By Ray King
It took more than eight months, but the Jefferson County Quorum Court on Monday was able to put aside some of their differences and approve eight separate pieces of legislation, including one of two appropriation ordinances that County Judge Gerald Robinson has been asking for.
That ordinance will cover the costs of courthouse renovations that were performed by Reynolds Construction Company that Robinson had previously issued a court order for to avoid a lawsuit. It also replaces money that was taken out of a money market account to pay a note the county owed to Simmons Bank covering the lease of three new county buildings.
That ordinance was approved by a vote of 12-1 with only Justice of the Peace Alfred Carroll voting no.
Also approved was legislation allowing the road department to add four positions to work on new equipment that was previously purchased.
After the meeting, Robinson was asked about that, and the appropriation ordinance.
A second appropriation ordinance for $268,582.97 that would have covered a number of different needs, including fuel, oil and lubricants, janitorial supplies, legal fees for quorum court members and maintenance and service contracts failed with Justices of the Peace Reginald Adams and Lloyd Franklin Jr., voting no and Justices of the Peace Melanie Dumas, Cedric Jackson and Reginald Johnson abstaining.
Also approved was a $331,279.30 appropriation for the Pine Bluff/Jefferson County Library with the money coming from county millage funds.
