BC Quorum Court to vote on appropriation ordinance to cover federal judgement against county

The Baxter County Quorum Court will vote on a few appropriation ordinances during its regular May session Tuesday evening at 5:30. One of the ordinances cover a judgment from a lawsuit filed against the county by the Human Rights Defense Center.

The suit had been filed in the U.S. District Court of Western Arkansas challenging the postcard-only mail policy at the Baxter County Detention Center as unconstitutional. Judge Timothy Brooks sided with the Human Rights Defense Center in March of 2023, and according to the proposed ordinance, the county’s portion of the judgment will be over $102,000. The remainder will be covered by the Association of Arkansas Counties’ Risk Management Fund. If approved by the justices of the peace, the funds will be appropriated from the jail maintenance and operation fund into the jail maintenance and operation budget.

Some additional appropriation ordinances will be presented to the court. Other ordinances include personnel policy revisions for Baxter County and the sheriff’s office and the approval of a full-time deputy treasurer. The court will also vote on resolutions to appoint county citizens to the boards of commissioners of area fire protection districts and to the equalization board.

The meeting will be held in the second floor courtroom of the Baxter County Courthouse.

WebReady^TM Powered by WireReady^® NSI