Garland County quorum court decisions

Five ordinances were considered by the Garland County quorum court last night. All five were passed by consensus. Four were read by title only.
Appropriation ordinance O-10-41
This ordinance addresses money transfers by the county treasurer recommended by the legislative audit. The breakdown is as follows. A transfer of $32,865.82 from the environmental services maintenance and operations fund to environmental services park. A transfer of $54,885.59 from the environmental services maintenance and operations fund to environmental services storm water. A transfer from the court cost fund of $3,682.00 to court cost, division one. A transfer of $3,696.34 from the court cost fund to court cost, division three. A transfer of $4,730.43 from court cost fund to court cost, division four. A transfer of $4,170.42 from court cost fund to court cost, division two. A transfer of $200,000 from the County general fund to the assessor reappraisal fund.
Appropriation ordinance O-10-42
This ordinance allocates funds, $17,632.22, for the juvenile detention center budget fund from the County general fund. Funds are divided as follows, $4,614.22 for the school lunch program reimbursement, $5,000 for the Arkansas department of education grant and $8,018.00 for the department of finance and administration grant.
Appropriation ordinance O-10-43
A new position in the Garland County detention center was filled by deputy with a salary difference of $107.00. The change in position required a transfer of $136.00 from the Garland County detention center maintenance and operations budget to the Garland County detention center maintenance and operations fund.
Appropriation ordinance O-10-44
This was the only ordinance read in its entirety. This ordinance appropriates $450,000 from the general fund to the OMH sale fund to pay the Estate of Steven McFarland the entire amount for settlement of the Eighth Circuit Appellate Case No. 10-1551, U.S.D.C. Case No. 07-6019.
County attorney Ralph C. Ohm advised the finance committee that a Federal Court Jury awarded a judgment in the amount of $5,000,000 in compensatory damages and $1,000,000 in punitive damages against nurse Tommy Harmon and Sgt. Donald Ansley. This case involves the allegation that nurse Harmon failed to properly and adequately evaluate McFarland at the time he was admitted to the jail followed by an allegation that Sgt. Ansley failed to properly administer CPR once McFarland was discovered in jail in distress.
A motion for summary judgment was granted for Sheriff Sanders, jail administrator Mel Steed and Garland County, Arkansas. The plaintiff is seeking to have the County, Sheriff Sanders and Captain Steed returned to the case. None of the defendants admit any type of liability but the $450,000 is in settlement on their behalf. This settlement will satisfy the $5.2 million dollar judgment entered against nurse Harmon and Sgt. Ansley and will insure the claims against the County, the Sheriff and the jail administrator, along with the other defendants are dismissed with prejudice.
Appropriation ordinance O-10-45
A supplemental appropriation is necessary to complete the 2010 road projects. The sum of $498,197 was moved from the road fund to the road budget for asphalt.
Rain and storms over the last two years have taken their toll on road conditions. This appropriation will put the county back on track with the 2010 road projects.
The Garland County quorum court will meet next on September 13 at 7 p.m. at the Garland County courthouse.