[00:00:03]
[1. CALL TO ORDER]
>> WE'RE GOING TO GET OUR SECOND BUDGET HEARING FOR THE SPRING OF 2022 UNDERWAY.
CAN WE HAVE A ROLL CALL PLEASE?
>> SEVEN MEMBERS, DO WE HAVE A QUORUM?
>> THANK YOU, CAN WE GET OUT APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES.
[3. APPROVAL OF MINUTES]
>> THE MOON AND PROPERLY SECOND THOSE IN FAVOR LET IT BE KNOWN BY SAYING AYE.
>> ANY NAYS? MOVING ON TO NEW BUSINESS.
[4. NEW BUSINESS]
WE NEED TO HEAR FROM THE COMPTROLLER FOR ANY REASON FIRST, ARE YOU GOOD? [BACKGROUND].>> TO EXPEDITE IT SINCE THESE WERE ALL EVALUATED BY JOHANSON AND WE'VE ASKED YOU GUYS FOR THE LAST FIVE YEARS TO LIVE AND DIE BY JOHANSON.
THESE POSITIONS THAT ARE BEING UPGRADED WERE RE-EVALUATED BASED ON THEIR JOB DESCRIPTIONS.
TALKING WITH THE CHAIR THE SUGGESTION WOULD BE TO BATCH ALL OF THE UPGRADED REQUESTS INTO ONE VOTE, THEN WE WOULD READ THE INDIVIDUAL DEPARTMENTS, AND THEN OF COURSE, YOU COULD ASK SPECIFIC QUESTIONS ABOUT THOSE DEPARTMENTS.
BUT THAT WOULD EXPEDITE IT TO AVOID 10 DIFFERENT VOTES.
>> UPGRADE POSITIONS, CAN I GET A MOTION? [BACKGROUND].
>> THE MOTION WOULD BE TO SEND THE UPGRADED POSITIONS TO THE FULL QUORUM COURT WITH THE DUE PATHS RECOMMENDATION, THAT'S THE MAGIC OF THE SOUL MOVED.
WHAT YOU'D BE VOTING ON WOULD BE THE UPGRADED POSITIONS AND DEPARTMENT 0109, 0113, 0115, 20804 AND THEN AFTER YOU GET DONE WITH THAT YOU GUYS CAN TAKE UP THE DOWNGRADES ON AN INDIVIDUAL BATCH AND THEN THE NEW POSITIONS INDIVIDUALLY.
>> THE UPGRADES ARE IN, I'M SORRY, 0113 CONTROLLER'S OFFICE, 0115 INFORMATION SYSTEMS, 0200 ROAD AND BRIDGE, AND 0804 YOUTH SERVICES.
>> I'M SORRY, I KNOW I GOT A MOTION CAN I GET A SECOND?
>> WELL, IF I DIDN'T, IT FAILED AND NOBODY GOT A MOTION AND A SECOND. WE'RE GOOD.
WE CAN NOW HAVE A DISCUSSION ON EACH ONE OF THESE IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS REGARDING DEPARTMENT 109 AND ETC.
MRS. TOWERS, JUST ESTABLISH YOUR, LIGHT IS ON, DO YOU WANT TO BE RECOGNIZED?
>> EACH ONE OF THESE YOUTH SERVICES, I KNOW THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE'VE BEEN TRYING TO DO FOR QUITE SOME TIME AND AS IN MANY YEARS, ROAD AND BRIDGE.
I KNOW I TALKED TO YOU TODAY ABOUT THAT ONE BUT WOULD LIKE TO HEAR I KNOW THAT ANDY IS HERE.
WHY YOU FEEL THAT THERE'S A NEED HERE FOR THIS? I'M SORRY. ANDY IS ON THE NEXT PAGE.
[LAUGHTER] FOR ROAD AND BRIDGE I BELIEVE HUTCH IS HERE FOR THAT ONE.
BUT MY BIGGER QUESTION ON THIS BATCH IS ON BUDGET 115, INFORMATION SYSTEMS. HOW DOES THIS IMPACT OTHER ELECTED OFFICIAL DEPARTMENTS; SHERIFF, ASSESSOR, TREASURER, CLERK, ETC.
>> I'M GOING TO HAVE JOE ANSWER THE TECHNICAL PART AND WHO HIS CLIENTS ARE BECAUSE THERE ARE SEVERAL DIFFERENT IDS AROUND HERE.
THE MAIN SITUATION WE HAVE RIGHT HERE IS WE CAN'T FILL THESE POSITIONS.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT JOE AND HIS WARM HAS DONE AN OUTSTANDING JOB AT DOING IS STOPPING THESE SABRA TAX, NOT HELD FOR RANSOM AND ALL THAT.
NOW, HE'S GOING TO TELL YOU ALL THE DEPARTMENTS THAT HE SUPPORTS.
>> BIGGEST ONE BEING OUR WHOLE FINANCIAL SYSTEM,
[00:05:01]
BUT THERE'S JUDGES, THERE'S OTHER DEPARTMENTS AND ALL THAT.>> BUT MY BIGGEST ISSUE IS, I AM NOT COMPETITIVE.
>> ANYWAY, [LAUGHTER] THE MAIN REASON THAT WE'RE ASKING FOR THESE UPGRADES IS BASICALLY THE KNOWLEDGE, THE SKILLS, THE EDUCATION THAT ARE REQUIRED IN THESE POSITIONS WITH A NORMAL ADVANCEMENT TECHNOLOGY THAT'S ADVANCED WITH IT, AS WELL AS WE BROUGHT ON OTHER DEPARTMENTS OVER THE YEARS.
CURRENTLY, THE MAIN ONES THAT WE SUPPORT ARE UNDER THE PULASKI COUNTY JUDGE.
WE ALSO SUPPORT THE PUBLIC DEFENDER.
WE ARE TAKING ON SEVEN OF THE DISTRICT COURTS.
WE DO THE PUBLIC DEFENDER CONFLICTS OFFICE.
IT'S REALLY GROWN OVER THE YEARS.
WITH THESE SKILLS AND THINGS THAT ARE NEEDED IN THE CURRENT POSITIONS TO MATCH THIS NORMAL EVOLUTION AND TECHNOLOGY.
THE PROBLEM THAT WE'RE FOUNDING IS THE PEOPLE IN THESE POSITIONS OR THEY'RE COMING IN THAT ARE NEEDED, IT NO LONGER MATCHES THE CLASSIFICATIONS.
SO THAT CREATES TWO PROBLEMS, ONE IS YOU HAVE PEOPLE THAT ARE LEAVING BECAUSE THEY'RE GOING FOR JOBS THAT THEY'RE DOING THE SAME THING BUT IT PAYS MORE AND WHEN I SAY PAYING MORE, IT IS THE FAIR MARKET RATE FOR JUST THE CURRENT POSITIONS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
BUT AS HUTCH WAS SAYING, IT ALSO MAKES IT NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE TO FILL THESE POSITIONS AND I'LL GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE.
I'M TRYING TO FILL A TECHNICAL POSITION NOW.
THIS PERSON LEFT DOING THE SAME THING, PAID MORE.
THE FIRST GO-AROUND I HAD THREE APPLICANTS.
ONE WAS AN ASSISTANT MANAGER AT A FAST-FOOD CHAIN.
THE OTHER TWO WAS AT SERVICE INDUSTRY JOBS.
THE SECOND TIME AROUND I HAD SEVEN APPLICANTS.
THESE ARE PEOPLE KIND OF TOUCH TECHNOLOGY.
BUT ONE HAD BEEN OUT OF THE GAME FOR YEARS AND YEARS AND YEARS SO IT WASN'T EVEN RELEVANT ANYMORE.
THE OTHER PERSON WAS GOING TO SCHOOL FOR IT, SO NOW I'M ON THE THIRD GO-AROUND.
IT'S ASKING PEOPLE THAT TO FILL THESE POSITIONS WITH THESE SKILLS AND THINGS LIKE THAT BUT IT PAYS A LOT LESS THAN THE INDUSTRY.
BUT THE BIG CONCERN I HAVE AS HUTCH SAID, THIS IS JUST THE WAY THE WORLD WORKS NOWADAYS, IT'S CYBERSECURITY.
NOW, WITH THAT, WHEN WE HAVE EMPTY POSITIONS OR WE HAVE TO FILL THEM WITH PEOPLE WITH MAYBE THE MINIMAL SKILLS OR MAYBE RIGHT BELOW THAT WE HAD TO BRING THEM ALONG.
THE POSITIONS NOW, THE SKILLS AND THINGS THEY NEED, A BIG PART OF THAT IS THAT CYBERSECURITY.
THAT INCLUDES THE KNOWLEDGE TO BE ABLE TO USE THE TOOLS AND THE TECHNOLOGY TO PROTECT THE COUNTY AS WELL AS GOD FORBID IF IT HAPPENS IF WE ARE HIT THAT THEY CAN IDENTIFY, THEY CAN RECOVER AND THEY CAN GET US BACK WHERE WE NEED TO BE.
SO IF WE HAVE EMPTY POSITIONS OR WE HAVE PEOPLE THAT ARE GREEN AND THEN WE'RE HAVING TO BRING THEM ALONG, IT REALLY CREATES A DANGER THERE AND AGAIN THIS IS THE REASON, ONE OF THE MAIN REASONS THAT I'M HOPING THAT WE CAN MOVE THESE POSITIONS UP TO A CLASSIFICATION THAT MEETS WHAT THE MARKET IS PAYING.
