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JUROR PAY ON QUORUM AGENDA

By Ray King/OF THE COMMERCIAL STAFF
Monday, December 3, 2007 10:43 AM CST

Because of a change in Arkansas law adopted by the general assembly this year, Jefferson County will be paying more for people serving on jury duty next year.

When committees of the Jefferson County Quorum Court meet Tuesday at 5:30 p.m., they will consider an ordinance that will set compensation and mileage at $15 for people called for jury duty but not selected. Those who do serve will be paid $50 for each day of service.

If the ordinance is adopted during the regular meeting of the quorum court Dec. 12, it will become effective Jan. 1.

Members of the judicial committee, which will consider the ordinance, will also discuss an ordinance setting aside $60,000 to pay jury fees for the various divisions of circuit court next year.

The judicial committee will also consider a $47,600 budget for the public defender’s office for 2008, and a $4,165.83 appropriation to cover expenses for the rest of the year for the Prosecutor’s Office.

Those funds are needed to cover the costs of new law books for the office, Prosecutor Steve Dalrymple said in a letter to County Judge Mike Holcomb. A deposit of that same amount was made to the county general account from the Hot Check account and Dalrymple is asking that the money be transferred to his budget.

The Public Safety/Emergency Services Committee will consider several 2008 budget requests, including $1,720,370 for the Juvenile Justice Center, $490,175 for juvenile justice education, and $46,063 for the Tri-County Drug Task Force, using grant funds.

A more than $3.7 million budget for the adult jail is also on the committee agenda, with $2,587,000 coming from the quarter-cent sales tax adopted for operation of the jail, and another $1.17 million plus from the one cent public safety tax adopted in 2000.

Appropriation ordinances for recycling operations in 2008 to be considered include $140,000 for Jefferson County Tire Disposal, $100,000 for the Jefferson County District Tire Disposal, and $26,000 to employ an Environmental Officer, as well as several ordinances to pay for solid waste disposal.

The justices of the peace will also be asked to declare a vacancy in Zone 1 of the White Hall School Board that resulted from the resignation of George Wiley on Oct. 9.

The board has recommended that Roy Agee be appointed to fill the vacancy.

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