Quorum Court Splits on Prosecutor Staff

RISON - By a split vote, the Cleveland County Quorum Court approved a motion Monday night to fund one-third of the cost a new staff member within the prosecutor’s office who will be dedicated to processing criminal cases for Cleveland, Calhoun and Dallas counties to expedite the time those cases go to court.With eight of the nine justices of the peace present for Monday’s regular monthly meeting, a motion by Justice Charles Rodgers supporting the funding of one-third of the salary was approved by a 5-2 vote with one abstention. His motion noted that the funding would come from non-appropriated funds.Those justices voting in favor of the motion were Rodgers, Dwayne Ashcraft, Ricky Neal, Owen Rushing and Jeffery Smith. Those voting against it were Justices Melody Spears and Donnie Herring. Justice Pat Keegan abstained from the vote. Justice Bruce Brown was not at the meeting.After the vote was taken, County Judge Jimmy Cummings pointed out that the court had would need to approve an ordinance rather than a resolution to fund the staff person since it involved  an appropriation of money. In addition, he said an appropriation ordinance involving money requires a two-thirds of the members of the quorum court to pass it, which means it would take six to pass it.Cummings said the county clerk’s office would draft an ordinance to fund the position for the April quorum court meeting.Both 13th Judicial District Prosecutor Jeffrey Rogers and Deputy Prosecutor Eric Marks were at Monday night’s meeting. They said the Calhoun and Dallas County quorum courts had already agreed to fund the position. During the Cleveland County Quorum Court’s February meeting, Marks explained some of the issues the office is having with processing criminal cases for the three smallest counties within the judicial district: Cleveland, Calhoun and Dallas.He suggested having a staff person who would handle filing the criminal cases...