Prosecutor's office needs tops list of Quorum Court discussions Monday night

Poinsett County Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Martin Lily of Jonesboro, presented his case Monday night before the Quorum Court that the prosecutor's office needs extra funding.

The main issue at hand was the expenses of the office since the state pays his salary. He said his office is averaging four new felony cases per day with some 700 cases filed so far in 2009.

He and fellow prosecutor Jimmy Gazaway of Paragould are responsible for the running of the office as well as the associated responsibilities a law office requires including interviewing crime victims, reading police affidavit files and filing felony cases.

Lily compared his office's work load to that of the office in Greene County and said even with the Poinsett office's problems, they are current with their filings as opposed to Greene County which is 100 filings behind.

"The problem is, the load is not getting any lighter," said Lily. "Last year we opened 200 more cases than we closed. The work is increasing."

Lily also said he and Gazaway get no reimbursements for cell phone charges or mileage.

He said the office is also in need of law books and other things which are used in court or for preparing cases.

"Currently we have one full time and one part time employee," said Lily. "The full timer gets $27,000 with no benefits or insurance."

He went on to say that once the salaries and rent are deducted from what they receive, it leaves just $310 per month to cover the remaining expenses and operate the office.

To help alleviate the problem, Lily requested that the court appropriate an additional $2,000 per month for use in running the office. Additional he asked that another full time employee be hired as an employee of the county with all associated benefits.

This would be at a cost of $27,000 plus benefits, said Lily.

Lily then gave a number of areas where the additional funds can be pulled from.

"I know this is not the type of law enforcement the people of Poinsett County want to have," Lily said in conclusion of his presentation. "We're trying to give the people of the county the best prosecutor's office we can."

Once finished both justices Harold Blackwood of Tyronza and Randy Jones of Harrisburg voiced their support of the prosecutor's office and the work they do.

County Judge Charles Nix, said his only concern was making sure moneys are available.

"I have no doubt this is needed," said Nix. "And we'll give every consideration to this request when we start work on the 2010 budget. I agree that $310 is not enough to run an office. Of course, we have many things to consider. The money which was in the budget (in 2009) may not be there next year. All it is is a road map and we had cash flow problems last year. We just need to be sure."

Sherriff's Department needs

The Court addressed and passed three requests made by Sheriff Larry Mills including the purchase of a grate to trap items before they reach the sewer. In addition, a privacy fence would be put around the grate. The cost for this was estimated at $9,500.

The court also agreed to allow Mills buy a 16 channel recorder for the 911system at a cost of approximately $6,000 as well as a 15-passenger 2007 Ford Econoline van to transport prisoners for $19,200.

In other business, the justices:

* Passed resolution 2009-4 which adopts the Natural Mitigation Plan for Poinsett County for a five year period through 2014.

* Set Oct 17 as the date for the a countywide clean-up.

* Passed all minutes and financials from the August meeting.