The Jefferson County Quorum Court held one of its shortest meetings in recent memory Monday night, wrapping up business in less than 30 minutes.
Of the five items on the agenda, four were approved.
The first ordinance failed to reach a third reading after the court rejected a motion to suspend the rules. Justices Reginald Adams, Alfred Carroll, Melanie Dumas, Brenda Bishop-Gaddy, Reginald Jackson, Reginald Johnson, and Rick Victorino voted against the motion.
The ordinance, if later approved, would reallocate $172,463.60 in salary funds within the county’s road department budget while eliminating four vacant positions. The proposal would provide salary adjustments for existing employees while reducing the number of open payroll slots.
Jefferson County Judge Gerald Robinson said he was disappointed that they couldn’t get this item passed Monday night.
The remaining four ordinances were moved to their third and final readings after the justices voted to suspend the rules. The final three ordinances were added via super sponsorship with Robinson asking if the justices wanted to make the motion. All four ordinances passed unanimously.
Robinson said he tried to extend an olive branch to the justices by making the suggestion.
One ordinance reappropriates $31,002.44 in unspent FEMA funds for the Office of Emergency Management. The money will be used for general supplies, parts and repairs, and machinery and equipment.
Another ordinance amends the 2026 budget for the sheriff’s 3525 GVI/GRIP grant, reducing the appropriation by $8,766.49 following lower-than-expected expenditures in 2025.
The court also approved an ordinance appropriating $28,227 in unspent 2025 grant funds for the Jack Jones Juvenile Justice Center. The funds will be used for salaries, supplies, equipment, training and retention bonuses and will remain available through July 31, 2026.
The final ordinance provides a $13,039.51 supplemental appropriation to the sheriff’s emergency vehicle fund, increasing the total to $49,231.23.
At the end of the meeting, Jefferson County Judge Gerald Robinson was asked to add an emergency item from the office of Assessor Gloria Tillman. Robinson declined, saying the item could not be considered because it was not included on the quorum court’s agenda.
Robinson spoke about this issue.
