Jefferson County judge responds to payroll controversy, layoffs
JEFFERSON COUNTY, Ark.- Jefferson County Judge Gerald Robinson responded to a controversy regarding county employee payroll as well as recent layoffs.
The controversy started last week when Robinson refused to sign off on the payroll for April 15 because he said a former county assessor wanted sick time he said she doesn’t have.
It was a claim some members of the quorum court and the sheriff disputed, with some calling it a bald-faced lie.
Now 10 of the county’s road workers have been laid off which was another decision made by Robinson. Robinson said that last week’s payroll controversy stemmed from policies being violated and his decision to lay off 10 road department workers was due to the lack of funding.
Many Jefferson County workers were left heated after Robinson’s final decisions, one he said started with violations.
“Policies were being violated, laws were being broken, and that’s why I denied payroll,” Robinson said.
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He said the county employee trying to use sick time from 15 years ago was the reason for his hold on signing the payroll.
“We asked the county clerk’s office to remove that person from the payroll so that we could pay,” Robinson said.
He said he eventually signed but will be taking legal action against the employee, something he said could’ve been prevented.
“The county clerk is the human resource manager for the county and should know the policies,” he said.
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And as for the layoffs at the road department, he’s said it’s a conscious decision.
“Until we can get back into a better financial state,” he stated.
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