FAYETTEVILLE — The Washington County Quorum Court took a harder line this month about spending taxpayer dollars entrusted to County Judge Marilyn Edwards.
That’s partly because her staff brought more spending requests to the justices of the peace in August than the seven previous months combined.
After Thursday’s latest debate about spending, Edwards announced she would keep the Quorum Court Finance and Budget Committee composed of all justices of the peace rather than make it smaller as she proposed earlier this year. New legislation gives county judges more power to determine the size of Quorum Court committees.
Quorum Court members voted against three of the five spending requests either during committee meetings this month or at Thursday’s monthly meeting. One of those nay votes could mean reduced time the county animal shelter is open, Edwards said Friday.
At A Glance
Money Requests
Washington County Judge Marilyn Edwards’ staff made these spending requests of the Quorum Court this year.
• February
John Luther, director of the Department of Emergency Management, received approval to spend $10,000 for a hazard mitigation plan required by the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
• April
Ron Wood, buildings and grounds supervisor, received approval to buy a 2013 Dodge Ram pickup for $25,165.
• July
Sophia Stephenson, environmental affairs and recycling director, received approval to pay $39,600 for a federally mandated study of rural stormwater features, such as drains, outside city limits.
• August
Wood requested $93,520 for three requests including $64,693 for an air handling unit at the courthouse, $19,452 for a metal canopy between the courthouse and parking deck and $9,375 for fencing at the county animal shelter. The air unit was approved.
Dan Short, Edward’s chief of staff, requested three employee positions totalling $69,406 for this year and $180,436 annually. The request was voted down.
Juliet Richey, county planning director, received approval to spend $93,960 to replace a database no longer supported by software vendors.
Source: Staff report
“Actions speak louder than words,” Edwards said.
Sometimes full-time elected officials, such as the county judge, assessor or sheriff, must get Quorum Court approval to spend money outside their budget, such as for new employee positions. Other times, Quorum Court approval is needed to transfer money from one budget line to another, such as capital expenses.
Ron Wood, buildings and grounds supervisor, wanted to spend a combined $93,520 for three requests, including $64,693 for an air handling unit at the main courthouse, $19,452 for a metal canopy over a grassy area between the courthouse and the parking deck and $9,375 for fencing at the animal shelter.
Wood explained the air unit needed to be replaced. Angela Ledgerwood, shelter director, said the outdoor fence was to separate sick or new dogs without proper vaccinations from healthy dogs.
Edwards said Friday she wanted the canopy for employees who bring their lunch and want to eat outside in the shade. Wood explained to Quorum Court members jurors sometimes go outside during breaks in trials.
The Finance and Budget Committee voted against the canopy this month. The air unit won easy approval from the committee and the Quorum Court.
Justice of the Peace Candy Clark, committee chairwoman, was the tie-breaking vote at the committee meeting for the fencing but voted against it Thursday.
Clark said the buildings and grounds department capital funds are for emergencies.
Justice of the Peace Tom Lundstrum has said the canopy wasn’t a good use of taxpayer dollars. Clark said Friday she didn’t feel the fencing or canopy warranted an emergency.
“I think the shelter is the newest component of the county and everybody is going to be watching how it’s developed and then assess its needs,” Clark said.
Juliet Richey, county planning office director, requested computer software to replace an outdated system. The old system delayed her staff’s response to the public seeking information about county planning issues. The Quorum Court approved Richey’s $93,960 request.
“It seems most anything that comes before the Quorum Court is received pretty well until you come to the animal shelter,” Edwards said.
Dan Short, Edward’s chief of staff, began his pitch to add personnel at the animal shelter at the July 29 County Services Committee saying shelter employees were accumulating overtime and were stressed. He initially requested two new positions, a full-time veterinarian and a full-time vet technician.
Some Quorum Court members told him to ask for all the positions he needed.
He went the following week to the Personnel Committee and requested three positions after adding a kennel supervisor.
Justice of the Peace Barbara Fitzpatrick is one of Edwards most vocal supporters.
“I don’t have a problem trusting the head of any department to do their job because they’re actually doing it and I’m not,” she said. “I can’t tell Dan or Angela what they need to run the animal shelter because I’m not running the shelter.”
The Personnel Committee approved the three positions with an endorsement for approval by the full Quorum Court. The Finance and Budget Committee did the same the following day.
The Quorum Court on Thursday voted against the additions, after attempts were made to reduce the personnel positions back to two.
“I’m very sorry those two positions did not pass,” Clark said. “We need a vet and a vet tech.”
Short said he was disappointed in the Quorum Court’s vote and added he’ll have to recommend fewer operating hours or days at the shelter. Clark said she hoped county staff will return with a new request for two positions.
Edwards announced just after Thursday’s lengthy spending debate she planned to keep the size of the Finance and Budget Committee the same for the remaining year.
Quorum Court members created a committee of all 15 members in February despite objection from Edwards. She wanted to appoint a smaller committee. Justice of the Peace Eva Madison, who led the charge for a larger committee, said a committee of the whole is more efficient when legislating financial matters.
A last-minute amendment to a House bill, now Act 985, about county meetings added a provision stating Quorum Court committees can be no larger than the quorum of the whole body, unless authorized by the county judge.
That law took effect last week. Edwards said Friday too much of the year has passed.
“We’re making progress on the finances and the budgets this year,” Edwards said. “It would be a disruption to the county and the people of the county.”
Edwards declined to say if she would reduce the membership of the committee after the end of the year.