Committees of the Jefferson County Quorum Court will consider a resolution authorizing the county judge to apply for federal funds to support the adult drug court program when they meet Tuesday at 5:30 p.m.
The resolution, which will be considered by both the Judicial and Finance committees of the county’s legislative body, states that the U.S. Department of Justice’s Bureau of Justice Assistance has made funding available to the adult drug court through a discretionary grant program.
The program requires a 25 percent match, and according to the resolution, if the grant application is approved, the county will provide $10,000 in matching funds in conjunction with an in-kind commitment from the adult drug court to help meet the federal requirements.
If the grant is approved, the adult drug court will be able to hire a full-time employment specialist to assist drug court participants in finding work, implementing a Veteran’s Court and enhancing the operations and services of the adult drug court.
The resolution is sponsored by Justice of the Peace Ted Harden, chairman of the Judicial Committee.
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
Also on Tuesday, a proposed appropriation ordinance would change the title of an employee in the county judge’s office and to increase that person’s salary.
According to a letter from County Judge Mike Holcomb to Justice of the Peace Vannette Johnson, chairman of the Finance Committee, the salary slot for Daniel Marks, who is designated as legislative assistant, was increased last year when the title of grants director was added to his job description.
“We chose to take that course of action to save the $30,000 the county had been spending to outsource those service in previous years,” Holcomb said in the letter. “The increase came from the Public Safety/Sales Tax Use Fund.”
Holcomb said during the budgeting process last year the salary increase to Marks was overlooked.
“To date, Mr. Marks has successfully procured approximately $400,000,” Holcomb said in the letter. “He has proven he is well qualified very successfully at these duties.”
The appropriation ordinance calls for moving $8,555 from the Public Safety/Sales Tax Use Fund to County General, then to the County Judge’s Office account.
Of that $8,555, $7,040 is for salary, with $539 going to FICA match and the remaining $976 for retirement.
Other items on the agenda Tuesday include:
• Reappointing David Price to a five-year term on the Jefferson Emergency Medical Services Board, beginning April 1 and ending March 31, 2017.
• A proposed appropriation ordinance of $6,208.30 for the 2012 budget for the Local Citizens Corps Council. The funds would come from County General but the Arkansas Department of Emergency Management will reimburse the general fund from a grant that has already been approved.
• Two proposed appropriation ordinances that would set 2012 budgets for the Law Enforcement Terrorism Prevention Program and the State Homeland Security Grant Program, with funds for both those programs coming from the Arkansas Department of Emergency Management.
• An appropriation ordinance totaling $44,529 for the county recycling program, with the funds coming from money not spent on maintenance and operations in 2011 and funds not spent from a 2010 grant from the Southeast Arkansas Development District.