On Friday, Blytheville Mayor James Sanders said the city paid the county $350,000 towards its jail fees bill.
In an email to the Blytheville City Council, Sanders wrote: “In the process of settling the jail fee issue,our Municipal League attorney, Mike Mosley, has recommended a partial payment of the jail fees based on the litigated definition of "municipal prisoner"Arkansas State Supreme Court define term. At this time ,based on the City's audit, The City has concluded it owes an amount greater than $350.000.00 and as of 11:30 a.m. this morning we have made this partial payment at Mr. Mosley's recommendation and approval of our City's attorney. The payment has been delivered to Mr. James Harris office and an ‘Acknowledgement Letter’ has been signed by Judge Terri Brassfield and myself acknowledging the transfer of these funds. We will keep you advised as progress in this matter results.”
Harris said he has been working with the city’s attorneys on the matter.
In February, the Arkansas Supreme Court reversed and remanded a decision by the Mississippi County Circuit Court regarding the longstanding jail fees battle between the city of Blytheville and Mississippi County.
The state’s high court ruled that Blytheville owes the county jail fees, reversing a Circuit Court decision that said the city should only pay for prisoners who violate municipal ordinances, not state laws.