By Ray King
An attempt by an attorney for Sheriff Lafayette Woods Jr., to get some discussion on the sheriff’s request for additional funds was rejected by County Judge Gerald Robinson during an often explosive meeting of the Quorum Court Monday night.
Kimberly Dale asked to speak during the public comments section of the meeting but Robinson said she was out of order because the funding request was not on the agenda.
After the meeting, Dale spoke with Deltaplex News.
According to the August Treasurer’s report, there was $585,712.93 available in the adult jail fund and Woods was asking for a portion of that to pay for things like food, medicine utilities.
Woods also spoke to Deltaplex News.
Justice of the Peace Alfred Carroll spent several minutes arguing with Robinson on a variety of topics, including the most recent county audit, which was also not on the agenda, being told each time that he was “out of order.”
Carroll asked Robinson if he was going to have him removed but Woods refused to remove Carroll, saying that Carroll was “not breaking the law.”
Robinson did tell Justice of the Peace Reginald Adams that there would be a discussion on Woods’ needs, “possibly this week.
While money for the adult jail was not on the agenda, money for the juvenile detention center was and an appropriation totaling $225,150.99 was approved without dissent. Also approved was an appropriation to pay the retirement matching for 35 members of the Sheriff’s Department who qualified for a $5,000 one-time bonus from the State of Arkansas, The county received a check form the state for more than $188,000 from the state for that purpose.
A resolution allowing the Sherrill Volunteer Fire Department to absorb the Wright-Pastoria Volunteer Fire Department was also approved.
