Following yet another contentious meeting the Jefferson County Quorum Court was unable to pass a budget during a special called meeting Monday night.
The meeting began with public comments from Office of Emergency Management Director Karen Blevins who said that Metropolitan Emergency Communication Association (MECA) has had six employees walk off of the job since no pay has been received. Blevins added that this puts the citizens of Jefferson County in jeopardy due to a lack of workers.
On Sunday Blevins described her workforce as “a skeleton crew” to Deltaplex News.
Jefferson County Court 6th Division Assistant Chief Juvenile Officer Eric Walden also addressed the quorum court asking them to make the necessary adjustments and compromises needed to pass a budget.
Additionally, Rev. Henry Maxwell, Jr. addressed the quorum court saying he is concerned that the county is shut down, and that the shut-down interferes with the quality of life of county employees.
After business began being conducted in the meeting the contention started early on with members of the quorum court and County Judge Gerald Robinson having disputes, in addition to members of the public expressing their opinions openly during the meeting.
Justice of the Peace Reginald Adams stated that none of the people doing all of the talking have a vote. Not the Jefferson County Sheriff Lafayette Woods, Jr, nor Jefferson County Judge Gerald Robinson, and that only the 13 members of the quorum court can make the decision to pass a budget. Justice Danny Holcomb later stated that he spoke with the Arkansas Attorney General who told him that the quorum court could vote to reinstate the 2024 budget for 60 days while a new budget was hashed out.
After discussion on that matter Justice Alfred Carroll made a motion that was seconded to amend an early motion to vote on a budget presented earlier in order to do what Holcomb had asked for. That motion was seconded, but was not acknowledged by Robinson, leading to a vote on the original budget that did not pass when brought to a vote.
Following that vote Robinson adjourned the meeting. However, Jefferson County Prosecuting Attorney Kyle Hunter stated the meeting was not properly adjourned due to no vote to adjourn taking place, and that the justices could remain in the room to hash out a budget as long as nine members remained.
Justices Ted Hardin, Conley Byrd, Roy Agee, Jimmy Fisher, and Danny Holcomb all left the room. However, Holcomb and Agee remained behind with citizens asking them to return to the room to work with Justices Alfred Carroll, Reginald Adams, Reginald Johnson, Patricia Royal Johnson, Margarette Williams, and Brenda Bishop Gaddy to try to come to a resolution. After a few moments of discussion both Holcomb and Agee left the building without returning to the room.
Following the meeting Adams spoke with Deltaplex News to give his opinion on what led to the breakdown Monday night.
Hunter also stated in the meeting that due to policies and procedures not being passed meetings held over the past two years by the quorum court were not held legally. Adams gave his thoughts on that.
Adams also shared his opinion on why the budget presented on Monday night did not pass.
Monday night’s quorum court meeting can be viewed in full on the Deltaplex News Facebook page.