Oct 12, 2021 Agenda Committee

[00:00:02]

DAN, I'M GOING TO ASK EVERYBODY IF WE'LL GO AHEAD AND START TAKING OUR SEATS.

IT IS 6:00, 6:01 ACTUALLY, SO WE CAN GO AHEAD AND GET STARTED.

[1. CALL TO ORDER]

IF MY COUNTING IS RIGHT, IT APPEARS THAT WE DO HAVE 10 PEOPLE PRESENT, WHICH THAT SHOULD BE A QUORUM, SO WE'RE GOING TO GO AHEAD AND GET THE MEETING STARTED OUT ASK JUSTICE STOWERS, IF HE'LL LEAD OFF WITH AN INVOCATION FOLLOWED BY THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE BY JUSTICE GULLEY, THOSE WHO CAN WOULD YOU PLEASE STAND? ALMIGHTY GOD, WE ASK THAT YOU WOULD BE WITH US THIS EVENING THAT YOU WOULD GIVE US WISDOM DIRECTION. AND GUIDANCE IS WE TAKE CARE OF THE BUSINESS OF PULASKI COUNTY AND OF THOSE THAT WE HAVE BEEN ENTRUSTED BY TO SERVE IN YOUR NAME, WE PRAY.

AMEN. AMEN.

THANK YOU, WE'LL GO AHEAD AND START.

AMY, WOULD YOU PLEASE CALL THE ROLL? MR. REID, HERE, MR. DENTON, ABSENT, MISS LEWISON.

THEY WERE HERE. IS PRESENT SOMEWHERE, BUT MISS BLACKWOOD IS ABSENT.

MISS MCMULLAN, MISS MASSEY, ABSENT ,MISS CONEY, HERE ,MR. KEITH, HERE, MISS GREEN, HERE, MISS GULLY, PRESENT, MR. ROBINSON, HERE, MR. MCCOY HERE, MR. STOWERS, PRESENT, MR. ELLIOTT, HERE AND MISS MEDLOCK IS ABSENT.

SO YOU HAVE TEN PRESENT.

WE HAVE TEN PRESENT SO WE CAN GO AHEAD AND DO OUR BUSINESS.

APPROVAL OF MINUTES IS THERE.

HE'S THERE AND LET THE RECORD REFLECT THAT JULIE, JUSTICE BLACKWOOD AND JUSTICE LEWISON HAVE ARRIVED.

[5. APPROVAL OF MINUTES]

A MOTION WAS MADE WITH THE SECOND THAT WE APPROVE OUR MINUTES FROM OUR LAST MEETING, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.

AYE. THOSE OPPOSED, OUR MINUTES HAVE BEEN ACCEPTED.

THERE IS NO UNFINISHED BUSINESS AND JUST A REMINDER YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR YOUR MICROPHONES. RED LIGHT INDICATES THAT IT IS HOT.

I WILL BE PAYING ATTENTION TO GET YOUR ALLOW YOU TO SPEAK AS SOON AS I CAN.

[21-I-66 A RESOLUTION OF THE QUORUM COURT OF PULASKI COUNTY ENCOURAGING THE PULASKI COUNTY ELECTION COMMISSION TO ADOPT THE 2021 METROPLAN REDISTRICTING MAP AS THE NEW DISTRICT BOUNDARIES FOR PULASKI COUNTY JUSTICES OF THE PEACE, BASED ON FEDERAL CENSUS DATA AND IN ACCORDANCE WITH ARTICLE 8 OF THE ARKANSAS CONSTITUTION.]

JUSTICE BLACKWOOD.

A MOTION WAS MADE WITH THE SECOND THAT WE SEND 21I66 TO THE FULL QUORUM COURT WITH A DUE PASS RECOMMENDATION.

ANY QUESTIONS, ANY DISCUSSION? JUSTICE GULLY. OK, SO IF THIS PASSES TONIGHT, YOU ALL CAN HEAR ME RIGHT? SO DO, THE COMMISSION, DO THEY HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO MAKE CHANGES TO IT OR SINCE METRO PLAN HAS ALREADY? I MEAN.

OK, ONCE YOU HAVE YOU FINISHED YOUR QUESTION? YES, SIR. OK, JUSTIN.

SO IF YOU GUYS PASSED THIS TO THE QUORUM COURT BASED ON THE MOTION OF DUE PASS RECOMMENDATION, YOU WOULD STILL HAVE TO PASS IT.

THE QUORUM CALL WOULD HAVE TO PASS IT.

THIS IS JUST SENDING IT TO THE COMMITTEE.

THE RESOLUTION IS SIMPLY SUGGESTING THAT BASED ON THE THE MAP THAT WAS GIVEN TO YOU, THAT YOU BELIEVE THAT THIS IS A GOOD PLAN AND THAT THE ELECTION OF BOARD OF ELECTION COMMISSION SHOULD ADOPT THAT PLAN.

WHETHER OR NOT THEY ADOPT IT IS UP TO THEM OR IF THEY HAVE ANOTHER PLAN.

THIS IS SIMPLY YOU GUYS ADOPTING A STATEMENT SAYING WE'VE SEEN IT, WE LIKE IT.

SO PLEASE CONSIDER THIS AS A POSSIBILITY OF ADOPTING THIS MAP.

AND THAT'S REALLY EXTENDED.

[00:05:02]

OK, THANK YOU.

NO PROBLEM. JUSTICE MCCOY.

SORRY, SORRY, CURIOUS, GET MY GLASSES.

JUSTICE KEITH, WAS THIS YOUR RESOLUTION OR WAS THIS SOMEONE FROM METRO PLAN THAT CAME TO YOU AND ENCOURAGED YOU TO TO RUN IT? YEAH, IT WAS MINE.

NO, IT WAS SOMETHING THAT WAS PRESENTED TO THE COUNTY AND BECAUSE IT WAS NO CHANGES, IT PRETTY MUCH LEFT OUR DISTRICTS AS IT WAS.

I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE AT LEAST FAIR OR FEASIBLE TO ACTUALLY SPONSOR THIS.

AND WAS THIS I'M ASSUMING THIS AND I APOLOGIZE, I'VE HAD A CRAZY WEEK OR SO, BUT IS THIS MAP THAT THEY'VE PRODUCED THE SAME DRAFT THAT THEY SHARED WITH US WITHIN THE LAST FEW WEEKS OR A MONTH OR SO? YES, IT IS.

IT'S THE SAME MAP THAT YOU GUYS RECEIVED AT THE AUGUST TWENTY FIFTH QUORUM COURT MEETING.

IT'S THE SAME MAP. OK, I YIELD.

THANK YOU. OK, IF THE AMY, WOULD YOU PLEASE LET THE RECORD SHOW THAT JUSTICE MASSEY AND JUSTICE MATLOCK HAVE ARRIVED.

ARE THERE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? IF THEY'RE BEING DONE, AMY, WOULD YOU PLEASE CALL THE ROLL ON 21I66? MR. REED ABSTAIN, MISS LEWISON, YES, MISS BLACKWOOD, AYE, MISS BLACKWOOD, I AM SORRY, MISS MCMULLEN, YES, MISS MASSEY, AYE, MISS CONEY, YES, MR. KEITH, YES, MISS GREEN, AYE, MISS SCULLY, YES , MR. ROBINSON, AYE, MR. MCCOY, NO, MR. STOWERS, ABSTAIN, MR. ELLIOTT, [INAUDIBLE] MISS MEDLOCK, AYE.

SO THAT WOULD BE, I'M SHOWING 10 AYES, THREE ABSTENTIONS, ONE NO, AND THEN ONE ABSENT.

OK. MOTION PASSES.

AMY SAID.

WE'LL SEND THIS TO THE FULL QUORUM COURT WITH A DUE PASS RECOMMENDATION.

IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT 21I69, IT WAS A VIDEO, AND BECAUSE THERE WERE TECHNICAL ISSUES WITH THE VIDEO, IT HAS BEEN PULLED, SO WE WILL GO ON TO, AND THAT WAS OUR RESOLUTION.

THEN WE'LL GO ON TO OUR AUDIENCES.

[21-I-67 AN ORDINANCE AMENDING ORDINANCE 20-OR-44 (2021 ANNUAL BUDGET, PULASKI COUNTY, ARKANSAS) TO RECOGNIZE AND APPROPRIATE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT OF 2021 FUNDS AND TO PROVIDE FOR A ONE TIME PREMIUM PAYMENT TO ESSENTIAL COUNTY EMPLOYEES, EFFECTIVE DECEMBER 3, 2021. Sponsors: Justice Lewison, Blackwood]

JUSTICE LEWISON.

MOVE THAT WE SENT IT TO THE FULL QUORUM COURT WITH A DUE PASS.

SECOND. A MOTION WAS MADE WITH THE SECOND THAT WE SEND 21I67 TO THE FULL QUORUM COURT WITH THE DUE PASS RECOMMENDATION.

JUSTICE LEWISON, WOULD YOU LIKE TO EXPLAIN? AND JUSTICE GULLEY, I SEE THAT YOU HAVE.

BUT SO JUSTICE LEWISON FIRST.

OK, OK.

JUSTICE GULLEY, DID YOU HAVE ANYTHING ELSE TO ADD WITH THAT? OK, JUSTICE GULLEY, I SAW YOUR HAND.

OK, I HAVE A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS.

JUSTICE GULLEY CAN YOU PULL THE MIC UP JUST A LITTLE CLOSER AND MAKE SURE THEY CAN HEAR? I HAVE A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS.

FOR ONE, WHAT'S THE AMOUNT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT PER EMPLOYEE? OK, AND TWO ESSENTIAL IS THAT MEANING ESSENTIAL LIKE FOR EVERYBODY, ALL THE COUNTY EMPLOYEES? OK, UM, PERSONALLY, I THINK THEY SHOULD RECEIVE MORE MAYBE 12 HUNDRED, IF NOT 15. AND THE REASON BEING, BY THE TIME THEY PULL THE TAXES OUT, THEY'RE NOT GOING TO GET $1000. SO I MEAN, IS THAT AN AMENDMENT?

[00:10:03]

MY SUGGESTION ON THAT, ONLY, THE ONLY REASON IS IS BECAUSE IT'S NOT IN WRITING AND YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT AN EXTRA $200 FOR EVERY SINGLE EMPLOYEE [INAUDIBLE], THAT'S A SIGNIFICANT CHANGE TO THE OVERALL NUMBER WOULD THAT BE A FAIR ASSESSMENT? OK. OH, YOU GUYS CAN DO WHAT YOU WANT, I'M JUST SAYING THAT IN AN APPROPRIATION ORDINANCE, WHEN YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT DOLLARS AND CENTS, IT WOULD PROBABLY BE BEST TO HAVE THAT FIGURE IN FRONT OF YOU SO THAT YOU KNOW EXACTLY WHAT YOU'RE VOTING ON.

YOU CAN ALWAYS GO BACK AND AMEND THIS AT A LATER TIME, IF YOU'D LIKE.

BUT I THINK THAT JUST KIND OF A VERBAL AGREEMENT TO A 20 PERCENT INCREASE IS NOT SHOWING THE ACTUAL NUMBER THAT YOU'RE VOTING ON.

BUT IF THAT MOTION WAS MADE, IT DIED BECAUSE OF A LACK OF A SECOND.

NO ONE GAVE A SECOND ON THAT ONE.

OK, SO WE'RE BACK TO THE ORIGINAL.

DID YOU HAVE ANYTHING ELSE JUSTICE GULLEY? I JUST WANT TO REITERATE, I MEAN, BY THE TIME THEY TAKE THE TAXES OUT, THEY WON'T GET A THOUSAND DOLLARS.

RIGHT. IN ALL FAIRNESS TO THE EMPLOYEES, I MEAN, TO ME, TWELVE HUNDRED IS REASONABLE.

RIGHT.

OK, DULY NOTED.

OK. JUSTICE ELLIOTT.

CAN YOU..

THIS DO FOR THE BUDGET.

IT COMES OUT OF THE COVID MONEY, IT'S NOT GOING TO DO ANYTHING TO THE BUDGET.

I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE I WANTED TO ASK YOU.

YEAH, IT'S OUT OF THAT AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN.

OK. I JUST WANTED TO ASK.

NOT DOING ANYTHING TO THE BUDGET.

OK. OK.

ANY ANYTHING ELSE? OK. JUSTICE MASSEY.

I WAS JUST GOING TO SAY, IF THE MOTION COMES UP AGAIN, I WOULD SECOND IT.

BUT I WOULD LIKE TO GET SOMETHING IN WRITING THE NUMBERS AS TO WHAT IT'S GOING TO TO COST, WHAT IS THE IMPACT.

AND WE NEED IT IN WRITING.

JUSTIN, I'M SURE YOU HAVE A COMMENT ON THAT.

NO, THERE'S NOTHING THAT THE SPONSORS ARE COMFORTABLE WITH JUST SAYING THAT, HEY, THAT'S GOING TO BE A 20 PERCENT OVER WHAT YOU'RE LOOKING AT AND THAT'S WHAT YOU GUYS WANT TO DO.

THEN BY ALL MEANS YOU GUYS COULD DO IT.

I'M JUST SAYING THAT GENERALLY SPEAKING, WE'VE HAD IN THE PAST WHERE IF YOU'VE MADE IT AN AMENDMENT, WE'VE HAD TO HAVE IT IN WRITING.

IF THEY HAVE NO OBJECTION TO IT AS THE LEAD SPONSORS, THEN YOU GUYS WOULD BASICALLY BE ADOPTING THAT APPROPRIATION PLUS 20 PERCENT AS AMENDED.

AND THEN WHEN YOU GET IT AT THE FULL QUORUM COURT, YOU'D BE LOOKING AT A 20 PERCENT INCREASE ON THAT TOTAL NUMBER.

I SEE, OK, I GOT HIM, I PROMISE YOU.

JUSTICE MASSEY, DID YOU, DID YOU HAVE ANYTHING ELSE? THANK YOU. OK, JUSTICE MCCOY, I'D LIKE TO HEAR.

SO THIS IS WHAT I UNDERSTAND WE HAD.

COVID DROPPED MARCH 12, 2020.

I'M VERY FAMILIAR WITH THE DAY BECAUSE LOST A FAMILY MEMBER THAT DAY, BUT PEOPLE STARTED WORKING FROM HOME FOR THE COUNTY.

AM I NOT INCORRECT? AM I CORRECT? I THINK I AM.

AND WE'RE GIVING COUNTY EMPLOYEES MORE MONEY ON TOP OF THE MONEY WE'VE ALREADY ALREADY GIVEN THEM, $500 FOR EVERY COUNTY EMPLOYEE, $500 FOR EVERY FIRST RESPONDER OR NOT FOR EVERYONE WHO HAD TO DEAL WITH THE PUBLIC.

NOW WE'RE TALKING ABOUT GIVING THEM ANOTHER $1000.

JUSTICE GULLEY WANTS TO GIVE THEM AN EXTRA 200 TO PAY FOR THE TAXES.

MAY OR MAY NOT BE ALLOWABLE UNDER ARP I DON'T REALLY KNOW, NOT THE QUESTION AT HAND RIGHT NOW. HOW DID THE AND I WOULD ASK THIS IF I WERE A COUNTY EMPLOYEE? WHY WOULD I BE GETTING AN EXTRA ONE TIME PREMIUM PAYMENT IF I DIDN'T HAVE TO, IS THIS COUNTYWIDE? I GUESS I SHOULD ASK THIS.

