By Ray King
The Jefferson County Quorum Court on Monday sent a proposed ordinance outlining the policies and procedures the county’s legislative body will follow for the next two years to committee during a brief meeting Monday.
The original ordinance, which also listed rules of decorum for members and the public and the creation of a Sergeant at Arms position was originally discussed by the Human Resource Committee last week.
Justice of the Peace Lloyd Franklin Jr., moved the legislation be sent to the Judicial Committee instead NS his substitute motion was adopted 9-4.
After the meeting, he explained why the change in committees.
After being off the Quorum Court for several years, Franklin was elected to replace former JP Jimmy Fisher, who ran for Tax Collector and was defeated. Franklin served three terms and also worked as the Chief of Staff for former County Judges Henry “Hank” Wilkins IV and Booker Clemmons, who replaced Wilkins who resigned. He cited that experience as well as meetings conducted for Justices of the Peace by the Arkansas Association of Counties.
The legislation will now go to the Judicial Committee whose chair is Justice of the Peace Alfred Carroll.
In other business, a $55,000 appropriation for the Pine Bluff/Jefferson County Library System was approved. The funds will come from millage collected by the tax collector’s office on real and personal property.
Library Director Ricky Williams said in a letter to County Judge Gerald Robinson that the$55,000, along with $720,000 which had been previously approved, will cover the library’s expense for this year. The library board of trustees approved a 2023 budget of $1,662,900 during a meeting Dec. 13.
