By KENDALL OWENS
T-H Staff Writer
The St. Francis County Quorum Court took the first steps toward formulating a budget for 2003 Tuesday night during the monthly budget committee meeting.
St. Francis County Treasurer Ann Harbin presented figures to justices showing the projected revenues at $6,100,499.96. However, according to St. Francis County Clerk Elizabeth Smith, for the same time period, expenditures could be $800,000 over revenue.
Some justices questioned Smith as to why she did not have a printout to give them regarding the projected expenditures.
Justice Evans Seawood was the most outspoken on the matter. "I just don't understand why Mrs. Harbin could present us with figures on the projected revenues, but Mrs. Smith, who knew what the meeting was going to be about, didn't. We went through this same type of mess last year with projections, but no concrete figures, and now here we go again. Why can't someone bring us something in writing. If we're going to do the business of the county, then we need all of the information available to us," he said.
Justice Regan Hill commented that Tuesday's meeting was the first of many, and that the information could be provided in the coming weeks. Hill also commented that each office should be given the opportunity to compile their budgets for the year and present those figures to justices.
"It seems that we always have trouble during the last three months of the year trying to get the budget together. I think that we should just allow each individual office to put together their budget for the year, and then given us time to look it over during the next two months. That will give us time to see if we can get a yearly budget, or if we may have to go into next year doing things like we did this year," Hill said.
During much of 2002, justices budgeted finances on a bi-monthly basis.
In other business, Harbin presented justices with a proposal which would use a portion of a $77,000 workman's compensation reimbursement to pay county employees a Christmas bonus at the end of the year. According to Harbin, the $77,545.53 received by the county is based upon the number of claims that are filed during the year.
Harbin's proposal called for paying county employees with at least one year's tenure $750, and those with under a year receiving $375 or a pro-rated bonus. Part-time employees would received the $375 bonus. Justice Regan Hill felt that the matter should be tabled for later discussion so that justices could get a better look at the budget for next year before making a decision.
"I'm not saying that we shouldn't give our employees a bonus, but with the information we've been given, we have to take a long look at the finances before making a decision like that. I just think that we should table this until we've had a chance to take a full look at next year's budget," Hill said.
Justice Author Witherspoon disagreed. "This money is coming to the county because the employees didn't get injured and didn't file any claims, so I think that it's the employees' money and not the county's. We didn't give them a bonus last year or a raise, and we probably won't be able to give them a raise this year so we need to do something to show them that we appreciate them," Witherspoon said.
Questions were also raised over the amount of the reimbursement, and Harbin said the figures came from three checks sent to the county from the state for workman's comp.
A letter requesting the presence of a member of the St. Francis County Election Commission at the next budget committee meeting is being drafted, after justices received a memo from Susie Stormes, director of the State Board of Election Commissioners.
Stormes' memo covered the amounts paid to the county for the May preferential primary and those costs that haven't been paid. According to the memo, $8,898.58 was paid to the county for the election, leaving a balance of $6,818.19 unpaid. The letter also stated that the board had received no requests for reimbursements for printing costs for the primary election or any requests for reimbursements for the June runoff election. Printing costs for the May primary have not been paid to a Nebraska company because justices say that they've yet to see a bill.
Seawood questioned the way the commission is being run. "Is this commission on autopilot? We've been waiting on information, and so has the state. Something has to be done about this."
Budget committee chairman O.J. Gandy also commented. "It seems like we're the only county that hasn't been settled with over the primary. There have been several problems, from ordering 18,000 ballots when we've only got 16,000 registered voters to the problems with getting the money from the state. It seems to me that someone is dragging their feet, and the county's going to end up paying the bill," Gandy said.
The quorum court will meet in full session on Tuesday, Oct. 15, at 6 p.m. in the St. Francis County Courthouse.
By TAMARA JOHNSON
Managing Editor
The Forrest City School District would suffer a major financial loss in funding from the state if a measure to eliminate the sales tax on food and medicine is approved by voters in November.
School board members on Tuesday night approved a resolution opposing Proposed Amendment 3.
Superintendent Lee Vent said the tax would cost the school district an estimated $265 per student in state funding. "It really is a scary issue, folks," Vent said, encouraging board members to determine for themselves the impact a loss of $265 per student would have on the school district with just over 4,000 students enrolled.
The board also heard an update on construction at the new junior high school, which is reported to be nearing the halfway point. "We are 49 percent complete at this time, a 16 percent increase over last month," Architect Bob Beavers told board members. "There is a lot of work going on now on the jobsite." The new junior high is on schedule to be completed by July next year.
Beavers also said the roofing project at Lincoln Middle School is expected to be completed next week.
In other business, the mother of a mentally handicapped ninth grader, who was told to ride another bus without her knowledge, discussed her grievance with board members.
Sharon Taylor of Madison outlined the incident of Aug. 26 for the board. According to Taylor, her ninth grader and another son were told that morning to not ride the bus they had been riding the first week of school, but to ride another bus which stopped at a different location in Madison. Taylor said the children were not allowed to ride the bus to school that morning, but were taken to school by a family member. Taylor said she became concerned that afternoon when her ninth grader failed to return home. She said she found him wandering the high school parking lot looking for a ride home because he had been told he could not ride the bus he normally rode home, and he was not directed to the proper bus.
