By KENDALL OWENS
T-H Staff Writer
St. Francis County employees could be in line for a pay hike if members of the quorum court's personnel committee get their way.
On Tuesday night, committee members approved a pair of recommendations which would give the group's budget committee options of 3 and 5 percent pay increases to consider at its meeting next week.
According to committee chairperson Earline Smith, several options were available to attempt to give additional compensation to the county workforce.
"We've discussed several options which include a possible incentive bonus in June similar to what we did late last year. We've also discussed a 3 percent across-the-board raise for all employees," Smith said.
While committee members all agreed on the need for pay increases, no one offered ways to fund them. When asked by a member of the budget committee how the raises would be funded, Smith answered, "That's for the budget committee to figure out."
Justice Donald Cagle said during the first four months of this year, budget projections will give the county's general account, which includes payroll, a $300,000 deficit.
"First, overall I think a raise would be good for our employees because we haven't done so over the past few years. My only problem is where would the money come from? I've looked at our budget figures for the first four months of this year, and we have $700,000 in projected revenue and $1 million in projected expenditures. The only place that we could find any money right now is in the trust account," Cagle said.
Smith answered the questions later in the meeting. "I think we need to take a long look at this because it always seems to me that whenever there's a money crunch we always look at the employees first. We can't ever seem to find money for raises, but we can always find money for other stuff that comes up," Smith said.
Justices also agreed to consider removing the $10 fee for employee insurance that employees began paying in 2001. According to Cagle the insurance costs are the only remaining cuts from the budget woes of 2001.
"A couple of years ago, just to balance our budget and get through the year, we asked a lot of folks to make changes, including the employees. Last year, as finances got better we began removing those cuts, and we did it for everyone but the employees. I think it's time we gave that money back to them. While it won't be a raise, it's something that wouldn't be taken from their checks," Cagle said.
Justices briefly discussed possible incentive bonuses for employees, both in the summer and the bonus annually given in the fall. Justice Sam Armstrong suggested that justices stick to the idea of attempting to give a pay raise.
"Me, personally, I'd (elected officials) rather not get a pay raise, but make sure that the employees get a raise and not the extra incentive pay because a raise is something permanent," Armstrong said.
At last month's meeting of the quorum court, it was mentioned that justices might want to compare salaries of St. Francis County employees with those of employees in neighboring counties. Justice Charles Jones said last night, the comparison does not include all of the factors needed for a determination.
"I looked over the documents from the Arkansas Association of Counties and it was more complicated than I thought it would be. You have to factor in the various amounts and look at the size of the counties before you can get an accurate representation. The information we were given just doesn't give you everything that you need," Jones said.
By DAVID NICHOL
T-H Staff Writer
The Forrest City City Council on Tuesday agreed to stop condemnation procedures against a church building, and also passed an ordinance establishing filing deadlines for independent candidates for city office.
Proceedings had begun at an earlier meeting to condemn the old First Christian Church building at 327 S. Washington, which was thought to be hazardous. However, since then, some work has been done on the building and more is expected.
"I think the major concern was that we didn't want the same thing that happened on the corner of Izard and Front streets to happen," said Bryant. In that incident, an old building had actually fallen into the street. It happened at night, and no one was injured and no property damaged other than the building itself. There were concerns expressed because the church building is located in an area which has heavier traffic.
Bryant said the present owners "actually want to do some outreach and church services there." He said the city would keep an eye on the building.
Alderman Roger Breeding agreed. "We can always put it back under condemnation," he said.
The ordinance to set filing deadlines for independent candidates needed to be adopted at least 90 days before the May primary, and city attorney Alan Cline said that meant it needed to be done Tuesday. He said the state law, which allows cities to set the deadlines, has been changed slightly to help avoid confusion.
"There was some confusion during the last election over what the deadlines were," Cline said. "It wasn't only Forrest City, but throughout the state there was some confusion."
The General Assembly amended the requirements.
"The amendment added that the earliest a person can file (as an independent in a municipal election) is 20 days prior to the preferential primary. That was not a part of state law. It also clarified that municipalities can enact this deadline as the filing period for candidates for municipal offices," Cline said.
The ordinance also establishes noon on the day before the preferential primary as the last day for independent candidates to file for municipal offices.
The vote was unanimous.
In other action, the council agreed to seek bids on uniforms for the city's summer baseball and softball programs.
