By DAVID NICHOL
T-H Staff Writer
The St. Francis County Election Commission on Wednesday set times for two additional classes for poll workers, and also discussed payment for early voting workers. There was also discussion over who can work the polls.
Because not every potential poll worker was able to attend the first session, it was decided to hold two more. Commissioners agreed one would be held at the Hughes Civic Center at 6:30 p.m. on Friday, May 7. The second class will be held Monday, May 10, at the county courthouse in Forrest City, also at 6:30 p.m.
Commission member Betty Proctor said the ballots will be on hand for early voting, scheduled to begin Monday, May 3 (see sidebar).
There was some discussion of how much the people who work early voting should be paid. Earnestine Weaver, who will work early voting, said she believed that those working early voting should be paid the same per day as those who work the polls on election day are paid for that one day. Poll workers who have been to the poll workers' class will be paid $100 for working on election day. Poll workers who haven't been to the class will receive $75. Early voting workers will be paid $7.50 an hour. Weaver said that if a poll worker has been to the class, that person should receive $100 a day.
Commission member Florence Brown suggested that the extra $25 for attending the class be a one-time payment for early voting workers, since it is paid only once to election-day workers.
The issue was not settled, and will be discussed again.
There was also some discussion over who can pick poll workers. Florence Brown, a Republican, said she had the right to name two persons to work at each polling site. Proctor said she didn't think that was the case. However, Ed Chauvin, who was present for part of the meeting and is often asked about election rules, agreed that the minority member of the commission is allowed to do that. Brown presented her names.
At one point in the meeting, County Clerk Elizabeth Smith came into the room and presented information on a special election called by the quorum court at its most recent meeting, for June 8, which would also be the date of the primary runoff, if one is needed.
"Looks like they would have called the commission," said Proctor.
On another matter, it was announced that one voting location out in the county will be changed. The Parrot-Newcastle precinct has traditionally voted at Faith Chapel Church. That voting place is being moved to Wesley Methodist Church.
The commission then got into a sometimes heated discussion over who Brown could name to substitute for her during the May 18 primary, when she cannot be present. She wanted to appoint Steve Hollowell. However, Proctor said Hollowell could not take the position, even as a substitute, because he is a member of a state-appointed board (East Arkansas Community College Board of Directors, which he currently chairs).
"We've already got our people together that have been working elections all these years," said Proctor.
"Does that mean that I couldn't work?" asked Brown.
Proctor answered that as an election commissioner, she could work. The problem was with whom she was trying to appoint as a substitute.
Hollowell agreed that he couldn't work, but claimed that there were other people working in the election who were on boards.
"I assume the reason you say I can't work is because of the reason you said at another meeting about election officers," said Hollowell.
Hollowell read aloud a statute which he said applied, and he was called out of order.
Proctor also read some rules aloud.
"Steve, I'm not going to argue with you, this is it," said Proctor.
"I'm agreeing with you," said Hollowell.
"Well, let it drop, then," said Horace Proctor, who also attended the meeting.
Bettye Proctor said that both Hollowell and Horace Proctor were out of order.
"I'm not going to let him talk back to you like that," said Horace Proctor.
"Well, I'm not worried about Steve, because Steve is running for (Forrest City) city council, and he's got all he can do to take care of that," Bettye Proctor said.
She said there were several different rules which kept him from working.
Eventually, Hollowell was told that he could challenge any worker he wanted to challenge.
Early voting in St. Francis County is scheduled to begin on Monday, May 3. Voting will be held in the County Clerk Elizabeth Smith's office in the SFC Courthouse on Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Also, voting will be held on Saturdays from 1 to 4 p.m. Early voting ends on Monday, May 17. The May Primary Election will be held on the next day, Tuesday, May 18.
Absentee ballots will be available at the same time, but according to Smith, there are some changes in this election. "The number of absentee ballots that one person can carry out per election has been changed," said Smith. "The limit is now two absentee ballots per election, per designated bearer. That has been changed from five ballots in years past."
Smith stated that those picking up absentee ballots need to have filled out the application form, and that absentee ballots will be mailed. She said that Tuesday, May 11, is the deadline for absentee ballot applications sent by mail or fax.
Smith added that if you have any questions about early voting, absentee ballots or anything else regarding the election, contact her office at 870-261-1725.
