As the Jefferson County Quorum Court remains at loggerheads over approving the 2025 budget, 398 county employees remain unpaid going into a second month. To help relieve the effects of weeks without compensation, Arkansans from across the state are coming to the aid of county workers.
Debra Allen, founder, director and owner of First Ward Living Grace Pantry, shared how Metal Roof Pros of Arkansas in Hot Springs donated $10,000 to her pantry for their continued support of county staff.
On Monday, Allen, along with many volunteers, put on a fourth giveaway for the unpaid county staff, filling boxes with groceries from the Arkansas Food Bank and Farrell Farms Processing. A lunch meal was cooked by Nikki Walters of RJ’s Sports Grill & Bar along with pantry volunteer “Momma” Linda Martin.
As the county staffers waited in line out front, some shared their feelings about the situation.
“It’s like they don’t care about us,” said a woman, who didn’t want to be identified. “We are very thankful for the support of the community and our fellow workers in Pulaski County, who have lent their help as well. We appreciate the citizens for speaking out and the legislature for stepping in on our behalf.”
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
Gerome McDonald works with the county road crew.
“The roads are in terrible shape right now,” McDonald said. “We haven’t done any grader work since they told us not to come in Jan. 13. I wish they would do something because everybody’s bills are piling up and people are hurting. My hat is off to those who are still showing up for work without their pay.”
Some of the courthouse offices going unmanned include real estate, assessor’s and tax collector.
Beginning at 12:30 p.m., the line of county personnel filed through the pantry kitchen for hot plates of chicken spaghetti, green beans, corn and homemade desserts. From there, they proceeded through the garage area where grocery carts were filled with a variety food products to take home to their families.
In addition, 50 individuals were gifted $15 in cash. One grateful woman said, “This is gas money.”
“Because of the television coverage we’ve gotten, it raised a red flag in Gov. (Sarah) Sanders’ office. She is rushing the legislation through to get folks paid.”
The legislative act being referred to is sponsored by state Rep. Glenn Barnes and co-sponsored by Reps. Ken Ferguson and Mike Holcomb. This piece of legislation will require a quorum court to continue operating on the previous year’s budget if a new one is not approved in time for the new year.
Other sources of food provided on Monday include Farrell Farms Processing.
“We are partners with Arkansas Hunters Feeding the Hungry since 2012,” Rachael Farrell said. “Grove Hunting Club here in the county donated nine deer to provide the one and a half pound packages of ground venison we are donating.”
In addition to the giveaway at First Ward Living Grace Pantry, two other locations across the city acted as distribution points on Monday for county workers to pick up groceries.
They were working with Clayton Johnson of Trinity Annex and the Rev. David Jones of Kingdom Builders.
Trailer loads of boxes were transported across town for hand out at those locations. The only requirement for receiving the assistance was a county ID.
County workers (right) filed past tables piled with a variety of foodstuffs, filling boxes to take home to their families. (Special to The Commercial/Richard Ledbetter)
County Tax Office employee Rebekah Collins, left, along with First Ward Living Grace Pantry founder Debra Allen display the $10,000 check provided by Metal Roof Pros of Arkansas in an ongoing effort to help unpaid Jefferson County employees. (Special to The Commercial/Richard Ledbetter)