OK, WHY AM I GETTING EXTRA MONEY? HOW HAVE THESE COUNTY, I HAVEN'T HEARD ANYBODY COME UP HERE AND SAY HOW THESE COUNTY EMPLOYEES WHO HAD TO WORK FROM HOME AND WHATNOT.

I DON'T SEE I HAVEN'T HEARD ANY JUSTIFICATION FOR WHY THEY DESERVE EXTRA MONEY IF SOMEONE CAN, AND I'M GOING TO HAVE TO LEAVE HERE IN A MINUTE.

I'M GOING TO VOTE AGAINST THIS.

I THINK THIS IS ACTUALLY AGAIN, IF I WOULD LOVE TO VOTE FOR SOMETHING LIKE THIS, IF I WAS CONVINCED THAT IT WAS A GOOD THING AND THAT'S THE ONE CAMPAIGN PROMISE I MADE WAS I WOULD I PROMISE NOT TO VOTE FOR SOMETHING UNLESS I FELT LIKE IT WAS A GOOD THING.

I WAS CONVINCED IT WAS GOOD.

TO DATE, I HAVEN'T HEARD ANY JUSTIFICATION, EXCEPT FOR THOSE WHO HAD TO DEAL WITH THE PUBLIC BECAUSE THERE WAS SOME LIABILITY THERE.

THERE WAS SOME EXPOSURE WHERE THEY COULD HAVE BEEN SICK AND GREATLY HARMED, BUT OTHERWISE FOR FOLKS WHO HAD TO STAY HOME.

TO ME, THAT'S ALMOST A BENEFIT IN AND OF ITSELF SAVING MONEY, NOT HAVING TO DRIVE WHATEVER BLAH BLAH BLAH.

SO AGAIN, I MAY NOT BE ABLE TO STAY HERE MUCH LONGER.

I GOT TO GO TO AN EVENT, BUT I'M GOING TO VOTE AGAINST THIS.

I WOULD ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO VOTE AGAINST IT IF WE'RE NOT CONVINCED THAT THESE EMPLOYEES

[00:15:04]

I YIELD. OK, THANK YOU, JUSTICE BLACKWOOD.

YES, THERE IS A PROVISION IN THIS AND THAT IS ONE OF THE STIPULATIONS IS THAT THEY HAVE TO, HOW MUCH TIME DO THEY HAVE TO HAVE HUTCH? WELL, ALL THE PROVISIONS SAYS, AND TO BE CLEAR, NOT EVERYBODY WORKED FROM HOME.

YEAH, NOT EVERYBODY WORKED FROM HOME THE WHOLE TIME.

SOME OF US WERE HERE EVERY DAY.

SOME PEOPLE WORK FROM HOME A COUPLE OF DAYS A WEEK, DEPENDING ON HOW WE COULD CYCLE PEOPLE THROUGH AND RUN THE OFFICE.

THE PROVISION SAYS THAT TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR IT, YOU COULD NOT HAVE WORKED FROM HOME 100 PERCENT OF THE TIME, RIGHT? THAT'S THE FEDERAL GUIDELINE.

SO IT WOULD BE YOUR DETERMINATION HOW YOU FEEL ABOUT THAT AND THAT'S THAT'S ON YOU ALL.

HOWEVER, YOU ALL WANT TO VOTE ON THAT.

I DON'T, YOU KNOW.

BUT TO BE CLEAR, WE DIDN'T SHUT ANYTHING DOWN.

EVERYBODY WAS HERE AT SOME TIME OR ANOTHER.

SO THERE IS THAT PROVISION.

I STILL HAVE THE FLOOR AND I WOULD LIKE TO SAY THAT I THINK THESE PEOPLE REALLY DO DESERVE THE MONEY BECAUSE YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT ALL THE PEOPLE ARE DOWN AT THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT. YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT ALL THE CORONER'S DEPARTMENT.

YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT ALL THESE PEOPLE WHO WORKED VERY, VERY HARD.

AND YOU KNOW WHAT? OUR COUNTY WORKERS DON'T MAKE A WHOLE LOT OF MONEY.

I MEAN, YOU KNOW, THEY REALLY DON'T MAKE A WHOLE LOT OF MONEY.

I MEAN, I KNOW EXACTLY WHAT OUR COUNTY WORKERS MAKE AND THEY MAKE ANYWHERE, WHEN I LOOK AT THEIR SALARIES, IT'S 20000.

IT STARTS AT TWENTY THOUSAND, IT GOES TO, SOME OF THEM GO TO THIRTY ONE.

AND IF YOU THINK TWENTY ONE THOUSAND TO THIRTY ONE THOUSAND IS A WHOLE LOT OF MONEY AND MAYBE THERE MAYBE ARE, YOU KNOW, LIVING HIGH ON THE HOG ON 21 TO THIRTY ONE THOUSAND.

YOU KNOW, THEN MAYBE THEY ARE, BUT I DON'T THINK SO.

SO I THINK AN EXTRA THOUSAND DOLLARS FOR THESE PEOPLE ARE REALLY STRUGGLING WHO'VE GOT TWO KIDS AND TRYING TO LIVE ON THAT KIND OF MONEY.

IT'S DIFFICULT BECAUSE I LOOK AT WHAT THESE SALARIES ARE.

I LOOK AT WHAT COMES ACROSS AND WHAT SAYS, BECAUSE I LOOK AT WHAT THE JOBS ARE THAT COME UP AND WHAT'S AVAILABLE AND WHAT THE SALARY RANGES ARE.

AND THOSE ARE THE SALARY RANGES FOR THESE PEOPLE.

AND THAT IS NOT A LOT OF MONEY, COME ON, FOLKS.

AND SO A THOUSAND BUCKS IS NOT MUCH TO GIVE SOMEBODY WHO'S MAKING THAT KIND OF MONEY.

I MEAN, IT REALLY ISN'T, AND THEY WORK HARD AND THEY WORK 28 YEARS FOR US.

THEY COME DOWN HERE EVERY SINGLE DAY AND SOME OF THEM, OK, HAVE TO WORK FROM GET TO WORK FROM HOME A LITTLE BIT, YOU KNOW, AND MAYBE GET THREE DAYS TO WORK FROM HOME.

BUT FOR INSTANCE, LIKE MY DAUGHTER, WHO HAD TO GO HOME FOR TWO WEEKS BECAUSE SHE'S DIABETIC BECAUSE SHE COULDN'T BE ON THE FRONT LINES.

YOU KNOW, THERE ARE PEOPLE LIKE THAT, THE PEOPLE LIKE CANCER.

SOMEBODY ELSE HAD A BRAIN TUMOR AND HAD TO GO HOME.

I MEAN, THERE ARE THOSE PEOPLE, YOU KNOW, AND I THINK THAT THAT'S JUST UNDERSTANDABLE THAT EVERYBODY HAS. IF YOU'VE GOT SOMETHING WRONG WITH YOU AND YOU HAVE TO GO HOME, I THINK THAT'S OK.

I DON'T THINK IT'S LIKE A BENEFIT THAT YOU GOT THE BRAIN TUMOR.

SO YOU GET TO GO HOME AND WORK FOR HOME BECAUSE YOU'VE GOT A BRAIN TUMOR.

COME SEE. NO, I DON'T THINK THAT NECESSARILY IS A GREAT BENEFIT.

OK, SO I'M FOR THIS ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY PERCENT.

OK. ANYTHING ELSE? JUSTICE BLACKWOOD AND I WOULD EVEN SECOND THE EXTRA $200, I WOULD GET THAT.

OK, JUST OK.

JUSTICE BLACKWOOD, JUSTICE STOWERS.

THANK YOU, MR. KEITH.

SO FIRST OF ALL, HUTCH I WOULD KIND OF LIKE TO KNOW AT SOME POINT I WOULD GREATLY CHALLENGE THAT THE AVERAGE COUNTY EMPLOYEE MAKES BETWEEN TWENTY TWO AND THIRTY TWO THOUSAND. THAT WOULD BARELY BE ON THE AVERAGE COUNTY EMPLOYEE ABOVE MINIMUM WAGE.

