Bonuses Approved

Quorum Court OKs Money For County Workers

BENTONVILLE — A crowd of about 100 employees, friends and family broke into applause and cheers Thursday night when Benton County’s justices of the peace approved an employee bonus package.

The bonuses for employees, ranging from $250 to $1,125, were approved Thursday by the Quorum Court. Employees hired before Jan. 1, 2012 will receive $1,125. Employees hired between Jan. 1, 2012, and Dec. 31 will receive $875. Employees hired between Jan. 1 and March 31 will receive $250.

At A Glance

Quorum Court Action

Benton County's Quorum Court met Thursday and approved:

• A $65,000 study for a new courts building.

• Spending $10,000 on an irrigation system at the Juvenile Justice Center.

• Spending $8,500 to complete work on the heating and air-conditioning system at the County Administration Building.

• Spending $21,500 on the sprinkler system in the Information Technology room at the County Jail.

• Spending $18,100 for uniforms for employees at the jail.

• Authorizing $31,50 for two part-time nurses for the jail.

• Transferring $1,575,000 to the Road Department for road work and buying equipment.

• Spending $330,000 for equipment for the Road Department.

Source: Staff Report

With all of the seats in the Quorum Courtroom filled, the crowd spilled into the hallway, holding the doors open so those farthest away could see and hear what was happening. County Judge Bob Clinard noted the capacity of the meeting room, set at 65, was clearly exceeded and asked everyone to make note of the exits and to allow the meeting to proceed without interruption.

When Clinard asked for public comments at the outset of the meeting no one spoke.

Sheriff Kelley Cradduck addressed the issue during the normal discussion of the item, which was moved to the beginning of the meeting. Cradduck said the county has turnback money to spend only through the efforts of employees who were being considered for the bonuses.

“This is about showing appreciation to the very people who provided this money,” Cradduck said.

The justices of the peace voted 12 to 3 in favor of the bonuses, with Mike McKenzie, District 1 justice of the peace, Tom Allen, District 4 justice of the peace, and Shirley Sandlin, District 8 justice of the peace, voting against the bonuses.

McKenzie said he wants to consider raises during the normal budget process rather than taking money out of reserve. Sandlin also said she wants to have raises or salary adjustments kept within the Quorum Court’s normal procedures, as did Allen.

“It’s not a reflection on the employees.” Allen said. “I do believe you’re worth more than you’re being paid, but this should have been presented to us during the budget.”

Barry Moehring, District 15 justice of the peace, said he also wants to see raises discussed during the budget process, but said considering the bonuses now is appropriate. Moehring said the Quorum Court has chosen to spend turnback money on a range of items and employees were always on the list.

“We’ve spent money on security systems, on roads and a variety of other items,” Moehring said. “It seemed equitable to me to spend some of that turnback on our employees.”

The bonuses will also be paid to elected officials, not including justices of the peace, depending on their length of service in the office they hold. A motion to remove elected officials from the bonuses was made by Kurt Moore, District 13 justice of the peace, but that motion failed.

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