[00:00:03]
GOOD EVENING, EVERYONE. WE'RE GOING TO GET OUR LAST BUDGET HEARING FOR THE SPRING UNDERWAY.
[1. CALL TO ORDER]
JUSTIN, WOULD YOU CALL THE ROLL, PLEASE? YOU'RE ON.WE WILL MOVE ON TO GET AN APPROVAL ON MINUTES.
[3. APPROVAL OF MINUTES]
SO MOVED. SECOND.SECOND, THOSE LET IT BE KNOWN BY SAYING I IF YOU'RE IN FAVOR.
[4. NEW BUSINESS:]
FIRST ITEM UP FOR CONSIDERATION IS OUR BUDGET CONTROLS AMENDMENT.JUSTIN, WOULD YOU BE SO KIND AS TO READ THAT? UM, YES.
IT WILL BE AN AMENDMENT TO YOUR BUDGET CONTROLS.
AND I THINK YOU ALL HAVE A COPY IN FRONT OF YOU.
JUSTICE STOWERS, YOU'RE RECOGNIZED.
THANK YOU, MA'AM. COULD WE RECOGNIZE MR. FOGLEMAN TO GIVE US AN OVERVIEW OF THE CHANGES WE'RE MAKING TO THE BUDGET CONTROLS OR JUSTIN, WHOEVER.
THE SOME OF IT IS JUST STRICTLY CLEAN UP.
IT'S STUFF THAT LIKE IF YOU LOOK OVER TIME, WE DON'T HAVE FOUR MAJOR LINE ITEMS, WE HAVE THREE, OVERTIME IS ROLLED INTO PERSONNEL, BUT THAT'S JUST THE WAY IT'S WRITTEN IN THERE, BUNDLING ALL OF THE REQUESTS INTO ONE SESSION IN THE FALL AND MAKING SURE THAT CARRYOVER DOESN'T OCCUR UNLESS YOU GUYS SO CHOOSE.
UM, SO YEAH, I MEAN, YOU'VE HAD IT FOR SEVERAL WEEKS.
WE'VE PULLED IT BACK SO THAT YOU GUYS COULD ASK ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU HAD, BUT TRYING TO KIND OF TAILOR IT DOWN TO WHAT YOU GUYS ARE ACTUALLY DOING AND WHAT'S HAPPENING WITHIN THE BUDGET CONTROLS AS FAR AS WHEN YOU GUYS HEAR REQUESTS REGARDING PERSONNEL UPGRADES OVERTIME, BUT YOU DO HAVE SOME CAVEATS IN THERE WHERE IF THERE'S AN EMERGENCY, YOU COULD HEAR REQUESTS OUTSIDE OF THE NORMAL TIME FRAME FOR CERTAIN THINGS.
AND IF YOU HAD SOMETHING THAT YOU DIDN'T GET FINISHED WITHIN THE TIME FRAME THAT IS EXPECTED DURING THE SPRING HEARINGS, YOU COULD EXTEND THOSE REQUESTS AT A TWO THIRDS MAJORITY OF THE BODY.
SO YOU'RE NOT LEGISLATING YOURSELVES INTO A CORNER.
THERE WAS ONE CHANGE THAT'S BEEN REQUESTED TO TO ADD TO IDENTIFY THAT ANY POSITIONS THAT EXIST IN BUDGET, CATEGORIES THAT ARE NOT ASSIGNED TO AN ELECTED OFFICIAL OF THE COUNTY, IF THOSE POSITIONS ARE NOT MANDATED BY STATUTE, THAT THOSE POSITIONS ARE ACKNOWLEDGED TO BE HIRED ON THE.
I'M TRYING TO REMEMBER THE WORDS, THE RIGHT WORDS HERE.
THEY'RE HIRED ON THE AN INHERENT DELEGATION FROM THE COUNTY JUDGE THAT REFLECTS THE ARKANSAS CONSTITUTION IN AMENDMENT 55, SECTION THREE AND STATUTORY ACKNOWLEDGMENT IN 1414 1102, WHICH SETS THE THE HIRING AUTHORITY FOR THE VARIOUS OFFICERS.
I'LL ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU'VE GOT.
THERE IS A THIRD COMPONENT AS WELL, WHICH ESSENTIALLY TIES IN THE PERSONNEL POLICY.
THAT'S A POLICY ADOPTED BY THIS BODY.
IT'S PART OF YOUR PERSONNEL POLICY FOR THE COUNTY, AND IT SIMPLY TIES THAT REQUIREMENT FOR AT LEAST AN EVALUATION PERFORMANCE REVIEW OF ALL COUNTY EMPLOYEES. AND IT TIES IT TO UPGRADES, DOWNGRADES, BONUSES, SALARY ADJUSTMENTS, SO LONG AS THE POSITION IS FULL. OBVIOUSLY, IT WOULDN'T APPLY TO THE VACANT POSITIONS.
SO THOSE ARE THE THREE MAJOR COMPONENTS TO THAT.
[00:05:07]
JUSTICE STOWERS.DO YOU HAVE A QUESTION? YES, MA'AM. SO WE CAN GET THIS ON THE FLOOR.
IT HAS BEEN MOVED AND PROPERLY SECOND.
SO IT WILL SAY THAT ELIGIBILITY TO RECEIVE SALARY SCALE ADJUSTMENTS, POSITION UPGRADES BEFORE THE ISSUANCE OF ANY SALARY SCALE ADJUSTMENT OR POSITION UPGRADES CREATED OR FUNDED IN THIS ORDINANCE OR ANY SUBSEQUENT AMENDMENT TO THIS ORDINANCE, THE REQUESTING DEPARTMENT SHALL BE IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE PULASKI COUNTY PERSONNEL POLICY AS ADOPTED BY THE QUORUM COURT, WHICH REQUIRES ELECTED APPOINTED OFFICIALS AND DEPARTMENT HEADS TO CONDUCT, AT A MINIMUM, AN ANNUAL PERFORMANCE REVIEW FOR EACH EMPLOYEE UNDER THEIR DIRECT SUPERVISION.
SO IS THIS SOMETHING WE'RE NOT DOING THIS ALREADY OR WE'RE SUPPOSED TO BE DOING THIS? SO IN THE PERSONNEL POLICY, YES, IT SAYS AT A MINIMUM THERE SHOULD BE A PERFORMANCE REVIEW FOR EMPLOYEES AT A MINIMUM EVERY YEAR.
SO I COULDN'T SPEAK TO WHAT OTHER DEPARTMENTS DO, BUT MY UNDERSTANDING IS NO.
THANK YOU. SO I SAID TO KEITH, YOU'RE RECOGNIZED.
JUSTIN, WHEN DID THE WHEN DID THIS ACTUALLY WHEN DID WE RECEIVE THIS INFORMATION OR THE BUDGET CONTROLS WERE SENT OUT? I BELIEVE AT THE VERY FIRST BUDGET MEETING THAT WE HAD AND WE PASSED IT OVER BECAUSE THERE WAS SOME CONCERNS AND WE WANTED TO GIVE YOU ALL TIME TO GET THOSE CONCERNS HASHED OUT.
AND IN THAT TIME FRAME, I HAVE HAD NOBODY CONTACT ME.
AND I GUESS MAYBE I'M THE ONLY ONE THAT DIDN'T SEE THIS.
MAYBE MY SECOND QUESTION WOULD BE, I ASSUME THAT UNDER THE BUDGET CONTROLS, IF IF NO CHANGES OR THE ONLY CHANGES BEING MADE ARE THOSE THAT'S MARKED OUT OR MAYBE UNDERLINED NOTHING ELSE, IF IT DOESN'T HAVE EITHER ONE OF THOSE, THAT MEANS NO CHANGE HAS BEEN MADE TO THAT INFORMATION. YEAH, CORRECT.
SO YOU SIMPLY WOULD BE WHATEVER'S ITALICIZED AND UNDERLINED WOULD BE ADDED.
OKAY. AND THAT MEANS WE ALREADY IT'S RIGHT AND WE'RE ALREADY DOING IT RIGHT.
YOU ONLY HAD CAPITAL OUTLAY REQUESTS THREE TIMES, THREE MONTHS OUT OF THE YEAR.
WELL, WE HAVEN'T REALLY BEEN DOING THAT.
AND IF IT DOESN'T SEEM EFFICIENT AND WE'RE NOT DOING IT, WHY HAVE IT AS PART OF THE POLICY? SO IF THINGS LIKE THAT, WE'LL STRIKE THAT OUT TO CLEAN IT UP TOMORROW HOW YOU GUYS ARE ACTUALLY OPERATING.
JUSTICE. KEITH, ARE YOU FINISHED? OH, I'M SORRY I YIELD.
UM, IN REGARDS TO THE EVALUATIONS, AND I KNOW MOST COMPANIES DO THIS, UM, IF THE EMPLOYEE DOES NOT RECEIVE A FAVORABLE EVALUATION, DOES THAT MEAN THEY DON'T GET ANY TYPE OF INCREASE? NO. SO THE WAY THAT IT WORKS, LIKE IF YOU GIVE A YOU GUYS PROVIDE AN APPROPRIATION FOR SALARY INCREASES, SALARY ADJUSTMENTS, YOU GUYS JUST DID A 10%.
SO ME AS A DEPARTMENT HEAD, I DO AN EVALUATION OF MY STAFF AND I SIGHED.
WELL, HEY, AMY'S DOING A GREAT JOB.
I'M GOING TO GIVE HER THE FULL 10%.
BUT AT THE SAME TIME, IF I HAD OTHER STAFF THAT MAYBE WEREN'T AS PROFICIENT OR WEREN'T AS ON TIME ALL THE TIME, NEEDED A LITTLE WORK, A LITTLE MORE COACHING, MAYBE THEY GET 7%. THERE'S DISCRETION IN HOW YOU APPLY THOSE SALARY ADJUSTMENTS BECAUSE I HAVE TO SIGN OFF TO SAY, YEAH, SURE, AMY DOES 10% OR JUSTIN GETS 8%.
[00:10:09]
I MEAN, IF I GAVE MR. ROBINSON 10% AND YOU 7% AND WE NEVER DID AN EVALUATION, IT KIND OF LOOKED FISHY, WOULDN'T IT? THANK YOU. UM, IT SHOWS THAT I WANT TO SPEAK AGAIN, BUT I JUST FINISHED, SO I'M ASSUMING THAT THAT IS JUSTICE MCMULLEN.I MAY BE OUT OF MY SEAT, BUT IT IS ME.
I WANTED TO GO AHEAD AND LET YOU FINISH THAT.
I WANTED YOU, AND THEN I WILL.
ALL RIGHT, THEN. WELL, YOU SAID YOU WANTED TO SPEAK AGAIN.
NO, I SAID MY LIGHT SAYS I WANT TO.
ALL RIGHT. WELL, IT DOES APPEAR TO ME THAT, YOU KNOW, IF THE QUORUM COURT IS APPROVING.
FOLLOW ME CLOSELY FOR POSITIONS.
THEN WHOMEVER IS IN THAT POSITION WOULD GET IT OR SHOULD GET IT.
BECAUSE THOSE EVALUATIONS CAN BE PRETTY BIASED.
SO IF I'M A SCHOOL PSYCHOLOGY SPECIALIST AND THE DISTRICT HAS SAID, WELL, YOU WILL GET A 10% INCREASE, THIS IS WHAT WE'RE GOING TO GIVE TO THIS THIS POSITION.
AND YET AT THE SAME TIME, THE DIRECTOR OF MY DEPARTMENT OR PERHAPS EVEN MY SUPERVISOR SAYING, WE'RE GOING TO EVALUATE YOU TO SEE IF YOU'LL GET THAT FULL PERCENTAGE.
OH, THERE'S A LOT OF BIAS GOING ON THERE.
SO LET ME THROW YOU GUYS A BONE ON HOW YOU LOOK AT IT.
THERE'S OBVIOUSLY A LOT OF CONSTERNATION ABOUT TYING COMPENSATION WITH THE FOLLOWING OF THE PERSONNEL POLICY, THAT SEEMS VERY CLEAR.
SOME DEPARTMENTS DO EVALUATIONS.
THEY FOLLOW THE POLICY TO A T, OTHERS SIMPLY IGNORE IT.
BUT OBVIOUSLY THIS IS AN ISSUE, RIGHT? SO LET'S NOT SINK THE SHIP OVER THIS ONE THING.
AND IF YOU GUYS WANTED TO AMEND THAT SECTION OUT WHERE YOU'RE DEALING WITH THE PERSONNEL STUFF, I'M SENSING THAT'S WHERE YOU'RE GOING, THEN TAKE THAT PART OUT AND PASS THE REST.
BECAUSE THERE ARE SOME CHANGES IN HERE THAT WE REALLY DO NEED TO ADDRESS.
IF TYING COMPENSATION TO PERSONNEL EVALUATIONS, WHICH ARE REQUIRED, AGAIN BY THE PERSONNEL POLICY, IF THAT IS GIVING YOU HEARTBURN, THEN I WOULD SUGGEST YOU GUYS NOT SINK THE SHIP OVER THAT ONE THING.