I THINK I DON'T I DON'T THINK THAT NUMBER IS CORRECT.

I THINK IT'S MUCH HIGHER THAN THAT IF WE LOOK AT THE AVERAGE ACROSS OUR FULL TIME EMPLOYEES. SO, MR. HUTCHINS, IS THAT SOMETHING THAT YOU COULD PROVIDE IS WHAT THE AVERAGE AND NOT TONIGHT, I UNDERSTAND THIS IS OFF THE CUFF.

THE LAST TIME WE DID THAT, THE AVERAGE WAS IN THE MID 30S.

MID THIRTIES. OK, BUT THAT'S BEEN A FEW YEARS AGO.

BUT THAT WAS THE LAST TIME WE SEE WE'VE DONE SEVERAL INCREASES SINCE THEN, SO IF THAT WAS A MID-30S SEVERAL YEARS AGO, WE'RE PROBABLY TALKING 40 TO FORTY FIVE NOW.

NO.

I'M SORRY, MA'AM. I HAVE THE FLOOR.

OH, HOLD ON. HOLD ON NOW, BUT I'M THE CHAIR.

SO ANYTHING THAT NEEDS TO GO, ALL NEEDS TO BE DIRECTED TO ME AND I'LL DIRECT SO.

SO I APPRECIATE THAT PHIL HAS THE FLOOR AND I'LL ASK YOU TO GO AHEAD AND DON'T MAKE IT A CROSS TALK OR CROSS EACH OTHER, I'D ASK YOU.

SO IF IT WAS THIRTY FIVE THOUSAND A FEW YEARS AGO, IT'S PROBABLY CLOSER TO 40 NOW.

THAT'S AGAIN, THE POINT BEING THAT I SUPPORTED THIS THE FIRST TIME AROUND, BUT THE CARES ACT MONEY, WHAT WAS MEANT TO HELP OUR COMMUNITIES, IT WAS MEANT TO HELP OUR CONSTITUENTS, IT WAS MEANT TO HELP OUR ECONOMICS OF OUR COMMUNITIES, JOBS, HEALTH CARE AND FOR I THINK

[00:20:05]

THAT'S SOMETHING THAT ANY OF US THAT HAVE WORKED IN THE CORPORATE WORLD OTHER THAN FOR THOSE THAT WERE UNIONIZED OR HAD OTHER SITUATIONS.

NOWADAYS YOU GET WHICH IN YOUR 401K, WHICH YOU PUT IN YOUR 401K AND YOU KNOW HOW MUCH THAT GROWS OR DOESN'T GROW.

SO THERE ARE A LOT OF BENEFITS TO WORKING FOR GOVERNMENT, WHETHER IT'S FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, SCHOOL GOVERNMENT LIKE MY FATHER DID.

I SEE COUNTY GOVERNMENT, CITY GOVERNMENT, THERE'S A LOT OF BENEFITS TO WORKING FOR GOVERNMENT. ONE OF THE BIGGEST BENEFITS IS A PENSION, OTHER FOLKS DON'T HAVE.

SO, YOU KNOW, I SUPPORTED THIS THE FIRST TIME AROUND, BUT I DON'T THINK.

AND I UNDERSTAND IT'S ONE OF THE REASONS WE CAN USE CARE ACT MONEY IS TO GIVE BONUSES.

OK, GREAT.

AND WE'VE GIVEN ONE AND I SUPPORTED THAT AND I VOTED FOR IT.

BUT I DON'T THINK THAT IT'S THE RIGHT THING TO DO TO CONTINUE TO USE THIS MONEY FOR THAT PURPOSE. I THINK IT NEEDS TO BE GOING INTO OUR COMMUNITIES.

I THINK IT NEEDS TO BE GOING INTO OUR CONSTITUENTS AND INTO OUR ECONOMY FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PURPOSES NOT TO CONTINUE TO GIVE BONUSES.

THAT'S JUST THAT'S MY FEELING ON IT.

AND I YIELD. OK.

THANK YOU, JUSTICE TOWERS, JUSTICE MCMULLAN.

OK, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR CALLING ON ME.

I DO WANT TO POINT OUT A FEW THINGS.

PLEASE TALK IN THE MIC. CAN YOU SPEAK IN YOUR MIC JUSTICE MCMULLEN? NO PROBLEM. I WANT TO POINT OUT A FEW THINGS.

FIRST OF ALL, WHEN YOU'RE LOOKING AT THE AVERAGE AMOUNT THAT THE EMPLOYEES MAKE AND YOU DETERMINE THE FIGURE YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO QUANTIFY QUALIFY WHAT THE AVERAGE, WHAT TYPE OF AVERAGE YOU'RE LOOKING AT, WHETHER YOU'RE LOOKING AT THE MEAN, THE MEDIUM OR THE MODE.

SO IF YOU ARE TO ME, IF YOU TAKE A MEAN YOU'RE GOING TO GET A DIFFERENT AVERAGE SALARY, IT WOULD BE LOWER.

IF YOU'RE LOOKING AT ANOTHER TYPE OF AVERAGE, MEDIAN OR MODE, YOU'RE GOING TO GET A DIFFERENT ONE. AND THE REASON WHY IS BECAUSE WHEN YOU TAKE THE MEAN, PERHAPS YOU'RE AVERAGING ONE THING, AND IF YOU'RE GOING TO GO WITH THE MEDIAN OR THE MODE, YOU'RE AVERAGING IN ANOTHER BECAUSE YOU HAVE PEOPLE AT ONE END THAT ARE MAKING A LOT MORE THAN THE PEOPLE AT THE LOWER END.

AND THAT MIGHT SKEW THE SO-CALLED MEAN OR AVERAGE TO MAKE IT APPEAR TO BE THAT MOST PEOPLE ARE MAKING A LITTLE MORE THAN THEY'RE ACTUALLY MAKING.

NOW, AFTER THAT HAS BEEN SAID, I WANT TO SAY THIS.

AND SURE, IF HUTCH IS GOING TO BRING US THAT INFORMATION, PLEASE PRESENT IT TO US ACCORDINGLY. THE MEAN, THE MEDIAN AND THE MODE, BECAUSE IT MAKES A SIGNIFICANT DIFFERENCE. ALSO, I WANT TO ASK A QUESTION AND ONE QUESTION IS YOU SAID ESSENTIAL AND I BELIEVE HUTCH, YOUR RESPONSE TO THAT WAS THAT ESSENTIAL MEANT THAT THAT MEANT FOR EVERYBODY, AM I CORRECT? OK, WELL, AN EMPLOYEE CALLED ME.

SHE WAS NOT CALLING ME CONCERNING ABOUT, I MEAN, CONCERNING I MEAN COMPLAINING RATHER ABOUT WHAT SHE WAS MAKING.

WE WERE DISCUSSING SOMETHING ELSE, AND SHE POINTED OUT THAT PERHAPS THAT WAS JUST A $500. THAT SHE WAS GETTING BECAUSE SHE WAS NOT AN ESSENTIAL EMPLOYEE.

NO, MA'AM. THAT'S NOT CORRECT.

OK, THEN I WANTED TO CLARIFY THAT I'M SO HAPPY TO HEAR THAT.

AND AS FAR AS YOU KNOW, THESE EMPLOYEES DO NOT MAKE MUCH.

I BASICALLY WANTED TO CLARIFY, THAT I DON'T WANT TO REHASH TOWARD OTHERS HAVE SAID REGARDING WHETHER OR NOT WE BELIEVE, YOU KNOW, THAT THEY SHOULD GET $200 MORE BECAUSE I THINK THAT THAT CERTAINLY IS NOT GOING TO MAKE A DENT IN THE BUDGET OR AS FAR AS THE CARES ACT MONEY GOES NOW, I DON'T KNOW IF THIS COMES FROM THE CARES OR RESCUE FUNDS.

