Fulton County Quorum Court passes ordinance regulating fire departments

The Fulton County Quorum Court held their first meeting of the year Jan. 3, during which an ordinance that will impact operations of each fire department within the county was passed.

Following a prayer, passing of the meetings from the previous meeting, the court got down to business.

Judge Kenneth Crow noted the clerk and treasurer’s reports were not yet available due to the early meeting date.

The first item on the agenda was the 2023 budget ordinance which needed to be passed. The ordinance, 2023-1, an ordinance for the annual operating budget for 2023 was read and after minor corrections were made, the ordinance passed.

Judge Crow then recommended when setting meeting dates and times that the meeting remain as is. The court was in agreement the meeting date and time would remain the third Monday at the month at 6 p.m.

The next item of business was to appoint a quorum court delegate.

“Our delegate was Joanna DeFoe, but now we need a replacement,” Crow said. 

One court member recommended J.P. Marjorie Rogers, as she was the first mayor of Cherokee Village and has served the citizens of Fulton County faithfully for years.

Rogers was appointed to the position.

A resolution for line of succession for Fulton County Sheriff’s position was also discussed and passed by the court.

The resolution expressed the courts desire that during a declaration of emergency in the case of the vacancy of the office of sheriff due to death or disability the position will be temporarily filled by a declaration of the sheriff previously written. The resolution stated William Faucet would stand in Sheriff Jake Smith’s place should the need arise.

The resolution was adopted. 

A fire districts ordinance was discussed and prefaced with statements by J.P. Al Roork who is also a former sheriff of Fulton County.

“During my career as a law enforcement officer there was a problem with fire departments and chiefs embezzling money from fire departments. Prosecutor Dewayne Plumlee had been involved in three separate cases where three different chiefs had been involved in these incidences,” Roork said. 

Roork explained a half cent tax had been passed in years prior to help fund the fire departments in Fulton County and generated approximately $500,000 a year. The funds generated through the tax are then broken down and distributed to each fire department. Roork said each department received about $50,000 annually through the tax paid by citizens.

“The problem we have and the reason for the theft is they are not monitored. It is shocking. They’re not audited. I personally think prevention is better than the cure. The cure is a felony charge and an extensive investigation which his costly,” Roork said. “The bottom line is it’s half a million dollars and this has got to stop. We need our fire departments. They’re vital to this county and for the most part do a wonderful job however they’re going to have to be monitored.”

Roork said with help, he had drafted an ordinance after speaking with the county attorney and obtaining a copy of a similar ordinance from another county In the state. He said changes were made to the template ordinance to better suit the county’s needs.

“I have written an ordnance mandating they be audited by a private auditor. The reason is the latest legislative audit told me they consider them to be a private entity so they’re not going to audit them . So I think it’s incumbent on us to mandate they be audited to protect the taxpayers and the citizens of Fulton County voted to give them a half cent sales tax,” Roork said. “..I was audited as sheriff the taxpayers deserve transparency. In some instances, if they get in a bind, this will happen again. I believe this ordinance will curtail it substantially.”

Ordinance 2023-02 an ordnance setting best policy and practices for annual reporting requirements to the quorum court of Fulton County and for other purposes, was then passed with an emergency clause, meaning the ordinance was placed in effect upon passage.

Judge Crow told the court he had formed a road committee consisting of multiple Justices and a member of the road department.

“Our members are Al Roork, Cris Newberry, Dennis Kinder, Ray Matthews, Jimmy Marler and from the road department, Tom Romine,” Crow said.

He then introduced some newly appointed employees of the county.

Representative Trey Steimel was present to speak to the court as well to offer his assistance on an as needed basis.

“I’d appreciate you reaching out to me but the best way I can serve you is if you communicate with me. I owe ya’ll, not people down there [in Little Rock]. That is a promise I made when I ran this race and that is a promise I will keep,” Steimel said.

Steimel also commended the court on their action with the ordinance for the fire departments.

The Fulton County Quorum Court meets the third Monday of the month at 6 p.m. at the Hickinbotham-Miller Building at the Salem Fairgrounds.