Attorneys William S. Stone and Michael A. O’Quinn spoke on county commissioners and Large crowd turns out constitutional officers’ disagreement, as Chairperson Barbie Womble moderates meetings. There were two meetings called by the Miller County Commissioners of Roads and Revenue held Monday night, February 22. The first meeting got off to a good start with prayer.

Meeting One

A packed courtroom at the Miller County Courthouse with overflow running out into the halls heard attorneys for the commissioners and the constitution officers, which include the sheriff, tax commissioner, probate judge, clerk of courts and ordinary, speak on disagreements between the groups. The attorneys both stated that they did not disagree on law that governs the duties and responsibilities of the county commissioners and constitutional officers. Both Michael A. O’Quinn and William S. Stone agreed that there was no lawsuit. The two attorneys had met earlier in the day to discuss how litigation could be avoided.

The first question asked was about how much has this disagreement already cost and who would pay for it.

Barbie Womble stated that the county commissioners’ legal bill so far was approximately $5,000.00. The constitutional officers attorney’s bill was around $13,000.00. The sheriff also had an attorney, and she did not know who would pay for him. Womble answered the question, “The taxpayers will pay the $18,000.00 plus, attorney’s bill so far.

Ms. Womble then gave her explanation of what the commissioners had asked the constitutional officers to do in relation to a new personnel policy. She stated that it was not to take authority away from the constitutional officers or tell them how to run their departments, but to get everyone in agreement on procedures.

Stone again said that he and O’Quinn agreed on the law and said it would be to the best interest for all parties, including the taxpayers for this all to be settled as quickly as possible. He stated that the commissioners had no legal right to ask the constitutional officers to be under one policy. The other officers do not work for the county commissioners. It was explained that this was all started when the county commissioners threatened to cut employee benefits of constitutional officers if they refused to sign the personnel policy.

It was explained that the law is very clear that one group of elected officers cannot tell or attempt to control how another department spends its budget. That is up to each elected official after the commissioners approve budgets that the different departments work under.

It was agreed that most of the officials seem to have a genuine desire to resolve these issues.

Attorney O’Quinn stated that these problems are not unique to Miller County, but they reach all over the state and nation.

Ms. Womble stated that the county commissioners are under a personnel policy. The constitutional officers wanted the benefits, but not the procedures.

One citizen stated that the commissioners should let each elected official and those under them tend to their own business.

Attorney Stone again stated that benefits have nothing to do with personnel policy. He stated that the people are hearing a one-sided story from Ms. Womble.

Attorney O’Quinn asked that the meeting be closed.

Ms. Womble stated that she is happy to see so many citizens at these meetings, and stated that there would be more.

Some citizens stated that they didn’t come to the regular meeting since they couldn’t tell what was going on, and if they did, the commissioners went into closed sessions.

The first meeting was adjourned.

After about a five minute intermission, the second meeting was opened.

Meeting Two

The public hearing concerning the legislation on establishing a Miller County Board of Elections was opened by Chairperson Womble.

Ms. Womble stated the reason for the legislation was to diffuse a problem with Chief Registrar Evelyn Stubbs. Ms. Womble told of how Ms. Stubbs had asked for more money, and had threatened to quit just before an election along with the other two registrars. The commissioners decided that the election board would be a way of settling the problem, since the Miller County Grand Jury had just recommended Ms. Stubbs for the registrar, and Superior Court Judge Joe Bishop had renamed her again.

Ms. Stubbs told how she had attempted to explain the law as given by the Secretary of State, but to no avail.

Judge Bishop wrote the commissioners that they had the authority to set the pay for the registrars within the state minimums. He asked the commissioners to let him hear of their decision.

The board of registrars are still in office.

According to the House Bill 1044 that passed the House of Representatives, the election board would be appointed by the county commissioners, one from each district. One member shall be appointed at large. The bill did not specify who would make this appointment. Each election board member would be appointed for one year and could be removed by the county commissioners.

The HB1044 would relieve all duties now held by the Probate Judge from all powers and duties with regard to elections, and the probate judge give up all custody of election equipment and supplies. The chairperson will be the election superintendent.

Ms. Womble then took questions on the legislation.

The question was asked where the legislation stood now?

Womble stated that as of now the HB1044 was stopped in the Senate since Commissioner Wallace Phillips had come off the bill.

The next question was why does the board think that an appointed election superintendent, by the commissioners, would be better than a Probate Judge elected by the people?

Another citizen stated that voting rights under this bill are at jeopardy, since everyone who holds the elections under this bill is appointed by the commissioners. This would take the voting power of the citizens since they only get to vote for one of the five commissioners who appoint. He stated that the citizens do not have a lot of confidence in this board of commissioners.

The question was asked, “How do each of the commissioners feel about the new election board now?”

All board of commissioners except Commissioner Wallace Phillips stated that they stand by the bill since it would be cheaper for the county.

Another citizen then said that the legislation could possibly be introduced in the Senate, and pass. He asked that at least one more commissioner come off of the request to assure the people that this bill did not pass.

Ms. Womble stated that this was not a majority of the county voters and that she would like to have a straw vote on the ballot for the bill by all voters. A Democrat and Republican party would have to be established. Commissioner Clyde Jinks stated that he would come off of the legislation.

The meeting was adjourned, but the crowd lingered inside and out of the courthouse for a good while discussing the issues.

Editors note: This is far from everything that was asked and said, but there just isn’t enough time to write it or space to put it. Come to the meetings. It could save voting rights and taxes by letting the county commissioners know your wishes.