DO YOU WANT TO ANSWER THAT?

[00:25:02]

SO THAT DOESN'T EVEN HIT OUR BUDGET.

WE'RE HELPING SOME PEOPLE AND THIS WOMAN WHOM TO WHOM I TALKED WITH, SAID THAT SHE WAS NOT LISTED AS AN ESSENTIAL WORKER.

MANY TIMES WHAT SHE HAD TO DO, SHE WAS JUST EXPOSED AND OVERWORKED.

AND THEN UPON RETURNING, IF THERE WAS ANY RETURNING, THERE WAS EVEN MORE TO MAKE UP.

BUT SHE JUST EXPLAINED HOW SHE WOULD BE UP LATE AT NIGHTS, EVEN WORKING FROM HOME BECAUSE OF THE INCONVENIENCE, YOU KNOW, NOT HAVING DIRECT ACCESS TO SOME THINGS.

AND I DO WANT TO ALSO SAY THAT AS A SCHOOL PSYCHOLOGY SPECIALIST, THEY'RE IMMEDIATELY ALLOWED US AND NOT ALLOWED US, BUT HAD US TO WORK FROM HOME.

IT WAS A HEADACHE, IT WAS REALLY SOMETHING.

AND FOR THE FIRST TIME, SOME OF MY RELATIVES SAW JUST WHAT I DO AND HOW HARD I WORK AND HOW STRESSFUL IT IS.

BUT IT WAS EVEN MORE SO FROM WORKING AT HOME.

IT WAS JUST SO INCONVENIENT AND PARTS MISSING AND TRYING TO GATHER UP THIS AND THAT.

SO PLEASE DON'T UNDERESTIMATE IT.

AND I YIELD THE FLOOR.

THANK YOU. AND THE ONLY THING I ASK IS GOING FORWARD.

CAN WE CAN WE PLEASE FOCUS ON THE MERITS OF THIS? I'VE ALLOWED US TO BUNNY TRAIL OFF AND I SHOULDN'T HAVE, BUT I'M GOING TO TAKE THAT.

BUT I'M ASK EVERYBODY TO PLEASE STAY ON THE MERITS OF THE ORDINANCE THAT'S BEFORE US, JUSTICE ROBINSON. HUTCH, MY QUESTION IS LIKE IF YOU LOOK UNDER ONE THOUSAND GENERAL FUND, THE COUNTY JUDGE SECTION ONE, IT SAYS SALARY FULL TIME INCREASE THREE THOUSAND DOLLARS.

I'M ASSUMING THAT THAT IS THREE PEOPLE GETTING $1000, IS THAT CORRECT? AND THEN UNDERNEATH THAT, YOU GOT THE FICA, SOCIAL SECURITY RETIREMENT MATCHING WORKER'S COMP, RIGHT? YEAH, I DID THE QUICK CALCULATION IS TWENTY SIX, BUT FOR THAT ONE.

SO IF I'M IN THE COUNTY JUDGES OFFICE AND I ADD ALL THOSE UP, THEN WE'RE TAKING INTO ACCOUNT THE FICA, SOCIAL SECURITY, RETIREMENT AND ALL THAT ALREADY.

BY THE WAY, I READ THIS, IS THAT CORRECT OR NOT? YOU'RE TAKING THE COUNTY SHARE OF IT, NOT YOUR SHARE OF IT.

SO IT'S SO PART OF IT'S IN THERE, JUST NOT ALL OF IT.

AS AN EMPLOYER, JUST LIKE IF YOU OWN YOUR OWN BUSINESS, YOU PAY TAXES ON THAT EMPLOYEE.

THE COUNTY PAYS TAXES ON AN EMPLOYEE.

THAT'S WHAT THAT IS.

BUT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WANTS MONEY FROM THEY TAX YOU ALSO.

RIGHT. RIGHT.

SO THAT'S BUT I GUESS WHAT I'M JUST TRYING IN THIS ORDINANCE, PART OF THE TAXES THAT WE JUST BLATANTLY SAID THEY'RE NOT GOING TO GET ALL OF IT BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT GETTING ANY TAXES WITHHELD.

THEY ARE. NO, LET ME TRY AGAIN.

THE TAXES YOU HAVE LISTED RIGHT THERE IS WHAT THE COUNTY PAYS.

WHAT WE PAY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT FOR AARON ROBINSON TO BE EMPLOYEE.

OK, I'M WITH YOU NOW, OK.

BUT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS GOING TO HIT AARON ROBINSON UP BASED ON HIS WITHHOLDINGS AND EVERYTHING AT PAY TIME.

GOTCHA, ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU.

IT'S GOING TO VARY FOR EVERYBODY.

SO THAT'S AN EMPLOYEE AND AN EMPLOYER PORTION.

DON'T GO OUT, BUT OK, I'M WITH IT NOW.

OK. ANYTHING ELSE? OK. JUSTICE CONEY, I SEE.

YEAH. OH MY LINE.

IT'S OFF. OK, JUSTICE CONEY, JUSTICE MATLOCK.

I THINK HUTCH PRETTY MUCH ANSWERED MY QUESTION EARLIER ABOUT IT DOESN'T AFFECT OUR BUDGET, AND I JUST WOULD LIKE TO SAY WHEN I THINK ABOUT THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT AND AN EMPLOYEE SUCH AS THAT DURING COVID, I JUST I KIND OF FEEL LIKE THEY DO DESERVE IT.

SO BUT THANKS FOR ANSWERING MY QUESTION, HUTCH, INDIRECTLY.

OK. JUSTICE ANYTHING ELSE, JUSTICE MASSEY.

THANK YOU, I SEE THE VALIDITY AND EVERYTHING THAT HAS BEEN SAID HERE TONIGHT FROM EACH JUSTICE. AND I KNOW THIS MONEY IS TO FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND TAKING CARE OF OUR CONSTITUENTS. AND I LOOK AT OUR COUNTY EMPLOYEES AND A LARGE PERCENTAGE OF THEM, IF THEY LIVE IN PULASKI COUNTY, THEY ARE OUR CONSTITUENTS.

I DON'T THINK WE SHOULD JUST THROW ALL THE MONEY AWAY AND GIVE IT, YOU KNOW, TO EMPLOYEES. NO, BUT I MEAN, I THINK THIS IS A I THINK THIS IS A GOOD THING TO DO.

I JUST FELT SO BAD FOR MANY OF THEM THAT HAD TO WORK, AND I MEAN REALLY WORK AND COME IN CONTACT, SUCH AS THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT, HOW THEY, YOU KNOW, AND OTHER DEPARTMENTS.

[00:30:05]

AND WHEN I, YOU KNOW, TRAVEL TO D.C.

AND ATTENDED THE NACO CONFERENCE, JUST LISTENING TO ALL OF THE DIFFERENT COUNTIES WHO HAVE ALREADY, YOU KNOW, BEEN ON IT, DISPERSING THIS MONEY, THEY WERE GIVING THEIR EMPLOYEES $5000.

MIND YOU, SOME OF THEM WERE BIGGER THAN US, AND SOME MAY HAVE BEEN MUCH SMALLER THAN US.

AND THEY'RE THEIR MARKET RATE OR WHATEVER IS MAYBE DIFFERENT, I DON'T KNOW.

BUT NOBODY WAS GIVING $1000, AND SO, YOU KNOW, I MEAN, I'M JUST SAYING AND I WAS LISTENING TO ALL OF THEM, HOW THEY WERE GIVING THEIR EMPLOYEES $5000.

AND THEN I GOT AN EMAIL FROM SOMEONE AND YOU PROBABLY GOT IT TO WHOM I DO NOT KNOW WHO WAS VERY UPSET BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, ANOTHER COUNTY IN ARKANSAS, MIND YOU WAS PROBABLY SMALLER THAN US, GOT A LOT MORE THAN WE THAN WE'RE GIVING OUT.

