Two Mississippi County Courthouse offices are teaming up to try to save the county some money while providing quality service to county residents.
County Treasurer Peggy Meatte and County Assessor Harley Bradley will share an employee, if approved by the Quorum Court.
The two office-holders asked the Quorum Court's Personnel Committee for approval on Wednesday.
The one full-time employee will work two days a week in each office.
The two offices will split the expenses of the salary, the two said.
The issue will now go to the court's Finance Committee for funding, then to the full Quorum Court for approval or rejection.
County Sheriff Dale Cook also requested some additional slots for his office. He requested a chief deputy's slot be returned to the office. The position was formerly in place, but was eliminated several years ago. The chief deputy will have the rank of major, if approved.
The sheriff also asked for an additional captain's slot and two more patrol sergeant slots.
The captain's slot will be for a training and grants officer, Cook said, something the department has needed, but never had.
The two patrol sergeants are needed to provide supervision over the department's patrol shifts, he said. There are four patrol shifts and only two patrol sergeants, Cook said.
The department has needed these positions for some time now, in Cook's opinion.
"The department has been floundering in recent years because of needed leadership," he said. "We need these positions to protect and serve the citizens of the county."
Cook has already chosen the personnel for these positions, and those people are already performing the duties without the rank and pay, he said.
Bobby Stabbs, currently in a criminal investigator's slot, will serve as chief deputy. Lt. Andrew Harris, a new addition to the department, will be the training and grants captain, Cook said.
If these positions are approved, Cook plans to hire or promote other officers to fill the CID and lieutenant's slots, he said.
If approved, the county's Finance Committee will need to find more than $200,000 in additional funding to pay the salaries.
Cook said the expense will be justified.
"The positions will save the county in the long run because the office will run more efficiently," he said.
Justice Emmanuel Lofton said the decision was a difficult one. "The hardest decision is knowing there's a need out there," he said.
Justice Fred Fleeman encouraged his colleagues to support Cook's request. "I don't think he'd be here if he didn't have a need," Fleeman said.
Brenda Burke, the county's financial manager, then spoke with the committee regarding the county's employee policy. A new version of the current policy has been drafted. The new version is a more condensed, precise listing of the policies.
Justices voted to include the new version in the policy manual.
Burke also spoke to justices about the county's custom of buying back employees' unused vacation time. If an employee has been with the county for more than 10 years, the employee can "sell back" up to 10 days of vacation and receive payment instead.
Burke asked the court to consider placing a phrase in the personnel policy reflecting the county's ability to make these payments. By adding "if funds are available," the county can opt out of this if need be.
The court's Finance Committee will meet at 1:30 Tuesday in the county judge's office in Blytheville.
dhilton@blythevillecourier.com