In a short special called Quorum Court meeting on Thursday morning, three appropriation ordinances were approved and one was referred back to the finance committee for review.
Justice Molly Jackson was elected to preside at the meeting with members Bill Nelson, Neil Burge, Rick Ash, Howard “Bubba” Norvell, Betty Hepler, Alvin Clay and JoAnn Hinton in attendance.
The first ordinance (02020-30) was to approve a JAG Grant for the Mississippi County Sheriff’s Department in the amount of $58,007 with $29,004 for small equipment and $29,003 for chemicals/cleaning supplies.
The ordinance was approved unanimously.
The second ordinance approved unanimously was the appropriation of funds for the Blytheville courthouse renovations in the amount of $650,000.
A third ordinance was to approve the lease of a track loader to be used at the landfill for the remainder of the 2020 year in the amount of $4,715. The ordinance was approved unanimously.
The final ordinance on the agenda, an appropriation for internet services, will be sent back to the finance committee for further review and adjustments.
Justice Ash said he would like to see an agreement from all of the mayors to allow the internet service to be on 24 hours a day for the students.
He went on to say he wanted assurance the internet services will remain on after the libraries are closed to allow the students access.
Tuesday’s QC meeting
During Tuesday night’s regularly scheduled monthly Quorum Court meeting seven of the 11 justices were present. Because Mississippi County Judge John Alan Nelson was not present, Justice Molly Jackson oversaw the meeting.
Justices not present were Slyvester Belcher, Michael White, Fred Fleeman, and Alvin Clay.
Due to only seven members being present the justices were only able to vote on the resolution on the agenda as an ordinance takes eight justices voting affirmative to approve.
The resolution voted on and passed was a tax back resolution for White Gold Mills, LLC located in Wilson.