"Everyone but Mr. Taylor (Melvin Taylor, transportation director, and no relation) has told me they apologize, but no one has given me a reason why it happened," Taylor said. "I'm asking you to look at what could have happened to my son."
Taylor said that because of her son's condition, she feared for his safety and does not trust the school district anymore with her child, who continues to attend classes in the FCSD.
"We need to take this as a way to be ultra careful. We certainly are sorry that it happened, and we apologize also," said Dr. Wayne Jones said.
"We certainly apologized for the situation at that time, but we haven't lost a child yet," Vent added.
No action was taken by the board.
The board also approved the formation of school pride and public relations committees at each of the eight school sites.
Each committee will be made up of school officials, students, parents, a board member and a member of the central office staff.
Vent reminded board members of two programs slated for the school district.
On Monday, Oct. 28, the Arkansas School Boards Association Region 9 meeting will be held in the FCHS cafeteria.
The third annual Veterans Day program will be held at 10 a.m. on Monday, Nov. 11, at Mustang Arena. The school district is trying to compile a list of WWII veterans who were called into service before they could complete high school. The school will present these servicemen with honorary FCHS diplomas. In addition, four veterans will be added to the Wall of Honor at Mustang Arena.
Also during the meeting, board members elected Gordon McCoy to succeed Dr. Wayne Jones as board president. Jones had served as president for the past two years. Rev. Aubrey Jayroe was elected vice president and Sandra Taylor was elected secretary/treasurer.
By ALAN SMITH
T-H Staff Writer
The Palestine City Council voted unanimously Tuesday night to support Amendment 3, a provision to eliminate taxes on food and medicine.
Councilmen said the city's support of the proposal is because its passage would not have as great an impact on their services.
The city's tax rate was next on the agenda. The council voted unanimously to keep the tax rate the same after a brief discussion.
Mayor Willetta Carroll also discussed the upcoming Palestine festival, which has yet to be named.
"We will have a barbecue cookoff, gospel singing and duck calling contest. It should be great," Carroll added.
The festival will be held Saturday, Oct. 26, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and a street dance will be held from 6 p.m. until midnight.
By ALAN SMITH
T-H Staff Writer
The Forrest City Advertising and Promotions Commission heard two proposals Tuesday, one to improve local hospitality and one to help the unemployed.
Dr. John Alderson with East Arkansas Community College asked for any help that the commission could give on the two programs. One is a four-week, 30-hour program that teaches job readiness to out-of-work people.
The second program, which was discussed at length, seeks to improve the hospitality shown by employees of local service businesses like restaurants and hotels. This class is required to earn the city ACE status.
"The program teaches them hospitality," Alderson explained. "Things like smiling at customers and asking them if you can help them, just general customer service. As this thing progresses, I may call some of you to come and speak with both types of classes. I hope maybe even hire some of the out-of-work participants."
According to Alderson, students on welfare who live in Forrest City Housing Authority housing will be required to attend the class and, if hired, their salaries can be paid for up to 90 days by the Department of Human Resources.
Alderson asked for an endorsement of the program, which he received. Alderson then asked for help in funding the classes for those already employed.
Commission member Cecil Twillie expressed concern on the funding issue.
"I think this is something the city should push for," said Twillie. "We can give it our blessing and support it, but to fund it is a gray area for us."
Chairman Kem Merrill echoed Twillie's point by saying, "In its current form, funding is out of our realm."
Alderson asked for the commission to check out the legality of the funding and said any help they could offer would be appreciated.
In other news, Laura Mazzanti of the St. Francis County Museum asked for, and received, $350 for reusable signage to promote the Great Rush Road Rally to be held on Saturday, Nov. 9.
"This is not a race about time, distance or speed. It's a scavenger hunt of historic sites in the city," Mazzanti told the commission. "This is the second year of the event, and we expect a great turnout this year."
Bill Baxter handed out schedules for this year's Rumble on the Ridge basketball tournament, which will include teams from Arkansas, Tennessee, Louisiana and Mississippi. The tournament is scheduled to take place Nov. 28 through 30.
The annual Rice Tasting Luncheon and Rice Cook-Off will take place Thursday, Oct. 10.
The luncheon will begin at 11 a.m. at the First United Methodist Church and continue until 1 p.m. The cost is $5 per person.
In addition, the winners of the Rice Cook-Off will be announced during the luncheon. Awards will be presented by Lauren Collier, Miss St. Francis County Rice.
For more information, contact Judy Jayroe at 581-2469 or Denelda Michaelis at 581-2277.
A hearing is scheduled for Thursday at the Cross County Courthouse in Wynne to decide the fate of a lawsuit filed by the City of Forrest City. The hearing will begin at 1 p.m. before Circuit Court Judge Harvey Yates.
The lawsuit seeks to have city council candidates Bobby Ray Woodard and Clifton Avant kicked off the November ballot. It may also result in having Henry Peacock kicked off the ballot.
The St. Francis County Tax Collector's office will be closed Friday, Oct. 11, through Thursday, Oct. 24, to process tax payments, according to Chief Deputy Collector Emily Holley.
The deadline to pay taxes is Thursday, Oct. 10.
The sheriff's department will be open for business as usual.