ONE, WE CAN RETAIN THE PEOPLE, THIS BRAIN TRUST AS YOU WILL WITH THIS KNOWLEDGE.
IT'S AN INCENTIVE FOR THEM TO STAY.
OF COURSE, PEOPLE MOVE ON, BUT IF THEY DO MOVE ON, WE CAN GET PEOPLE WITH THE SKILLS, WITH THE TECHNOLOGY, WITH THAT BACKGROUND THAT ARE ABLE TO DO THESE JOBS AND WE'LL BE GLAD TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MIGHT HAVE.
>> [OVERLAPPING] I'M NOT SURE IF THIS IS A QUESTION FOR YOU OR FOR THE COMPTROLLER BUT THE QUESTION IS, DO THESE SIMILAR POSITIONS EXIST IN OTHER SHOPS? I HEARD EVERYTHING YOU SAID, BUT I'M TALKING ABOUT THE TREASURER'S OFFICE.
SO OBVIOUSLY THE TREASURER HAS A LOT OF FINANCES, RIGHT? THAT CYBERSECURITY COULD BE A CONCERN AND THEN THE CLERK DEALS WITH A LOT OF PUBLIC RECORDS, RIGHT? SO I WANT TO.
>> THEY HAVE A LITTLE DIFFERENT SET UP THOUGH.
THE TREASURER'S OFFICE ACTUALLY WORKS ALPHA-BAR SOFTWARE.
WHILE THEY DO HAVE A COLLECTION SIDE, THEY HAVE A MUCH SMALLER IT DEPARTMENT BECAUSE THERE ARE ONLY DEALING WITH THOSE PEOPLE.
JOE HAS TO DEAL WITH, HOW MANY CUSTOMERS DO YOU THINK YOU HAVE NOW IN THAT DEPARTMENT PEOPLE WAS?
[00:10:01]
IT'S IN THE HUNDREDS THAT WE'RE SUPPORTING?>> SOMEWHERE IN THAT AREA KEEP IN MIND SOMETHING I WANT TO TOUCH ON, HE SAID, WE SEE IN OUR PEOPLE THEY HAVE TO BE CERTIFIED IN CERTAIN WAYS AND WE SEND THEM TO TRAIN EVERY YEAR ON THE CYBERSECURITY, ON THE UPGRADES IN THE DIFFERENT PROGRAMS AND ALL THAT.
BUT WE HAVE TO HAVE SOMEBODY THAT IS AT THE LEVEL WHERE THEY CAN DO THAT TRAINING BEFORE WE CAN SEND THEM TO IT.
>> I'M TOTALLY SUPPORTIVE OF THIS.
THE ONLY PLACE I WAS GOING TO TOUCH WAS IN THE FALL IF THIS WAS TO PASS, SHOULD WE ANTICIPATE A LINE OF OTHER ELECTED OFFICIALS AND THEIR INFORMATION SYSTEM POSITIONS THAT DO CYBERSECURITY LINING UP FOR THE SAME UPGRADES?
>> NO, YOU WILL NEXT YEAR BECAUSE YOU DON'T DO THEM IN THE FALL ANYMORE.
>> YOU DON'T DO POSITIONS IN THE FALL ANYMORE.
YOU MIGHT HAVE THEN IN THE SPRING. [OVERLAPPING]
>> THERE ARE OTHER INFORMATION SYSTEM PERSONNEL WITHIN THE COUNTY THAT DON'T FALL UNDER JOE THAT ALSO DEAL WITH CYBERSECURITY.
>> YOU WILL SEE THEM NEXT APRIL.
>> I CAN'T SPEAK FOR THOSE OTHER ELECTED OFFICIALS, MAYBE THEY ALREADY GOT IT COVERED.
>> I YIELD. THANK YOU MS. MASSEY.
>> THANK YOU. JUSTICE STOWERS.
LET THE RECORD REFLECT THAT JUSTICE GREEN HAS ARRIVED.
I BELIEVE JUSTICE MCCOY WAS NEXT.
>> QUESTION FOR YOU IS, I THINK I HEARD EVERYTHING AND THAT IS THE JOHANSON STUDY SOMEHOW INSUFFICIENT IN REGARDS TO THESE POSITIONS?
>> NO. JOHANSON IS TELLING YOU THIS IS WHAT WE NEED.
REMEMBER THE FIRST TIME JOHANSON DONE THIS, WE WERE WHERE WE WERE AT.
BUT AS JOE STATED, SALARIES HAVE CHANGED THROUGHOUT THE MARKET, TECHNOLOGY HAS CHANGED SO YOU HAVE TO HAVE DIFFERENT SKILLS.
WE ASKED JOHANSON REVISIT THE STUDY AND THIS IS WHAT THEY COME BACK WITH.
>> NOW, IF YOU MAKE THESE UPGRADES, YEAH, I THINK I CAN FILL THE POSITIONS.
THEN I'M COMPETITIVE IN THAT MARKET.
RIGHT NOW I CAN'T. THAT'S HOW MUCH IT'S CHANGED IN THOSE THREE YEARS.
>> SEVERAL QUESTIONS AND I'M NOT SURE WHO I START WITH, BUT MAYBE JUSTIN.
WE WERE TALKING ABOUT THE POSITIONS, THE UPGRADES, EVEN THE DOWNGRADES WAS BASED ON THE JOHANSON STUDY, SO ALL OF THE POSITIONS THAT WE SEE TONIGHT AND THURSDAY NIGHT HAVE ALL GONE THROUGH THE JOHANSON STUDY AND THEY SAY WE EITHER AT MARKET OR WE NEED TO INCREASE OR DECREASES, IS THAT WHAT I'M-
ANY OF THE NUMBERS AND SALARY SUGGESTIONS COME FROM THE JOHANSON STUDIES.
BASICALLY A JOB DESCRIPTION IS PROVIDED TO THEM, THEY RUN IT THROUGH THEIR ALGORITHM AND THEY KICK IT BACK AND SAY, THIS JOB SHOULD BE PAID THIS MUCH MONEY BASED OFF THE MARKET RATES.
>> BUT NOW ONE THING THAT THE JOHANSON IS NOT GOING TO TAKE INTO ACCOUNT, OF COURSE, IT CAN'T TELL YOU HOW MANY INDIVIDUALS YOU NEED IN ANY DEPARTMENT, RIGHT?
>> WELL, JOHANSON DOESN'T STUDY THAT PART.
IF YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT UPGRADES, DOWNGRADES, THAT DEAL.
>> IF SOMEONE COMES IN AND SAYS I NEED A NEW POSITION, ALL JOHANSON SAYS IS WHAT POSITION? GIVE ME THEIR JOB DESCRIPTION SO WE CAN RUN IT THROUGH THERE.
THEN IT'S UP TO YOU ALL TO DECIDE THE SOMEBODY NEEDS THAT POSITION.
JOHANSON DOESN'T DO THAT PART.
>> MAYBE I NEED TO PICK ONE SPECIFIC PERSON AND ASK THAT INDIVIDUAL, BUT ASSUMING THAT NEW POSITIONS ARE CREATED BASED ON THE MANAGER, THE DIRECTOR DECIDING THAT THIS IS WHAT'S NEEDED IN THEIR DEPARTMENT.
>> I THINK WHAT YOU'RE GOING TO FIND IS, I'M NOT GOING TO SPEAK FOR HIM, BUT I THINK ALLEY IS GOING TO SAY DUE TO THE GROWTH IN THE COUNTY AND NEW THINGS THEY HAVE TO PROVIDE THAT THEY NEED ANOTHER POSITION.
>> I DON'T KNOW WHAT HE'S GOING TO DO. HE MIGHT JUST SAY I WANT A NEW POSITION, I DON'T KNOW.
THAT'S WHAT MY GUESS IS GOING TO BE.
THEN IT WOULD BE UP TO YOU-ALL TO DECIDE, YEAH, I AGREE WE NEED TO ADD OR NO, WE DON'T.
>> ALL JOHANSON IS GOING TO DO IS SAY BASED ON THAT JOB DESCRIPTION, THIS IS WHAT THE MARKET ALLOWS.
>> HUTCH, DO YOU KNOW AS THOUGH ABOUT LAST PAYROLL, HOW MANY EMPLOYEES WERE EMPLOYED BY THE COUNTY?
>> WE HAVE ABOUT 1,250 POSITIONS.
>> AT ANY ONE TIME YOU HAVE TURNOVER, RETIREMENT, SOMEBODY BEING TERMINATED, SOME ARE QUITTING, WHATEVER.
[00:15:07]
>> THE GOOD THING ABOUT THESE UPGRADES THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT TONIGHT AND THURSDAY NIGHT, THE FOUR PERCENT THAT WE'VE SENT TO THE FULL QUORUM COURT, IT'S FIGURED THESE NEW AMOUNTS OF FIGURED AT THAT RATE.
>> YES SIR. YOU APPROVE THIS, YOU DON'T HAVE TO CHANGE THAT NUMBER.
>> OKAY. DO YOU KNOW AGAIN, BASED ON THE CHANGES TONIGHT AND THURSDAY NIGHT, WHAT THE OVERALL EFFECT WOULD BE ON THE BUDGET, WHAT THEY INCREASE WOULD BE?
>> WELL, NO, BECAUSE I'VE NOT FIGURED WHAT EXACTLY YOU-ALL ARE GOING TO DO.
>> THERE'S TOTALS IN HERE, BUT ESPECIALLY THURSDAY NIGHT, THERE'S BIG NUMBERS RIGHT THERE.