JUSTICE MCMULLEN YOU RECOGNIZE.
AND ARE WE IN A POSITION AT THIS TIME TO MAKE A MOTION ON THAT? TO MAKE AN AMENDMENT? YES, MA'AM.
OKAY. THEN I WOULD MAKE A MOTION TO AMEND THAT PARTICULAR ITEM.
SO I THINK THE MOTION WOULD BE TO STRIKE THE CHANGES TO SECTION EIGHT.
ALL RIGHT. THAT'S WHAT WE'LL DO.
WE HAVE AN AMENDMENT ON THE FLOOR.
DO WE HAVE A SECOND? SECOND. THANK YOU.
IT'S BEEN MOVED AND PROPERLY SECOND.
WE'RE GOING TO AMEND TO STRIKE THE EVALUATION OF EMPLOYEES.
I'M NOT WORDING THAT RIGHT, BUT NO, THAT'S RIGHT.
SO WE'LL, YOU WILL DISPENSE WITH THE AMENDMENT.
SO IF YOU'RE READY TO VOTE ON THE AMENDMENT, WE CAN DO THAT.
CAN I ASK A QUESTION? YEAH, SURE.
THANK YOU. SO IF WE COMPLETELY STRIKE OUT NUMBER EIGHT, DOES THAT MEAN WE HAVE TO MODIFY THE THE HANDBOOK AS WELL? NO, BECAUSE RIGHT NOW, IF YOU LOOK AT SECTION EIGHT, BASICALLY.
SECTION EIGHT. IF YOU LOOK AT THE HANDBOOK RIGHT NOW, IT SAYS DELETED IN ITS ENTIRETY.
SO IF THERE'S NO CHANGES, WILL THERE STILL BE DEPARTMENT HEADS THAT ARE STILL GOING TO DO AN EVALUATION? THAT'S PART OF THE PERSONNEL POLICY.
SO WHAT THIS WAS WAS TYING THE BUDGETS TO THE PERSONNEL POLICY GUIDELINES THAT REQUIRES THIS.
BUT IT DOESN'T CHANGE THE PERSONNEL POLICY.
THE PERSONNEL POLICY STILL SAYS THAT AT A MINIMUM AND A YEARLY EVALUATION IS REQUIRED.
[00:15:05]
IT'S JUST THERE.THE RAISE IS NOT TIED TO THE EVALUATION WHERE THE RAISE IS TIED TO THE THERE'S NOTHING TIED TO IT.
AND SO CAN WE STATE THE AMENDMENT.
SO. FOR CLARITY, CAN WE RESTATE THE AMENDMENT? SO THE AMENDMENT WOULD BE TO STRIKE CHANGES, PROPOSED CHANGES TO SECTION EIGHT.
ARE THERE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS ON THE AMENDMENT? YES, I THINK THAT'S DOING THAT IS FOLLOWING THE REQUEST OR THE POINT THAT I MADE IT.
AND ALLOW ME TO REPEAT IT TO MAKE ABSOLUTELY SURE THAT THE LANGUAGE IS CLEAR, AND THAT IS THAT THE EVALUATION ANNUALLY WILL BE THERE. IT WILL BE DONE, THAT'S FINE.
SOME PEOPLE WILL GET A GOOD, BETTER EVALUATION PERHAPS THAN OTHERS.
NEVERTHELESS, ONCE THERE IS A RAISE THAT IS FACTORED IN FOR A POSITION, REGARDLESS OF THAT EVALUATION, THAT PERSON IN THAT POSITION IS ALSO ENTITLED TO THE RAISE.
NOT FULLY. I WAS GOING TO SAY THAT'S NOT FULLY, NOT ACCORDING TO OUR POLICY.
YEAH. NO, THAT THE QUORUM COURT APPROPRIATES THE MONEY SO THAT IT CAN BE DONE.
BUT NOTHING TIES ME TO GIVING YOU 10%.
I CAN GIVE YOU 6% AND GIVE MR. KEITH 10%.
WELL, I GOT THE IMPRESSION THAT IT WOULD WHEN I FIRST SPOKE OF IT.
SO WHAT IS THE PROBABILITY THAT IT WOULD BE TAKEN CARE OF ACCORDING TO, I'M NOT SAYING..
NO, I'M NOT SAYING ACCORDING TO THIS.
THAT'S UP TO YOU ALL. YOU HAVE TO AMEND THE POLICY.
IF WE DISCUSS A RAISE AGAIN, THAT'S UP TO Y'ALL WHETHER YOU GIVE A RAISE AND WHO GETS IT RIGHT.
I DON'T KNOW IF EVERYONE ELSE DOES OR NOT.
I'M TRYING TO MAKE CERTAIN THAT THERE THAT THERE'S CLARITY ON THE FLOOR AND EVERYBODY IS QUIET.
SO I'M ASSUMING THAT IF THERE IS SOMEONE UP HERE WHO WANTS TO SPEAK ON THAT, YOU'LL DO THAT.
SO WE'LL KNOW EXACTLY WHAT IT IS WE'RE VOTING ON THOSE OF US WHO HAVE QUESTIONS.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU, JUSTICE MCMULLEN.
JUSTICE AARON. DO YOU HAVE A ROBINSON? I DON'T KNOW WHY I KEEP CALLING YOU..
I'VE BEEN CALLED WORSE. IT'S OKAY.
SO I GUESS MY QUESTION IS, WOULD IT NOT BE BETTER TO LEAVE THIS IN HERE SO IT MIRRORS? ARE YOU ASKING ME PERSONALLY? WELL, I MEAN, TO ME, YES I THINK IT WOULD BE BETTER TO LEAVE IT IN SO IT MIRRORS THE PERSONNEL.
I MEAN, IF THIS DOESN'T HAVE ANY EFFECT ON RAISES, THEN DOESN'T THIS NEED TO MIRROR.
JUSTICE STOWERS YOU'RE RECOGNIZED.
SO EVER EVERY EMPLOYER I'VE EVER WORKED FOR, INCLUDING THE UNITED STATES AIR FORCE, PERFORMED AN ANNUAL EVALUATION. UM, OUTSIDE OF THE AIR FORCE, EVERY EMPLOYER THAT I HAVE WORKED FOR, THERE WAS A CERTAIN COMPONENT OF THE INCENTIVE BONUS, IF YOU WOULD, THAT WAS TIED TO PERFORMANCE, SOME OF THAT TO COMPANY PERFORMANCE AND SOME OF THAT TO INDIVIDUAL DEPARTMENTAL PERFORMANCE.
SO, YOU KNOW, FOR IT TO BE SAID THAT, WELL, THERE COULD BE BIAS.
YES, THERE CAN BE THAT'S INHERENT, THAT THAT IS TRUE.
BUT THAT DOESN'T MEAN THAT IBM AND APPLE AND MANY OTHER ORGANIZATIONS DO, YOU KNOW, DON'T PERFORM.
[00:20:02]
EXCUSE ME, THE PERFORMANCE EVALUATIONS AND DON'T TIE A COMPONENT OF COMPENSATION TO THOSE EVALUATIONS.SO I WILL BE VOTING AGAINST THE AMENDMENT.
ARE THERE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS ON THE AMENDMENT? ALL RIGHT. I WANT YOU TO STATE EXACTLY WHAT IT IS FOR BEFORE WE VOTE FOR IT ONE MORE TIME.
IN OTHER WORDS, I STATED WHAT THE AMENDMENT WAS.
JUSTIN SAID, THAT'S THE WRONG AMENDMENT.
THE MOTION IS TO STRIKE THE PROPOSED CHANGES TO SECTION EIGHT.
YEAH. SO YOU'RE TAKING IT OUT.
OKAY, WE'RE THAT'S WHAT WE'RE VOTING ON, RIGHT.
AND ONCE WE STRIKE IT, THEN WHAT? EVERYTHING ELSE.
THANK YOU. JUSTIN, WOULD YOU CALL THE ROLL? YEAH, CALL THE ROLL, PLEASE.
YOU'RE VOTING ON THE AMENDMENT? ONLY THE AMENDMENT.
THE AMENDMENT FAILS, SO YOU'RE BACK TO THE ITEM AS IS.
IT IS ON THE FLOOR FOR DISCUSSION.
ARE THERE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS OR DISCUSSION IN REGARDS TO THE ITEM ON THE FLOOR? IF THERE BE NONE.
JUSTIN, WOULD YOU CALL THE ROLL, PLEASE? EIGHT AYES.
THANK YOU. THIS WILL GO TO THE FULL QUORUM COURT COURT FOR FINAL APPROVAL.
WE ARE NOW MOVING ON TO CREATE NEW POSITIONS AND DELETE VACANT POSITIONS.
THE FIRST ONE UP IS DEPARTMENT 100 COUNTY JUDGE.
YES, MA'AM. I BELIEVE THE NEXT THING ON THE AGENDA IS THE CONSIDERATION OF 23 I27.
RIGHT, SO 23 I27 AN ORDINANCE AMENDING ORDINANCE 22OR45 2023 ANNUAL BUDGET PULASKI COUNTY ARKANSAS TO APPROPRIATE ADDITIONAL GENERAL FUNDS FOR THE DETENTION FACILITY MEDICAL DEPARTMENT. THIS ITEM WAS REFERRED BACK TO THE COMMITTEE AT THE REQUEST OF THE BUDGET COMMITTEE.
JUSTICE STOWERS YOU'RE RECOGNIZED.
SO I WILL NOT BELABOR THE HISTORY THAT WAS WELL DOCUMENTED IN MR. BLAGG'S EMAIL CONCERNING THE AGENDA FOR THE MEETING TONIGHT.
THIS ISSUE GOES BACK TO FEBRUARY OF 2022.
HOWEVER, GIVEN THAT HISTORY AND JUSTIN CAN EXPOUND IF ANYONE WOULD LIKE FOR HIM TO, I WANT TO MAKE A MOTION THAT WE TABLE 23 I27 INDEFINITELY AND ASK THE COMPTROLLER TO SEND THIS BACK TO BE REBID AT THE CURRENT 2023 BUDGETED LEVELS.
IS THERE A SECOND? IT'S BEEN MOVED AND PROPERLY SECOND THAT WE TABLE THIS.
SO I DON'T THINK THAT'S UP FOR DISCUSSION AM I CORRECT? WE JUST WANT TO DISCUSS IT.
THE THE MOTION TO TABLE THE MERITS OF THE ITEM, BUT IT'S THE MOTION TO TABLE.
THAT'S WHAT IS NOW ON THE FLOOR AND BEEN SECONDED.
ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? TO TABLE I 27.
[00:25:03]
YES. YOU KNOW, I DO NOT KNOW WHAT WAS SENT TO YOU ALL REGARDING THIS, BUT I'LL GIVE YOU THE HISTORY.IN 2022, I MADE A REQUEST TO USE THE RECOVERY ACT MONEY, TO EXTEND MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES IN THE DETENTION CENTER.
RECEIVED SIX VOTES IN FAVOR, FOUR AGAINST.
THAT WAS TO USE RECOVERY ACT MONEY TO EXTEND MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES.
THE CONTRACT FOR TURNKEY ENDED.
IN DECEMBER 2022, WE HAD TO PUT IT BACK OUT FOR BID.
THAT CONTRACT WAS ORIGINALLY PUT IN PLACE ON THE PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATION THREE YEAR CONTRACT.
IT COULD BE RENEWED THREE TIMES, ONE YEAR RENEWAL.
2022 WAS THE LAST YEAR FOR THE RENEWAL.
IT WAS WE WERE CONTACTED TO PUT IT OUT FOR BID.
WE PUT IT OUT FOR BID REQUESTING THE MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES IN THE FACILITY THAT IS NEEDED.
AND IF ANYONE DOUBTS THAT MENTAL HEALTH SERVICE, ADDITIONAL MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES NEED IN THE DETENTION CENTER, I'D ASK YOU TO COME AND VISIT THE DETENTION CENTER AND SEE WHAT'S GOING ON IN THE DETENTION CENTER.
THE BUDGET WAS APPROVED IN NOVEMBER 22ND FOR THE 2023 BUDGET.
THE PROCESS FOR BIDDING WAS NOT COMPLETE UNTIL IN DECEMBER.
NOW THIS IS WORKING. WE DID NOT OPERATE.
THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE DID NOT OPERATE IN A VACUUM.
WE WORKED WITH THE COMPTROLLER'S OFFICE TO PUT IT OUT FOR BID.
THE CONTRACT WAS SIGNED, AND I'VE HEARD THAT THE CONTRACT HAS NOTHING IN IT ABOUT COST.
I DON'T NEGOTIATE THE CONTRACT.
ONCE WE COMPLETE THE BID PROCESS THAT IS HANDLED BY THE COMPTROLLER AND THE ATTORNEY'S OFFICE.
