Jefferson County QC committee recommends purchasing contraband detection system

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By Ray King

A committee of the Jefferson County Quorum Court on Tuesday recommended the approval of a supplemental appropriation designed to improve security.

The county has received a $15,000 grant from the Arkansas Administrative Office of the Courts to improve contraband detection abilities and Sheriff Lafayette Woods Jr., wants to use that grant to buy a contraband detection system.

Woods explained the system to Deltaplex News.

Woods said one of the devices will be placed at the Jefferson County Courthouse and the other at the adult detention center. The total cost of the system is $19,000 with $15,000 oft that being funded by the grant.

Also on Tuesday, the county’s legislatives body recommended approval of an ordinance transferring $25,000 from the county reserve fund to the sheriff to settle a lawsuit filed against the sheriff’s office in 2018 by people who were employed at the jail from Aug. 30, 2015 until the lawsuit was filed. That lawsuit alleged violations of the overtime provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act.

After the meeting, Jefferson County Judge Gerald Robinson was asked about the lawsuit.

Attorney Burt Newell, who negotiated the settlement, said in a letter to Robinson that he was able to negotiate the settlement down to $20,000 plus attorney fees and any money needed about the $25,000 the county is sending will be covered by insurance.

The Quorum Court will consider both those items during their regular meeting Monday at 5:30 p.m. at the Quorum Courtroom.