On another matter, the council's parity committee, which is working on recommendations for city employee salary increases, will meet Monday, Feb. 8, at 5 p.m.
By TAMARA JOHNSON
Managing Editor
A man who once worked as an auxiliary police officer in a nearby county was arrested during a drug raid at his home early today in rural St. Francis County.
Rickey Steward, 44, and his wife, Diane Steward, 46, were asleep when police raided their home at 537 SFC 333, in the Telico area near Forrest City.
Both were arrested on a variety of drug charges after police executed the search warrant about 2 a.m.
Officials with the St. Francis County Sheriff's Department and the First Judicial District Drug Task Force reportedly found about one gram of methamphetamine, several guns and anhydrous ammonia during the search of the interior and exterior of the home. One of the guns was reportedly loaded and found under the mattress on which the Stewards were sleeping, according to investigators.
Both are charged with simultaneous possession of drugs and firearms, possession of drug paraphernalia with intent to manufacture, methamphetamine; possession of a controlled substance, methamphetamine; possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of anhydrous ammonia in an unlawful container.
Rickey Steward was out of jail on bond stemming from his arrest on drug charges in July last year at a rural Lee County residence. He was among four people arrested in a drug raid at the Marlin Lynn Reeves residence on Highway 259. At that time, Steward was charged with manufacturing a controlled substance, methamphetamine; simultaneous possession of drugs and firearms, possession of drug paraphernalia with intent to manufacture, possession of ephedrine with intent to manufacture and possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver, methamphetamine.
In July, Steward told police he was an officer with the Marianna Police Department and showed police a badge and gun that were registered to the MPD.
"He tells other people he's in law enforcement, but he is not now," said SFCSD Investigator Gene Wingo. "He was at the time of his first arrest. He had a badge and a gun registered to the Marianna Police Department. Officials with the MPD said he didn't work for them, but he had their stuff."
MPD Chief James Tucker confirmed this morning that Steward had been working as an auxiliary officer with the MPD for about three months when he was arrested in July, but is no longer associated with the department. Tucker said although the badge did belong to his department, the gun Steward had in July was his own, not the department's. Tucker also said Steward was not paid as an auxiliary officer. When asked if the badge had been returned to the department, Tucker responded that Steward's case is still pending in court. "He's not affiliated with us anymore," Tucker said.
Wingo said the raid today is part of an ongoing investigation into illegal drug activity in the area.
The Stewards were being held in the St. Francis County Jail this morning pending their arraignment in St. Francis County District Court this afternoon.
By KENDALL OWENS
T-H Staff Writer
The issue of possibly closing a railroad crossing in Palestine to allow crossing arms to be placed at the Highway 261 crossing should come before the Palestine City Council at their monthly meeting next week, according to Palestine Mayor Willetta Carroll.
According to a recent story in the Times-Herald, officials with the Arkansas Highway and Transportation Department have agreed to install the safety arms at the crossing which claimed the lives of two Palestine children last March. Palestine Mayor Willetta Carroll said she had received a copy of the letter which has been forwarded to Palestine city attorney Jerry Don Roberts.
"We tabled the issue so that we could take a good look at it, and we gave a copy to our lawyer to look over. Hopefully, we can make a decision at our next council meeting because we're in kind of a damned if you do, and damned if you don't situation," Carroll said.
According to Randy Ort with AHTD, the offer to install crossing arms on Hwy. 261 along with the installation of a locked gate at a crossing on Farrar Street, which would close the crossing to normal traffic but leave access for emergency personnel, is something that the department has done at other locations with some success.
"The railroad has a history of wanting crossings closed, so when we want to install arms at a location, they always want to see a crossing closed. The offer that we made to Palestine is one that we've also made to other municipalities that have the same type of issues, and we've had success with it," said Ort.
The February meeting of the Palestine City Council is scheduled for Tuesday, Feb. 10, at 7 p.m.
A 29-year old man being transferred from court to the St. Francis County Jail enjoyed brief freedom Tuesday after running away from a St. Francis County jailer.
According to a report from the SFC Sheriff's Department, Oma Lee James Jr., 714 Hicky St., Forrest City, was charged with third-degree escape after he fled the jail after appearing in chancery court. According to officials with the county jail, James was being held on a 10-day order for failure to comply with a protection order.
James was apprehended near the old water department meter station at the intersection of Rosser and Davis Streets about 10 minutes after his escape.