Judge Robert Akin called the meeting to order at 6:00 PM on Monday, January 10, 2022 at the Judicial Building.
Pledge of Allegiance
Invocation by Justice Orlando Jones
Clerk White called the Roll. All 9 Justices were present.
Those in attendance:
QC Members
Justice Frank Appleberry
Justice Carole Bulloch
Justice Roger Harris
Justice Orlando Jones
Justice René Knowles
Justice Steven Morrison
Justice Steve Pigott
Justice Donna Usry
Justice Joe Williams, Jr
Elected Officials
Judge Robert Akin
Assessor Cheri Adcock
Treasurer Charlie Searcy
Clerk Nancy White
Members of the Press
Melissa Orrell, Advance Monticellonian
Others Present
Scott Barrilleaux, Hospital
Scott Hayes, Ag Extension Agent
Deputy Daniel Garrison
Caleb Bryan, OEM/911 Coordinator
Jessie Griffin
Cliff Gibson, County Attorney
Minutes
Judge Akin asked if all present had read the minutes. Justice Harris moved to accept the minutes. Justice Bulloch seconded the motion. Motion passed unanimously by a voice vote.
Financial Report
Charlie Searcy, County Treasurer, presented the Financial Report. Charlie drew our attention to the Summary statement, which show that the finances of the County look good as of December 31, 2021. We did not have to transfer funds from the 1-cent sales tax this year, but did last year. The city lost population according to the census of 2020. The county also lost population but gained from the city’s loss. This will mean that the County will gain$10,000 more per month for the county revenue from the sales tax. We should get another 1.7 million dollars from the American Recovery Fund. Justice Williams moved to accept the Financial Report. Justice Usry seconded the motion. Motion passed unanimously by a voice vote.
New Business
I.Hospital
Scott Barrilleaux gave the Hospital report. November and December Finances are not on the report, but the finances look good. He mentioned that they had recently received 2.1 million dollars and they are in the process to justify the use of these funds. Quite a lot of the hospital staff are out due to the new variant of covid, (Omicron) which is contagious. He reported that the Hospital, in conjunction with Mainline, held a test site and tested over 200 people this past weekend. They are looking at the possibility of another test site at the DHS campus in the near future. It will be advertised on Facebook and Monticello Live.Tomorrow is the Community Health Needs Assessment. Every 3 years DHS tries to hold a conference where they listen to the concerns of the community. This year it will be online by virtual Zoom at 6:00 pm. For more information contact Stephanie Norris at the Hospital, or contact Scott directly at 870.460.3539. The first hip replacement was performed at the Hospital today and was a success! Justice Williams asked for the number of Covid positive cases from the weekend testing. Scott said that 30% of those who were tested were positive for the antigen testing. The Hospital is also trying to put into place drive-in testing. Caleb, with OEM, mentioned that he will be traveling to Pine Bluff to pick up 25 cases (2200) of self/home covid testing kits. These kits will be available free to the public through the office of OEM and the Health Department. Call Amanda for those details. The NAACP will have some available to distribute. Contact Clarissa Pace for details.
II.Appropriation Ordinance 2022-1 Corrections to the 2022 Budget
Clerk White explained the reason for the Ordinance. One position in the Sheriff’s office was not calculated correctlythus the need for an increase in the salary appropriation. The four CDL Drivers for Sanitation were not included for the $3.00 increase in the 2022 Budget, but should have been. Therefore, the increase in the salary, social security matching, and retirement is requested. The increase in the Countywide Reappraisal was not known until after the Budget had been approved and this was why this increase was requested.
Justice Williams moved to introduce Ordinance 2022-1 and to dispense with the rules and put on 1st reading by title only. Justice Appleberry seconded the motion. Roll call by Clerk White, with 9 yeas. Clerk White read the Ordinance by title only, then called roll with 9 yeas. Justice Knowles asked the question if the jailers received the $3 increase in slot and it was confirmed that the jailers received the 10% increase in slot and an automatic 5% raise, not the $3 increase. Justice Pigott moved to introduce the Ordinance 2022-1 and to dispense with the rules and put on 2nd reading by title only. Justice Bulloch seconded the motion. Clerk White called the roll with 9 yeas. Clerk White read the Ordinance by title only, then called roll with 9 yeas. Justice Knowles moved to introduce the Ordinance 2022-1 and to dispense with the rules and put on 3rd reading by title only. Justice Harris seconded the motion. Clerk White called roll with 9 yeas. Clerk White read the Ordinance by title only, then called roll with 9 yeas. Motion passed.
III.Appropriation Ordinance 2022-2OEM/911 Salary – Jessie Griffin
Jessie Griffin addressed the Court that he thought that the Court had approved the raise in salary for the OEM/911 coordinator. The Court thought so as well, but Clerk White said that it was not voted on specifically in the budget meeting for that increase. The position did get the 10% increase along with the other employees. The increase on the Ordinance represents the amount that would bring the position to the requested salary amount of $39,500.
Justice Knowles moved to introduce Ordinance 2022-2 and to dispense with the rules and put on 1st reading by title only. Justice Appleberry seconded the motion. Roll call by Clerk White, with 9 yeas. Clerk White read the Ordinance by title only, then called roll with 9 yeas. Justice Harris moved to introduce the Ordinance 2022-1 and to dispense with the rules and put on 2nd reading by title only. Justice Morrison seconded the motion. Clerk White called the roll with 9 yeas. Clerk White read the Ordinance by title only, then called roll with 9 yeas. Justice Williams moved to introduce the Ordinance 2022-2 and to dispense with the rules and put on 3rd reading by title only. Justice Harris seconded the motion. Clerk White called roll with 9 yeas. Clerk White read the Ordinance by title only, then called roll with 9 yeas. Motion passed. René Knowles asked that this should show up for the 1st paycheck in 2022, retroactive to January 1.
IV.Arkansas Association of Quorum Courts, Inc.- County Representative
Judge Akin started the conversation to announce that it needs to be decided who will be the County Representative for the Association. Justice Knowles asked if that has always been Justice Carole, and yes it has.Justice Appleberry asked Justice Bulloch if she felt well enough to still do the job, if not he would like to nominate Justice Pigott to be the representative. She said she wanted to try. She would let the others on the Court know if she would not be able to attend the meeting in April. County Attorney Gibson wanted everyone to know that the Jail project contract that did not come to fruition will have to be unraveled at the state level. Judge, Charlie, and Cliff attended a meeting with the Marshalls concerning the Jail. Voice vote taken to have Justice Bulloch remain the Representative for the Arkansas Association of Quorum Courts. It was a unanimous yes.
FYI
Clerk White distributed an information sheet about 2022 election dates.
Judge Akin talked about the RMC collection agency with Solid waste. Cliff mentioned that tagging the solid waste bill to the taxes seems to be the best way to collect past due fees.
The sanitation committee will try to schedule a meeting.
With no further business, the meeting adjourned.