SO I MEAN, I JUST THINK IT'S A GOOD THING, YOU KNOW, MIND YOU, WE DON'T WANT TO BREAK THE BANK AND GIVE EVERYTHING, YOU KNOW, WE WANT TO BE RESPONSIBLE, BUT I DON'T THINK THIS IS GOING TO HURT US THAT MUCH AND I YIELD THANK YOU, JUSTICE MASSEY, JUSTICE GULLEY.

THAT'S ALREADY BEEN STATED.

MY QUESTION WAS WHY ARE WE CONCERNED ABOUT NUMBERS? THIS IS NOT AFFECTING THE BUDGET.

JUST GIVE THEM THE MONEY.

WHERE'D THE MONEY COME FROM? WELL, LET'S NOT HOLD ON, HOLD ON, HOLD ON.

I STILL HAVE THE FLOOR.

I THINK I CAN RESPOND TO THAT AS STEWARDS OF THE COUNTY'S MONEY, I THINK WE SHOULD BE CONCERNED ABOUT THE MONEY EVEN WHERE IT CAME FROM, AND I'M NOT SAYING I DON'T SUPPORT THIS, BUT MY CONCERN IS HOW WE'RE PIECEMEALING IT.

LAST MONTH, WE GAVE A GAVE A BONUS, THIS MONTH WE'RE ASKING FOR A BONUS.

WHAT ABOUT WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO NEXT MONTH AND THE NEXT MONTH AND THE NEXT MONTH? SO THAT'S MY ONLY CONCERN.

AND I UNDERSTAND WE'VE GOT ALMOST 78 MILLION, $79 MILLION.

I UNDERSTAND THAT. BUT AT SOME POINT, WHEN ARE WE GOING TO ACTUALLY PUT SOMETHING FORWARD IN AND DO SOMETHING THAT'S COUNTYWIDE AS OPPOSED TO THE 1100 TO 1200 COUNTY EMPLOYEES? BUT ANYWAY, THAT'S MY THAT'S MY SOAPBOX.

JUSTICE STOWERS. YEAH, SO LIKE MISS MASSEY, I APPRECIATE THE DIALOG TONIGHT.

AND I THINK, YOU KNOW, I COULD SAY FOR MYSELF, I'VE LEARNED FROM FROM MY COLLEAGUES AND WE, YOU KNOW, WE DO LEARN WHEN WE LISTEN TO EACH OTHER.

I DO WANT TO SAY THAT THE, YOU KNOW, TO SAY IT DOESN'T IMPACT OUR GENERAL FUND BUDGET IS TRUE, BUT IT IS STILL MONEY THAT IS CAME FROM FROM TAXES, FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT DOWN TO THE LOCAL LEVEL.

SO I THINK WE HAVE TO RECOGNIZE THAT IT IS TAXPAYER MONEY.

BUT HAVING SAID THAT, I THINK THAT MISS MEDLOCK BROUGHT UP A POINT WHILE AGO THAT THAT REALLY STRUCK WITH ME.

AND THAT IS WHEN YOU LOOK AT OUR BUDGET, OUR GENERAL FUND BUDGET.

SEVENTY FIVE PERCENT OF IT PLUS IS TIED UP IN SHERIFFS, THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE AND ENFORCEMENT AND IN DETENTION, IN THE CORONER'S OFFICE, IN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM.

AND THERE'S NOT REALLY A GOOD WAY THE WAY COUNTY GOVERNMENT IS SET UP IN ARKANSAS TO FIGURE OUT WINNERS AND LOSERS, TO FIGURE OUT, WELL, THIS PERSON GOT TO WORK FROM HOME FOR THE LAST 18 MONTHS AND THIS PERSON WAS WORKING 12 HOUR SHIFTS FOR THE LAST 18 MONTHS.

YOU KNOW, THERE'S NOT A GOOD WAY TO PARSE IT UP, BUT AS YOU KNOW, AS I SIT HERE AND I'VE LISTENED TO MY COLLEAGUES AND I'VE THOUGHT ABOUT THIS.

I DON'T BELIEVE IT'S EQUITABLE, BUT BUT I CAN'T I CAN'T SAY NO TO THIS FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF OUR FIRST RESPONDERS, FROM OUR CORONER'S OFFICE, FROM OUR SHERIFF'S DEPUTIES AND GOING DOWN THE LIST OF THOSE THAT DEAL EVERY DAY WITH DIRECTLY WITH THE PUBLIC. I DO WANT TO SAY I ECHO MR. KEITH'S CONCERNS ABOUT WHERE DOES THIS STOP, WHERE YOU KNOW, WHAT IS WE'VE DONE THIS ONCE WE'VE DONE THIS TWICE NOW? IS THIS GOING TO BE SOMETHING THAT EVERY MONTH, EVERY OTHER MONTH, WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO DO THIS? I DON'T KNOW. I GUESS WE'LL GET DOWN THAT ROAD AS WE GET TO IT.

BUT I AM, I SAID EARLIER, I COULDN'T SUPPORT THIS.

I AM GOING TO SUPPORT IT BECAUSE I BELIEVE THAT THE MAJORITY OF THE COUNTY EMPLOYEES ARE FOLKS WHO ARE FIRST RESPONDERS AND HAVE TO DEAL ON A DAILY BASIS IN A VERY CLOSE CONTACT SITUATION WITH THE PUBLIC.

AND I DON'T WANT TO SAY NO BECAUSE OF A FEW WHEN I WANT TO SAY YES, BECAUSE OF MANY.

AND WITH THAT, I YIELD MR. KEITH. THANK YOU, JUSTICE STOWERS, JUSTICE, JUSTICE ELLIOTT.

[00:35:07]

I'VE SAT HERE AND BEEN LISTENING LIKE EVERYBODY ELSE.

AT FIRST, I DIDN'T WANT TO DO IT, BUT AS I LISTENED TO MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT AND OTHER EMPLOYEES, I WILL VOTE YES, THANK YOU.

ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU, JUSTICE BLACKWOOD.

AND JUST TO REMEMBER TO THAT THAT THE EMPLOYEES THAT DO GET THIS MONEY, THEY MOST OF THEM DO LIVE IN OUR COUNTY AND THEY WILL PUT THIS MONEY BACK INTO THE SOCIETY.

THEY WILL SPEND THIS MONEY, WHICH WILL STIMULATE OUR ECONOMY IN PULASKI COUNTY, WHICH IS A STIMULUS TO OUR ECONOMY AND THAT ALSO HELPS PULASKI COUNTY.

WHEN YOU STIMULATE STIMULATE OUR ECONOMY, THAT IS THAT DOES HELP OUR COUNTY.

SO, YOU KNOW, YOU CAN THINK OF IT THAT WAY, TOO.

WE'RE HELPING OUR COUNTY THAT WAY ALSO.

THANKS. THANK YOU, JUSTICE BLACKWOOD, JUSTICE CONEY.

I BASICALLY JUST WANT TO SAY I UNDERSTAND THE SHERIFF, THE CORONER, BUT EVERY EMPLOYEE JOB IS ESSENTIAL.

RATHER, THEY WORK AT HOME OR HERE BECAUSE THEY'RE USING THEIR OWN INTERNET, THEIR LIGHTS, ALL THOSE ESSENTIAL THINGS TO MAKE THIS COUNTY TICK, AND WE DO NOT NEED TO MINIMIZE ANYONE, WHATEVER DECISION THEY CHOSE IN CHOOSING THE POSITION THEY DID, THAT'S WHAT THEY DID. BUT ALL OUR EMPLOYEES ARE ESSENTIAL AND WE SHOULDN'T POINT OUT THE SHERIFF, WE SHOULDN'T DO THAT. THAT'S RIGHT.

IT'S NOT, IT'S NOT NECESSARY EVERYBODY SELECT TO DO WHAT THEY WANTED TO DO.