THERE WAS SOME BACK AND FORTH EMAILS FROM THE OFFICE SAYING THAT THAT WE NEEDED TO CHANGE THE TURNKEY NEED TO CHANGE SOME THINGS IN THE WORDING THAT WAS DONE THOSE REQUESTS WAS MADE BY THE ATTORNEYS, THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE.
I SIGN IT. BUT THE APPROVAL OF THE CONTRACT, AS YOU KNOW, HAS TO BE SIGNED BY THE COUNTY JUDGE.
THAT WAS SIGNED ON FEBRUARY 21ST, 2023.
THE BUDGET BOOK CAME OUT IN APRIL, IN MARCH EXCUSE ME, IN MARCH OF 2023.
WE GOT NOTICE MARCH 6TH, 2023, WHEN THAT BUDGET CAME TO WHEN I GOT THE BUDGET BOOK, I LOOKED AT IT AND SAW THAT THE MEDICAL HAD NOT INCREASED ACCORDING TO THE CONTRACT THAT WAS SIGNED BY THE JUDGE, WE MADE A REQUEST.
WE CALLED THE DOWNTOWN, SAID WE NEED TO MAKE AN ADJUSTMENT.
DO I NEED TO GO TO QUORUM COURT AND REQUEST ADDITIONAL FUNDS OR IS A CONTROLLER GOING TO DO THAT? ANY ADJUSTMENTS FOR THE 2023 BUDGET, AS HAPPENS FROM TIME TO TIME, THE ADJUSTMENTS HAVE TO BE MADE.
WE WERE INITIALLY TOLD WAIT TILL AUGUST WHEN WE'RE ABOUT TO RUN OUT OF MONEY.
THIS BODY VOTED ON THIS AND I SAID IT WAS FOR MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES.
THERE WAS NOTHING HIDDEN ABOUT THIS CONTRACT OR ABOUT THIS BUDGET.
IT WENT TO THE FULL QUORUM COURT AND NO DISCUSSION.
IT WAS PULLED TO COME BACK HERE.
NOW WE HAVE DONE IF YOU WANT TO GO BACK TO 2022, THAT WAS A REQUEST FROM ME TO USE RECOVERY ACT MONEY FOR THAT YOU RECOVERY ACT MONEY. YOU CAN USE THREE YEARS OF THAT.
AND I THINK MR. STOWERS, YOU SAID YOU AGREED WITH MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES BUT HAD SOME CONCERNS ABOUT USING ONE TIME FUNDS FOR CONTINUED USE. SO I DIDN'T BRING IT BACK UP.
I WAS CALLED AND SAID, HEY, YOU NEED TO BRING THIS BACK UP.
[00:30:02]
NOW I AM RESPONSIBLE FOR THE JAIL.NOBODY IN THE COUNTY OWNS THE BUILDING.
IT'S OWNED BY THE COUNTY GOVERNMENT.
BUT I AM RESPONSIBLE FOR THE SERVICES.
I'M RESPONSIBLE FOR THOSE MEN AND WOMEN IN THAT DETENTION CENTER.
AND SINCE I HAVE BEEN HERE, I'VE EVALUATED THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE, I HAVE EVALUATED THE DETENTION CENTER, AND I'VE TALKED TO THE STAFF HERE AND I'VE TALKED TO LOOKING AT THE THE NEEDS IN THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE, THE NEEDS IN THE DETENTION CENTER.
WE HAVE HAD 61 ATTEMPTED SUICIDES SINCE I CAME BACK IN FEBRUARY ASKING FOR MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES.
ADDITIONAL MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES.
WE'VE HAD 1134 SUICIDE ASSESSMENTS BEING DONE.
THE JAIL IS FULL OF PEOPLE WITH ISSUES.
THERE IS NO ONE WHO WILL SAY, YOU KNOW, WE ALWAYS HEAR ABOUT MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES ARE NEEDED.
THERE ARE PEOPLE IN DETENTION, THERE SHOULDN'T BE THERE.
WE TALK ABOUT THE CRISIS STABILIZATION UNIT, WHICH I THINK IS WONDERFUL, SPENDING $700,000, I BELIEVE THAT'S WHAT THE WHAT WE'VE ALLOCATED, THE QUORUM COURT IS ALLOCATED FOR THAT SERVICE IS ABSOLUTELY NEEDED.
SHERIFF, I HAVE TO INTERRUPT YOU BECAUSE I HAVE QUESTIONS.
AND IF I DON'T, I WON'T REMEMBER MY QUESTION.
SO THE PART OF THE CONTRACT THAT WE INITIALLY THOUGHT WE WERE APPROVING, IS THERE NOTHING IN THERE THAT ADDRESSES MENTAL HEALTH? IS THERE NOTHING IN THERE THAT HAS MENTAL HEALTH, YOU KNOW, INDIVIDUALS TO TAKE CARE OF, OF THE JAIL? BECAUSE THERE ARE 13 I THINK IT'S FOR 13 ADDITIONAL THAT WAS DENIED BACK IN 2022.
AND SO I DON'T THINK WE WERE AWARE THAT THOSE 13 PEOPLE WERE IN THIS PARTICULAR CONTRACT.
SO.. WE THOUGHT. MS. MASSEY, MAY I KIND OF MEANDER BACK THROUGH THIS.
HIS HIS REQUEST WAS DENIED IN FEBRUARY OF 2022 AND IT WENT BACK OUT FOR BID.
BECAUSE THE CONTRACT, I GUESS, WAS I DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW CONTRACTS WORK.
I'VE NEVER HAD TO PUT ONE OUT OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT.
IN AUGUST OF 2022, AFTER THEY HAD ALREADY STARTED WORKING ON THE CONTRACT, AN AMENDMENT WAS SENT OVER TO PURCHASING TO ADD THE EXACT 13 POSITIONS THAT HAD BEEN PREVIOUSLY DENIED BY NOT THIS BODY, BUT THE ENTIRE AGENDA COMMITTEE.
BUDGET HEARINGS DIDN'T START FOR ANOTHER TWO MONTHS.
THERE WAS NO REQUEST FOR THOSE FUNDS TO BE ADDED INTO THE 2023 BUDGET.
IN FACT, IF I RECALL CORRECTLY, THERE WERE NOT ANY INCREASES TO THE BUDGET OVER FOR 2023.
IT WAS FLAT, IF I RECALL CORRECTLY OR CLOSE TO IT.
WITHOUT THE FUNDS BEING APPROPRIATED BY THE QUORUM COURT.
YOU PUT A BID OUT FOR $6 MILLION AND YOU HAD A $4 MILLION BUDGET.
THEY SIGNED A CONTRACT FOR $6 MILLION WITH A $4 MILLION CONTRACT.
THERE'S A NON-APPROPRIATION CLAUSE IN THE CONTRACT.
THEY CAN FUND THEIR OPERATIONS CURRENTLY UNTIL THOSE RUN OUT.
CORRECT. BUT THIS BODY NEVER APPROVED OR KNOWINGLY APPROVED THIS THESE THESE 13 POSITIONS.
I'M NOT SAYING THAT MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES AREN'T BAD, TO BE HONEST.
WHEN IT FAILED IN FEBRUARY, I WAS SURPRISED.
BUT THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS THOSE 13 POSITIONS WERE ADDED IN AFTER THE FACT PRIOR TO THE FALL BUDGET HEARINGS, AND NOW YOU'RE STUCK WITH THEM, OR POSSIBLY SO THAT'S WHAT THAT'S WHAT RAISED THE RED FLAG AND THE PROPOSAL THAT JUST CAME TO YOU IN APRIL.
YES. IT MADE MENTION OF ADDITIONAL MENTAL HEALTH STAFF, BUT AS OPPOSED TO THE ORIGINAL REQUEST, IT DIDN'T LAY OUT THE 1.5 MILLION IN NEW POSITIONS, THE 13 NEW POSITIONS.
I DON'T KNOW WHERE THE OTHER 700,000 CAME FROM.
IT INCREASES. THERE'S $250,000 FOR CORPORATE SERVICES.
I DON'T KNOW WHERE THE OTHER 500 CAME FROM, POSSIBLY FROM THE FACT THAT THEY WERE PREVIOUSLY BEING BILLED FOR THE CAPACITY OF 1210, WHICH IS WHAT THEY'RE THAT'S THE CAPACITY IT'S SUPPOSED TO HOLD UNDER THE NEW CONTRACT.
THEY'RE BEING BILLED FOR A FACILITY THAT HOUSES 1300.
SO THAT'S 910 ADDITIONAL INMATES THAT THEY'RE PAYING FOR.
SO THAT COULD BE WHERE THAT ADDITIONAL INCREASE COMES FROM.
AND THE AND THAT'S JUST THE ROADMAP.
SO I DID MAKE A REQUEST FOR ADDITIONAL FUNDING IN THIS YEAR'S BUDGET.
[00:35:03]
WE KNEW THAT WE WERE STILL SEEKING ADDITIONAL POSITIONS FOR FOR ENFORCEMENT THAT WAS GOING TO COME UP ON THE BUDGET.WE KNEW THAT ANY INCREASE IN THE CONTRACT ANY OF THE CONTRACT WOULD WOULD COME UP.
THIS WAS NOT DONE IN A IN A IN A BEHIND CLOSED DOORS.
WE WORKED WITH TAKISHA COHEN'S LEAD BUYER PURCHASING DEPARTMENT IN EVERY STEP OF THE WAY.
WITH THIS, THE CONTRACT HAD ALL THE POSITIONS.
THE CONTRACT WAS REVIEWED BY LEGAL BEFORE ALL THAT WAS DONE BEFORE IT CAME TO ME.
NOW WE'RE REQUESTING POSITIONS TO MEET THE MENTAL HEALTH NEEDS IN THE DETENTION CENTER.
YOU HAVE TO DO MORE THAN JUST REVIEWING AND EVALUATING SOMEONE COMING THROUGH THE DOOR.
WE'RE TRYING TO ADDRESS THE ISSUES IN THE DETENTION CENTER.
THAT'S MY RESPONSIBILITY TO DO THAT.
WE WORKED WITH THE COMPTROLLER'S OFFICE.
WE WORKED WITH THE PURCHASING DEPARTMENT AND SUBMITTED ALL THE INFORMATION.
THE CONTRACT ONCE ONCE A COMPANY IS DECIDED, THEN THEY WORK ON THE CONTRACT AND THE ACTUAL COST.
CAN I CLARIFY SOMETHING? YOU'RE RECOGNIZED.
PEOPLE KEEP TALKING ABOUT THE PURCHASING OFFICE NEGOTIATING THIS CONTRACT.
WE DON'T NEGOTIATE YOUR CONTRACTS.
WE. YES, YOU DID IN THE VERY BEGINNING.
JUST LET ME FINISH. I'M NOT TRYING TO THROW YOU UNDER THE BUS.
I'M TRYING TO EXPLAIN TO THEM SO THEY UNDERSTAND.
A DEPARTMENT, ANY CONTRACT, JAIL, MEDICAL.
I NEED WHATEVER. YOU SUBMIT TO PURCHASING WHAT YOU NEED.
WE SEND THAT OUT FOR BID OR LOOK ON STATE CONTRACT UNLESS OTHERWISE TOLD.
THE PURCHASE DEPARTMENT DOES NOT KNOW WHAT HE NEEDS IN JAIL MEDICAL.
THAT'S THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO KNOW THAT AND SUBMIT THAT OVER.
THAT'S NOT HER JOB TO CALL HIM UP AND GO, YOU CAN'T DO THAT.
WHEN THE EVALUATIONS COME THROUGH.
THAT'S WHAT HE'S SAYING. THAT'S BETWEEN YOU AND HIM.
PURCHASING DEPARTMENTS, MAKE SURE THE LAWS ARE FOLLOWED AND ALL THAT.
ME AND HIM MIGHT DISAGREE ON THE TIMING OF WHEN THE MONEY WAS TALKED ABOUT AND ALL THAT.
HEY, WHATEVER HE SAYS, IT WAS A MISTAKE.
AND MOST PEOPLE DON'T LISTEN TO US ANYWAY, SO IT REALLY DOESN'T MATTER WHAT WE SAY.
AND THEN WE END UP IN PLACES LIKE THIS.
SO AT THE END OF THE DAY, THIS CONTRACT.
IS OR WE'RE FUNDED FOR 4 MILLION, BUT THE CONTRACT IS FOR 6 MILLION.
SO IS THERE ANYTHING LEGALLY THAT WE HAVE TO DO? EVERY CONTRACT HAS AS A NON-APPROPRIATION CLAUSE IN IT.
SO I CAN ATTORNEY FOGLEMAN YOUR HELP ANSWER SOME OF THAT.
WE'RE LOOKING AT THE TERMS TO ENSURE THAT THE TERMS THEMSELVES ARE LEGAL.
AND SO THERE CAN ONLY BE $4 MILLION ACCORDING TO THE APPROPRIATION AS IT STANDS TODAY.
