With no dissent, two committees of the Jefferson County Quorum Court recommended that the full court approve a $15,000 supplemental appropriation for the Jefferson County Coroner’s Office.
The Health and Welfare and Finance committees of the county’s legislative body agreed to the request by Coroner Chad Kelley, who said in a letter to County Judge Mike Holcomb and members of the court that he didn’t have enough money in his budget to finish out the year.
Responding to a question from Justice of the Peace Dr. Conley Byrd, Holcomb said when the 2012 budget was approved last December, all agencies and departments were asked to hold their spending levels to the same as the previous year.
“We knew they were going to need additional money and said that as long as that money is available, we will appropriate it,” Holcomb said.
Explaining some of the requests, Kelley said additional funding was needed for items such as body bags, heavy duty latex gloves, as well as cooler expenses since bodies that are held at the coroner’s office for an extended period of time have to be kept under refrigeration to slow the decomposition process.
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
Other funds are required for fuel, oil and lubricants for the department’s three vehicles, and because of the increased workload, the vehicles are seeing increased mileage, requiring more maintenance that normal.
Also Tuesday, a supplemental appropriation of $12,500 to pay the cost of an independent audit of federal grant funds received by the county was recommended for approval.
Dr. Herman Ginger, Chairman of the Public Safety/Emergency Services Committee, said the independent audit is required by law, and in a note to Holcomb, Karen Quarles, Coordinator of the Office of Emergency Management, said the county received more than $300,000 in grant funds last year.
A resolution reappointing Linda Johnson-Banks to a five-year term on the Pine Bluff/Jefferson County Library Board was also recommended for approval when the full court meets next Monday at 5:30 p.m.