YOU HEARD DEBORAH COME IN HERE AND SAY HOW MANY TAXES SHE COLLECTED FROM THE COUNTY.

SO THEREFORE THOSE WORKERS WAS WORKING RATHER AT HOME, AT WORK OR AT PLAY.

THE JOB GOT DONE.

SO THAT IS WHAT WE NEED TO LOOK AT, AS OPPOSED TO SAY, WELL, THE SHERIFF PEOPLE GETTING MURDERED EVERY DAY AND WE HAVEN'T CAUGHT THE CROOKS.

SO THEREFORE EVERYBODY'S JOB IS IMPORTANT.

AND THAT'S WHAT WE NEED TO FOCUS ON.

RAISE OR NO RAISE, THAT'S OUR FOCUS.

ALL RIGHT THANK YOU. I YIELD.

THANK YOU, JUSTICE COUNTY.

POINT WELL TAKEN.

THANK YOU, JUSTICE MASSEY.

THANK YOU. ONE LAST ONE LAST THING I HAVE TO SAY THAT WE ARE EDUCATABLE.

WELL, NO, THAT'S A FRIENDLY JOKE.

BUT ANYWAY, NOT ONLY SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENTS AND SO FORTH, BUT OUR AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMS, YOU KNOW, THOSE WHO ARE WORKING WITH OUR YOUTH, THEY HAVE BEEN EXPOSED FOR A YEAR GIVING, YOU KNOW, GIVING OUT FOOD AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE IN THE AFTERNOON.

AND SO THEY'RE HAVING TO, YOU KNOW, DEAL WITH WITH PEOPLE HAVING DIRECT CONTACT.

SO I JUST WANTED TO SAY THAT AND AND I THINK THE BUCK STOPS HERE ONCE WE FINISH THIS DISBURSEMENT, IF IT IS APPROVED, I DON'T THINK WE'RE GOING TO COME BACK AGAIN.

AND AND I THINK WE'RE ONLY DOING IT THIS TIME SIMPLY BECAUSE THERE IS ANOTHER DISBURSEMENT COMING.

I'M JUST ASSUMING AND BECAUSE WE FELT THAT JUST WASN'T ENOUGH.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU, JUSTICE MASSEY.

IF THERE ARE NO, NO MORE QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS.

PARDON ME. OH, OK.

JUSTICE LEWISON AND I.

Y'ALL, NO, I DON'T, I CAN'T SEE YOUR LIGHTS.

DID Y'ALL KNOW THAT. I MEAN, YOU HAVE THAT, OK, THERE'S NO LIGHTS I CAN SEE.

I NEED TO SEE SOME HAND MOTION OR SOMETHING.

WELL, I JUST LIKE TO SAY THAT THE REASON JULIE AND I BROUGHT UP THIS ORDINANCE TO BEGIN WITH IS BECAUSE ALL I WANTED TO DO WAS HONOR OUR EMPLOYEES.

I MEAN, THERE WAS JUST SOMETHING SIMPLE.

I DIDN'T THINK WE WERE GOING TO GET IN SUCH A KNOCK DOWN DRAG OUT, BUT I UNDERSTAND WHY.

I UNDERSTAND THAT IT WAS NEEDED, AND I'M I'M JUST SAYING THAT THIS ISN'T GOING TO LIKE THAT, DONNA MASSEY SAID AGAIN, I DON'T THINK IT'S GOING TO COME UP AGAIN WHERE THERE'LL BE ANOTHER PAYMENT.

I JUST THINK THAT THESE EMPLOYEES, SOME OF THEM COULD HAVE JUST QUIT AND NOT COME BACK TO WORK. SO I JUST THINK WE SHOULD HONOR THEM.

THAT'S MY REASONING.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU JUSTICE LEWISON, ANY MORE QUESTIONS, COMMENTS? THERE BEING NONE AMY, WOULD YOU PLEASE CALL THE ROLL? MISS MATLOCK, AYE, MR. ELLIOTT, YES, MR. STOWERS, YES, MR. ROBINSON, I ABSTAIN, MISS GULLEY, YES, MISS GREEN, AYE, MR. KEITH, YES, MISS CONEY, YES.

MISS MASSEY, AYE, MISS MCMULLIN, YES, MISS BLACKWOOD, AYE, MISS LEWISON,

[00:40:02]

AND ONE ABSTENTION AND ONE NAY.

SO 12 AYES, ONE ABSTENTION, ONE NAY IT WILL GO TO THE FULL QUORUM COURT WITH THE DUE PASS RECOMMENDATION, SO THIS IS NOT THE FINAL VOTE.

WE STILL HAVE THE FULL QUORUM COURT TO ACTUALLY GET IT APPROVED.

I'D LIKE TO BE ADDED AS A SPONSOR.

OK. I'M SORRY, I DIDN'T SAY THAT BEFOREHAND.

OK.

AT THE. OK.

AMY, JUST LET AMY KNOW WHO WANTED TO BE ADDED AS A SPONSOR.

DID YOU HAVE SOMETHING JUSTICE MCMULLEN? AND IN LOOKING AT THIS AMENDMENT, I'M SORRY AT THIS ORDINANCE.

I WAS UNDER THE IMPRESSION THAT WE WOULD GO AHEAD AND TRY TO MAKE AN AMENDMENT, BUT WE DIDN'T DO THAT, AND I SUPPOSE WE'LL BE ABLE TO DO THAT AT THE FULL QUORUM COURT IF THAT IS OF INTEREST.

IF THAT'S WHAT'S ON THE FLOOR.

AND IT COULD BE IN WRITING? YES, IT WOULD JUSTIN.

BECAUSE EVEN THOUGH INDIVIDUALS SAID THAT THEY WOULD SUPPORT THE AMENDMENT, NOBODY CAME BACK AND SAID REQUESTED THAT IT BE AMENDED TO INCLUDE THE $1200 OR 1250.

NOBODY CAME BACK WITH IT.

AM I CORRECT? CORRECT.

OK, IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THERE IS, OH, 21I68, IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING, IT'S BEEN PULLED.

YES. AND THEN IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THERE IS A LATE FILING.

[Additional Item]

A MOTION WAS MADE WITH THE SECOND THAT WE SUSPEND THE RULES TO HEAR 21I70.

AMY, WOULD YOU PLEASE READ 21I70? AN ORDINANCE AMENDING ORDINANCE 20OR44 2021 ANNUAL BUDGET PULASKI COUNTY, ARKANSAS TO RECOGNIZE AN APPROPRIATE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ESSER THREE GRANT FUNDS FOR THE YOUTH SERVICES DEPARTMENT.

JUSTICE MCMULLIN YES, I MOVE THAT WE SEND THIS TO FULL QUORUM COURT FOR DO PASS RECOMMENDATION. A MOTION WAS MADE WITH THE SECOND THAT WE SEND 21I70 TO THE FULL QUORUM COURT WITH A DUE PASS RECOMMENDATION.

JUSTICE MCMULLIN, WOULD YOU LIKE TO EXPLAIN WHAT OR WOULD YOU LIKE DIRECTOR SCOTT? WELL, ON THE AMERICAN, WE ALL KNOW WHAT THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN IS, BUT WE DON'T FOR THE ESSER. BUT ESSER THREE GRANT FUNDS STANDS FOR HELP ME OUT HERE BEHIND ME.

THANK YOU. GO AHEAD.

I DIDN'T KNOW YOU WERE HERE, SO I WAS GOING TO TRY TO EXPLAIN THAT THE COUNTY CURRENTLY FUNDS OUR DAISY BATES PROGRAM THAT WAS LOCATED IN THE HIGGINS COMMUNITY.

BUT BECAUSE OF COVID, WE HAD TO MOVE IT TO DAISY BATES TO GET MORE SPACE BETWEEN THE KIDS. THE SCHOOL DISTRICT ALLOWED US TO DO THAT IN OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH PULASKI COUNTY SPECIAL SCHOOL DISTRICT.