THERE CAN ONLY BE $4 MILLION SPENT TO SATISFY THE CONTRACT AND BOTH PARTIES HAVE SIGNED ACKNOWLEDGING THAT IN THE EVENT THAT THERE'S NOT AN ADDITIONAL APPROPRIATION, THERE IS NO THERE'S NO CLAIM ABOVE AND BEYOND, BUT IT WOULD CUT SHORT MEDICAL SERVICES.
THIS NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED WITH TURNKEY MEDICAL TO TO DETERMINE HOW TO CONTAIN THOSE COSTS.
SO CURRENTLY WHAT WE APPROVED BACK IN APRIL, THAT DOESN'T DOES THAT COVER EVERYTHING OR DO WE HAVE TO APPROPRIATE MORE MONEY TO COVER THIS CONTRACT?
[00:40:01]
WELL, IF YOU STICK WITH WHAT YOU DID IN WHEN WAS THAT? APRIL. APRIL. IF YOU STAY IF IT IF THAT GOES THROUGH THE COURT, THEN THAT'LL COVER THE WHOLE CONTRACT.I'M SORRY. IT'S GOT TO IT'S GOT TO MAKE IT ALL THE WAY THROUGH THE COURT.
THEN THAT COVERS THAT WHOLE CONTRACT.
THE ADDITIONAL APPROPRIATION, AN ADDITIONAL APPROPRIATION.
IN THE ABSENCE OF AN ADDITIONAL APPROPRIATION, THEN YOU'RE SHORT.
IT'S A SHORT TO THE EXTENT THAT THE THE THE MAXIMUM VALUE OF THAT CONTRACT CAN'T BE MET.
IF THE MAXIMUM VALUE OF THE CONTRACT CAN'T BE MET, THEN THE ADMINISTRATION OF SERVICES HAVE TO BE REDUCED IN ORDER TO AVOID THAT MAXIMUM. RIGHT. SO THAT'S WHAT I'M ASKING.
DO WE HAVE TO WITH THIS BODY? DO WE HAVE TO APPROPRIATE MORE MONEY? LISTEN, YOU APPROPRIATION IS ALREADY DONE.
I'M HERE BECAUSE I WANT TO GO GET SUPPER SOMETIME OF THE NIGHT.
LOOK, IN APRIL, YOU ARE APPROPRIATED AN ADDITIONAL 2.2 MILLION OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
OKAY. THAT YOU'RE GOING TO SEND TO THE FULL COURT.
OKAY. RIGHT. THAT'S WHAT HE WAS TALKING ABOUT.
OKAY. IF YOU DON'T DO ANYTHING.
THERE'S MONEY THERE IF YOU SEND IT BACK.
SO WHAT I'M SAYING YOU DON'T, DO YOU? I GOT YOU. I DO UNDERSTAND.
YOU'RE RECOGNIZED. JUSTICE MCMULLEN DO YOU? WOULD YOU REPEAT THAT LAST STATEMENT HUTCH PLEASE.
A FEW WEEKS AGO, Y'ALL MADE A MOTION TO APPROPRIATE AN ADDITIONAL 2.2 OR $2.3 MILLION.
I DON'T HAVE THE EXACT NUMBER IN FRONT OF ME.
RIGHT. AND IF YOU DO NOT TABLE IT LIKE JUSTICE, STOWERS HAS MADE A MOTION TO.
AND Y'ALL GO AHEAD AND LEAVE IT THE SAME AND ALL THAT AND IT PASSES THE FULL COURT NEXT WEEK.
THE CONTRACT IS WHAT? PAID. THERE'LL BE ENOUGH MONEY TO PAY IT IF YOU DO NOT.
IF YOU TABLE THIS THING AND WE GO BACK OUT FOR BID.
YOU KNOW, BECAUSE YOU ONLY GOT 4 MILLION IN THAT BUDGET RIGHT NOW.
AND THE OTHER OPTION WOULD BE THAT WITH THAT CLAUSE, PERHAPS WE CAN ASK FOR LESS.
I JUST WANT TO MAKE, IF I CAN.
YOU RECOGNIZE GULLEY. I YIELD, GO RIGHT AHEAD.
THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE JAIL AND THOSE DETAINEES.
I AM GOING TO ASK FOR THE MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES THAT IS NEEDED FOR THOSE MEN AND WOMEN IN THAT DETENTION CENTER. AND SO I WOULD ASK JUST MAYBE OUT OF ORDER.
BUT THIS BODY APPROVED IT IN APRIL WITH A DUE PASS RECOMMENDATION.
AND WHAT I'M ASKING THIS BODY TO DO IS DO THE SAME THING, APPROVE IT, THE DUE PASS RECOMMENDATION, SEND IT BACK TO THE FULL QUORUM COURT COURT, AND WE CAN CONTINUE THE DISCUSSION.
JUSTIN, WOULD YOU CALL THE ROLL, PLEASE? I'M SORRY.
WOULD YOU CALL THE ROLL ON THAT, OR IS IT YOU SAID A VOICE VOTE?
[00:45:23]
SO, JUSTIN, WOULD YOU CALL? THE MOTION IS FOR IMMEDIATE CONSIDERATION.ALL RIGHT. MOTION FOR IMMEDIATE CONSIDERATION HAS PASSED.
AND THE MOTION IS YOU'RE VOTING ON THE MOTION TO TABLE.
THE MOTION IS TO TABLE THE ITEM.
IT GOES BACK TO THE FULL QUORUM COURT.
WE CAN GO AHEAD AND TAKE THAT UP.
THANK YOU, MR. MASSEY. I DON'T BELIEVE I'M ON.
THERE YOU ARE. SO WHEN THE BUDGET COMMITTEE COMMISSIONED A STUDY A FEW MONTHS AGO TO EVALUATE THE NEEDS OF THE ENFORCEMENT BRANCH OF THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE, A STUDY OF WHICH HAD NOT BEEN DONE IN OVER 30 YEARS SINCE THE EARLY 90S.
THE COMMITTEE, THE BUDGET COMMITTEE, STATED THREE CRITERIA FOR THAT STUDY.
THE SECOND CRITERIA WAS THAT THE BUDGET COMMITTEE WOULD MAKE DECISIONS BASED ON THE RESULTS OF THE STUDY, NOT BEFORE THE STUDY WAS COMPLETE.
AND NUMBER THREE, THE CRITERIA WAS THAT ALL PARTIES INVOLVED AGREED TO LIVE BY THE RESULTS.
THE FINALITY OF THE RESULTS OF THE STUDY.
MY DADDY CALLED IT GETTING THE CART BEFORE THE HORSE.
THEREFORE, I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION THAT WE RESCIND THE VOTE, EXPUNGE THE VOTE ON THE 13 DEPUTIES, AND THAT WE VISIT THAT IN TOTALITY.
ONCE WE HAVE THE FULL RESULTS OF THE STUDY BACK.
AND I WOULD ENTERTAIN A SECOND.
SECOND, THAT WE RESCIND THE VOTE ON THE 13 DEPUTIES THAT WE HAD INITIALLY APPROVED UNTIL THE STUDY IS DONE COMPLETED.
JUSTICE MCMULLEN YOU'RE RECOGNIZED? YES, I CAN.
IF I CAN RECALL PROPERLY, WHAT WE DID WAS TRY TO MAKE A COMPROMISE AND THERE WERE PERHAPS MORE THAN 13 THAT WERE INITIALLY REQUESTED.
AND. AND HOW MANY WAS THAT? 26. AND SO WE I THOUGHT, WELL, IN TERMS OF TRYING TO APPROACH THIS IN A LOGICAL WAY, I RECALL US ASKING THE SHERIFF, WHAT COULD WE DO? AND I THOUGHT, WELL, WHAT ABOUT TEN? AND THEN MR. ELLIOTT SUGGESTED 13 AND WE DID APPROVE THAT.
OKAY. NOW I THINK WE HAVE A FULL LOOK.
[00:50:01]
NOW, YOU CAN LAUGH AT THAT IF YOU WANT TO, BUT SOME OF US DO GO TO SLEEP, I MEAN, BETWEEN NOW AND THEN.WELL, FOR ONE, IT'S NOT THAT WE DON'T WANT TO DO ANY OF IT.
AS JUSTICE STOWERS SAID, WE'RE PUTTING THE CART BEFORE THE HORSE.
WE ARE PAYING THOUSANDS OR HOWEVER MUCH MONEY WE'RE PAYING FOR A STUDY.
THE PURPOSE OF THE STUDY IS TO DETERMINE HOW MANY DEPUTIES WE NEED.
SO IF WE ARE PAYING FOR A STUDY, WHY WOULD WE GO AND APPROVE SOMETHING UNTIL WE GET THE INFORMATION BACK? THAT'S SO THAT'S THAT'S WHY WE'RE WHERE WE ARE RIGHT NOW ASKING TO RESCIND THOSE DEPUTIES UNTIL THAT STUDY IS DONE.
YES, WE KNEW THAT THEN BECAUSE I BROUGHT UP THE POINT THAT, WELL, IT WOULD IT'S ACTUALLY REDUNDANT THEN IF WE GO AHEAD AND DO THIS PRIOR TO YET I DO RECALL THAT THE SHERIFF DID EXPLAIN QUITE WELL HIS CONCERNS WITH THAT.
THAT IS WAITING UNTIL A SO-CALLED STUDY GETS TO US WHEN WE CANNOT EVEN GUESSTIMATE WHEN IT WILL COME YET. THERE ARE SERIOUS NEEDS AT THIS TIME AND BEYOND AND BEFORE THIS TIME AND THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT.
NOW IT'S OKAY TO ADMIT, WELL, YOU KNOW, WE WERE WRONG, WRONG OR WHATEVER.
BUT I JUST HAVE TO SAY THAT AT THAT PARTICULAR TIME, IF WE FELT THAT, WE SHOULD.
YOU ARE TRULY ENTITLED TO YOUR OPINION AND YOUR VOTE.
THE FACT STILL REMAINS THIS IS ON THE FLOOR AND JUSTICE LEWISON YOU ARE RECOGNIZED.
HAVE WE PAID FOR THAT WHOLE STUDY? YES. AND THEY JUST FINISHED THEIR IN-PERSON ASSESSMENTS.
SO YOU'RE PROBABLY 3 TO 4 WEEKS BEFORE THEY GIVE YOU A FULL REPORT.
BUT IS THAT A PROBABLY I MEAN, WHAT WHEN HE CAME UP HERE AND OR WHEN HE WAS ON ZOOM, HE TOLD YOU AS SOON AS THE ASSESSMENT WAS DONE, YOU SHOULD HAVE A FULL REPORT WITHIN 30 DAYS. SO BUT IT'S SO WHAT YOU WOULD DO IF THIS MOTION WERE TO PASS IS YOU WOULD RECESS THIS COMMITTEE.
THE STUDY IS GOING TO COME BACK.
POINT OF ORDER. JUSTICE MCMULLEN.
AND JUST LIKE ANYTHING, YOU GUYS ARE GOING TO ASK THE QUESTION, IS THIS A GOOD IDEA? IS THERE A PROPER DATA TO SUPPORT THIS DECISION? AND IF IT IS, YES, THEN THE NEXT QUESTION IS HOW MUCH DOES IT COST? YOU'LL GET A NUMBER.
26 DEPUTIES ALONE IS GOING TO COST ABOUT 2.5 MILLION ANNUALLY.
IF IT COMES BACK THE OPPOSITE WAY.
BUT AT LEAST YOU'LL HAVE A CLEAR UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT OPERATIONALLY THEY RECOMMEND.
THESE GUYS ARE PHDS THAT DO THE DATA.
THESE ARE ALL LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS WITH 30, 40 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE TO DO THESE ASSESSMENTS.
THEY DO IT ALL OVER THE COUNTRY.
NOW, IS EVERYBODY GOING TO LIKE WHAT IT SAYS? PROBABLY NOT.
BUT SOMEWHERE IN THE MIDDLE, YOU'RE GOING TO GET YOU'RE GOING TO GET AN ANSWER TO SOME OF YOUR QUESTIONS, AND THEN IT WILL BE YOUR RESPONSIBILITY TO FIGURE OUT HOW YOU'RE GOING TO FUND THOSE REQUESTS AND THOSE RECOMMENDATIONS.
AND YOU'RE 30 DAYS AWAY FROM IT.
YOU SIGN THE INK ON THIS PROBABLY IN LATE FALL.
THEY STARTED DOING THEIR ASSESSMENT IN DECEMBER.
WE HAD HOPED THAT THEY WOULD BEEN ABLE TO COMPLETE THIS BY LATE SPRING OR EARLY SUMMER.
THERE WAS NO WAY THAT THIS WAS GETTING DONE BY THE BUDGET TIME.
YOU CAN'T DO AN ASSESSMENT AT THAT LEVEL IN 30 DAYS.
BUT LATE SPRING, EARLY SUMMER WAS THE BENCHMARK.
[00:55:06]
SO IF THIS SO BE YOUR DESIRE TO WAIT AN EXTRA 30 DAYS.YOU WOULD RECESS WHEN YOU'RE DONE HERE.
