A resolution declaring a vacancy on the Jefferson County Quorum Court was recommended for approval Tuesday by a committee of the court.
The measure will allow the governor to appoint a new member of the county’s legislative body.
The Finance Committee approved the resolution, which resulted from the death of former Justice of the Peace Cleddie Shock.
Arkansas law provides that when an incumbent dies, a vacancy must be declared, clearing the way for the appointment of a successor.
The appointee will finish out Shock’s term, which expires Dec. 31.
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
Democrat Verdell Baker and Republican Roy Agree Sr., candidates for the position, will face each other Nov. 6 in the general election. The winner will take office Jan. 1.
County Judge Mike Holcomb said people interested in filling the vacancy until December should send a resume to his office quickly, since once the vacancy is officially declared, the governor will appoint a successor within 30 days.
Also Tuesday, the Quorum Court committees recommended that a $16,461.27 supplemental appropriation for the Jefferson County Clerk’s Office be approved. County Clerk Patricia Royal Johnson said in a letter to Holcomb that the money was needed to cover the costs associated with redistricting, which were not included in the office’s 2012 budget.
According to Johnson, the total includes $5,211.27 for supplies, and another $11,250 for postage to mail out 37,350 new voter registration cards, notifying county residents of their new voting precincts, wards and their polling places.
The county’s legislative body also recommended that a $66,000 grant which the county received from the Arkansas Economic Development Commission for an emergency generator for the Watson Chapel Water District be put into a new account to pay for the generator.
A $4,748.87 carryover balance from the one cent public safety sales tax that was dedicated to rural fire protection will be transferred to the 2012 budget if the Quorum Court agrees next Monday night.
Karen Quarles, Coordinator of the County’s Office of Emergency Management, said in a letter to Holcomb that the County Mutual Aid Association, which is composed of volunteer fire departments, voted in March to use that money to purchase canteen supplies, specifically, ice chests, water and Gatorade to be used when fighting fires.
Resolutions reappointing Glenn Barnes Sr. and Eugene Hunt to five-year terms on the Board of the Economic Development Corporation of Jefferson County were also recommended for approval. The board administers the three-eights cent sales tax approved by county voters for economic development.
Holcomb said Barnes and Hunt were initially appointed to serve a one-year term on the board of the corporation which was created last year.
A resolution was also approved to reappoint Sandra Boone to a five-year term on the Jefferson County 9-1-1 Administrative Board.