>> I CAN TELL YOU THIS IS, FOR AN EXAMPLE, ON THE ROAD AND BRIDGE POSITION, YOU WANT TO SAVE YOU AT THE MINIMUM A QUARTER MILLION DOLLARS WITH THAT ONE AT THE MINIMAL.
[NOISE] BECAUSE IT'S GOING TO COST YOU I THINK IF I REMEMBER THE NUMBERS ABOUT ANOTHER 30,000 TO CHANGE THAT ASSISTANT PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR TO AN ENGINEER.
>> WHEN WE HAVE AN ENGINEER ON STAFF, WHAT THAT DOES FOR YOU, YOU'LL PROBABLY REMEMBER WHEN I HIRED AN HVAC GUY AND I HIRED A ELECTRICIAN.
WELL, I DIDN'T HAVE TO HIRE AN ELECTRICIAN EVERY TIME WE HAD A PROJECT, I DIDN'T HAVE TO HIRE AN HVAC GUY.
WE STILL HAVE PROJECTS THAT ARE TOO BIG FOR THEM TO DO, BUT THEY CAN WORK WITH THEM AND OVERSEE IT.
IF I HAVE AN ENGINEERING STAFF, THERE'S A LAW THAT SAYS IF I HAVE A PROJECT THAT'S OVER, AND I THINK THEY CHANGED THE LAW, USED TO BE 80,000 AND I THINK IT'S 100 AND SOMETHING THOUSAND DOLLARS I HAVE TO HAVE AN ENGINEERED LOOK AT.
IF I HAVE ONE THAT MEANS I HAVE TO CONTRACT.
I DON'T KNOW IF YOU'VE PRICED ONE LATELY, BUT THAT'S EXPENSIVE.
IF I HAVE ONE ON STAFF, I DON'T HAVE TO CONTRACT EVERY TIME.
WE GO HEY, DID YOU PUT STUFF TOGETHER FOR THIS, THEN WE MEET THE CRITERIA WHEN WE DO THE PROJECT.
>> WE'RE GOING TO SAY EASILY A QUARTER MILLION DOLLARS A YEAR.
THE OTHER ADVANTAGE IS WHEN WE'RE WORKING WITH A STATE JOB THAT HAS AN ENGINEER ON IT THAT'S AFFECTING OUR FACILITIES, OUR ROADS, OUR RIGHT OR WHATEVER, I'VE GOT AN ENGINEER THAT SPEAKS ENGINEER THAT WE'RE AHEAD ON THIS THING.
>> BUT I DON'T KNOW THAT I'M REALLY GOING TO SAVE YOU MONEY OR ANYBODY IS ON THE REST OF THEM.
>> RIGHT, ABSOLUTELY. WELL, I GUESS MY CONCERN IS JUST LOOKING AT TONIGHT THE CHANGES THAT YOU ARE REQUESTING, I THINK IT WAS $260,000.
BUT MY CONCERN IS, I KNOW THIS IS THROUGH THE END OF THIS YEAR.
[OVERLAPPING] PARDON ME? YEAH, WE DON'T KNOW WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN NEXT YEAR.
>> NO. I TOLD YOU WITH THE RE-EVALUATIONS WE'RE DOING THIS YEAR ON TAXES, I THINK YOU CAN DO THIS.
IF I DIDN'T THINK YOU COULD, I WOULDN'T LET MY STAFF AND THE PEOPLE I'M RESPONSIBLE FOR PRESENT THIS TO YOU.
YOU CAN TAKE YOUR CHANCES WITH OTHERS I CAN'T STOP THEM, BUT I WOULD NOT ALLOW THE PAYROLL, I WILL NOT ALLOW IT TO COME IN AS BAD AS WE NEED TO DO IT, WE CAN'T.
BUT I LET THEM COME FORWARD WITH IT.
JOHANSON IS GOING TO DO THEIR STUDY THIS FALL.
THESE POSITIONS HAVE BEEN DONE SO THEY WON'T BE BACK IN THAT BATCH.
>> OKAY. WHAT I WANT TO MAKE SURE I HEAR YOU SAYING IS THAT, IF WE MAKE THESE UPGRADES AND WE'RE TALKING ABOUT STRICTLY TONIGHT, IF WE MAKE THESE UPGRADES TONIGHT, YOU FEEL COMFORTABLE AT THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR WE WOULD STILL HAVE MONEY TO FUND THESE POSITIONS.
>> YEAH, I'VE TOLD YOU THAT THE OTHER NIGHT. SAME THING HOLDS.
>> BUT THERE'S TONIGHT, WOULD YOU LUMP ALL OF THOSE IN AS WELL?
>> I STILL DON'T KNOW THE TOTAL AT MOMENT.
>> MR. HANGINGS OR HOUSTON, ANYWAY, THEY'VE BEEN GOING BACK AND FORTH WITH THEIR NUMBERS AND CHANGING THIS AND CHANGING THAT, I DON'T KNOW.
BUT WORST CASE SCENARIO, YEAH, I THINK YOU CAN DO IT BECAUSE QUITE HONESTLY THERE'S SO MUCH TURNOVER AND VACANCY OUT THERE YOU'RE NEVER GOING TO FILL THEM ALL.
>> RIGHT. ABSOLUTELY. I YIELD FOR NOW.
JUSTICE ELLIOT, YOU ARE RECOGNIZED.
>> HOW MANY OPENINGS FOR IOTU? HAVE ANY IOTU?
>> TWO RIGHT NOW AND I HAVE GOT A GUY THAT IS PROBABLY NOT GOING TO BE WITH US MUCH LONGER BECAUSE HE'S BEEN OFFERED AND WE CAN'T MATCH.
[00:20:04]
[OVERLAPPING] UNLESS MAYBE WE CAN DO THIS.>> TRY TO KEEP. IF WE CAN'T WE CAN'T, IF WE DO, WE DO.
>> I UNDERSTAND YOU HAVE TO HAVE CERTAIN REQUIREMENTS FOR EVERYTHING OR HOW LONG THEY'VE BEEN IN THAT STRUCTURE.
DIFFERENT PEOPLE, DIFFERENT TWO OR THREE PEOPLE OR DIFFERENT [OVERLAPPING].
>> YES. SKILL-SET. BUT WHAT I'M SAYING IS, WAS IT A TOP-LEVEL TO THE MEDIUM LEVEL STORY WISE?
>> WELL, MY TOP-LEVEL WILL BE THE DIRECTOR.
>> I MEAN I KNOW ABOUT THAT, BUT WHAT WOULD BE THE MEDIAN? I'M JUST ASKING.
>> WHAT'S THE MEDIAN SALARY ON THAT? 60S. THIS MEDIAN ELDER GROUPS, YOU'VE GOT [OVERLAPPING] [INAUDIBLE].
>> WITH HOW MANY YEARS EXPERIENCE? I MEAN, FIGURING OUT WHAT I MEAN? THAT'S WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT THERE.
>> WHAT WE'RE ASKING FOR A NETWORK ADMINISTRATOR.
YOU'RE LOOKING AT THESE ARE THE PEOPLE WHO'LL KEEP THE NETWORK RUNNING AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
YOU'RE LOOKING AT ANYWHERE FROM 3-5 YEARS MINIMUM.
THE EDUCATION LEVEL HAS GONE UP NOW.
IT'S REQUIRED YOU HAVE TO HAVE A BACHELOR'S DEGREE NOW.
AGAIN, MAYBE SOMEBODY THAT SAY THAT WORKS ON THE COMPUTERS MIGHT BE A LITTLE BIT, MAYBE TWO YEARS EXPERIENCE AS AN EXAMPLE.
IT JUST VARIES DEPENDING ON.[OVERLAPPING].
>> EDUCATION, WHAT THEY DO, THAT THING.
>> WOULD THAT BE AROUND THREE YEARS, 50,60, STARTING OUT?
>> IT'S GOING TO DEPEND ON THE POSITION AND WHAT THE SKILL SET IS.
>> IT MIGHT BE A 60,000 DOLLAR POSITION THAT YOU'RE GOING TO NEED THREE TO FIVE YEARS EXPERIENCE.
>> IT MIGHT BE ANOTHER POSITION THAT PAYS 50, AND THE WAY THAT POSITION WORKS IF THEY'VE GOT TWO YEARS EXPERIENCE, THEY'LL MAKE IT.
BECAUSE THEY'RE ACTUALLY WORKING ON THE PHYSICAL PART OF THE MACHINE, NOT THE PROGRAMMING.
>> I GOT YOU. THANK YOU. APPRECIATE.
JUSTICE LOUIS, AND YOU'RE RECOGNIZED.
>> I ACTUALLY WAS GOING TO SAY SOMETHING TO JOE, BUT HE SAT BACK DOWN.
[LAUGHTER]. COME BACK UP HERE, JOE.
>> HE'S GETTING HIS STEPS IN. IT'S ALL RIGHT.
I JUST WANTED TO SAY THAT EVERY TIME ABOUT EVERY THREE MONTHS, MY [LAUGHTER] EMAIL SYSTEM MESSES UP AND I CAN'T FIGURE OUT MY PASSWORD AND AMANDA IS LIKE A GOD SENT TO YOU.
>> I MEAN, SHE'S SO WONDERFUL AND PATIENT WITH ME BECAUSE I KNOW SHE JUST GOES LIKE, HOW DID THAT LADY GET ELECTED?
