A recent Jefferson County Quorum Court meeting devolved into a heated dispute among justices of the peace, centering on the allocation of road repair funds and adherence to procedural guidelines. The discord underscored the growing frustration over the deteriorating state of the county’s roads and the perceived lack of action to address the issue.
Before agenda items were addressed, Justice of the Peace Lloyd Franklin Jr. spoke on the removal of committee members of the Budget and Finance Committee by County Judge Gerald Robinson calling the move “illegal” and that Robinson did not have the authority to do so.
An email sent on Sept. 2 from the office of the county judge said effective immediately, the Budget and Finance Committee will consist of the following seven members:
Justices of the Peace Ted Harden, Conley Byrd, Roy Agee, Danny Holcomb, Patricia Royal-Johnson, Reginald Adams and Melanie Dumas.
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
“The County Judge has appointed these members to the committee, but the justices on the committee can choose their chairperson,” read the email.
Franklin contended that any ordinance resulting from the newly formed committee would be void. However, Robinson dismissed that contention, suggesting that Franklin could challenge its validity in court.
“It is not illegal. The county judge can appoint the members,” said Robinson. “I’m not here to argue with you. If there are any concerns …your attorney can bring that out when we have our court date.”
The main thrust of the contention concerned the appropriation of funds earmarked for road maintenance. JP Dr. Conley Byrd questioned the delay in releasing the allocated resources, emphasizing the urgency of the situation. His plea resonated with residents who have long voiced concerns about the neglected road conditions. Despite previous discussions and petitions, the lack of tangible progress has fueled discontent within the community.
During public comment period, frustrated residents highlighted the severity of the problem and the damage on many of their roads that has caused damage to their vehicles.
In response to the mounting pressure, Robinson stressed the necessity of proper fund appropriation before any road work can commence. “The Quorum Court has to appropriate it,” he explained. “These are simple transfers. We can’t do anything. We are down 1,007 gallons of gasoline, and we are down to 560 gallons of diesel.”
Robinson emphasized that the vehicles will be parked, and the Quorum Court’s sole responsibility is to allocate the necessary funds — without interfering in how those funds are utilized. Notably, the agenda item neglected to allocate $313,533.95 to the road fund.
An appropriation ordinance for $491,464 with half of that to go toward asphalt also failed.
Franklin pointed out that there were insufficient funds in the current balance to cover the $491,464 appropriation amount. In response, the county treasurer clarified that the balance reflected in the report on Aug. 31, which stood at $472,496, and appropriations were separate entities.
“When you all appropriate you all are giving whatever department the ability and permission to pay to provide funds are available,” said County Treasurer Vonysha Goodwin. Goodwin said if monies are not available at the time of payment, it is not approved.
Franklin expressed concern about the road department’s over-appropriation, but the treasurer indicated that the necessary funds might not be immediately available on day one and may gradually become available throughout the year. She emphasized that she had never needed to return a check to the county clerk’s office due to nonpayment.
Franklin further stated that the ordinance also allocates funds for leases and other expenses. He referred to Robinson as “complicit” and claimed that the road department’s budget for the upcoming year had already been depleted. Franklin elaborated on his observations regarding the utilization of funds within the road department.
“You can’t appropriate what you don’t have,” said Franklin.
“Are you finished?” Robinson asked Franklin. “So to the public what you just heard is a very eloquent display of someone trying to be the county judge and he is a JP whose primary function as a JP is to appropriate money.”
Robinson clarified that the funds in question were derived from taxpayers and emphasized that any available resources would be allocated to road repairs.
“If we don’t get the money, the roads won’t get fixed,” said Robinson.
The debate took a procedural turn as justices of the peace grappled with the interpretation of Robert’s Rules of Order and the validity of certain committee decisions when a finance meeting was adjourned and then reconvened last week. Justice of the Peace Alfred Carroll challenged Robinson’s rulings when Robinson declined Carroll’s suggestion to include a separate agenda created by the majority of the Quorum Court without the county judge using his veto power.
Carroll said they are being forced to vote against the agenda items because the items, which came out of the finance committee, were illegal, they said.
“I just can’t vote for something that was done improperly,” said Franklin.
The procedural wrangling further exacerbated tensions, hindering any substantive resolution to the pressing road repair issue and most agenda items including an appropriation for upcoming election expenses. The meeting concluded without a clear path forward, leaving justices of the peace and residents exasperated by the perceived inaction.
The Quorum Court now faces the challenge of bridging the divide and finding common ground to address the critical road repair needs in Jefferson County. The outcome of future discussions will undoubtedly have a significant impact on the county’s infrastructure and the well-being of its residents.