FAYETTEVILLE -- Justices of the peace tabled a proposal Thursday to separate a position paid for solely by one department but solely benefiting another.
The Quorum Court will consider July 28 whether to give the county attorney a full-time assistant and the grant administrator a full-time employee under separate ordinances. Several justices of the peace said they weren't sure both positions -- each costing about $45,000 per year -- are needed.
Next meeting
The Quorum Court will meet at 5:30 p.m. Thursday for a special-called Quorum Court meeting. Discussions will include new positions for the grant administrator and county attorney, the solvency of the employee health program and employee salaries.
The position to be split is paid for through the grant administrator's budget and was meant to be shared between the county attorney and grant administrator, officials said previously. However, the employee has worked exclusively for the county attorney for months.
On Thursday, justices of the peace asked Grant Administrator Renee Biby provide more information about her duties and needs for an assistant. Justices of the peace questioned whether a part-time position might work.
Biby has said a position is needed but hasn't said whether it must be full time.
Justice of the Peace Sharon Lloyd said she didn't see a need for a new position. Lloyd is a Republican representing northwestern Springdale.
"I'm just speaking on the behalf that we are in a budget crisis here, and I think we are creating a new position that is not really needed," Lloyd said.
The Quorum Court should pay for a pay raise first, Lloyd said. Plans are already underway to request more cuts for departments, she said.
Justice of the Peace Sue Madison, a Democrat representing southeastern Fayetteville, said the court may be rewarding "bad behavior" by granting County Attorney Steve Zega a full-time paralegal assistant. The employee should have been doing duties for Biby as well as Zega, she said.
Zega said his having an assistant is vital for the county. He said his department has saved the county money by handling lawsuits deftly. The county resolved four federal civil rights lawsuits this year without costing the county in settlements, Zega said.
"I have to have help if you expect me to maintain the level of service," Zega said.
The Quorum Court will consider the two ordinances during the next meeting at 5:30 p.m. Thursday.
In other business, the Quorum Court approved asking the state to pay for the entire cost of housing and caring for state prisoners held in county jails.
The cost of holding an inmate at the Washington County Detention Center is $67 per day per prisoner, but the state reimburses only $30 per day per inmate, according to the resolution. Justice of the Peace Tom Lundstrum said the state has a surplus and should pay the counties before considering reducing the income tax.
Lundstrum is a Republican representing north-northwestern Washington County.
The county judge and sheriff also plan to submit supporting letters, which Lundstrum said he plans to give to state Rep. Robin Lundstrum, R-Springdale.
NW News on 07/22/2016