Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Coroner's mileage questioned by Court

Questions were raised about the Nevada County Coroners mileage at the April meeting of the Nevada County Quorum Court.

Gary Hicks, coroner, presented his report to the Court, bringing the Justices of the Peace up to date as to what hes been doing as an elected official. The report stated he handled eight cases in March and worked 83 hours in his capacity as coroner.

The report showed he drove 284 miles in March, bringing his annual total to 1,098 miles.

Hicks pointed out the pager he had didnt work and asked the Court to cancel the contract and get him a new, more reliable one. He told the Court, though, a new pager wasnt in the coroners budget.

JP Susie Key said the pager is an urgent need and asked if the Court could get information from the Nevada County Sheriffs Office on what it pays for pagers.

Steve Otwell, Nevada County Sheriff, said the NSCOs pagers are with Teletouch and provide statewide coverage. He added if more pages are added the cost goes up.

Arval Mason changed the topic to mileage, saying there have been changes the Court hasnt seen before, including the coroner apparently going some places more than once.

I dont put any miles I drive around to see whats going on, Hicks said. I only write official business on mileage, but if you dont think its appropriate, dont pay it. Hicks said he will continue bringing the Court monthly reports of what hes doing in office. Additionally, he said, he does some county work when doing personal business but doesnt put it on his mileage report.

Otwell spoke up saying the NCSO would take care of the cost of two pagers for the coroner. This would provide pagers for Hicks and one of his deputies.

Nevada County Judge James Roy Brown said the coroners office is likely to run out of money before the end of the year at this rate. This would mean Hicks would have to come back before the Court and ask it to appropriate funds to continue operating the office.

Hicks said he would be coming back to ask for further appropriations.

He also brought up the need to pass an ordinance for his deputies to make them legal. No ordinance had been written, and no action taken on the matter. However, County Attorney Joe Graham did say there is paperwork filed concerning the coroners deputies and they are operating legally.