The Baxter County Quorum Court met in an hour-long session Tuesday and dealt with nine items on the agenda.
The main topic of discussion during the meeting was an ordinance appropriating funds from jail maintenance and operation fund into the jail maintenance and operation 2025 budget. The need for this appropriation comes from a judgement which ruled against the Baxter County Detention Center challenging the postcard-only mail policy at the detention center as unconstitutional. The county’s portion of the judgement requires it to pay more than $102,000. The measure was approved in a 10 – 1 vote.
Speaking against the ordinance was Justice of the Peace William Dirk Waldrop who expressed his frustrations with the exuberant fees placed on the county for what many on the Quorum Court saw as a wrong ruling. He said he would prefer the county to try and ignore the judgement in an effort to challenge the ruling and act against the organization which filed the suit, the Human Rights Defense Center.
Justice of the Peace Eddie Griffin then spoke in favor of the ordinance. He acknowledged the frustrations many in the court had and shared in the sentiment that the federal judge had been wrong in his ruling. However, he voted in favor of the appropriation because of the extra legal fees and interest which would be placed on the county, and ultimately, the taxpayers, as a result of ignoring the court ordered payment.
An ordinance appropriating $18,000 from the County General Fund for legal services was approved in a vote of 10 – 1. The money would provide the county with access to services to tackle legal issues outside the scope of the Prosecutor’s Office and what the county can provide for. Justice of the Peace Rick Steiner voted against the ordinance citing his preference to only pay for legal services when needed.
The Quorum Court unanimously approved four resolutions confirming or re-confirming appointments. Ethan Raymond and David Lybrand were confirmed to the Midway Fire Protection District Board of Commissioners and Michael Saunders to the Buford Volunteer Fire Department Board of Commissioners. Chris Jensen, Stacy Jensen and Levi Woods were confirmed in their re-appointment to the Lone Rock Volunteer Fire Department Board of Commissioners as well as Robert “Tony” Chamberlain re-appointed to the Baxter County Equalization Board.
Along with appointments, the Quorum Court unanimously approved a full-time Deputy Treasurer position in the County Treasurer’s Office and approved funding for the position.
Revisions and additions to the Baxter County Personnel Policy and the Baxter County Sheriff’s Office Personnel Policy were also approved as well as an ordinance appropriating fees and reimbursements of $14,307 to the Sheriff’s Office 2025 budget.
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