YOU WILL COME BACK AND HEAR YOUR ASSESSMENT.
THEN YOU HAVE A GAME PLAN AS TO WHAT YOU WILL BE FUNDING.
IS THAT CLEAR? VERY GOOD. THANK YOU.
JUSTICE ROBINSON YOU ARE RECOGNIZED.
THANK YOU. JUST HELP ME OUT HERE, JUSTIN.
WE ONLY MEET IN THE SPRING AND THE FALL FOR NEW POSITIONS.
CORRECT? WELL, IF YOU PASS THE BUDGET CONTROLS, YOU ONLY MEET IN THE SPRING.
BUT THE WAY THAT WE'VE DONE IT AND WE DID IT DURING COVID AS WELL, BECAUSE YOU START IN APRIL, THAT'S YOUR SPRING HEARING, RIGHT? SO IF YOU'RE UNABLE TO COMPLETE IT, OBVIOUSLY YOU CAN MOVE, YOU CAN RECESS THE COMMITTEE, WHICH IS WHAT WE DID DURING COVID.
WE BASICALLY GAVELED IN IN APRIL TO GET THE COMMITTEE STARTED IN THE SPRING HEARING.
AND THEN YOU RECESSED UNTIL, I BELIEVE, LIKE THE 1ST OF JUNE.
SO TECHNICALLY, YOU STILL WITHIN THAT SPRING HEARING.
SO SO THAT'S SO YOU KNOW WHERE I'M HEADED WITH THIS THEN.
SO IF IT COMES BACK IN 30 DAYS, WE AS THE BUDGET COMMITTEE, WE CAN STILL.
JUSTICE MCMULLEN. YOU'RE RECOGNIZED.
I'M GOING TO PASS AND ALLOW THE SHERIFF TO SPEAK.
. THANK YOU, YOU ARE RECOGNIZED.
I'M SORRY. I AM THE CHAIR AND I WILL DO THE RECOGNIZING HERE.
I APOLOGIZE. LAST YEAR I REQUESTED 26 POSITIONS, AND DURING THAT MEETING IT WAS SUGGESTED THAT YOU BRING AN OUTSIDE ORGANIZATION TO COME IN AND DO A REVIEW.
THAT WOULD BE DONE BY NOVEMBER OF 2022.
THAT WAS THE DISCUSSION WE HAD, WHATEVER WHAT I AGREED WITH.
OF COURSE QUORUM COURT CAN DO WHATEVER.
YOU DON'T NEED MY PERMISSION TO DO WHAT YOU DO.
AND OF COURSE, I HAVE TO COME TO THIS BODY AND ASK FOR THE ADDITIONAL STAFFING.
THEY CAME THURSDAY AND FRIDAY.
TO DO THEIR ON SITE INITIAL CONVERSATIONS WITH US.
THEY WERE GOING TO DO SEVERAL ON SITES AND THEY WOULD MAKE CONTACT WITH PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY.
AND I TOOK OFFICE IN 2019 AND ASSESS THE PULASKI COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE.
THAT'S WHY A NUMBER OF REQUESTS HAVE BEEN MADE FOR ADDITIONAL ITEMS AND STAFFING.
WHEN WHEN I TALK TO THEM FRIDAY IN THE DEBRIEFING.
THEY SAID THEY WERE GOING TO DO.
ATTENTIVE ASSESSMENT OR EVALUATION.
THE DOCUMENT, A DRAFT TO BE REVIEWED.
THEY WERE NOT GOING TO GIVE ME THE DRAFT.
THEY WERE GOING TO GIVE IT TO THE QUORUM COURT BECAUSE THAT'S THE QUORUM COURT WHO'S HIRED THEM.
AND I'M ASSUMING THAT'S BECAUSE I MEAN, THEY WERE LEAVING FRIDAY.
I THINK I THINK THIS WEEK THEY'RE SOMEWHERE IN FLORIDA DOING AN ASSESSMENT.
SO I BRING THAT UP TO SAY THAT THOUGH TENTATIVELY IT MAY BE 30 DAYS.
IT MAY BE 60 TO 90 DAYS BEFORE WE HAVE A TRUE THEIR ASSESSMENT OF THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE AND POSSIBLE RECOMMENDATIONS THAT I WILL LOOK AT AND WILL PRESENT WHAT I THINK IS APPROPRIATE FOR THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU, SHERIFF HIGGINS.
JUSTICE KEITH, YOU'RE RECOGNIZED.
MAYBE THIS IS TO SHERIFF HIGGINS OR SOMEONE FROM YOUR DEPARTMENT SHERIFF HIGGINS.
CAN YOU TELL ME? I KNOW WE'RE TALKING ABOUT 13 DEPUTY POSITIONS THAT WE'RE GOING TO ADD.
CAN YOU TELL ME HOW MANY VACANT POSITIONS YOU CURRENTLY HAVE IN THAT DEPARTMENT? CURRENTLY, I BELIEVE I HAVE ZERO VACANCIES.
MAYBE TWO DEPENDS ON MOVEMENT OF PEOPLE AND SERGEANTS.
[01:00:02]
I THINK I HAVE A COUPLE OF SERGEANTS LEFT.WE HAVE A RECRUIT SCHOOL STARTING THIS WEEK OR NEXT WEEK.
WE'VE ALREADY HIRED OUR FULL CAPACITY.
WE HAVE ZERO VACANCIES, ZERO VACANCIES.
CAN YOU TELL ME AND AGAIN, IF YOU CAN'T, THAT'S FINE.
IN THE LAST SIX MONTHS, HOW MANY POSITIONS, VACANT POSITIONS, THAT'S A BALLPARK FIGURE.
IF YOU'VE HAD POSITIONS THAT HAVE GONE VACANT FOR MORE THAN 30 DAYS, IT'S HARD TO SAY WHEN YOU'RE LOOKING AT AT THE ENFORCEMENT SIDE OF THE HOUSE.
WE HAVE BEEN CLOSE TO BEING FULLY STAFFED FOR THE LAST YEAR.
I MEAN, WE HAVE APPLICANTS RIGHT NOW AND WE HAVE RECRUIT SCHOOLS STARTING IF I HAD THE 13 POSITIONS, I THINK I COULD HAVE ALMOST 13IN THE SCHOOL STARTING NEXT WEEK. BUT BECAUSE I DON'T HAVE THE APPROVAL AND I CAN'T JUST PUT PEOPLE IN THE SCHOOLS, BUT I DO HAVE ADDITIONAL CERTIFIED OFFICERS THAT WORK IN THE STATE THAT ARE WANTING TO COME TO WORK AT THE PULASKI COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE SO I CAN HIRE PRE CERTIFIED IF YOU GAVE ME THOSE POSITIONS AND IT'S APPROVED BY THE FULL QUORUM COURT, I CAN START FILLING THOSE POSITIONS IMMEDIATELY.
OKAY. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. I'D YIELD.
YES, SIR. THANK YOU, JUSTICE KEITH.
ANYBODY ELSE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? JUSTICE MCMULLEN.
AND I DO HAVE FAITH THAT WE WILL COME OUT OF THIS NEEDING SOME EXTRA PEOPLE.
AND I AM THINKING THAT WE WILL.
IT DEFINITELY NEED THE AMOUNT THAT IS BEING REQUESTED.
AND I'M THINKING THAT I PUT MY FAITH ON THE SHERIFF HERE THAT HE WOULD NOT COME AND ASK FOR THIS IF HE DID NOT SEE DIRE NEED OF IT, BECAUSE HE ALSO SEES THE REDUNDANCY THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT IN TERMS OF WAITING ENTIRELY.
BUT WE'RE NOT SAYING WE'RE GOING TO WAIT.
WE'RE GOING TO WE'RE NOT REQUESTING TO FILL ALL OF THOSE POSITIONS.
I YIELD. AND I WILL TURN THIS BACK OVER.
ARE THERE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? JUSTIN, CAN YOU.
YES. SO THE MOTION ON THE FLOOR IS TO EXPUNGE THE VOTE BY WHICH 13 DEPUTY POSITIONS WERE PREVIOUSLY APPROVED TO GO TO THE FULL QUORUM COURT FOR CONSIDERATION. THIS IS A WOULD BE CONSIDERED A PROPER MOTION AS THE CHAIR HAD RECOGNIZED MR. STOWERS HAVING VOTED ON THE PREVAILING SIDE AND WITH PROPER NOTICE, GIVEN IT'S A MAJORITY VOTE.
I HAVE A COMMENT BEFORE WE TAKE OUR VOTE.
I'M CONCERNED WITH A COUPLE OF THINGS.
I WANT TO KNOW THE RESULTS OF THE STUDY.
I AM ALSO CONCERNED WHY THE STUDY IS TAKING I'M NOT GOING TO SAY SO LONG, BUT NOT MOVING US THE WAY IT SHOULD. I WOULD LIKE TO HEAR FROM BOTH SIDES, I MEAN, BECAUSE I'M SURE THERE ARE BOTH SIDES OF THE STORY AS TO WHY IT IS NOT MOVING THE WAY IT SHOULD.
I'D LIKE TO HEAR FROM THE GENTLEMAN THAT SPOKE TO US AND MAYBE HIM AND THE SHERIFF TOGETHER TO UNDERSTAND WHY IT'S WHY IT'S WHERE IT IS AND WHY WE'RE A MONTH BEHIND OR WHAT HAVE YOU.
AND WORST CASE SCENARIO, WOULD YOU ACCEPT A WRITTEN EXPLANATION FOR HIM AS FAR AS A DETAILED EXPLANATION AS TO ANY DELAYS THAT MAY HAVE OCCURRED ON THEIR END, ON THE SHERIFF'S END OR AS A RESULT OF JUST A REALLY BAD COMPUTER SYSTEM THAT MADE IT VERY DIFFICULT TO EXTRACT DATA FROM.
SO YOU'VE GOT TWO MAJOR ENTITIES TRYING TO COORDINATE AND THEY'RE NOT ALWAYS GOING TO LINE UP.
SO AGAIN, THIS WAS SUPPOSED TO BE COMPLETED LATE SPRING, EARLY SUMMER.
I HAD HOPED THAT IT WOULD HAVE BEEN DONE JUST IN TIME FOR THIS.
[01:05:07]
WE'RE A LITTLE LONG.I WOULD LIKE TO HEAR THE EXPLANATION.
I MEAN, YOU'VE KIND OF GIVEN ME AN EXPLANATION, BUT I WOULD LIKE IT IN WRITING FROM THEM WHAT IS CAUSING THE DELAY? AND AT THAT POINT, I DON'T KNOW.
THE SHERIFF MAY HAVE COMMENTS AND WANT TO REFUTE THAT.
IF HE COMES BACK AND SAYS 90 DAYS, THEN YOU GUYS CAN AGAIN.
BUT AS OF RIGHT NOW, WE DON'T HAVE A HARD DEADLINE FOR WHEN IT WILL BE COMPLETED.
I WOULD LIKE SOMETHING IN WRITING FROM THEM.
JUSTICE MCMULLEN YOU'RE RECOGNIZED.
I'M GOING TO SAY THAT HE DID GIVE US THIS EVALUATION, AND I DO REMEMBER WHAT HE SAID.
AND OF COURSE, THERE'S EMPATHY FOR THAT.
YOU CAN EXPECT THAT MANY TIMES THINGS DO NOT OCCUR ON TIME.
THIS REQUEST HAS BEEN IN FOR QUITE SOME TIME.
AND I WANT I WANT IT RESOLVED.
I'M SORRY. YES, THERE NEEDS TO BE A HARD DEADLINE AS FAR AS..
WELL IF IT ISN'T READY, IT WON'T BE READY EVEN ACCORDING TO THAT HARD DEADLINE, ESPECIALLY SINCE THE OCCURRENCE OF COVID AND EVERYTHING ARE SO MANY THINGS SEEM TO LACK FIDELITY AND PUNCTUALITY.
AND WHAT I'M SAYING AT THIS POINT IS THAT WE'RE NOT ASKING FOR ALL 26, 36 OR WHATEVER.
IN THE MEANWHILE, I THINK THAT IT WOULD BE TO THE COUNTY'S ADVANTAGE FOR THE SERVICE OF OUR CITIZENS IN TERMS OF SAFETY AND SECURITY TO GO AHEAD AND ADDRESS THAT DIRE NEED BY AT LEAST PERHAPS APPROVING OF THE 13.
THE LAUGHING THAT IS GOING ON HERE WHILE I'M TALKING.
MRS. MCMULLEN ARE YOU ARE YOU ARE YOU DONE? ARE YOU STILL TALKING? I'M THROUGH AFTER I'VE SAID WHAT I JUST SAID.
THANK YOU. I THINK THAT IT IS ALSO IN THE BEST INTEREST OF OUR TAXPAYERS SINCE WE ARE SPENDING THE MONEY TO FIND OUT WHAT WE NEED, TO FIND OUT WHAT WE NEED FROM THIS REPORT THAT WE ARE PAYING FOR.
