Jefferson County Judge Gerald Robinson is hopeful he can resolve some issues in 2024 with the latest being the denied claims that Jefferson County Sheriff Lafayette Woods Jr. sued Robinson for in 2023.
In a letter submitted earlier this week from Woods to Robinson, Woods expresses his sentiments to work in collaboration with Robinson.
“It is imperative that we promptly address and resolve the denied claims for the benefit of effective and efficient county government operations as outlined in the judge’s final ruling,” said Woods in his letter.
According to a ruling by Circuit Judge Gary Arnold, Robinson’s denials were arbitrary and capricious, and the basis for the denial must be clearly stated such that the sheriff can correct the deficiency and avoid similar deficiencies in the future.
It was ordered by Arnold that Robinson and Woods, or their respective department representatives, promptly confer concerning the denied claims to ensure timely resolution for the benefit of effective and efficient county government operations.
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
Woods said he has several claims that have not been satisfied including payments to Sysco Foods. Woods had previously accused Robinson and the Quorum Court of arbitrarily and capriciously denying or disallowing 93 claims, one of which was for a $184,429 payment to Sysco food systems that Robinson’s chief of staff testified in September was $37,000 short.
Sysco supplies food to the Jefferson County youth and adult detention centers.
Arnold’s ruling said there was no legal requirement for a county judge to explain the reason for denying a claim. However, Robinson testified in September the claims were not processed due to missteps in coding and due to a request for funds from the wrong line item of the budget. That request was for food for inmates, and it was placed under “Radio Fund,” according to the testimony.
“The County Judge’s review of claims and his decision as to whether to approve or deny those claims are discretionary acts,” Arnold wrote in his findings. “In performing his statutory duties to ensure that county funds are expended in accordance with the budget promulgated by the Quorum Court, the County Judge is called upon to exercise his discretion and his official judgment. As such, mandamus doesn’t lie, and Petitioner’s claim for a writ of mandamus is denied.”
Woods said the continued denial of claims through the present day has resulted in numerous operational deficiencies, including loss of revenue, damaged creditworthiness by major vendors and violations of constitutional rights of detainees.
“I will surely attempt to work this impasse to get some resolve,” said Robinson to The Commercial. “I think we can work through this.”