Quorum Court tables drug court gift card plan

Quorum Court tables drug court gift card plan

Justices dubious about petty cash for grads

news @theeveningtimes.com

A skeptical Crittenden County Quorum Court wants to hear from Circuit Court Judge Cindy Thyer before they approve creating a petty cash fund for Drug Court.

Circuit Court Clerk Terri Hawkins told justices that Thyer asked her to present an ordinance to the Quorum Court to establish a $500 petty cash fund to use to purchase gift cards for graduates of Drug Court.

“It’s like ten dollar gift cards for Wal Mart or a gas card,” Hawkins.

“We will never have more than $500 in it and they (Drug Court personnel) will have to have an order that the circuit judge has approved them to request this money from it.”

Justices remained unconvinced, however, citing concerns over the need for such a fund because of problems in the past.

“I don’t have a problem with the reward,” said Justice Vickie Robertson. “I just want to make sure the accountability is there.”

Drug Court was set up to let offenders avoid felony drug charges by successfully completing a supervised drug rehabilitation program.

Violators must complete a one year program where they are required to pass all drug tests and pay all fines.

“It’s a chance for people who made a bad decision to become productive citizens again,” Hawkins said.

Hawkins said Drug Court regularly offers gift cards from stores such as Walmart as incentives to the graduates.

The court has charge accounts with Pizza Pro and Marion Marketplace and they turn in receipts through the regular claims process for reimbursement.

However, Walmart does not have any kind of charge accounts.

Hawkins said in order for the Drug Court to purchase Walmart gift cards they must have the county treasurer write a check to Judge Thyer. Judge Thyer’s office is in Jonesboro which necessitates a special trip to pick up the check, cash it, give it to the Drug Court to buy the cards, and for her to keep track of the accounting.

“She was having to keep up with all of the receipts and then turn it all back in,” Hawkins said. “Also, she didn’t want the check in her name. She asked if I could help with this. Since I am already collecting the money and keeping the court records this was just an easier way to keep it all here. So that’s where this petty cash fund comes from.”

Hawkins said she has already spoken to the auditors and was told it was legal to have a petty cash fund as long as it was controlled by an elected official.

“I will have to keep a whole set of books and the auditors can come in any time and see if I have enough receipts or enough cash at any time,” Hawkins said.

Drug Court personnel will then have to come to her with a request from the judge for a certain amount of dollar to purchase a specific number of gift cards.

Hawkins will in turn write them a receipt showing she paid out the money.

“They have to have something from the circuit court judge to say to take it out,” Hawkins said. “Then we bring those receipts back and I will turn them in to the county. Otherwise, nobody gets any money.”

Robertson questioned why it wouldn’t be easier for Hawkins to just go and buy some gift cards and hand them over when needed instead of using petty cash.

“You can just go and buy 20 cards and hand out the cards and not worry about anybody cashing checks,” Robertson said. “And just keep them locked up. Then they can just come to you and say we’ve got five people who are going to get a card and you give out five cards. That way you know exactly who got the cards.”

Brian Holt, area manager for Arkansas Community Corrections, said they don’t always buy gift cards for program participants.

“It could be a gas card,” Holt said. “We’ve got some folks right now when if they pass their drug test we’re buying them a ham.

So we need easy access to those funds to go buy things. You’re limiting us to what we can do for incentives.”

Robertson said the graduates could always go to Walmart and buy their own ham.

“There is very little you can’t get from Walmart these days,” Robertson said.

Hawkins said she would ask Judge Thyer to come to the next meeting to answer questions.

“If that’s the way you would prefer us to do it that way, that’s fine with me,” Hawkins said. “Judge Thyer was traveling out of state and could not be at the meeting. If you want to table this she would be more than happy to be here.”

Robertson said she would be more comfortable just buying gift cards and not using petty cash.

“The judge has her job to do. We have our job to do,” Robertson said. “I just want to make sure money is spent wisely.”

The court decided to once again table the ordinance until the January meeting.

By Mark Randall