A new ordinance adopted by the Mississippi County Quorum Court Tuesday night requires authorization from the Court to contract temporary or part-time work with any individual related to a current county employee for the foreseeable future.
The ordinance, which would need to be revisited for authorization each time a new individual related to a county employee is contracted for services, is largely a formality, according to county attorney, Dan Ritchey, who said the county added the authorization at the behest of the county's current auditor.
"It's one of those things that we need because the auditor tells me he wants to see it," Ritchey explained to QC members. "It's not really something we are required to have, but our auditor will issue a write-up if we don't have it, so I think it's best to just do it like this. At least for the time being."
Ritchey assured Personal Committee members that this would not require any change to the handbook as it applies only to contracted services and not full-time hires.
During Tuesday's meeting the court also approved an ordinance appropriating funds for the following items:
-- $162,680 in GIF funds to be spent on the Moore Center renovations ($139,680) and a new patrol unit for the Sheriff's Department ($23,000).
-- $192,000 in pass-through grant funds for the city of Manila from the Delta Regional Authority.
-- $8,260, $6,359 of which comes from Grant-Cities money, for the final draw on mitigation plans for the Office of Emergency Services.
-- $2,584 for the Juvenile Division of Circuit Court for six months of pay for a part-time processor.
Mississippi County Judge Randy Carney also informed QC members that the lawsuit against the city of Blytheville for due jail fees was filed earlier that day.
cpinkard@blythevillecourier.com