WYNNE — The Cross County Quorum Court approved ordinances to clean up the 2023 budget, a salary change in the sheriff’s department, and resolutions for equipment purchases at its meeting Monday night.
County Judge Lynn Blake said the cleanup ordinance reflected raises, tornado-related expenses, and higher-than-anticipated sales tax revenues.
“Usually March is when it hits because you get your last bill from what you spent in December,” Judge Blake said Tuesday on Yawn Patrol. “Even with the tornado, we stayed pretty (fair). I know we got reimbursed for a lot of the money, but the reimbursement did not go back into the line item it was paid out of. It goes in unappropriated general.
“Overall, we came out real good last year,” he added. “All the elected officials and employees of the county watched everything real close. There were things we went over on, but we knew that was coming from raises and stuff we gave last year.”
The cleanup ordinance included more than $2 million for the Cross County Jail Construction Fund.
Judge Blake said if tax revenues continue at their current pace, the county will be able to pay off the note on the jail in seven to nine years, as opposed to the original 13 years.
The ordinance for the sheriff’s department involved amending the title and duties of the administrative secretary position, and increasing the current salary and starting salary for the position.
According to the ordinance, the current administrative secretary performs additional duties including acting as the sex offender coordinator and part-time II deputy. Cross County Sheriff David West said the person in the position is part-time II certified, meaning they can carry a weapon and have arrest authority like other deputies.
The ordinance establishes the position of administrative secretary or administrative secretary/part-time II deputy/sex offender coordinator. The ordinance also establishes the salary as $27,000 for uncertified and $30,120 for certified.
In other news, Cross County justices approved two resolutions authorizing lease-purchase agreements with Caterpillar – one for a D3 dozer for $181,933 and the other for a 309 track hoe for $144,915.
Judge Blake said it was cheaper for the county to lease new equipment than to purchase the equipment coming off lease. He noted the dozer, for example, cost $2,000 more to purchase than to enter into a new lease.
County Attorney Vince Guest informed justices that should they so desire, he can present an ordinance at the next meeting allowing the county judge to enter into leases without a separate vote as long as it is in the road department’s budget.
Guest said he will also present an ordinance at the April meeting to establish a county technology policy as required by state law.
Judge Blake informed justices Circuit Judge Danny Glover is seeking a grant on behalf of the county to improve courthouse security. If approved, the county will receive up to $20,000 to improve security in the circuit courtroom as well as the entire courthouse including cameras.
Judge Blake said the county can improve its chances of securing the grant if justices agree to contribute funding towards the project.
The Cross County Quorum Court will next meet on Monday, April 15.