>> SHE SAYS THE SAME THING ABOUT ME BECAUSE I CALL HER ABOUT EVERY THREE MONTHS EVERY YEAR.
>> I JUST WANTED TO JUST TELL YOU HOW FORTUNATE YOU ARE.
SHE'S THE ONLY ONE I'VE EVER TALKED TO, BUT I'M VERY GRATEFUL THAT SHE'S STILL THERE, SO DON'T LOSE HER.
>> I APPRECIATE THAT. I'LL BE SURE TO PASS THAT ALONG.
>> MY QUESTION TO MS. LOUIS, DO YOU LOVE HER ACCENT?
>> YEAH, THAT'S THE OTHER THING I SAID, THE ACCENT.
>> I'M TRYING TO GET HER DO THE VOICEMAIL ON MY PHONE BECAUSE I WANT THAT ACCENT.
>> I LOVE THAT ACCENT. THANK YOU, JOE.
>> I THINK MANY OF US CAN ATTEST TO THAT, EVERY THREE MONTHS I AM CALLING AMANDA FOR ASSISTANCE [LAUGHTER].
THANK YOU, JUSTICE LOUIS AND JUSTICE MCCOY, YOU'RE RECOGNIZED.
>> JUST A POINT CLARIFICATION.
ARE WE ON ALL THESE ITEMS? [OVERLAPPING]
>> WE ARE ON ALL OF THESE ITEMS. WE'RE JUST ALLOWED TO INDIVIDUALLY ASK QUESTIONS ABOUT EACH ONE, BUT WE ARE VOTING THEM ALL TOGETHER.
>> JUST FOR THE UPGRADES [OVERLAPPING].
THEN I YIELD MY COMMENTS FOR SOMETHING ELSE THEN.
>> THANK YOU. ARE THERE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS REGARDING THE UPGRADES DEPARTMENTS THAT WE'VE MENTIONED? IF THERE BE NONE.
JUSTINE WOULD YOU CALL THE ROLL, PLEASE?
>> YES, MA'AM. YOUR ONE VOTE WILL BE RECORDED FOR THE FOLLOWING DEPARTMENT UPGRADE, 0113,0115, 0200, 0804. MS. LOUISON.
>> EIGHT I'S. THE UPGRADES WILL GO ON TO THE FULCRUM COURT FOR APPROVAL.
[00:25:02]
>> THANK YOU. WE'RE NOW MOVING ON TO NEW POSITIONS [OVERLAPPING].
>> I THINK WE'RE GOING TO GO DOWN TO THE DOWNGRADES.
MR. STOWERS WANTED THESE TO BE PULLED OUT AND DISCUSSED INDIVIDUALLY.
>> DEPARTMENT 109, YOU HAVE TWO DOWNGRADES IN THE ELECTION DEPARTMENT.
MR. STOWERS, DO YOU WANT TO VOTE ON EACH ONE OF THESE POSITIONS INDIVIDUALLY OR WHEN THE VOTE COMES TO BATCH? AT HIS REQUEST, HE WOULD PULL OUT 019 ELECTION DEPARTMENT DOWNGRADES, TWO POSITION DOWNGRADES INTO ONE BATCH.
>> I'LL HANDLE ANY QUESTIONS REGARDING THOSE?
>> YES. JUSTICE STOWERS YOU'RE RECOGNIZED.
>> NO, I'M NOT GOING TO MAKE A MOTION TO ADOPT THIS.
>> YOU'RE NOT? OKAY. [LAUGHTER]. DID YOU GET A MOTION?
>> IS THERE A MOTION TO SEND THIS TO THE FULL QUORUM COURT WITH A DUE PAST RECOMMENDATION?
>> I'LL MAKE A MOTION. WE SEND IT TO THE FULL QUORUM COURT, WITH A DUE PAST RECOMMENDATION.
>> I HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.
NOW, THE MOTION IS UP FOR DISCUSSION AS THE ITEMS ARE UP FOR DISCUSSION.
>> WHAT WE DISCOVERED WITH THE CHANGE OVER WE'VE HAD IN THE PAST YEAR, SIX MONTHS WITH ELECTION COMMISSIONERS WAS THAT APPARENTLY BACK WHEN THE JOHANSON, WAS FIRST DONE, THAT A FORMER DIRECTOR FILLED OUT HIS OWN SHEETS AND IT SLIPPED THROUGH.
HE MIGHT HAVE ENHANCED IT QUITE A BIT.
EXAGGERATED, MIGHT'VE BEEN A BETTER WORD, ENHANCE WHATEVER.
IN THE PROCESS OF THAT WHEN WE WERE LOOKING AND INTERVIEWING FOR THE CURRENT ORDER, WE HAD JOHANSON GO BACK AND LOOK AND SAY, OKAY, BECAUSE THE SALARY FOR THIS POSITION WAS SO MUCH HIGHER FROM ANYBODY ELSE IN THE STATE COUNTY, ANYWHERE.
THIS IS NOT GOING TO LOWER ANYBODY'S SALARY IN THAT DEPARTMENT NOW, THEIR SALARY DOES NOT GO DOWN.
IT'S FOR WHEN THIS INDIVIDUAL LEAVES, IF AND WHEN.
JUSTICE ELLIOT ASKED THIS QUESTION BEFORE THE MEETING, WELL, WILL WE BE TRYING TO HIDE THIS AMOUNT? WELL, HOPEFULLY BY THE TIME SHE'S GONE, THERE'LL BE A FEW MORE JOHANSON STUDIES.
I MIGHT FIND THAT THAT SALARY DOES GO UP.
I CAN'T TELL YOU WHAT THAT NEW PERSON WOULD BE HIRED AT BECAUSE I'M REALLY HOPING SHE'S NOT GOING ANYWHERE IN THE NEAR FUTURE.
BUT HER SALARY WON'T CHANGE NOW.
NEITHER WILL MISS CAMPBELL, WHICH IS THE ASSISTANT DIRECTOR.
>> JUSTICE MCCOY, YOU'RE RECOGNIZED.
>> WHEN YOU SAY ENHANCED THE SHEET, DO YOU MEAN JOB DESCRIPTION, I ASSUME?
>> YEAH. HIS DUTIES, WHAT HE WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR. YEAH.
WHO WAS THE INDIVIDUAL MAY NOT I THINK I KNOW, BUT I'M NOT POSITIVE.
>> YEAH, LAST AND PROBABLY MY BIGGER CONCERN.
I HOPE THIS CAN'T BE REPLICATED IN OTHER AREAS OF THE COUNTY.
>> IT COULD, BUT WE'VE NOT FOUND IT.
MISTAKES HAPPEN AND WE'VE NOT FOUND ANYTHING THAT GLARING OUT THERE.
>> I'M ASSUMING THE JOHANSON STUDY WOULD HELP CATCH THAT.
>> YES, IF THEY WOULD COME BACK AND SAY, "WOW HERTZ, WE UNDERSTAND HERE THE COMPTROLLER, WE WERE NOT SURE.
YOU'RE CAPABLE OF HAVING 2000 EMPLOYEES WHEN THERE'S ONLY 1250 AT THE COUNTY AND YOU'RE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR $6 BILLION WHEN YOU ONLY GATHER A 0.5 BILLION A YEAR IN TAX.
THEY LOOK AT THOSE PARAMETERS, BUT ON THAT INITIAL STUDY WITH EVERYTHING THAT WAS BEING PUT IN THERE, THAT ONE SLIPPED THROUGH.
>> THANK YOU, JUSTICE MCCAULEY. JUSTICE [INAUDIBLE] YOU'RE RECOGNIZED.
>> THANK YOU, MA'AM. IT'S HARD TO FATHOM A ROLE, A POSITION IN COUNTY GOVERNMENT THAT IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN THE PERSON THAT OVERSEES THE INTEGRITY AND THE ACCURACY OF OUR ELECTIONS.
WELL, I UNDERSTAND THE RATIONALE BEHIND THE RE-EVALUATION OF THE POSITION OF
[00:30:05]
ELECTION COORDINATOR AND THE SUBSEQUENT PROPOSED DOWNGRADE THAT WE ARE CONSIDERING THIS EVENING.I WOULD BE REMISS IF I DIDN'T SAY THAT, I'M DISAPPOINTED IN THE TIMING.
THE RATING FOR THE GENTLEMEN THAT WAS JUST MENTIONED THAT EVIDENTLY INFLATED HIS WORTH.
ALSO HAD SOME MAJOR SCREW UPS AND HIS RUNNING OF OUR ELECTIONS.
THE GUY AFTER HIM DECIDED TO TAKE VACATION A WEEK BEFORE A PRETTY BIG ELECTION.
WE ALL RECALL THE COMEDY OF ERRORS THAT WE HAVE FORTUNATELY WITNESSED OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS WITH THE PREVIOUS TWO COORDINATORS.
FOR THE FIRST TIME IN A LONG TIME, WE HAVE A COORDINATOR, AN ELECTION COORDINATOR, WHO IS THOROUGH, SHE'S METICULOUS, SHE EFFECTIVELY COMMUNICATES WITH THE MYRIAD OF CONSTITUENCIES, HER OFFICE SERVES WHILE SIMULTANEOUSLY CLEANING UP THE DISARRAY AND THE MESS THAT HER PREDECESSORS LEFT BEHIND.
I DO WANT TO POINT OUT THAT AS HUTCH DID, THAT THE ELECTION COORDINATOR WILL NOT RECEIVE A REDUCTION IN SALARY.
