Standing tall in Johnson County

cover StorY

I wanted to do two things when I took office. I wanted to increase the miles of paved roads and access to running water. I felt like our county would develop steadily if we could provide

more paved roads and more water.

— Mike Jacobs

Standing

By Scott Perkins County Lines Editor

Chances are, most visitors to the Johnson County Courthouse will hear whistling casually echoing off the white marble walls and floors when the judge is in. The playful melodies are tuned by a man who genuinely loves people and is at home in every sense of the word.

The story of his journey with Johnson County governing begins in the top drawer of his dark wooden desk. It creaked just a bit as he pulled it open and reached in ...

Johnson County Judge Mike Jacobs keeps the first county financial statement he received when taking office in the top drawer of his desk. When he assumed the county judge’s position in 1992, Johnson County had a total of about $491,000 in the bank account, and was carrying almost $300,000 in debt. Today, the county has no debt and boasts more than $9 million in its general account. However, the financial stability of Johnson County is only one side of the story.

Jacobs, who described his management style as laidback and fair, stressed how critical building a consensus among all parties is when planning a project.

“It is very important to get everyone on the same page when planning a county project,” Jacobs said. “It’s better all the way around when you sell everyone on the idea in the beginning and generally work together. I can’t emphasize how important this aspect has been to our success.”

As soon as he took office, Jacobs focused his governing efforts on improved infrastructure and said he knew that was the road to the future for the county he grew up in.

“When I first took office, I wanted to improve two things,” Jacobs said as he held up two fingers. “I wanted to increase the miles of paved roads and access to running water. I felt like our county would develop steadily if we could provide more paved roads and more water.”

Growing steady is exactly what Johnson County has accomplished, even during some down times in areas across the nation.

Johnson County’s population in 1991 was a little more than 16,000, but according to the last census, 25,540 people reside in the county today.

Jacobs touted the recent completion of 46 miles of water infrastructure along State Highway 21 in the northern portion of the county.

He also pointed out that all but two primary roads and two secondary roads that qualify for state funding in the county are now paved.

“These infrastructure improvements helped bring the tax base up to benefit the county general fund and road department and so on,” Jacobs said. “That fact is the basis for the other improvements we’ve been able to complete in the county.”

The list of Johnson County’s completed projects is significant and ongoing, and they all have one common denominator — no new taxes were enacted to get the jobs done.

County employees have also received a raise every year with Jacobs at the helm.

“We’ve paid for these projects as we went with no tax increases,” Jacobs said. “Depending on the projects, we have used some grants, local partners, and above all other factors, we’ve made these things happen by working together.”

Top left: This sculpture is in front of Green Source Recycling, a regional recycling center located in Johnson County. Above: Johnson County Senior Center is a hub of activity for Johnson County seniors. Left: The Johnson County Sheriff’s Department building.

Standing tall

in Johnson County

Johnson Regional Medical Center

is a county-owned hospital that provides high-quality health care to the region. Residents have enjoyed a $3 million expansion since 2004.

I hope people say I was very responsible with their money, and consistently added services in the county and that I made it a

little better for everybody

and a little better place to live.

During his time as judge, the county has consistently added services, facilities and invested in the future of its residents.

His method of management includes assigning duties and then staying out of the way. He also said the same set of rules apply to every county resident and that they all “wear the same face,” which means everyone is treated the same.

Since 1991, the county has built a new jail facility and sheriff’s office, municipal court building, health department, road department, senior center and a county-owned hospital. The hospital was expanded to the tune of $3 million in 2004.

Jacobs is proud of all those additions to his county through the years, but the senior center is close to his heart and is one project he said he considers one of his best victories.

“The senior center is very near and dear to my heart,” Jacobs said. “The center gives so much to our seniors, keeps them out of the hospital and rest homes, provides social events for them. It is a growing center.”

Jacobs said he loves to go play dominos at the center and admits it provides a positive place for him to visit when he has experienced a somewhat challenging day.

Jacobs is a former president of the Arkansas County Judges Association and is currently an active member.

“I rose to the president’s chair rapidly due to other situations,” Jacobs said. “It was quite a move for a bashful guy. One of the great things about the association is — take rural counties for instance, we all have a same set of problems and we can work through them together. We don’t all have exactly the same problems, but many are similar. The judges association activities help us face those problems with knowledge of what others are dealing with.”

Jacobs joined the AAC board in February 1997, and he has served as its president for the last 13 years.

“My time with the AAC has been wonderful,” Jacobs said. “Learning about all the different associations we deal with, and getting to know all the different personalities has been very exciting for me.”

Jacobs’ tenure as AAC board president has spanned the time of four executive directors. He has testified in the front of the state legislature countless times on behalf of all Arkansas counties, and he has been a stable voice for county government in general.

“Year after year, AAC services are expanded and improved. It makes you feel good about what’s going on at the AAC,” Jacobs said.

Jacobs has also served on the National Association of Counties board for 15 years.

When his time in the judge’s chair is done he said, “I hope people say I was very responsible with their money, and consistently added services in the county and that I made it a little bit better for everybody and a little better place to live.”