Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Quorum Court Approves '99 Budget

BY AUTUMN LEAMONS

Budgets were the big discussion at the December 14 regular meeting of the Nevada County Quorum Court. After the normal discussion, the budget was passed.

The meeting went well, considering the subject that was discussed.

George Clary started the first question for the court, why there had to be $40,750.00 in the supplies for the solid waste in Nevada County. "The money is allowed in case a new garbage truck has to be purchased within the year," Judge James Roy Brown said.

"If the county does not use the money for that purpose then why couldn't they take the money out and use it on some other needed cause?" Clary asked the judge. The money could be transferred to another account, Brown told the members, if it has not been used by April of the year that the money is appropriated, and after it is taken approved by the justices.

Gary Lewis, another JP, questioned Duncan Culpepper's janitorial services. Culpepper is the municipal judge. Lewis said that he could not understand why the court was paying to have Culpepper's office cleaned when it is not in the court house.

Brown said Culpepper's office would be in the new State Revenue building when it is completed and then it will be part of the courthouse.

After 40 minutes of questions the Quorum Court members voted to approve the budget for 1999.

Mary Martin and Allene Spencer from the Nevada County Library were at the meeting to address the court with some problems that the library is facing.

Martin told the court that she knew that funds weren't just floating around out there and if they were that she would be asking for money all the time.

Saying the Library is a big asset to the Prescott-Nevada County area, Martin said that she is worried about the facility, because of the repairs and updating that need to be done. She said the city of Prescott donated $10,000 to the library last year for some well needed repairs, but that did not cover everything.

Spencer said she had all the library's figures if the court would like to look over them, saying, "It is hard to pay the bills and meet minimum wage to employees."

Brown appointed a committee to look into the matter. The committee consists of Gary Lewis, John Henderson, and himself.

The meeting came to a conclusion with Judge James Roy Brown saying a few kind words about Billy Bob Rhodes, who will not return after the first of the year. The rest of the court agreed with the judge and the meeting was adjourned.