By Ray King
After being able to adopt some legislation in September, the Jefferson County Quorum Court returned to its “do-nothing” approach in October as seven members refused to participate during committee hearings Tuesday.
The remaining justices of the peace approved a number of proposed ordinances by voice vote with the seven who refused to participate remaining quiet.
County Judge Gerald Robinson then adjourned the meeting and talked to Deltaplex News about what happened.
The problem started immediately after elected officials presented their proposed 2024 budgets with Justice of the Peace Lloyd Franklin Jr., complaining that members of the county’s legislative body had received two different agendas’, one from Robinson’s Office, the second from the County Clerk’s Office.
Franklin contends that a policies and procedures ordinance adopted by those same seven members, as well as one who was absent Tuesday called for the clerk’s office to prepare the monthly agenda. He also said he had been advised by an attorney representing the dissenters not to participate but hold their own meeting.
Robinson has contended that the ordinance they adopted is illegal and has filed suit against those members who adopted it. A court date to hear that suit has not been set.
In addition to Franklin, Justices of the Peace Reginald Adams, Alfred Carroll, Melanie Dumas, Brenda Bishop Gaddy, Reginald Johnson and Jackson did not cast votes during the committee meeting.
Justices of the Peace Ted Harden, Danny Holcomb, Patricia Royal Johnson, Roy Agee and Conley Byrd did cast votes and left when Robinson adjourned the meeting and did not stay for a meeting which Franklin proposed and which they said was illegal. Justice of the Peace Margaret Williams was absent.
Legislation that was on the agenda included a proposed $1 million appropriation for the road department which included $350,000 for asphalt, $340,000 for other professional services and $50,000 for fuel, oil and lubricants. The money would come from the county’s emergency reserve fund.
Another proposed ordinance called for spending $312,625.79 on a variety of items including $90,000 in legal fees to cover the costs of the attorney that represented the Quorum Court when they were sued by Sheriff Lafayette Woods Jr., $70,000 for maintenance and service contracts, and $73,591.79 for parts and repairs.