WE ALSO HAVE A PROGRAM AT HARRIS ELEMENTARY AND OAK GROVE ELEMENTARY.

THIS IS A PROGRAM THAT WE ASK THE STATE TO FUND, SO THE COUNTY'S NO LONGER FUNDING IT UNDER THESE FUNDS AND SO THAT WE COULD ALSO CONTINUE FUNDING OUR COLLEGE STATION KIDS.

OUR COLLEGE STATION KIDS WERE SERVED JOINTLY AT OUR HIGGINS COMMUNITY PROGRAM WITH THE DAISY BATES KIDS. WE HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO SERVICE THOSE KIDS BECAUSE OF COVID AND NOW THAT WE'RE AT A SCHOOL, SO WE'RE NOT IN THE SMALL BUILDING THAT THE COUNTY OWNS AND THE HIGGINS COMMUNITY, BECAUSE COVID DOESN'T ALLOW FOR THE SPACING THAT I NEED FOR THE 30 KIDS. SO THE STATE IS GOING TO PICK UP THIS PROGRAM AND THEY'RE ALSO GOING TO ALLOW TRANSPORTATION. THEY'RE GOING TO PULASKI COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT WILL TRANSPORT THE KIDS FROM COLLEGE STATION SCHOOL AND BRING THEM TO THE DAISY BATES.

SO NOW I HAVE TWO SCHOOLS SERVICE THAT ONE AND THE STATE WILL PAY FOR IT.

SO WHAT I WILL DO WITH THE MONEY THAT THE COUNTY NORMALLY FUNDS, WHICH IS TO DAISY BATES PROGRAM, WHICH WAS THAT HIGGINS, WE WILL NOW HAVE A NEW AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAM AT LANDMARK ELEMENTARY.

THAT COMMUNITY HASN'T HAD AN AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAM IN SO MANY YEARS.

IT'S SO UNDERSERVED.

THEY NEED OUR RESOURCES AND THEY NEED US DOING THE WORK THAT WE'RE DOING.

SO WE'RE EXCITED ABOUT EXPANDING TO AN AREA OF THE COUNTY WHO'S OFTEN OVERLOOKED.

THAT'S MY PLAN FOR ALL OF THIS.

THANK YOU, DIRECTOR SCOTT.

JUSTICE REED, WE'VE GOT SOME QUESTIONS.

JUST SO THIS COMES FROM THE AMERICAN RESCUE FUNDS OR WHAT'S THE ESSER 3 GRANT? EXPLAIN THE AMERICAN RESCUE FUND, BUT IT WAS FUNNELED DOWN THROUGH ARKANSAS STATE UNIVERSITY, AND THEY DID A GRANT APPLICATION FOR AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMS ALL ACROSS THE STATE AND WE APPLIED THROUGH THEM.

THAT'S THE ESSER PART, THOUGH.

[00:45:01]

AND SO IT CAN ONLY BE USED FOR ONLY IT CAN ONLY BE USED FOR WHAT I WROTE IT FOR, AND THAT'S THE JOINT AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAM.

IT COMES FROM THE AMERICAN RESCUE FUND.

SOME YES, YES, YES, THEY FUND IT AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMS ALL OVER THE STATE TO ALSO KIND OF ADDRESS THE ACADEMIC LOSS THAT STUDENTS EXPERIENCED DUE TO COVID 19 DUE TO LEARNING VIRTUALLY. SO WE WILL HAVE TUTORING OFFERED IN THESE PROGRAMS TO KIND OF HELP WITH SOME OF THAT ACADEMIC LOSS.

AND SO ARKANSAS STATE UNIVERSITY IS HANDLING THE AFTER SCHOOL GRANT APPLICATION AND THEY FUNDED PROGRAMS ALL OVER THE STATE.

WE WERE JUST ONE OF THE RECIPIENTS THAT RECEIVED THE FULL AMOUNT.

THANK YOU, JUSTICE REED.

JUSTICE SCULLY, I JUST WANT TO COMMEND DIRECTOR SCOTT AND HER STAFF ON A GREAT JOB THEY'RE DOING WITH THE YOUTH SERVICE PROGRAM.

THANK YOU, JUSTICE SCULLY.

ANY OTHER QUESTIONS, COMMENTS? OH, JUSTICE BLACKWOOD I'M SORRY, GO AHEAD.

I'D LIKE TO BE ADDED.

OK, THANK YOU, JUSTIN.

I WANT TO GO AHEAD AND MAKE AN APOLOGY.

WHEN MISS SCOTT WAS PUTTING THIS OUT, SHE HAD GATHERED SOME SPONSORS AND WE HAD MISSED THAT IN THE PAPERWORK AND WE'D SORT OF PUT IT OUT FOR SPONSORSHIP.

AND I WAS UNAWARE THAT THIS PROGRAM WAS AFFECTING YOUR DISTRICT AND MISS GREEN'S DISTRICT. WE TRY TO KEEP THE RESOLUTIONS AND ORDINANCES IN LINE WITH THE DISTRICTS THAT THEY SERVE. THIS WAS AN OVERSIGHT, SO I APOLOGIZE TO MR. KEITH. I APOLOGIZE TO MISS GREENE.

THAT WAS SIMPLY SOMETHING WE DIDN'T CATCH, AND I KNOW JAMIE'S ENJOYING THIS.

I CALL BOTH OF THEM FIRST. DON'T DO IT AGAIN JUSTIN AS I CALLED THEM FIRST.

ALL RIGHT, JUSTICE GREEN, I WAS GOING TO LET THAT GO.

I THANK YOU, JUSTIN, FOR YOUR APOLOGY, BUT I WOULD LIKE TO BE ADDED AS A SPONSOR, SINCE THAT'S MY DISTRICT. OK.

ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS, COMMENTS? THERE BEING NONE? THANK YOU, JUSTICE.

AND THE REASON IT'S LATE, I DO APOLOGIZE BECAUSE I DON'T DO LATE ORDINANCES.

I GAVE THEM THE HEADS UP, I GUESS, A MONTH AGO THAT I THOUGHT WE WERE GOING TO GET THIS GRANT. AND I ASKED THEM BECAUSE I HAVE A PROCESS THAT I RESPECT WITH THE COUNTY.

I SAID, I CAN'T GET AN AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAM UP AND RUNNING BY NOVEMBER.

I HAVE TO GET IT APPROPRIATED.

I NEED TO TALK TO THE BOARD, YOU KNOW, THE QUORUM COURT MEMBERS, I NEED TO TALK TO THE PRINCIPAL COMMUNITY MEMBERS, LIKE SOME OTHER ENTITIES, CAN MOVE FASTER THAN WE CAN, BUT WE JUST CAN'T. AND SO I GAVE THEM THE HEADS UP THAT IT WAS COMING.

SO I DO APOLOGIZE FOR THE TARDINESS, THOUGH.

ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU, DIRECTOR SCOTT.

AMY, WOULD YOU PLEASE CALL THE ROLL? MR. REID, YES, MS. LEWISON, YES, MS. BLACKWOOD, AYE, MISS MCMULLEN, AYE, MISS MASSEY, AYE, MISS CONEY, YES, MR. KEITH, YES, MISS GREEN, AYE, MISS GULLEY, YES MR. ROBINSON, AYE, MR. STOWERS, YES, MR. ELLIOTT, YES, AND MISS MATLOCK, AYE.

13 AYES. 13 AYES.

WE WILL SEND 21I70 TO THE FULL QUORUM COURT WITH THE DO PASS RECOMMENDATION.

THERE IS NOTHING ELSE TO CLAIM OUR ATTENTION.

IS THERE A MOTION TO ADJOURN WITHOUT OBJECTION? THE MEETING HAS ADJOURNED.

[Announcements]

THANK YOU. WE WILL GOVERN OURSELVES ACCORDINGLY.

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.