By Ray King
The first effort by members of the Jefferson County Quorum Court to meet remotely Tuesday night got started late but in the words of County Judge Gerald Robinson, “I think we’re doing pretty good.”
The Justices of the Peace met for about 45 minutes in committees by Zoom, rather than gathering at the County Courthouse and during that meeting recommended the full court approve 10 different appropriation ordinances, some of them moving money around from one line item to another or supplementing existing line items.
Justice of the Peace Alfred Carroll, who had been hospitalized was excused and Justice of the Peace Melanie Dumas was absent.
The committees also recommended that a resolution declaring a vacancy to Justice of the Peace District 6 be approved by the full court when it meets next Monday.
The vacancy was created by the death of long-time Justice of the Peace Dr. Herman Ginger on July 24.
Under state law, the Governor will name a replacement for Ginger and the resolution asks Governor Asa Hutchinson to do that.
Another resolution recommended for approval was the appointment of Glenda Daniels to the Pine Bluff/Jefferson County Library System Board of Trustees replacing Travis D. White Sr., whose term expired Nov. 30, 2019 and was filing a vacant position.
Bobbie Morgan, the Library Director, in a letter to Robinson, asked that White be reappointed and said the board was agreeable to that.
Justice of the Peace Dr. Conley Byrd asked Robinson about the letter since the resolution named Daniels to the position.
Robinson said many of the appointees to boards and commissions in Jefferson County were appointed by previous County Judges and some had been on the board or commission for many years and he felt like they were “rubber stamps.”
He said he wanted “some fresh blood in there.”
The Quorum Court will meet for its regular August meeting on Monday, Aug. 10 at 5:30 p.m. The meeting will again be conducted remotely by zoom.