REDUCTION IN GRADE LEVEL PASSES THIS EVENING, HER SALARY WILL REMAIN THE SAME.
MY BIGGER CONCERN IS WHAT HAPPENS WHEN THE CURRENT ELECTION COORDINATOR LEAVES AND YES.
MR. COMPTROLLER, OR IT COULD BE AFTER ONE TWO OR THREE MORE JOHANSON STUDIES OR IT COULD BE NEXT WEEK.
WE HAVE TO HIRE WITHIN THE REDUCED SALARY RANGE, IF THIS PASSES THIS EVENING.
IT IS IMPERATIVE THAT WHOEVER THE PULASKI COUNTY ELECTION COORDINATOR IS THE LARGEST COUNTY IN THE STATE, 400,000 CONSTITUENTS.
THE NEXT CLOSEST COUNTIES ARE BENTON AND WASHINGTON, WHICH HAVE ABOUT 250.
WE CAN'T COMPARE WITH THEIR ELECTION COORDINATORS ARE MAKING TO WHAT OURS ARE MAKING.
IF YOU PART OF THE CONSTITUENCY DOWN TO A NUMBER OF REGISTERED VOTERS, IT WOULD CORRELATE.
BUT IT IS IMPERATIVE THAT WHOEVER THEY ELECTION COORDINATOR IS NOW OR IN THE FUTURE, THAT THAT INDIVIDUAL POSSESSES THE HIGHEST LEVEL OF EXPERIENCE, TRAINING, AND KNOWLEDGE AS IT RELATES TO THE INTRICACIES AND COMPLEXITIES OF ELECTIONS.
I DON'T THINK THAT THIS DOWNGRADED SALARY WOULD GET US THAT RIGHT PERSON FOR FUTURE REFERENCE, THE VOTERS OF PULASKI COUNTY EXPECT NOTHING LESS. WITH THAT, I YIELD.
>> THE ONLY RESPONSE I WOULD HAVE TO THAT, IS I THINK THAT SALARY IS MORE THAN WHAT THEY MIGHT GET THE STATE.
STATE ELECTION COMMISSIONERS AND EMPIRE RUNS THAT STUFF.
>> THOSE ARE THE ELECTION COMMISSIONERS
>> LET ME DRAG IN THE SECRETARY OF STATE'S OFFICE TO BE ABLE TO RUN THAT STUFF.
>> OUR TREASURE AND MAKES MORE THAN THE STATE TREASURER DOES AS WELL.
>> THAT'S I'VE NEVER WANTED TO BE A TREASURE EITHER.
>> BUT I'M SAYING THAT WE COULD GO ON DOWN THE LIST ARE OUR CLERK MAKES MORE THAN THE SECRETARY OF STATE, SO IF WE WANT TO START COMPARING APPLES AND ORANGES, WE CAN DO THAT.
>> VOTE HOWEVER YOU WANT, USE THE INFORMATION.
>> IF WE'RE GOING TO PAY THE DIRECTOR OF YOUTH SERVICES $80,000 AND I THINK SHE'S WORTH EVERY BIT OF IT.
THEN I THINK THAT FOR THE PERSON THAT RUNS OUR ELECTIONS, THAT ANYTHING LESS THAN $80,000 WHEN SHE LEAVES WILL BE HARD-PRESSED TO FIND THE TALENT LEVEL THAT WE NEED.
IT'S MY OPINION I WANTED [INAUDIBLE]
>> THAT'S HOW YOU SHOULD VOTE THOUGH.
>> I APPRECIATE THE INSIGHT HEDGE. THANK YOU.
>> IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING AS WELL AS THAT THIS EVALUATION OCCURRED BEFORE THE CURRENT ELECTION COMMISSIONER WAS HIRED, CORRECT?
>> SHE WAS AWARE OF THE SALARY WHEN SHE TOOK THE JOB.
>> AGAIN, MY CONCERN IS NOT ABOUT HER.
>> I UNDERSTAND THAT, BUT YOU'VE JUST TOLD US WHAT A TOP-NOTCH TALENT SHE WAS OR IS THAT JOB WAS EVALUATED BEFORE THAT POSITION WAS FILLED?
>> THAT POSITION WAS FILLED BY A TOP-NOTCH INDIVIDUAL SO SOMETHING TO CONSIDER.
>> THANK YOU, WE DEFINITELY NEEDED TO HEAR BOTH SIDES OR JUST ALL ALL OPINIONS AND FACTS.
>> I WOULD TAKE THAT AS FACT, NOT AS OPINION.
I'M NOT SAYING THAT SHOULDN'T AFFECT YOUR VOTE ANY WAY, SHE PERFORM, BUT THAT IS A FACT THAT YOU GUY SHOULD KNOW AS A BODY AS IT WAS DONE PRIOR TO THIS POSITION BEING FILLED.
>> RIGHT. SHE KNEW THAT SHE WOULD TAKE THE POSITION AT THE AT
[00:35:03]
THE SAME AMOUNT AS HER PREDECESSOR WAS AT WHICH IS WHERE SHE'S AT TODAY?>> NO, SIR. THIS WAS DONE BEFORE, SHE WAS TAKEN ON AND WAS AWARE OF THE POSITION RANGE THAT SHE WAS BEING HIRED AT.
>> WE WERE PAYING HER TWO PREDECESSORS MORE THAN WHAT SHE'S MAKING TODAY.
BECAUSE SHE'S MAKING $80,000 AND SOME CHANGE TODAY.
>> BUT WHEN SHE TOOK THE POSITION, SHE KNEW THAT SHE WAS GETTING AT BECAUSE THE POSITION HAD ALL READY BEEN RE-EVALUATED BY JOHANSON,.
>> RIGHT, WHICH WAS THE $80,000 WHICH IS WHAT HER PREDECESSORS WERE MAKING.
THEY WEREN'T MAKING MORE THAN THAT.
>> I DON'T KNOW WHAT THEY WERE MAKING.
>> MR. ELLIOTT, WOULD YOU LIKE TO SPEAK?
>> THANK YOU, JUSTICE TOWERS, JUST AS MCCOY YOU'RE RECOGNIZED.
>> I'M GOING TO YIELD FOR RIGHT NOW.
>> JUSTICE ELLIOTT WOULD YOU LIKE TO BE RECOGNIZED? ARE THERE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS, JUSTICE MCCOY, YOU'RE RECOGNIZED.
>> IF WE'RE DOWNGRADING IT TO $46,000.
>> ARE YOU LOOKING AT THE LOW-END?
>> IT LOOKS LIKE IT'S GOING FROM $54,000 DOWN.
>> THAT THE ASSISTANT DIRECTOR.
>> HE'S LOOKING AT THE REMAINDER FOR THE YEAR.
>> YOU ARE LOOKING AT THE REMAINDER OF THE YEAR.
>> AS I SAID HE KNOWS EVERYTHING.
>> THANK YOU. ARE THERE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS REGARDING ITEM 109, DEPARTMENT 109? IF THERE BE NONE.
JUSTIN, WOULD YOU CALL THE ROLL, PLEASE?
>> SIX EYES, ONE ABSTENTION, ONE NON-VOTING.
SEND IT TO THE FULL QUORUM COURT FOR FINAL APPROVAL.
>> THANK YOU, JUSTIN. WE'RE NOW MOVING ON TO NEW POSITIONS.
WE'RE GOING TO HEAR EACH ONE INDIVIDUALLY.
WE'RE NOW DOWN TO DEPARTMENT 416, WHICH IS THE PROSECUTING ATTORNEY.
THIS IS FOR A NEW POSITION DIGITAL MEDIA DISCOVERY CLERK.
YOU'RE RECOGNIZED IF YOU WANT TO COME AND SPEAK ON BEHALF OF THE POSITION.
>> HERE WE GO. SEEMS LIKE EVERY TIME ANYBODY SAYS ANYTHING NOWADAYS THEY TALK ABOUT PRIOR TO COVID AND HE USED THE WORD SINCE COVID CAME ALONG.
DURING THE LAST TWO YEARS, THE PROSECUTING ATTORNEY'S OFFICE HAS DEALT WITH A LOT OF STUFF.
WE'RE NOT ONLY CHARGED WITH TRYING TO TAKE CARE OF PEOPLE WHO WON'T LIVE LIKE THE REST OF US AND COMMIT CRIMES, WERE ALSO TASKED WITH MAKING SURE THAT JUSTICE IS DONE ULTIMATELY.
[NOISE] SOME OF YOU ALL HAVE ASKED ABOUT, HOW'S YOUR OFFICE PERFORM AND EVERYTHING? WE GOT A BRIGHT LINE BETWEEN VIOLENCE, THREAT OF VIOLENCE, CLEAR AND PRESENT DANGER OF VIOLENCE, AND EVERYTHING ELSE.
IF YOU FALL INTO THE VIOLENT CATEGORY, OR YOU'RE SOMEONE WHO OFFENDS, OFFENDS AND RE-OFFENDS AND CAN'T STAY ON PROBATION, CAN'T STAY STRAIGHT, DOESN'T TAKE ADVANTAGE OF DRUG COURT, MENTAL HEALTH COURT, VETERANS COURT, ALL THE PROGRAMS THAT WE OFFER OUT THERE, INCLUDING REGULAR PROBATION SOMETIMES WE JUST DON'T KNOW WHAT ELSE TO DO WITH YOU.
BUT THE VAST MAJORITY OF THE 5,000 PLUS PEOPLE WHO ARE
[00:40:02]
CHARGED WITH FELONIES EVERY SINGLE YEAR DON'T GO TO PRISON.TWO-THIRDS DON'T GO TO PRISON.
