2014 Arkansas Code
Title 14 - Local Government
Subtitle 2 - County Government
Chapter 14 - County Government Code
Subchapter 7 - Service Organizations
§ 14-14-704 - Establishment of county departments.

(a) The county quorum court of each county, by ordinance, may establish any number of departments for the conduct of county affairs and may prescribe the functions and duties of each department. This authority of a quorum court to establish county departments shall be conclusive and shall supersede any department organizations established by any elected county officer.

(b) (1) Direction of Departments. All departments established by ordinance of the quorum court shall be under the direction and supervision of county judge except departments assigned to other elected officers of the county. Departments established and assigned to an elected officer other than the county judge shall be under the direction and supervision of the respective county officer.

(2) Joint Departments. Two (2) or more county governments may provide for the establishment of joint departments for the conduct of county affairs. Joint departments so created shall be established by interlocal agreements. The direction and supervision of joint departments shall be under the combined authorities of the county judge of each respective county in a manner to be prescribed by ordinance.

(3) Employment of Department Administrator. An ordinance establishing a department of county government may provide for the employment of a department administrator. The ordinance may prescribe minimum qualifications for the person so employed as administrator. However, the county judge alone shall employ all county personnel, except employees of other elected county officers. Where a department is established by the quorum court and the responsibility for direction and supervision of the department is assigned to an elected county officer other than the county judge, the elected county officer so designated shall employ all personnel authorized to be employed by the ordinance.

(4) Management Reports. A quorum court may require, by ordinance, reports for any purpose from any elective county office, department, board, or subordinate service district, or any administrator or employee of them.