The Union County Quorum Court met Thursday in its first meeting of the year to discuss raises for county employees, budget amendments and changes to the county personnel manual.
Current, full-time county employees who are in good standing will receive a 3 percent pay raise after the Quorum Court unanimously approved the ordinance. District 6 JP Cecil Polk was not present at Thursday’s meeting.
Quorum Court members will not receive raises after choosing to exclude themselves during last week’s specially called finance committee meeting.
“There’s some wiggle room there. I think we’re safe at 3 (percent),” said District 7 JP and Quorum Court Finance Committee member Johnny Burson.
The next paycheck for county employees will not include the raise as Thursday was the last day of their pay period. Back pay will be issued on the paychecks county employees receive Feb. 5.
An ordinance to amend the fiscal year 2019 budget was also approved unanimously.
The ordinance added and decreased funds that were not accounted for when the budget was written in September.
They also unanimously approved an ordinance to update the Union County personnel manual to reflect the courthouse’s new hours., which were changed to 8 a.m to 4:30 p.m. at the last Quorum Court meeting. The new hours went into effect Jan. 2.
Another ordinance also dealt with appropriations of funds: $1.3 million was transferred to the Union County jail fund for updates that are currently underway there, while $1.2 million was taken from unappropriated solid waste funds and just under $100,000 was taken from unappropriated county general funds.
Of the $1.3 million going to the jail fund, $1.2 million was approved for jail upgrades in November, while the remaining amount, just under $97,000, is a partial insurance reimbursement from the jail fire.
“There’s another insurance check coming, in some amount,” said District 1 JP Mike Dumas.
The court moved $70,000 from the special funds to county general funds with a fourth ordinance that was also passed unanimously. The special funds were from the county treasurer and tax collector’s offices.
Union County Treasurer Debbie Ray explained that her office receives commissions, the excess of which are loaned to the county after the treasurer’s and tax collector’s offices have funded any of their necessary expenditures.
“What we try to do is just to help the budget at the beginning of the year,” Ray said. “That kind of helps the county and it’s just like we’re letting them borrow it.”
Union County Coroner Stormey Primm also appeared before the Quorum Court to request funds for his office. Primm requested $3,000 for upgrades to two vehicles used by his office.
He explained that the coroner’s office took over body pick-up duties after former Coroner Curtis Butterfield died suddenly. Previously, Search and Rescue, a volunteer division of the Union County Sheriff’s Office, was responsible for picking up unclaimed bodies or those located at crime scenes.
Primm said his office received a van to use for the pick-ups from the UCSO; however, the vehicle is not outfitted as an emergency vehicle, causing safety issues for employees who use it. The coroner’s office also uses a Ford Expedition in the field, which Primm said he wanted to outfit with emergency vehicle parts also.
“That van literally had nothing but a stretcher and a stripe on it,” Primm said. “From there, we’re trying to apply lettering to it, we’re trying to apply lights to it, more for safety of our crews when we are doing body pick-ups on highways and high risk scenes.”
The equipment Primm proposed adding includes lights, a siren and speaker, and a mobile radio.
“I have been requested by state police and by several other people that our officers go ahead and get there, and get there quickly, so that they can begin their investigation, because technically their investigation can’t begin until we get there,” Primm said.
Primm also requested $5,000 to hire someone to help with body pick-ups. Primm said their help would only be necessary when a funeral home is unavailable or if the body is bound for the Arkansas Crime Lab. Primm’s requests will be considered at the next Quorum Court meeting.
“I think it makes perfect sense, since we know there’s a better way. And I think you coming in as a new elected official … I like the cooperation between you and the sheriff,” said District 5 JP Carolyn Jones.
At the end of the meeting, Union County Judge Mike Loftin presented former interim Coroner Felton Burgie with a plaque thanking him for his service to the county.
Burgie was appointed interim coroner last July after Butterfield’s death. Burgie served until Primm was sworn in at the start of the year.
“Felton did a wonderful job. Felton, we appreciate it,” Loftin said.
Also at Thursday’s meeting, District 10 Justice of the Peace Donald Brock was welcomed to the body, as it was his first meeting since being sworn in at the start of the year.
“I have to ask all of you to bear with me; I’ll need your patience and advice and guidance while I catch up,” Brock said to laughter.
The meeting ended with one final note from Union County Sheriff Ricky Roberts.
“Thank you for the raise,” Roberts said.
Caitlan Butler can be reached at 870-862-6611 or [email protected].