THAT'S THE MERCIFUL SIDE OF THE JUSTICE SYSTEM NOBODY EVER SEES.
AS FAR AS THE VIOLENT SIDE, ABOUT 33-36 PERCENT GO TO PRISON.
I'VE HAD PEOPLE CALL UP AND SAY, YOU JUST SEND EVERYBODY TO PRISON.
I SAID, WE SENT 1,342 PEOPLE TO PRISON LAST YEAR.
IF YOU'D LIKE TO COME IN AND GO THROUGH THOSE FILES, THEY'RE PUBLIC RECORDS.
I'D LIKE TO HEAR WHICH ONES SHOULDN'T GO AFTER YOU'VE READ THROUGH THEM.
I'VE HAD TO SAY THAT SEVERAL TIMES TO SEVERAL DIFFERENT PEOPLE. THEY DON'T SHOW.
BUT DURING THIS TIME OF COVID, WE'VE SEEN THE AVERAGE CASELOAD OF OUR LAWYERS CLIMB FROM ANYWHERE FROM 3-350 CASES TO 6-800 CASES.
ALONG THE WAY, WE'VE BEEN WORKING AS HARD AS WE CAN TO PROVIDE THE DEFENDANTS WITH FAIRNESS AND FULL DISCLOSURE AND THE OVERUSED WORD TRANSPARENCY, BUT THAT'S WHAT WE ARE.
IT'S HERE'S OUR FILE, DEFENSE COUNCIL, AND HERE'S EVERYTHING THAT'S IN IT.
THAT'S WHY WE'RE HERE ABOUT THIS DIGITAL RECORDS CLERK POSITION.
WE DON'T HAVE THE RESOURCES, PARTICULARLY BECAUSE OF COVID, TO DUPLICATE AND PUT ON DIGITAL MEDIA, THUMB DRIVES, CDS, THINGS OF THAT NATURE.
COPIES OF ALL THE PHOTOGRAPHS, RECORDINGS OF ALL THE STATEMENTS THAT ARE TAKEN FROM VICTIMS AND WITNESSES AND OTHERS TO ENABLE US TO DO OUR PART IN THIS DIGITAL AGE, TO BE FAIR AND FULLY DISCLOSE EVERYTHING THAT IS IN OUR CASE FILES, TO SCAN THE CASE FILE AND SHIP IT OVER TO A DEFENSE ATTORNEY.
WE'VE BEEN HAVING TO DEPEND ON OUR OVERWORKED AND UNDERPAID INVESTIGATORS FOR A LOT OF THAT.
WE'VE GOT PEOPLE OVER THERE RIGHT NOW WHO ARE WORKING ON DISCOVERY.
IT'S WHERE WE DISCLOSE EVERYTHING ABOUT OUR CASE.
BECAUSE THAT'S THE WAY OUR SYSTEM WORKS AND THAT'S THE WAY IT SHOULD.
OUR INVESTIGATORS, AGAIN, WE GO TENS OF THOUSANDS OF SUBPOENAS.
TENS OF THOUSANDS OF SUBPOENA STOPS ALL THE TIME.
WE JUST DON'T HAVE THE PERSONNEL.
I HAVEN'T ASKED FOR A CASE CLERK AND I CAN'T REMEMBER.
THIS POSITION THOUGH WOULD JUST ADD ONE PERSON AND IT WOULD GREATLY EASE THE HEAVY MACHINERY THAT WE OPERATE IN THE PROSECUTING ATTORNEY'S OFFICE TO CONTINUE TO BE FAIR, TO CONTINUE TO DISCLOSE ALL INFORMATION TO EVERYBODY WHO NEEDS IT AND TO INTERFACE WITH THE POLICE AGENCIES AND THE VICTIMS AND THE WITNESSES.
I'LL BE GLAD TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.
>> I GUESS THERE ARE NO QUESTIONS.
>> WE SEND THIS TO THE FULL QUORUM COURT WITH THE BEST RECOMMENDATIONS.
[INAUDIBLE] SECOND, THAT WE MOVE THIS FORWARD, THIS ONTO THE FULL QUORUM COURT FOR FINAL APPROVAL.
JUSTIN, WOULD YOU CALL THE ROLL, PLEASE?
>> EIGHT AYES, GO TO THE FULL QUORUM COURT FOR FINAL APPROVAL.
>> THANK YOU JUSTIN. MOVING ON TO ITEM DEPARTMENT 417, PUBLIC DEFENDER.
>> I'M KAT CROWDS. I'M THE CHIEF DEPUTY PUBLIC DEFENDER FOR THE SIXTH JUDICIAL DISTRICT, WHICH IS THE ANALOG TO MR. JAEGER'S ROLES AS WELL.
BUT ON THE DEFENSE SIDE, WE COVER BOTH PLASTICKY AND PERIOD COUNTIES, AND I'M ALSO OUR OFFICERS ADMINISTRATOR.
I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT EITHER ONE OF THESE.
BUT I WOULD NOTE THAT THE FIRST ONE IS AN UPGRADE OR TIDAL CHANGE RECLASSIFICATION FROM WHAT FORMERLY WAS AN INVESTIGATOR POSITION.
[00:45:04]
THIS IS BORN OUT OF THE EMPLOYEE THAT HAS BEEN WITH THE COUNTY FOR 20 YEARS.SHE THEN WORKED THE CLERK'S OFFICE AND THEN WAS THE COURT FOR A JUDGE PIAZZA AND SECOND DIVISION THAN HER HIS CASE COORDINATOR FOR YEARS.
SOME OF YOU ALL MAY KNOW OR BUT THE WHOLE NOTION WAS BORN OUT OF HER ABILITY TO TAKE ANY TASK THAT WAS GIVEN TO HER, BOTH BY THE CLERK'S OFFICE FOR YEARS, JUDGE PIAZZA AND NOW OUR OFFICE AND JUST KNOCK IT OUT OF THE PARK.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE NEVER HAVE HAD IN ALL THE YEARS THAT WE'VE BEEN AROUND ISN'T HONEST OFFICE MANAGER.
NEVER HAD ONE. SHE FIT THE BILL PERFECTLY.
IT'S ACTUALLY NOW I'LL GIVE YOU A LITTLE BACKGROUND; THIS TOUCHES ON WHAT MR. JAEGER MENTIONED EARLIER IS THAT WE'RE ALSO DEALING NOW WITH THE CASELOAD THAT IS THREE TIMES NORMAL, JUST LIKE THEY ARE.
FORTUNATELY, THE STATE OF ARKANSAS HAS DONE THEIR PART TO HELP SOLVE A GOOD PART OF THE PROBLEM AND ALLOCATING.
YOU GUYS PROBABLY READ ABOUT THIS IN THE PAPER OF REASON, 45 POSITIONS TO PLASTIC COUNTY OR THE EXCUSE ME, THE PROSECUTOR COORDINATORS OFFICE, AND THEN ANOTHER 45 ATTORNEY POSITIONS TO THE ARCS UP PUBLIC DEFENDER COMMISSION.
I HAVE EIGHT IN THE OFFICE AND I PLAN ON ASKING MORE.
BUT SUDDENLY WE JUST GREW BY 20 PERCENT AND DON'T HAVE THE REQUISITE SUPPORT STAFF TO HELP.
MY NEEDS ARE SIMILAR TO THIS, MR. JAEGER, THAT WE NEED POSITION LIKE THIS AND ACTUAL OFFICE MANAGER WHO ACTUALLY PERFORMANCE MULTIPLE ROLES IN THIS OFFICE.
AND YOU'LL SEE THAT IN THE JOB DESCRIPTION.
BUT ALSO THE LEGAL SUPPORT SPECIALIST, AND I CAN OFFER ONE PERSPECTIVE ON THAT, IF I MAY.
MR. JAEGER HAS 22 CASE PARKS THAT THIS COUNTY EMPLOYEES FOR HIM TO PUSH THEM MOVE THOSE CASES THROUGH THE SYSTEM.
THAT'S THE FINAL 1,000 FELONY CASES, AS WELL AS MUNICIPAL COURT DISTRICT AND MISDEMEANOR CASES.
WE REPRESENT 66 PERCENT OF THOSE.
[NOISE] THE COUNTY PROVIDES ONE SECRETARY FOR OUR OFFICE.
[NOISE] THIS IS A C 109 POSITION.
I THINK WHAT HE ASKED FOR WAS A C110, ARE C109 SECRETARY WOULD TAKE THAT VERY DISCOVERED THAT C110 SENDS HIM FROM LARRY JAEGER'S OFFICE, THE SECRETARY, AND THEN DISPERSES IT ALL THE ATTORNEYS IN OUR OFFICE, THAT NEED THE DISCOVERY, READ ABOUT THE CASES, DO THE REQUISITE INVESTIGATIVE WORK, GET WITH CLIENTS BECAUSE WE ALL WHAT WE DEAL WITH ARE HUMAN BEINGS.
GET THE CASE MOVE THROUGH TO THE BENEFIT OF THE CITIZENRY OF WESTERN COUNTY.
WITH THAT, I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.
>> ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS? [BACKGROUND] YOU'RE RECOGNIZED.
>> THANK YOU, MA'AM. WE'VE HEARD A LOT OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS ABOUT HOW PUBLIC DEFENDERS ARE WOEFULLY UNDERFUNDED COMPARED TO THE PUBLICLY FUNDED PROSECUTION SIDE.
