Pulaski County engineer; and
- Hal Kemp, Pulaski County attorney.
Previous appointments were:
- Jami Cook (Chair), Department of Public Safety secretary;
- Tommy Land, Arkansas land commissioner;
- Wes Ward, Department of Agriculture secretary;
- Larry Walther, Department of Finance and Administration secretary;
- Bruce Holland, director of the Arkansas Natural Resources Commission;
- A.J. Gary, director of the Arkansas Department of Emergency Management;
- Deidre Smith, director of the Arkansas Waterways Commission; and
- Shelby Johnson, director of the Geographic Information Office.
