The Jefferson County Quorum Court is set to convene its monthly committee meeting at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday at the Jefferson County Courthouse that was rescheduled because of the recent election.
The meeting’s agenda is packed with significant items that will be discussed across the Human Resources, Public Safety, Judicial, and Budget and Finance committees.
The Human Resources Committee, under the leadership of Justice of the Peace Conley Byrd, will focus heavily on several appropriation ordinances and resolutions. Key financial transfers include an ordinance authorizing a $20,500 transfer within the county general fund for various budget adjustments under the county judge’s office.
Additionally, the committee will consider a $2,100 transfer from the Reappraisal Amendment 79 Fund to County General to aid in the purchase of a new vehicle for the assessor’s office. Further transfers within the Assessor/Reappraisal Fund total $10,000, with $5,000 designated for advertising and publishing, and the remaining $5,000 split between the assessor’s ($2,000) and reappraisal ($3,000) Small Equipment line items.
Other notable resolutions include the reappointment of Joni Alexander Robinson to the Economic Development Corporation Board for a term ending Nov. 30, 2030, and the condemnation of abandoned cable infrastructure in the Old Warren Road area, with plans to transfer ownership to WEHCO Video, Inc. for broadband infrastructure development.
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
Meanwhile, Justice Roy Agee will lead the Public Safety Committee discussions, though the meeting notice did not detail the specific items on their agenda.
The Judicial Committee, led by Justice Melanie Dumas, will address a transfer of funds related to FINS (Family in Need of Services) & Truancy. An appropriation ordinance proposes transferring $2,664.38 from Fund 3031 (Probation) to Fund 1809 to cover computer services.
Financial matters will dominate the Budget and Finance Committee, overseen by Justice Ted Harden. This committee will consider a second reading of an ordinance to reallocate $172,463.60 within Fund 2000 Road Department.
This reallocation will provide salary adjustments for existing positions by eliminating four vacant payroll slots. Two large appropriations are on the docket: $164,500 to County General to cover the note principal, interest and late fees for a commercial loan with Webster Bank; and a substantial $460,814 appropriation from the Emergency Reserve Fund to Fund 2000 Road Department for the purchase of a new chip spreader for road maintenance. The committee will also review an ordinance to add Budget Line Item 3005, a Special Legal Account, to the county judge’s budget, appropriating $75,000 for legal expenses.
Members of the public are encouraged to attend the meeting and participate in the discussions. For further information, the public can visit the Jefferson County website at www.jeffersoncountyar.gov or contact the Jefferson County judge’s office at (870) 541-5360.