ALSO, I THINK IT IS IN THE BEST INTEREST OF US AS COUNTY REPRESENTATIVES REPRESENTING OUR CONSTITUENTS TO FIND OUT WHAT IS GOING TO COST FOR EACH DEPUTY AND THEIR SALARIES AND ALL AND THEIR FRINGE BENEFITS.
I THINK YOU MAY HAVE MENTIONED IT, BUT I THINK THAT IS SOMETHING WE ALSO NEED TO KNOW.
BUT THAT'S NEITHER HERE NOR THERE.
I WANT TO ECHO WHAT I THINK WE'VE ALL SAID HERE, MR. BLAGG, AND THAT IS SEND THE MESSAGE TO THIS FIRM EMPHATICALLY THAT THIS BODY WANTS THEM TO PUT THE PEDAL TO THE METAL AND THAT THIS BODY, THIS COMMITTEE HAS REQUESTED THAT AT A MAXIMUM THAT WE RECEIVE THE RESULTS WITHIN 30 DAYS.
JUSTICE LEWISON YOU'RE RECOGNIZED.
I MEAN, CAN'T WE LET THEM KNOW THAT THEY HAVE 30 DAYS.
CAN'T WE JUST SAY THIS IS HOW MUCH YOU OWE? YOU'RE GOING TO GET CHARGED FOR IT.
I MEAN, WE HAVE. WE HAVE A CONTRACT WITH THEM, RIGHT? WE'LL HAVE THAT IN THE CONTRACT.
CAN WE JUST MOVE ON AND VOTE? IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN.
ARE THERE ANY MORE QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS BEFORE WE VOTE? THERE'LL BE NONE. JUSTIN, WOULD YOU CALL THE ROLL, PLEASE? MOTION TO RESCIND PASSES.
[01:10:05]
THANK YOU. NOW TO BUSINESS.WE ARE NOW MOVING ON TO DEPARTMENT 100.
YOU KNOW, AND THIS IS CREATING NEW POSITIONS AND DELETING VACANT POSITIONS.
UM, I DON'T THINK WE'RE DELETING ANY VACANT POSITIONS.
WE'RE NOT GETTING RID OF ANYTHING TONIGHT I DON'T BELIEVE.
HE LIKES THAT. SO THE COUNTY JUDGE IS WANTING TO ADD AN ADMINISTRATIVE POSITION JUST TO THE AMOUNT OF WORK IN THE OFFICE IS GETTING TO WHERE THE TWO PEOPLE THEY GOT CAN'T REALLY HANDLE IT.
AND ALSO. THE BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS IS ADAM CAN ALLUDE TO AND MAYBE JUSTIN TURNS OUT WHEN YOU TAKE IN ALL THE IMPROVEMENT DISTRICTS, THE BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS THAT PULASKI COUNTY HAS RIGHT AROUND 700 OF THEM.
SO HE'S ASKING FOR ANOTHER POSITION.
JUSTICE STOWERS, YOU'RE RECOGNIZED.
AND I BELIEVE THAT THAT WAS BY WAY OF ATTRITION.
LOST A COUPLE OF PEOPLE AND DID NOT REFILL THOSE POSITIONS.
SO HAVING SAID THAT, I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION THAT WE SEND THE REQUEST FOR DEPARTMENT 100 TO THE FULL QUORUM COURT WITH THE DUE PASS RECOMMENDATION.
SECOND. IT'S BEEN MOVED AND PROPERLY SECOND, ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? IF THERE BE NO QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS ON THAT POSITION.
JUSTIN, WOULD YOU CALL THE ROLL, PLEASE? YES, MA'AM. SO THIS IS DEPARTMENT 100.
THERE YOU GO. THIS WILL GO TO THE FULL QUORUM COURT FOR FINAL APPROVAL.
MOVING ON TO DEPARTMENT 416, PROSECUTING ATTORNEY.
WELCOME. KELLI WARD, I'M THE CHIEF DEPUTY PROSECUTING ATTORNEY.
NOT NEARLY AS TALL AS SHERIFF HIGGINS, BUT I'LL TRY TO MAKE THIS MIC WORK.
WE'RE REQUESTING A NEW ONE, NEW CASE CLERK POSITION AND ONE NEW VICTIM WITNESS COORDINATOR POSITION.
ONE THING WE NOTICED I STARTED WITH WILL JONES WHEN HE STARTED HIS TERM IN JANUARY OF THIS YEAR IS THAT, OF COURSE, WE HAVE A CONSIDERABLE AMOUNT OF CASE BACKLOG RIGHT NOW FOR ALL OF OUR CIRCUIT COURT CASES.
IN 19 BEFORE COVID, IT WAS ABOUT 8500.
AND NOW WE'RE ABOUT CAN YOU PULL THE MIC DOWN SO THAT WE CAN HEAR YOU A LITTLE BIT BETTER? THANKS. THAT'S A LITTLE BIT BETTER.
THAT'S PERFECT. SO WE'RE ABOUT AT ALMOST TWICE WHAT WE NORMALLY WOULD HAVE.
SO FOR OUR VICTIM WITNESS COORDINATORS WHO HANDLE NOTIFYING WITNESSES, VICTIMS, KEEPING OUR ATTORNEYS UP TO DATE ON THEIR SCHEDULING, NOTIFYING PEOPLE OF COURT HEARINGS, MEETINGS, HELPING OUR ATTORNEYS PREPARE FOR CASES, WE HAVE TEN CURRENTLY, INCLUDING OUR SUPERVISOR, AND THAT WOULD PUT THEM AT ABOUT 1400 CASES PER PERSON.
SO WE ARE REQUESTING ONE NEW VICTIM WITNESS COORDINATOR FOR THAT POSITION AND ALSO ONE NEW CASE CLERK TO HELP WITH STREAMLINING SOME OF THIS WORK THAT WE HAVE GOING THROUGH WITH THIS THESE ADDITIONAL CASES.
[01:15:01]
PROVIDE FELONY DRAFT, FELONY INFORMATIONS, MOTIONS, DISCOVERY, ALL THOSE THINGS, AND ALSO KEEP US UP TO DATE ON DIGITIZING INFORMATION AS IT COMES IN.SO WITH OUR INCREASE OF ATTORNEYS, WE HAVEN'T INCREASED ANY OF OUR SUPPORT.
SO WE ARE REQUESTING THE ONE NEW CASE CLERK IN ORDER TO HELP US OUT IN THAT RESPECT AS WELL.
THANK YOU. JUSTICE DOWAGER RECOGNIZED.
THANK YOU, MA'AM. SO AFTER A QUARTER OF A CENTURY, WE HAVE A NEW SHERIFF IN TOWN, SO TO SPEAK, OR A NEW PROSECUTOR IN MR. JONES. AND IT IS NOT UNUSUAL, PARTICULARLY AFTER THAT LENGTH OF TIME, FOR A NEW ADMINISTRATION TO RECOGNIZE NEEDS THAT THAT THEY HAVE IN THEIR OFFICE.
I BELIEVE THAT THE OR EXCUSE ME, THE SIXTH JUDICIAL DISTRICT PROSECUTING OFFICE, YOUR OFFICE IS THE LARGEST LAW FIRM IN THE STATE OF ARKANSAS. I BELIEVE WE'RE DEFINITELY CLOSE.
NUMBER ONE OR NUMBER TWO? YES. SO HAVING SAID THAT, I SEE.
I DON'T BELIEVE YOU WOULD BE HERE IF THE PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE DID NOT HAVE THESE NEEDS.
SO I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION THAT WE SEND THE REQUEST FOR DEPARTMENT FOR 16 AND THE REQUEST FOR DEPARTMENT FOR 40 TO THE FULL QUORUM COURT WITH THE DUE PASS RECOMMENDATION.
AND I WOULD BEEN MOVED AND PROPERLY.
SECOND, ARE THERE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? JUSTICE KEITH, YOU'RE RECOGNIZED.
BUT I, I ASSUME THAT WE'RE STILL THERE'S STILL APPROPRIATE AND WE STILL CAN AFFORD THEM.
THANK YOU, JUSTICE KEITH. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? IF THERE BE NONE JUSTICE, WOULD YOU CALL THE ROLL, PLEASE? MS.. LEWISON? YES, MISS MCMULLEN.
DID YOU CALL ME? OH, I'M SORRY, MISS MASSEY.
OKAY. THIS WILL GO TO THE FULL QUORUM COURT FOR FINAL APPROVAL.
AND FOR THE RECORD, THAT WAS 416 AND 440 DEPARTMENTS AND SO ON.
I TALKED HE CAME INTO THE MEETING PRIOR AND HE'S NO LONGER THE ADMINISTRATIVE LAW JUDGE.
SO IF THERE'S NO OBJECTION, THAT POSITION WOULD GO TO SEVENTH DIVISION.
JUDGE WILEY, WHO IS CURRENTLY THE ADMINISTRATIVE JUDGE.
AND THIS IS ONE OF THOSE POSITIONS WHERE STATUTE SAYS YES, AND THERE'S JUST ONE FOR EVERYBODY.
JUSTICE STOWERS, YOU'RE RECOGNIZED AND HR APPROVED THIS, CORRECT? CORRECT. ALL RIGHT.
MAKE A MOTION THAT WE SEND 401.
REQUEST TO THE FULL QUORUM COURT WITH THE DUE PASS RECOMMENDATION.
SECOND, THE MOVED IN PROPERLY.
SECOND, THAT THIS GO TO THE FULL QUORUM COURT.
ARE THERE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? IF THERE BE NONE.
JUSTIN, WOULD YOU CALL THE ROLL, PLEASE, ON DEPARTMENT 401 FOR SOMETHING? ALL RIGHT. SO YOU'RE VOTING ON THE CREATION OF THE POSITION INTO SEVENTH POSITION.
THIS WILL GO TO THE FULL QUORUM COURT FOR FINAL APPROVAL.
AND SO I GUESS THERE WAS NO REPRESENTATIVE.
THAT'S FINE. TIME FOR ME TO ASK THAT QUESTION FROM SEVENTH DIVISION.
SHE DIDN'T HAVE TIME TO COME OVER HERE.
BUT IF SHE HAS ANY OBJECTIONS, I'M SURE SHE'LL LET US KNOW BEFORE WE VOTE ON IT IN FINALITY.
OKAY, NOW WE'RE DOWN TO DEPARTMENT 446 ANIMAL SERVICES.
KATHY BOTSFORD WITH ANIMAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT.
AND WE DO APPRECIATE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO ASK YOU FOR THIS POSITION.
AS YOU KNOW, WE HAVE THREE ANIMAL CONTROL OFFICERS THAT HAVE TO COVER 600MI² OF THE COUNTY.
[01:20:07]
LAST YEAR, THEY HAD OVER 1700 CALLS THAT THEY HAD TO RESPOND TO WRITE REPORTS ON ISSUE CITATIONS, GO TO COURT, TAKE CARE OF THE ANIMALS THAT THEY PICKED UP.AND THIS YEAR, WE'RE ALREADY UP TO 541 CALLS, AND THAT'S THROUGH APRIL.
THAT DOESN'T COUNT THIS MONTH.
SO WE'D APPRECIATE, YOU KNOW, IF YOU SEE FIT TO GIVE US ANOTHER OFFICER.
THERE'S A NEED. THANK YOU, JUSTICE STOWERS.
YOU'RE RECOGNIZED. THANK YOU, MISS MASSEY.
SO YOU AND I HAVE HAD MANY CONVERSATIONS THROUGH THE YEARS REGARDING ANIMAL ISSUES IN DISTRICT 13, WHICH IS PRIMARILY AN UNINCORPORATED DISTRICT.
AND ONE OF THE CHALLENGES HAS ALWAYS BEEN THAT WE WE COULDN'T AFFORD AT THAT TIME TO ADD ANOTHER ANIMAL CONTROL OFFICER, GIVEN OUR OUR OUR STRONG FINANCIAL FOOTING AT THIS TIME.
I DEFINITELY AND I BELIEVE THOSE UP HERE THAT REPRESENT A LARGE SWATH OF UNINCORPORATED AREAS IN PARTICULARLY MISS GREEN, MISTER KEITH, ALSO REALIZE AND GET THOSE CALLS.
SO I'M HONORED TO MAKE THE MOTION TO SEND THE REQUEST FOR DEPARTMENT 446 TO THE FULL QUORUM COURT WITH A DUE PASS RECOMMENDATION. SECOND.
THAT IS, GO TO THE FULL QUORUM COURT FOR FINAL APPROVAL.
JUSTICE LEWISON YOU'RE RECOGNIZED.
FIRST, I'D LIKE TO SAY THANK YOU TO KATHY AND I HAVE A QUESTION.
SINCE MY DISTRICT IS THE ONE THAT WAS HIT BASICALLY BY THE TORNADO, I HAD PHONE CALLS CONTINUOUSLY FROM PEOPLE ASKING ME IF I KNEW WHERE THEIR PUPPIES WERE.
