Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Hicks unhappy with Coroner's budget

Newly-elected Coroner Gary Hicks wasn't thrilled to see the office's budget unchanged from last year.

He voiced his complaint to the Nevada County Quorum Court at its December meeting.

Hicks proposed a budget in excess of $17,000, only to see it remain at $5,905, the same it was in 2004. He said the money would allow him to upgrade the equipment and do the job as the law requires.

Laws, he said, have been passed the coroner's office hasn't been following. One of these is the requirement of the county coroner to examine all nursing home deaths, whether foul play is suspected or not. But, he added, to do a proper investigation takes about 20 hours.

Should a family member request an autopsy and the death be ruled foul play, the county could be held liable.

Hicks said if a person is shot or stabbed there's no problem in ruling foul play, but if poison's involved nothing can be done. Part of the reason is the county has no way to preserve the body.

"What I requested and turned in," he said, "is not reflected in this budget."

Nevada County Judge James Roy Brown asked if the court wanted to place the original request in the minutes. This was approved.

"I work for myself," Hicks said, "and when I do this I'm not making any money. I only asked for enough so I don' t lose money while I'm working for the county. What I asked for was enough to do the job the law requires be done."

Hicks said Act 499 of 1999 requires the coroner to investigate all nursing home deaths. However, he added, only 10 counties in the state are complying. Nevada County is not one of the 10.

One of the major needs, he said, is a cooler to store bodies in until the Arkansas State Crime lab can send someone to Prescott.

William Mullins addressed the court on this issue. He said he talked with the Hempstead County coroner about the two counties going in together on a cooler. If this occurred, the cooler could be located at the University of Arkansas Community College at Hope (UACCH), where a smaller version of the crime lab holds classes. It was also discussed four counties, Nevada, Hempstead, Pike and Lafayette, could go in together on a cooler. Mullins said grants may be available for such a project. Otherwise, the coolers could cost the county between $8,000-$10,000 for the cooler and a building.

The crime lab, he said, recommended a Florida-based company. A three person cooler would cost $4,450, with freight being another $120. The cooler could be placed at Brazzel/Cornish Funeral Home, which would save the cost of a building.

The state crime lab, Mullins said, is backlogged, some 16,000 cases.

Bob Cummings, a member of the court's budget committee, said the budget was increased for 2004, but couldn't be this year because money is tight. "I suggest we look at the budget again in April," he said.

"I'm disappointed," Hicks said. "This is something we need to pay more attention to. I'll always be honest with you, and I expect the same."