County repeals $2 court fee

County repeals $2 court fee

News & Notes from October Quorum Court meeting

news@theeveningtimes.com

Crittenden County residents will no longer have to pay a two-dollar fine that goes in to police equipment fund as part of their court cost fees.

The Quorum Court voted to repeal the fee after they were informed by the state that the added assessment was illegal.

County Treasurer Charlie Suiter told the justices that he got a phone call from Keith Caviness, the attorney for the Administrative Office of the Courts, and was told that they had to stop collecting the fee.

“When I asked for a reason he said it is highly illegal,” Suiter said. “He said we can not put the two dollars from the defendant for the equipment fund.”

Suiter said Caviness cited Arkansas code 16-10-305 section (d) which states that “no town or city or county shall authorize the court to assess or collect any other court costs other than those authorized by this act unless specifically provided by state law.”

The statute authorized the court to assess a fine of $150 for each felony, $100 for misdemeanors or violations of state law, $75 for misdemeanor violations of city ordinance, $300 for DWI, and $25 for non-traffic offenses.

“It doesn’t say that anything can be added,” Suiter said.

Suiter said the equipment fund fee brings in about $800 a year.

Several justices commented that they were confused by the directive because cities and counties throughout the state have fees for such purposes as the public defender’s fund.

“That doesn’t make sense,” said Justice Vickie Robertson.

“I think all counties do that,” added Justice Lorenzo Parker, who is a third year law student.

Wheeless said district court has already stopped collecting the fee.

“Judge (Fred) Thorne called my office and is adamant about not collecting it,” Wheeless said. “I told him we would stop at the (Quorum) court.”

Suiter said he has forwarded a copy of the statute to County Attorney Joe Rogers.

In other business:

• County employees will be getting a nice Thanksgiving dinner on the job.

The Quorum Court voted to hire two local catering companies to serve up turkey dinners to all of the county’s 250 employees.

Justice Lisa O’Neal said the county wanted to do this to show their appreciation to its employees.

“I think it’s a nice idea,” O’Neal said.

The county got two bids from CG’s catering and Custom Catering which both were for $10 a plate.

“The only difference is that CG’s has sliced turkey breast and chicken and Custom Catering has just the sliced turkey,” O’Neal said.

Since both catering services had identical bids, Justice Vickie Robertson made a motion to hire both.

The county has 250 employees.

CG’s will deliver meals to the Sheriff’s Department and Jail and Custom Catering will serve meals to employees at the county courthouse.

Dinner will be served on Nov. 15, from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

• The Court agreed to fund a full time position in the assessor’s office at a salary of $17,600.

The assessor’s office already has $8,000 left in its budget and another $5,000 from a position from an employee who retired which will leave the county only needing to fund the $4,000.

By Mark Randall