I KNOW THAT MR. SIMPSON HAS BEEN BEFORE US THROUGH THE YEARS ASKING FOR HELP.
WE WERE NOT IN THE FINANCIAL SITUATION AT THAT POINT IN TIME TO BE ABLE TO HELP AS MUCH AS WE WANT IT TO BE.
BUT I'M GOING TO VOTE AFFIRMATIVELY. IS THERE A MOTION YET?
>> HAVING SAID THAT, GLAD WE'RE ABLE TO GIVE YOU GUYS A LITTLE BIT OF HELP HERE.
I MAKE A MOTION THAT WE SEND THIS REQUEST TO THE FULL QUORUM COURT WITH THE DUE PASS RECOMMENDATION.
>> THANK YOU. IT'S BEEN MOVED AND PROPERLY SECOND, LET THIS GO FORWARD TO THE FULL QUORUM COURT.
ARE THERE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS?
>> IF I MAY HAVE LIVED TO MAKE ONE COMMENT, THAT IS, I WILL NOTE AND YOU MAY HAVE NOTED THAT YOURSELVES, THAT THE STATE HAS ACCURATELY IDENTIFIED ARPA, THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN FUNDS, AS THE FUNDING TARGET FOR THOSE 45 ORDERS GOING TO THE PROSECUTORS, THE 45 TO THE PUBLIC DEFENDERS.
IT MIGHT BE WORTH CONSIDERING THAT SAME THING BECAUSE I WILL ALLOCATE THIS NEW POSITION TO BACKING UP THOSE EIGHT-PLUS LAWYERS, THE EIGHT THAT I HAVE NOW AND PROBABLY ADD ANOTHER FOUR MORE TO BE THE SUPPORT FOR THAT.
THAT MAY ALLEVIATE ANY BURDEN ON THE STATES OR THE EXCUSE ME,
[00:50:02]
THE COUNTY GENERAL TREASURY.JUST A SUGGESTION. THAT'S NOT MY [OVERLAPPING].
>> YOU'RE RECOGNIZED JUSTICE TOWERS.
>> SIR, MY UNDERSTANDING IN THE CONTROLLERS HERE AND KEEP ME STRAIGHT.
THAT ARPA FUNDS ARE ONE-TIME FUNDS.
AS FAR AS HIRING WOULD BE RELUCTANT TO DO THAT.
I WASN'T SURE EXACTLY WHAT'S YOUR REFERENCE OR CONTEXT WAS THERE.
>> WELL, THESE EXTRA-HELP POSITIONS THAT THE STATE HAS GRANTED LEGISLATIVELY, THEY HAVE A SUNSET PROVISION THAT WOULD BE IN THE NEXT FISCAL YEAR, WHICH IS JUNE 30TH, 2023.
BUT THEY DID IDENTIFY THAT AS THE FUNDING SOURCE THAT THE FINAL IS AND TS HAVE NOT BEEN DOTTED AND CROSSED.
BUT WE ANTICIPATE THAT WILL OCCUR.
>> IF THAT HAPPENED, THEY WOULDN'T BE TEMPORARY JOBS AND THESE FOLKS WILL BE HIRED WITH THE UNDERSTANDING THAT THEIR JOBS WILL SENSE IT?
>> THAT'S CORRECT. THE QUESTION OF WHETHER OR NOT THEY WOULD GOING FORWARD, THEY WOULD CONTINUE IN SOME FASHION, BUT IN A REDUCED SENSE, I SUSPECT.
>> IF YOU GET THE SECOND DROP OF MONEY, THAT'D BE SOMETHING YOU CAN PUT ON THAT LIST TO CONSIDER.
IF THEY SEND US THE REST OF IT BECAUSE YOU'VE ALLOCATED EVERYTHING IN THE FIRST GO AROUND.
>> WE CREATED POSITION, YOU HAD TO HAVE IT IN [INAUDIBLE].
>> WELL, THEY KEEP CHANGING THE RULES.
>> THAT'S HOW IT STARTED THEN IF YOU USE THAT [INAUDIBLE].
WHEN THIS FIRST STARTED, IF YOU CREATE POSITIONS WITH THAT, YOU HAD TO KEEP IT OR GIVE THEM MONEY BACK.
BUT THEY HAVE CHANGED THE RULES.
I BELIEVE WHAT HE'S SAYING IS CORRECT.
I HAVE NO REASON TO DOUBT IT BECAUSE I SAID THEY HAVE CHANGED THE RULES.
IF THERE BE NO OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS.
[BACKGROUND] THERE WAS A SECOND SUGGESTION, BUT YOU CALL THE ROLL, PLEASE? ON 0417.
I WILL GO TO A FULL QUORUM COURT FOR FINAL CONSIDERATION.
>> THANK YOU. IS IT POSSIBLE TO TURN THE AIR TO ADJUST THE AIR BECAUSE IT'S FREEZING.
[OVERLAPPING] [BACKGROUND] WE'RE NOW DOWN TO DEPARTMENT 427, SEVENTH DIVISION CIRCUIT COURT.
>> I AM KAREN WALTLEY. I'M THE NEW JUDGE IN SEVENTH DIVISION CIRCUIT COURT AND THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE HERE TONIGHT.
>> WE ARE ASKING FOR A NEW POSITION FOR A SECRETARY.
THIS WAS ACTUALLY EVEN ASKED FOR BEFORE I GOT HERE, BUT I WILL TELL YOU AFTER HAVING BEEN THERE SEVEN WEEKS TO THE DAY, I WAS SWORN IN SEVEN WEEKS AGO TODAY, WE DEFINITELY NEED A NEW POSITION.
I THINK THIS IS STATUTORILY ALLOWED, BUT WE DEFINITELY NEED THE SECRETARY POSITION IN SEVENTH DIVISION.
I FELL LIKE I'M AN ECHO WITH LARRY JEGLEY AND WITH MR. KLAUS SAYING WE ARE HAVE A TON OF CASES.
IN MY COURT ALONE, WE HAVE 3,307 CRIMINAL CASES.
THIS PAST MONDAY, I GUESS THAT WAS YESTERDAY, IT FEELS LIKE A LONG TIME AGO, I HAD COURT AND WE HEARD 180 CASES YESTERDAY ALONE.
THAT'S A TYPICAL MONDAY IN MY LIFE.
WHAT HAPPENS ON MONDAYS IS I HAVE EVERYONE IN THE COURTROOM, THE TRIAL COURT ADMINISTRATOR, THE LAW CLERK, I HAVE BOTH OF THE BAILIFFS, AND THEN OBVIOUSLY THE COURT REPORTER HAS TO BE IN THERE.
WHILE WE'RE IN COURT, THE PHONES ARE GOING CRAZY AND THERE'S A WHOLE LOT OF OTHER BACKEND THINGS THAT HAVE TO BE DONE, AND THAT'S ON MONDAY AND IT JUST CONTINUES GOING DOWNHILL AFTER THAT.
THAT'S WHY WE NEED THIS POSITION, BUT I ALSO JUST WANTED TO COME MYSELF TONIGHT AND INTRODUCE MYSELF AND SAY, THANK YOU AND HOW EXCITED I AM TO BE APART OF PULASKI COUNTY CIRCUIT COURT, AND IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, MORE THAN HAPPY TO ANSWER THEM.
>> THANK YOU. JUSTICE STOWERS YOU'RE RECOGNIZED.
>> THANK YOU JUDGE WATLEY FOR BEING WITH US THIS EVENING.
[00:55:02]
IS YOUR CASE LAW PRIMARILY CRIMINAL, CIVIL, OR A HODGEPODGE?>> I HAVE A 100 PERCENT CRIMINAL DOCKET.
>> I LOVE CRIMINAL LAW, SO IT'S GREAT.
WE HOPE TO SEE YOU IN THE FUTURE.
WITH THAT, I'D MAKE A MOTION THAT WE SEND THIS ITEM TO THE FULL QUORUM COURT WITH A DO PASS RECOMMENDATION.
>> IT'S BEEN MOVED AND PROPERLY SECOND.
LET US GO FORWARD TO THE FULL QUORUM COURT.
ARE THERE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? THERE ARE SOME QUESTIONS. THANK YOU, JUDGE WATLEY.
[BACKGROUND] JUSTICE MCCOY, YOU ARE RECOGNIZED.
>> [MUSIC] THIS JUST DAWNED ON ME.
I DON'T KNOW IF IT WAS THE CIVIL SIDE OF THE CRIMINAL SIDE, MAYBE YOU CAN CLARIFY, BUT WHEN COVID HIT, THAT THE CRIMINAL SIDE SOMEWHAT SHUT DOWN AND IT IS THE UPTICK IN CASES DUE TO THE COURTS REOPENING IN THE LAST SEVERAL MONTHS. DOES THAT MAKES SENSE?
>> IT DOES MAKE SENSE. I WAS IN ANOTHER BRANCH OF GOVERNMENT BACK [OVERLAPPING] WHEN COVID HIT.
>> I DON'T KNOW IF YOU REMEMBER ME.
>> YES, I DO REMEMBER YOU. [OVERLAPPING]
>> BY THE WAY, I DID NOT APPEAR IN HER COURT [LAUGHTER] I JUST WANT TO CLARIFY THAT, BUT GO AHEAD. [LAUGHTER] [BACKGROUND]
>> SO MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT WHEN THE COURTHOUSE SHUT DOWN, IT SHUT DOWN TO BOTH CRIMINAL AND CIVIL COURT.