YES. SO DID YOU FIND A LOT OF ANIMALS BECAUSE OF THE TORNADO? WE DID NOT, BECAUSE WE COVER THE UNINCORPORATED AREA.
HOWEVER, WE DID HELP OUT WHERE WE COULD.
WE WE LENT SOME CAGES, THE SMALL CAGES FOR STORING THE ANIMALS TEMPORARILY TO SOME OF THE SHELTERS, PARTICULARLY JACKSONVILLE, AND HELPED OUT WHERE WE COULD.
BUT WE WE ALWAYS GET CALLS FOR THE CITY.
SO WE DID RECEIVE A FEW CALLS.
BUT MOST PEOPLE CALL THE LITTLE ROCK ANIMAL SERVICES.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU, JUSTICE LEWISON ARE THERE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? IF THERE BE NONE.
JUSTIN, CALL THE ROLL, PLEASE.
THANK YOU. THIS WILL GO TO THE FULL QUORUM COURT FOR FINAL APPROVAL.
DEPARTMENT FOR 31 CIRCUIT COURT.
GOOD EVENING. THANK YOU SO MUCH.
COMMITTEE MEMBERS. I'M AMY JOHNSON.
I'M HERE TO REQUEST ON BEHALF OF OUR DIVISION THAT THAT WE RECEIVE A NEW SECRETARY POSITION.
THIS IS SOMETHING THAT'S PROVIDED FOR IN STATUTE.
A NUMBER OF THE OTHER DIVISIONS ALSO HAVE THIS.
WE'VE MANAGED SINCE I'VE BEEN ON THE BENCH TO TO CLEAR 134% OF OUR CASES.
BUT THAT'S BEEN WORKING WITH ALL OF OUR STAFF AND FREE TIME THAT WE HAVE, INCLUDING ME.
AND WE JUST ARE NEEDING THIS POSITION SO THAT WE CAN GO AHEAD AND CLEAR THAT BACKLOG AND THEN ALSO WORK TOWARD MAKING THE TIMES THAT ARE AVAILABLE FOR LITIGANTS MOVE FASTER.
IT'S IMPORTANT FOR THE FOLKS THAT WE SERVE THAT THEY BE ABLE TO HAVE THEIR DAY IN COURT AS SOON AS AS AS IS REASONABLY POSSIBLE AND TO ALSO INCREASE OUR CAPACITY TO DO A BETTER JOB OF MONITORING CASES THAT REQUIRE ONGOING COURT MONITORING, SUCH AS ADULT PROTECTIVE SERVICES CASES AND GUARDIANSHIPS.
AND SO THAT'S WHY WE'RE REQUESTING THE POSITION.
I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT ANY OF YOU MAY HAVE.
THANK YOU, JUSTICE STOWERS YOU'RE RECOGNIZED.
I'M NOT SURE IF THIS WOULD BE MORE APPROPRIATE FOR ADAM, MIKE OR JUSTIN, BUT MY QUESTION IS THIS ONE OF THE POSITIONS THAT WE ARE REQUIRED BY STATE LAW TO PROVIDE, YOU CAN'T SAY NO, I'M SORRY, YOU CANNOT SAY NO.
OKAY. GIVEN THAT I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A GIVEN THAT I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION THAT WE SEND THE REQUEST FOR DEPARTMENT 431 TO THE FULL QUORUM COURT WITH THE DUE PASS RECOMMENDATION.
[01:25:03]
SECOND, THE MOVED AND PROPERLY SECOND, THAT IS.LET'S GO TO THE FULL QUORUM COURT.
AND I THINK, AS ADAM STATED, I'M ASSUMING THAT MOST OF THESE POSITIONS BEAUREGARD'S GOING TO THE CIRCUIT COURTS ARE MANDATED BY BY THE STATE.
THAT'S CORRECT. SO AS YOU SAID, THERE'S NOT REALLY AN OPTION.
CORRECT. IT'S A MINISTERIAL OBLIGATION OF THE COUNTY.
ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? THERE BEING NONE, JUSTIN CALL THE ROLL, PLEASE.
SIX AYES. THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH.
THANK YOU. THIS WILL GO TO THE FULL QUORUM COURT FOR FINAL APPROVAL.
NOW, I BELIEVE THIS IS OUR LAST ITEM.
DEPARTMENT 435 CIRCUIT COURT, EIGHTH DIVISION.
GOOD EVENING QUORUM COURT MEMBERS.
I'M EXCITED THAT I FINISHED COURT IN TIME TO BE ABLE TO COME AND BE WITH YOU IN PERSON THIS EVENING.
WE THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY JUST TO BE HEARD.
WE FEEL SPECIAL BECAUSE WE HAVE THIS BIG RED AGAINST HR RECOMMENDATION DENOTED BESIDE OUR REQUEST.
WE'VE ALSO BROUGHT WITH US, EVEN IF YOU DO NOT VOTE IN FAVOR OF THIS ADDITIONAL POSITION, A PACKET OF INFORMATION TO HELP YOU BETTER UNDERSTAND THE JOB OF THE INTAKE OFFICER AND WHY IT IS ESSENTIAL THAT WE HAVE MORE THAN THE THREE THAT WE CURRENTLY HAVE.
THANK YOU. I'D JUST LIKE TO BRIEFLY GIVE YOU SOME NUMBERS.
WE HAVE THE MOST POPULATION IN PULASKI AND PERRY COUNTY TOGETHER.
WE HAVE THREE FULL TIME INTAKE OFFICERS AND WE AVERAGE 120 INTAKES PER MONTH.
SO FAR, SINCE JANUARY, WE HAVE PROCESSED 588 FAMILIES THROUGH INTAKE.
WHEN WE ARE REFERRED WITH OTHER COUNTIES.
WHEN WE'RE COMPARABLE TO OTHER COUNTIES, THEY ALWAYS CHOOSE BENTON COUNTY.
BENTON COUNTY HAS 280,000 POPULATION.
THEY HAVE SIX FULL TIME INTAKE OFFICERS AND THEY ALSO PROCESS 120 PER MONTH.
. THEY RESPONDED TO US, WHICH I RECEIVED MUCH LATER THAN THE DECISION WAS MADE, AND I'D IMAGINE YOU ALL HAVE A COPY OF THAT AS WELL.
AND IT SPEAKS VERY MUCH ABOUT NUMBERS.
BUT JUVENILE COURT NUMBERS IS NOT AN APPLES TO APPLES COMPARISON WITH ADULT CIRCUIT COURT AND THE NEEDS OF THE COURT AND THE ISSUES THAT HAVE COME BEFORE YOU CONCERNING MENTAL HEALTH, THE PROSECUTOR'S SHORTAGE.
OUR JOB IS TO TRY TO SHORT CIRCUIT WHAT GOES BEFORE THEM, WHAT THEY HAVE TO DEAL WITH.
AND THE ROLE OF THE INTAKE OFFICER IS TO THEY'RE THE GATEKEEPERS.
SO FOR EVERY CHILD THAT THE POLICE OFFICER HAS CONTACT WITH, IF THAT CHILD IS ARRESTED FOR A VIOLENT OFFENSE, THE INTAKE OFFICER IS THE ONE WHO PERFORMS THE VALIDATED ASSESSMENTS THAT DETERMINE WHETHER THEY ARE DETAINED OR WHETHER THEY GET RELEASED.
AND BASED ON THE RFK ASSESSMENT THAT WAS DONE A FEW YEARS AGO, THE WHOLE GOAL IS TO KEEP AS MANY CHILDREN FROM SEEING THE JUDGE AS POSSIBLE WHEN IT IS NOT NECESSARY.
THESE ARE THE FOLKS WHO MAKE THAT DECISION BY PERFORMING THESE ASSESSMENTS.
THEY HAVE A NUMBER OF CASES THAT THEY HAVE TO MONITOR.
[01:30:01]
THE STATE PURSUANT TO THE RECORDS FROM THE ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICE OF THE COURTS IN ALL JUVENILE COURTS ARE INCREASING.WE DID HAVE A DECREASE DURING COVID.
COVID IS NOT OVER, BUT PEOPLE ARE BACK OUTSIDE.
AND SO WE ARE SEEING THE RESULTS OF THAT.
FOR THE POPULATION THAT YOU HEARD THAT PULASKI HAS IN COMPARISON TO COUNTIES WITH SMALLER POPULATIONS WHO ARE BETTER ABLE TO MANAGE AND SERVE THE COMMUNITY IN ORDER TO DIVERT SOME OF THESE CASES THAT THE PROSECUTOR WON'T LATER HAVE TO DEAL WITH BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE NEED BASED ON THEIR RISK ASSESSMENT, TO COME BEFORE THE COURT OR TO HAVE FURTHER INVOLVEMENT WITH THE COURT.
I'D ALSO POINT OUT THAT AIR INDICATED IN THEIR LETTER RESPONSE TO US NOT SUPPORTING THIS POSITION, THE FACT THAT WE WERE GRANTED TWO PART TIME CONTRACT POSITIONS.
THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE ON A TEMPORARY BASIS, HOPING THAT WE COULD ACTUALLY GET A POSITION FIELD.
WE DON'T NEED TWO PART TIME CONTRACTORS WHO REALLY JUST WORK ON WEEKENDS TO HELP THESE FOLKS WHO STILL HAVE IN EXCESS SOMETIMES OF 60 HOURS OF OVERTIME TO FILL THE GAP.
BUT IN ORDER FOR US TO SHINE AS A COUNTY AS FAR AS JUVENILE JUSTICE REFORMS ARE CONCERNED, WE NEED THE BODIES, WE NEED THE MANPOWER TO BE ABLE TO PROPERLY SERVE AND SPEND THE TIME WITH THESE FAMILIES TO ENSURE THAT CASES THAT NEED TO BE DIVERTED ARE DIVERTED SO THAT WHAT I'M DEALING WITH ARE YOUR MORE SERIOUS OFFENSES.
AND OUR PROBATION OFFICERS ARE DEALING WITH MORE, MORE SERIOUS OFFENSES.
WE'VE NOT ASKED YOU FOR MORE PROBATION OFFICERS BECAUSE I THINK OUR NUMBERS ARE MANAGEABLE.
AND SO I'M ASKING FOR YOU TO, IN SPITE OF HIS DECISION TO TREAT US SO SPECIALLY WITH THE BIG RED LETTERS, TO GIVE CONSIDERATION.
BECAUSE I THINK YOU NEED TO HAVE THAT INFORMATION.
AND IT DOESN'T REALLY GIVE YOU A VIEW OF WHAT WE'RE DOING.
WE INVITE YOU, PLEASE COME OUT TO JUVENILE COURT AND SEE WHAT THESE FOLKS DO.
MOST OF THE PEOPLE OUT THERE HAVE SERVED FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS.
BUT WE NEED THOSE BODIES AND WE REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR CONSIDERATION.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU, JUSTICE STOWERS, YOU'RE FIRST.
THANK YOU. MR. FOGLEMAN, I'M GOING TO ASK THE SAME QUESTION.
IS THIS A POSITION THAT WE HAVE A MINISTERIAL DUTY TO PROVIDE? SO THERE IS AN OBLIGATION PLACED UPON THE COUNTY TO PROVIDE INTAKE SERVICES? THIS GENERAL ASSEMBLY HAS NOT FIXED THE NUMBER OF POSITIONS NECESSARY OR REQUIRED FOR EACH COUNTY.
OKAY. SO IT IS A DISCRETIONARY EXERCISE AND THERE'S ALWAYS A CONCERN WITH AS I'M SURE YOU KNOW, YOU COULD REALIZE WITH SETTING A PRECEDENT OF GOING AGAINST OPEN OPENING PANDORA'S BOX, OF GOING AGAINST THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF HUMAN RESOURCES.
SO JUDGE BIRD MANNING, I WANTED TO ASK YOU HAD MENTIONED THAT YOU HAVE TWO PART TIME POSITIONS.
MY QUESTION IS, IF THIS WAS TO NOT PASS THIS EVENING OR WAS TO PASS THIS EVENING BUT NOT PASS THE FULL QUORUM COURT, WOULD YOU BE WILLING TO GO BACK TO H.R.
AND LOOK AT DOING AWAY WITH THE TWO PART TIME POSITIONS IN ORDER TO FULFILL ONE FULL TIME POSITION? ABSOLUTELY. I HOPE THEY WOULD CONSIDER THAT.
AND IT'S STILL NOT AT THE LEVEL THAT YOU WOULD WANT THE INTAKE DEPARTMENT TO BE OPERATING IF WE DIDN'T HAVE THOSE TWO A TRANSITIONARY PERIOD. SO IN OTHER WORDS, IF IF YOU WENT BACK TO HUMAN RESOURCES AND AND ASK, HEY, IF WE DID AWAY WITH THESE TWO PART TIME POSITIONS AND ADDED A FULL TIME POSITION AND HR SAID, OKAY, WE'RE GOOD WITH THAT, WOULD THAT SATISFY YOUR NEEDS?
