The Pulaski County Quorum Court has given preliminary approval for spending $115,000 on a grinder pump to better control sewage coming from the county jail that has caused a backup at Interstate Park.
Pulaski County Chief Deputy Sheriff Mike Lowery told the Quorum Court on Tuesday night that the problem was because of the amount and type of waste being generated at the jail, including cups and other materials flushed down toilets. Lowery said Little Rock officials had complained to the sheriff's office, prompting the request at Tuesday night's meeting.
A grinder pump turns waste into fine material.
The money for the grinder would come from Act 1188 funds. Act 1188 levies a $5 court fee on people found guilty of misdemeanor and traffic offenses. In 2014, the Quorum Court approved the use of thousands of dollars in Act 1188 funds for a new holding cell at the courthouse, five new air-conditioning units at the jail and radios for detention officers.
This would be the first use of the funds in 2015.
The Quorum Court also gave preliminary approval to use $75,000 in Act 1188 funds to renovate showers at the jail and $12,000 on 20 devices for detention officers to wear that would alert other officers to trouble. The same ordinance would also allow for $35,537 in federal drug seizure funds to be used on equipment for the SWAT team and a pickup for the Water Patrol.
The ordinance was moved on a vote of 14-0, with District 10 Justice of the Peace Robert Green Sr., D-McAlmont, absent after leaving earlier in the meeting. A final vote will be held at the Quorum Court's April 28 meeting.
Metro on 04/15/2015