During Monday nights scheduled Quorum Court meeting, Judge Dale Freeman brought up the subject of raises for the county employees as stated on the agenda. Justice Alex Latham agreed and stated if the county wanted to keep up with employers like PECO and others offering better starting pay the county would need to increase pay to keep current employees and attract future employees. Recently the Quorum Court moved elected officials up to the state minimum for elected officials but no hourly employee raises were announced. The county faces different pay schedules with elected officials pay, hourly pay and longevity pay scales. During the meeting voices from the public could be heard asking members for explanation’s about newly hired employees making more than employees with years of experience. This sparked a heated discussion across the table with little explained about how the current system was laid out.
The discussion between the Judge and members of the Quorum Court then turned toward the Road Department budget which the Judge claimed had been cut. Judge Freeman then stated that his department was not receiving the same funding as Former Judge Alex Latham’s budget, Latham denied that in the meeting. During this discussion which began as a talk about county employee raise and drifted into a discussion about the county road department and the ½ cent sales tax for county roads the County Judge went as far as threatening legal action against the Quorum Court if funds were not returned to the road department.
Justice Briner stated that committees were in place in the past for these reasons and stated that the Judge had disbanded these. Briner stated meetings and committees should take place, Freeman threatened to Veto any decisions made by such committees, Quorum Court members threatened to then overturn Vetos and the Judge replied he would then bring in the public on such matters. Quorum Court members then tried to explain the budget to the judge, Freeman stated the budget had been changed 3 times since voted on and blamed County Clerk Tina Stowers for making changes to the departments budget. At this point the judge focused his attention on the Sheriff’s budget claiming that last year unapproved changes in the budget cost the county $180,000, Judge Freeman then stated that not only was County Clerk Tina Stowers responsible but also included County Treasurer Marilyn Crafton, Crafton’s husband serves as a Quorum Court member and at this time addressed the Judge. Heated words and mild threats were exchanged by the two in open court. Justice Jim Jones then made a motion to adjourn the meeting, Freeman ask why and Jones stated that he refused to be involved in the type of conversation taking place.
Judge Freeman then stated he could not fix the county roads with the current funds. After an exhausting argument Freeman finally stated “Forget it, I can’t make y’all understandâ€.
The meeting then again changed directions after the Judge stated the county was being sued over culverts put in without the proper permits, Freeman stated these were put in during Latham’s administration.
After the conversation strayed from the employee raises, a jailor with the Lawrence County Sheriff’s Office addressed the court as to why no vote was held about the raises. Members stated no vote had been held. The jailor then asked why dispatchers were making more money than jailers. The jailor stated that dispatchers were unfairly making much more than jailors.
Interruptions once again came from the public in attendance concerning the pay raises, Tina Stowers then ask if Dispatchers who recently received raises would be given the additional raises if passed, Freeman once again showed displeasure. Another voice from the audience again questioned the judge about the raises and if elected officials would be receiving them, Freeman again lashed out stating some elected employees did not work on Friday sparking yet another heated discussion about pay raises.
The Quorum Court then decided to allow a 3% pay raise with the possibility of more if needed. The raises will come into effect July 15th according to Tina Stowers.