By KENDALL OWENS
T-H Staff Writer
A change in the process of getting applications to the St. Francis County Indigent Care Board could be in the works after members of the board and members of Baptist Memorial Hospital-Forrest City officials agreed Wednesday to attempt to clarify the procedure.
Board attorney Brad Beavers said questions arose at the last meeting of the board over possible attempts to collect payment on accounts that had received payments through the Indigent Care Board. Beavers told board members that there is no policy stopping Baptist from seeking collections on a remaining balance once the $8,500 normal maximum allocation from the board had been made. Beavers also said that BMH-FC had not been pursing collections.
Tracy Pollack with Baptist told board members that collections might continue only on accounts that Baptist had received authorization on to not collect above the $8,500 limit.
"Basically we receive the funding from the board and anything approved above that is written off by Baptist. The board has the authority to exceed their $8,500 limit, and they can do that. If they don't, Baptist is not authorized to write off any remaining bill, so we do follow through with our collections process," Pollack said.
Questions were also raised over determining who was to be considered indigent. According to Beavers, a committee was created during the 1990's which was charged with determining the status of "can't pay versus won't pay" in regards to board applicants. Beavers told board members that the committee reviewed recommendations from collection agents and hospital officials before determining whether an application appeared before the board. Beavers told board members that the board had "faded out" over time which has caused some confusion.
"I believe that this board thought that Baptist was still making a determination of that fact before applications were placed before us, but it seems that they are not, and that's understandable. Looking at everything as it stands, you would think that Baptist had exhausted every attempt to collect before the application got to us, but that hasn't been the case apprently," Beavers said.
Beavers also acknowledged that every application submitted should come before the board.
"This is something for the citizens of St. Francis County, and every application should be reviewed by the board. Right now, you can put in an application the day after you're admitted and Baptist won't have made any attempts to collect, but the applications come before this board. We've just got some things we need to iron out so that we and Baptist have a written procedure," said Beavers.
Beavers and Pollack agreed to attempt to format a clear and concise procedure which will presented at the next meeting of the board in July.
In other business, the board agreed to approve applications
requesting close to $70,000 in payments for St. Francis County
citizens. The board then allocated $11,551.33 for payment to BMHFC.
St. Francis County had an unemployment rate of 10.8 percent in March. That was down from 11.6 percent in February, and also down from 12.2 percent in March of last year.
According to figures released by Arkansas Workforce Labor Market Information, during March St. Francis County had a civilian labor force of 12,300, with 10,975 working and 1,325 not working.
The numbers gave St. Francis County the ninth highest unemployment out of 75 counties in the state. Of the ten counties with the highest unemployment, four are adjacent to or near St. Francis County.
Unemployment in surrounding counties during March was as follows: Cross, 10.5 percent; Crittenden, 8 percent; Lee, 12.7 percent; Phillips, 11.2 percent; Monroe, 8.1 percent; Woodruff, 13.4 percent.
The state's highest unemployment was 14.6 percent, in Dallas County.
Widener will have its annual celebration this Saturday, May 1.
"This is our fourth annual Widener Day," said Mayor Dot Halford.
Things will start at 9 a.m. with Senior Citizens Bingo, always a popular event.
Kids' games begin at 10 a.m. The kids' games this year include a Hula Hoop contest, a bean bag throw and a candy walk.
Live entertainment will also start at 10 a.m.
At 1 p.m., political candidates will be allowed to speak.
There will be a bake auction at 2 p.m.
"And of course, we'll have our dunking booth, some yard sales, craft booths and a silent auction," said Halford.
There will also be food and drinks available all day, with proceeds going to the Widener Police Department.
Volunteers from across St. Francis County will have their walking shoes out Saturday, as the March of Dimes WalkAmerica rolls into town.
On Saturday, the March of Dimes will be celebrating the 34th Annual Walk to Prevent Birth Defects as volunteers gather at the Wal-Mart Supercenter parking lot to begin the annual charitable event.
Teams are encouraged to turn in their money prior to the event, but remaining donations will be accepted on Saturday morning. Registration for Saturday's festivities will take place from 8 to 9 a.m., with team pictures being made from 8:30 to 9:00 a.m. Volunteers will begin walking at 9 a.m.
Individuals wishing to participate should be at the starting location no later than 8:30 a.m. They may sign up and make a personal donation at that time to help fight birth defects.