Below this story and its photos a video of the complete meeting can be seen.
An appropriations ordinance sponsored by JP and Quorum Court Budget Committee Chairman Ed Darling was read that provided from American Recovery Plan Act funds full-time county workers who have served longer than six months with $2,000 end-of-year bonuses, part-time workers working over 20 hours per week with $1,000, part-time workers at less than 20 hours per week with more than six months on the job with $500 and part-time workers with less than six months on the job $100. The inclusion of $300 bonuses for each JP was struck out of the ordinance at the suggestion of JP David Clayton and the agreement by several other JPs, including JP Jessie Henry and JP Steve Atchley.
The total amount budgeted for the bonuses totals $296,480.
JP Jay Lathrop said during the discussion that he had heard from constituents not pleased with the bonuses because they felt there were areas like road maintenance on which the funds could be better spent. He said he favored making the top bonuses $1,000 as they were last year.
County Judge Jerry Crane said he understood such comments but was convinced of the need for the bonuses by the county’s struggle to keep its employees for leaving for jobs offering higher pay. Crane also said that the roads complained of were the sort that were often washed out again by weather after having been smoothed out.
JP Henry said he favored the bonuses being provided in part because the county might not have the funds to provide them in future years. American Recovery Plan Act funds came from legislation passed during the Biden administration that provided money to cities and counties to compensate for losses due to the COVID-pandemic.
The $300 bonuses for Quorum Court members was cut out of the ordinance by amendment. Then the roll call vote on the bonuses itself was called with JP Atchley voting present, JP Lathrop voting no and the other 9 JPs voting yes. JP Steve Gunter stated before his yes vote, “This is very difficult for the calls I receive about the roads, but I want to help you all [county workers] as best I can, and at the same time, for the folks that call about the roads, we're just trying to do the best we can.” The bonus ordinance therefore passed with 9 votes for, one vote present and one vote opposed.
In the next major item, the court voted to appoint James West to fill the Blevins School Board Zone Five seat that Emily McDonald, its prior occupant, resigned recently. JP Keith Steed recommended West’s appointment and the court voted unanimously in favor.
After the meeting, West described his ties to the district. “I've been in 11 since the early 80s. I have a current child in there in 11th grade, but I've had my own children in there for the last 31 years. And I've seen ups and downs, ups and downs, and right now it seems like they need some help.” West said he has served in the Army and been in managerial positions at Tyson Foods and Cooper Tire.
The court also voted in favor of an ordinance by JP James Griffin to use $13,201 that property taxpayers gave this year to the voluntary Sheriff’s deputy pay donation program for the purpose for which it was intended. The roll call vote was unanimous.
Another ordinance, which the court is obliged by state law to vote on every year, was in favor of current millage rates throughout the county. County Clerk Karen Smith made clear this vote was state-required and raised none of the rates. She said she had heard there was confusion about this after the Hope city board voted on a similar measure at its first November regular meeting.
Before the meeting was gavelled into order, County Extension Agency Staff Chair Terrie James started a slide show that ran on a monitor just above the table where the justices of the peace sat. It showed photos and descriptions of County Extension office activities throughout the past year.
“We hope you enjoy this,” James told the JPs, “We appreciate all your support and things that you've done. One year ago, we actually had an open house, and we've been in our [new] building [at 1800 East Third] over a year now, and we continue to grow with it. We have some of our extension volunteers and supporters here. We've got master gardeners, and my staff is with me. So we appreciate the support that you provided us for extension, and we look forward to a wonderful 2025.”
Also at the meeting, Bonnie Raff of the Daughters of the American Revolution spoke about November being Native American Heritage month. She spoke of the Iroquois origins of the federal system of the U.S. government and showed the court a few items related to the designation of the month.