THE PROBLEM ENDED UP BEING NOT BEING ABLE TO HOLD TRIALS, AND BECAUSE THEY WERE NOT ABLE TO HOLD THE TRIALS, THAT CAUSED THE BACKLOG.
BUT I WILL SAY THAT A COURT NEEDS A SECRETARY WITH OR WITHOUT A BACKLOG, BUT WITH A BACKLOG, DEFINITELY NEEDS A SECRETARY.
BUT WHAT I'M SEEING NOW WHEN I TOOK OVER ON MARCH THE 1ST, WE ARE NOW HAVING IN-PERSON COURT AND WE ARE HAVING TRIALS.
I'VE HAD THREE TRIALS SINCE I'VE BEEN ON THE BENCH, AND SINCE THAT TIME AND WE WE'RE DEFINITELY SEEING THINGS ARE WORKING AND WE'RE DOING OUR BEST TO GET THE CASELOADS LOWER, BUT AT THIS EVERY TIME FOR EVERY ONE I GET RID OF, THERE'S USUALLY ONE COMING IN THE DOOR.
IT'S NEVER-ENDING AT THIS POINT.
>> IF YOU HAD TO GUESS, MAYBE THIS IS OFF-TOPIC, BUT I'LL ASK ANYWAYS.
WHEN MIGHT THE COURT SEE THAT NORMAL NUMBERS, AND NOT JUST SO MUCH THE NORMAL NUMBERS, BUT WHEN MIGHT THE COURT CATCH UP? I GUESS THAT'S A BETTER QUESTION.
>> I REALLY WISH I KNEW THE ANSWER TO THAT.
THAT'S WHAT WAKES ME UP AT THREE O'CLOCK IN THE MORNING AND THEN KEEPS ME AWAKE THE REST OF THE NIGHT WONDERING HOW WE CAN DO IT.
I WILL SAY IN SEVENTH DIVISION, WE'RE DOING EVERYTHING WE CAN IN ORDER TO GET THOSE CASELOADS LOWER.
WE HAD A GREAT CLEARANCE RATE LAST MONTH.
I DO THINK IT'S JUST GOING TO TAKE A FEW MONTHS, MAYBE EVEN CLOSE TO A YEAR OR SO BEFORE WE CAN REALLY START SEEING THOSE NUMBERS DECREASING, BUT I PROMISE YOU WE'RE DOING EVERYTHING IN OUR POWER TO BE FAIR TO THE CITIZENS OF THE STATE OF ARKANSAS, AS WELL AS THE DEFENDANTS, AND IT TAKES A LITTLE WHILE TO GET IT DONE.
>> BACK AT WHAT HE SAID, I'VE HAD SOME JUDGES TELL ME ANYWHERE THEY THINK FROM A YEAR TO THREE YEARS TOO.
THEY WERE ABLE TO HAVE SOME HEARINGS THROUGH ZOOM.
WE HAD ZOOMS SETUP AND WE RENTED SOME LARGER SPACES SO SOME OF THE JUDGES COULD HAVE THINGS SPREAD OUT, BUT THAT'S HOW FAR BEHIND THEY ARE AND SHE'S JUST WORN OUT.
>> I WILL SAY IT HAS MADE A HUGE DIFFERENCE.
AFTER THE APPOINTMENT WAS ANNOUNCED, I TOOK SOME TIME OFF AND WOULD COME OVER AND SIT IN COURT AND WATCH THE ZOOM HEARINGS.
BUT I WILL TELL YOU, WE'RE GETTING CASES CLOSED MORE BY HAVING THE IN-PERSON COURT, AND I THINK THAT WHEN WE'RE ABLE TO CONTINUE TO DO THAT, HOPEFULLY, THE NUMBERS STAY LOW AND WE CONTINUE TO DO THAT.
BUT I DO THINK IT'S GOING TO TAKE WELL OVER A YEAR FOR ME TO GET THIS DOCKET BACK TOWARD MORE NORMAL LEVELS AND IT MAY TAKE 1-3.
>> WELL, CONGRATULATIONS AGAIN. THAT'S ALL I HAD. THANKS.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? THANK YOU. [BACKGROUND]
ARE THERE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? IF THERE BEING NONE, JUSTIN WOULD YOU CALL THE ROLL, PLEASE.
>> EIGHT AYES. THEY'RE A FULL QUORUM COURT.
>> WE'RE NOW DOWN TO OUR FINAL ITEM.
[01:00:02]
OFFICE OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT.>> I'M ANDY TRAFFANSTEDT. I'M THE DIRECTOR OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT.
WE'RE PROBABLY ONE OF THE SMALLER DEPARTMENTS IN THE COUNTY.
WE HAVE THREE FULL-TIME PEOPLE ON OUR STAFF AND I DO HAVE FOUR PART-TIME PERSONNEL.
THEY ARE FIREFIGHTERS, FULL-TIME THEY'RE OTHER JOBS.
I'VE BEEN AT THE COUNTY FOR RIGHT AT 21 YEARS, AND IN MY TIME HERE, WE'VE NOT ASKED FOR INCREASE OF OUR FULL-TIME STAFF AT ALL.
IT HAS BEEN OPENED 21-PLUS YEARS.
WE DO A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT WITH LIFE SAFETY THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY, WHETHER IT'S RESPONDING TO TORNADOES, MOTOR VEHICLE ACCIDENTS TO ASSIST FIRE DEPARTMENTS, SEARCHING FOR LOST CHILDREN WITH OUR DRONE, MAINTAINING TORNADO SIRENS, MAINTAINING THE AUTOMATIC EXTERNAL DEFIBRILLATORS IN THE COUNTY BUILDINGS, AND QUITE HONESTLY, OUR CALL VOLUME HAS GONE UP, OUR HOMELAND SECURITY GRANTS THAT WE GET WE'RE VERY BLESSED TO GET IN ORDER TO DO OUR JOB ON HAZMAT, WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION RESPONSE AND HEAVY RESCUE RESPONSE HAS BENEFITED US GREATLY, BUT WITH THAT COMES A NEED TO KEEP THE EQUIPMENT UPDATED, UPKEEP OF THE VEHICLES, WE HAVE CALIBRATION OF THE CHEMICAL DETECTORS, AND WE'RE JUST PRETTY MUCH GETTING TO A POINT WHERE WE ARE STRETCHED VERY THIN AND WE JUST NEED AN ADDITIONAL PERSON TO HELP WITH ALL THESE DUTIES.
ALSO, WE DO A LOT OF TRAINING.
OUR TRAINING HAS TO BE UPKEEP.
WE ALSO HELP AND DO SOME TRAINING WITH THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT, EVEN COUNTY EMPLOYEES WITH CPR, AED, THAT TYPE OF STUFF.
REALLY I'M JUST TO THE POINT WHERE I JUST NEED AN ADDITIONAL PERSON TO ASSIST US BECAUSE EMERGENCIES HAPPEN, EASTER SUNDAY, NIGHTTIME, WEEKENDS, IT DOESN'T MATTER, WE'RE CALLED OUT.
WE'RE ON CALL 24 HOURS A DAY, SEVEN DAYS A WEEK.
WHEN THE CALL GOES OUT, WE HAVE TO GO.
I DO HAVE THREE FULL-TIME PERSONNEL.
I CANNOT COUNT ON ALL OF MY PART-TIME PERSONNEL TO COME ON EVERY CALL BECAUSE THEY MAY BE ON DUTY AT THE FIRE STATION.
EVEN THOUGH I HAVE SEVEN PERSONNEL, COUNTING THE FOUR PART-TIMERS, I CAN'T ALWAYS EXPECT TO HAVE SEVEN PERSONNEL ON THE SCENE.
USUALLY, IT'S MORE LIKE THREE OR FOUR OR FIVE AT THE MOST.
I'D BE ABLE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.
>> JUSTICE STOWERS, YOU'RE RECOGNIZED.
>> THANK YOU, MA'AM. ANDY, I KNOW YOU'RE A FISCAL CONSERVATIVE AND AS YOU SAID, IN 21 YEARS, YOU'VE NEVER CAME AND ASK FOR A NEW POSITION.
I ALSO KNOW THAT YOU WOULDN'T BE HERE IF THIS HADN'T BEEN RUN THROUGH THE LENS OF BROMMET HATCH, THE JUDGE, ETC, AND HAS THEIR BLESSINGS.
WITH THAT, I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION THAT WE SEND THIS ITEM TO THE FULL QUORUM COURT WITH THE NEW PASS RECOMMENDATION.
>> BE MOVED AND PROPERLY SECOND THAT WE SEND THIS TO THE FULL QUORUM COURT FOR FINAL APPROVAL.
ARE THERE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS REGARDING THIS POSITION? ANY QUESTIONS FOR MR. ANDY? THERE BEING NONE, JUSTIN, WOULD YOU CALL THE ROLL, PLEASE, AND THANK YOU FOR COMING.
>> THANK YOU, JUSTIN. THIS WILL GO TO THE FULL QUORUM COURT FOR FINAL APPROVAL.
CAN I GET A MOTION TO ADJOURN? [BACKGROUND] ARE THERE ANY ANNOUNCEMENTS OR PUBLIC COMMENT?
>> NO, MA'AM. WE'VE RECEIVED NONE.
>> THANK YOU. WE WILL SEE EVERYONE BACK THIS THURSDAY AT 5:30. THANK YOU.
>> WE ARE ADJOURNED. [BACKGROUND]
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.