[01:35:04]
WELL, I GUESS THE ANSWER TO THAT DEPENDS ON THE TIMING THAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT.IT'S OUR UNDERSTANDING THAT IF THIS ITEM PASSES THROUGH THIS COMMITTEE AND THEN PASSES THE FULL QUORUM COURT, IT WOULDN'T TAKE EFFECT UNTIL IT'D BE THE BUDGET FOR WHAT TIME FRAME? BE EFFECTIVE LIKE JUNE 1ST? OH, WELL, WE NEVER ANTICIPATED THAT WE WOULD HAVE THE PART TIME POSITIONS FOR LONG TERM, BUT AT THIS POINT WE WE'RE ESSENTIALLY EVALUATING THE NEED ON AN ANNUAL BASIS.
BUT WE DIDN'T ANTICIPATE HAVING THEM PERPETUALLY.
SO THE TWO PART TIME POSITIONS ARE UNDER CONTRACT? YES, THEY'RE CONTRACTED.
OKAY. WHAT IS THEIR CONTRACT THROUGH? I CAN'T ANSWER THAT QUESTION FROM MEMORY, BUT BUT I CAN SAY THEY'RE NOT SO TECHNICALLY THEY'RE NOT PART TIME.
SO I WOULD LIKE TO FIND OUT WHEN THAT CONTRACT EXPIRES.
AND I GUESS MY QUESTION IS, WOULD IT BE BENEFICIAL TO YOU TO HAVE A FULL TIME EMPLOYEE RATHER THAN TWO CONTRACT EMPLOYEES? YES. OKAY.
HERE WE GO. MADAM CHAIR, MAY I MAKE ONE OTHER COMMENT THAT I MEANT TO MAKE WHEN I WAS SPEAKING BEFORE? THIS 58,548.
WELL, $58,548, AS I HOPE YOU ALL KNOW, IS YOUR PORTION ESSENTIALLY WOULD BE ONE HALF OF THAT AS THE STATE REIMBURSES ONE HALF OF JUVENILE OFFICER AND INTAKE OFFICER POSITIONS.
THAT MAKES IT A LOT MORE PALATABLE.
IT HAS TO THAT POSITION HAS TO EXIST FOR A FULL YEAR BEFORE IT'S ELIGIBLE FOR FOR THE REBATE.
AND IT'S I THINK IT'S UP TO, HUTCH DO YOU RECALL IS IT UP TO $30,000? SOMETHING LIKE THAT, YEAH.
SO THAT'S I'M NOT SAYING THAT..
IT'S LESS THAN WHAT'S ON THIS PAPER.
I'M NOT SAYING THE JUDGE IS WRONG.
JUSTICE MCMULLEN. YOU'RE RECOGNIZED.
WELL, I BASICALLY, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF WHAT I WANTED TO KNOW WAS ASKED BY PHIL STOWERS.
BUT I DO REALIZE IT'S A CONTRACTED POSITION, AND YOU DON'T KNOW HOW LONG THAT CONTRACT IS.
WELL, IT'S ON AN ANNUAL BASIS AND I'M TRYING TO REMEMBER WHEN WE STARTED.
I APOLOGIZE THAT I DON'T KNOW.
AND SO IT'S YEARLY AND YOU'VE BEEN THERE A GOOD YEAR OR SO.
BUT THAT POSITION HAS TO THE TIME HAS TO BE UP BEFORE YOU BRING SOMEONE IN.
BUT WHAT I'M LOOKING AT IS THIS.
YOU MENTIONED THAT BENTON COUNTY HAD SIX INTAKE.
FULL TIME, SIX FULL TIME INTAKE OFFICERS? YES. FOR A POPULATION OF HOW MANY? 280,000. AND WE HAVE A POPULATION OF WHAT? 400,000 APPROXIMATELY.
AND WE HAVE THREE. AND THAT'S WITHIN PULASKI COUNTY.
AND HOW LONG HAS IT BEEN LIKE THIS? IN OTHER WORDS, WE HAVE NOT DISMISSED ANY INTAKE OFFICERS WITHIN THE LAST FEW YEARS OR SO.
THIS THAT'S HOW THAT HAS BEEN.
WELL, THE IT HAPPENED WHEN THE SUPREME COURT REDUCED THE NUMBER OF JUVENILE COURTS.
DIDN'T CONTINUE TO EXIST OUT THERE.
AND SO WE WENT FROM HAVING FOUR FULL TIME INTAKE OFFICERS TO THREE.
SO ALTHOUGH THOSE JUVENILE COURTS WERE REDUCED, STILL, THAT MEANT A FEWER NUMBER OF JUVENILE COURTS.
YOU ARE CORRECT. TO HANDLE MORE JUVENILES? WELL, I WON'T SAY MORE JUVENILES BECAUSE THE NUMBERS DO FLUCTUATE.
OUR NUMBERS IN DETENTION ARE STILL DOWN, BY THE WAY.
SO THAT THAT MEANS PULASKI COUNTY AS WELL.
YES, MA'AM. THAT'S GOOD NEWS TO HEAR.
I'M NOT GOING TO TAKE IT ANY FURTHER.
DO YOU YIELD JUSTICE MCMULLEN? YES, I DO. THANK YOU.
[01:40:05]
JUSTICE LEWISON.THANK YOU. YOU'RE RECOGNIZED FOR ALL THAT YOU DO.
BECAUSE I WAS SUCH A TOUGH MOTHER WITH MY KIDS, SO I'M GLAD THEY DIDN'T HAVE TO COME BEFORE YOU.
BUT IF WE PROVIDE THIS INTAKE OFFICER BECAUSE YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT OVERTIME, SO WOULD THE OVERTIME DECREASE? WE EXPECT THAT IT SHOULD.
WOULD YOU SAY? DID YOU? WHAT WOULD YOU SAY? STILL? MAY I? YES, PLEASE.
THANK YOU. YES, YOU'RE RECOGNIZED.
I'M CURRENTLY THE THE NEW CHIEF INTAKE OFFICER, NEWLY AS OF PRETTY MUCH THE BEGINNING OF THIS YEAR.
UM, WE ARE REQUIRED TO BE ON CALL 24 SEVEN.
THERE'S NOT A MINUTE OF ANY DAY THAT GOES BY THAT NOT ONE INTAKE OFFICER IS COVERING THE PHONE.
THE OVERTIME COMES IN FROM 4:30 TO 8 A.M.
IN THE MORNING AND ON THE WEEKENDS.
SO I DON'T THINK THE NUMBER OF CALLS THAT WE RECEIVE WOULD CHANGE DURING THAT TIME PERIOD.
SO THE OVERTIME WOULD PROBABLY REMAIN THE SAME, JUST DEPENDING ON THE CALL LEVELS.
WE ARE PAID PER CALL, NOT FOR THE ENTIRE TIME WE'RE ON CALL, BUT I DON'T THINK THAT THAT WAS AN WOULD LESSEN BECAUSE THEY'RE STILL THE SAME AMOUNT OF TIME IN THE DAY THAT WE COVER.
JUSTICE LEWISON. JUSTICE GREEN.
OH, YOU'VE ALREADY ANSWERED MY QUESTION.
IF YOU KNEW WHY HR WAS GOING TO RECOMMEND THAT WE NOT APPROVE THAT.
BUT I UNDERSTAND THAT YOU NEED ALL OF THEM.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU JUSTICE GREEN.
AND WE ARE HAPPY, AS I STATED AT AT ANY TIME.
JUDGE, I SPEAK ON BEHALF OF JUDGE JOHNSON.
I DON'T THINK SHE WOULD MIND ME SPEAKING ON HER BEHALF.
WE WANT PULASKI COUNTY TO BE POLL STAR IN THE STATE.
AND SO ANYTIME THAT YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR YOU NEED MORE INFORMATION, IF OUR REPORTS AREN'T GIVING YOU ENOUGH OF WHAT YOU NEED, WE ARE HAPPY TO TRY TO ACCOMMODATE YOU, TO GIVE YOU WHAT YOU NEED. WE ARE ALWAYS LOOKING FOR GRANT OPPORTUNITIES TO TRY TO FUND NEW THINGS AND OUTSIDE OF THE BOX TO PROVIDE SERVICES AND PROGRAMS FOR KIDS AT JUVENILE COURT.
AND SO IF YOU HAVE IDEAS OR WANT TO VOLUNTEER, WE'LL TAKE THAT TOO.
BUT THANK YOU AGAIN SO MUCH FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO PRESENT.
OKAY. OH, NO, I DIDN'T WANT TO STOP YOU, BUT BEFORE YOU GO TO YOUR SEAT, I HAVE A FEW QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS BECAUSE I DON'T FEEL LIKE BACKTRACKING ANYTHING IN THE COMING WEEKS WOULD I VOTE ON NOW? I WANTED TO STICK IN MY MIND.
QUESTION. SO ARE THESE POSITIONS I THINK YOU ALREADY ANSWERED THAT THESE POSITIONS ARE MANDATED? THERE'S A COUNTY OBLIGATION TO PROVIDE BOTH JUVENILE INTAKE SERVICES AND JUVENILE PROBATION SERVICES.
THOSE POSITIONS ARE LEFT TO THE DISCRETION OF THE COUNTIES TO DETERMINE HOW MANY.
AND I DO I DO SUPPORT THIS, BUT WE DON'T KNOW ABOUT WHEN THIS CONTRACT ENDS.
SO YOU ALL ARE MAKING A LOT MORE THAN THIS, HUH? ARE YOU? SO THE NUMBER THAT'S ON PAPER IS THEIR PAY.
THE COUNTY IS REIMBURSED ON AN ANNUAL BASIS FOR HALF OF WHAT THE THE SALARY RATE IS UP TO A MAXIMUM OF I THINK IT'S EITHER 15,000 PER POSITION JUST FOR THIS, AND THAT'S THE TOTAL FUNDING.
EVERYBODY DOESN'T START AT THIS RATE.
YEAH. SO I GUESS THAT'S THE QUESTION.
SO WILL THE INTAKE OFFICER START AT THAT AT THAT RATE OR LOWER THE ONE THAT YOU'RE, YOU KNOW, IF IT'S APPROVED, THIS IS THE MAXIMUM THAT'S LISTED ON, ON, ON YOUR.
AND SO IT WOULD DEPEND ON THEIR EXPERIENCE AND.
OKAY. AND ALL THE REGULAR THINGS THAT WE WOULD CONSIDER AT THE TIME OF HIRING.
THANK YOU. I DON'T HAVE ANY MORE QUESTIONS.
ARE THERE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FROM THIS BODY? IF THERE BE NONE.
JUSTIN, WOULD YOU CALL THE ROLL, PLEASE? WAS THERE A WHO MADE THE MOTION?
[01:45:02]
YOU KNOW WHAT I WAS GOING TO SAY? NO ONE MADE A MOTION.I'M SORRY. NO, WE ACCEPT THIS.
NOW, I'M SORRY IT HAS BEEN MOVED AND PROPERLY SECOND.
I WAS JUST GETTING. I WAS SITTING HERE THINKING AND PROCESSING THAT I'M LIKE, IT'S BEEN A WHILE.
LONG NIGHT. ALL RIGHT ALL RIGHT. ONE, TWO, THREE, FOUR, FIVE.
YOU'VE GOT FIVE AYES AND ONE PRESENT.
PRESENT BASICALLY MEANS I'M HERE.
THIS WILL GO TO THE FULL QUORUM COURT FOR FINAL APPROVAL.
SO THERE MAY BE QUESTIONS IN BETWEEN THAT TIME FROM MEMBERS.
NO PROBLEM. WE'LL GET THAT TIME FRAME FOR CONTACT INFORMATION TO JUSTIN TO SHARE WITH YOU.
OUR PLEASURE. IT'S OUR PLEASURE.
YES. BEFORE YOU GUYS RECESS UNTIL THE CALL OF THE CHAIR, WE WILL HAVE AN ADDITIONAL ITEM IT LOOKS LIKE TO CONSIDER WHEN YOU WHEN YOU RECONVENE. I WAS HANDED AN AMENDMENT, BUT WE'VE GOT TO PUT COSTS AND FRINGES AND EVERYTHING FIGURED WITH THIS.
CAN I GET A MOTION TO ADJOURN? NO. MOTION TO ADJOURN.
OKAY. YOU'RE GOING TO STAND IN RECESS UNTIL THE CALL OF THE CHAIR.
OKAY. EXCUSE ME. SO, NO, A MOTION TO ADJOURN, BUT WE NOW HAVE ANNOUNCEMENTS.
I WAS FOLLOWING IT. DO WE HAVE ANNOUNCEMENTS? I THINK I MADE THE ANNOUNCEMENT.
SO THAT'S THE ONLY ONE WE HAVE.
OKAY. PUBLIC COMMENT? NOPE. ALL RIGHT.
STAND IN RECESS. WE'LL SEE YOU ALL IN IN JUNE.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.