A proposed ordinance that would allow Jefferson County’s building superintendent to do business with companies owned by his relatives was pulled from consideration before the monthly meeting of the county Quorum Court on Monday.
County Judge Mike Holcomb pulled the ordinance after consulting with County Attorney Terry Wynne. Holcomb said Wynne “wanted to take a closer look at” the legislation.
Holcomb said several members of the county’s legislative body had also talked with an attorney for the Arkansas Association of Counties who described the ordinance as “opening up a can of worms.”
The proposed ordinance said the owners of Dorsey’s Plumbing, Kirby Plumbing and Mechanical and Tidwell Plumbing are related to Thomas Tidwell, who is county building superintendent and who makes most of the decisions on who is called to do work for the county.
Holcomb said although the proposed ordinance was suggested by the Arkansas Division of Legislative Audit, “I didn’t feel good about it.”
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
He said if the companies whose owners are related to Tidwell are used, “it will be a direct order from the county judge and not the building superintendent.”
In other business, a $24,500 appropriation for juvenile justice education was approved by the justices of the peace. The education component of the juvenile detention center is state-funded but this year, educational components in the state’s juvenile detention centers did not receive an anticipated budget increase.
Also approved was a $20,778.48 appropriation for various county departments with the funds coming from insurance reimbursements and grants, and a $9,900 appropriation for District Court to correct an error in an ordinance adopted last month.
Justices of the Peace Vannette Johnson and Paul Jones were absent Monday night.