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Pulaski County Council approves sheriff commissary ordinance, advertises transfers and reauthorizes council attorney
Summary
Council voted on routine county business including a sheriff commissary ordinance, advertising grant‑funded transfers for Superior Court, EMA budget additions, approval of Jacob as council attorney with a $6,000 retainer, and other administrative transfers.
Pulaski County Council took a series of administrative actions and votes during the meeting, approving a sheriff commissary ordinance, authorizing advertising for several transfer requests, confirming Jacob as the council’s attorney under a $6,000 annual retainer, and approving transfers for the prosecutor and assessor.
Sheriff Chris Shramship asked the council to adopt an ordinance to clarify permitted uses of commissary funds, which Shramship described as jail‑generated prisoner funds set by statute rather than tax revenues. "If you have any questions about that, I can surely answer them for you," he said. After the county attorney reviewed the draft, a motion to accept the ordinance was made and carried.
Judge Coker presented grant‑funded transfer requests for Superior Court that will be reimbursed by outside grants (veterans court and drug court funds). Coker said the transfers would be used to purchase office equipment and to cover contracted services such as public defenders and case management that the grant will reimburse. The council voted to advertise the transfers as required.
EMA (Emergency Management) and other departmental line‑item additions were also presented; the council approved advertising the additional appropriations (line items included subscription and training amounts, overtime, and disaster supplies as listed in department paperwork). The council approved a motion to advertise the additional appropriations and later approved the transfers for the prosecutor and assessor.
On the county’s legal services, Jacob explained his contract terms and told the council the retainer structure is patterned on comparable county contracts; he cited a $6,000 annual retainer and an hourly rate of $215 for government clients. "In the last seven years, I have never for my council clients gone over the $6,000," Jacob said, while also noting the council would be notified in advance if costs were expected to exceed the retainer. The council voted to retain Jacob as council attorney.
Other routine business: the council approved meeting minutes, tabled encumbrances that were not present, and adjourned after public comment.
Votes at a glance
- Sheriff commissary ordinance — motion to accept ordinance as presented; outcome: approved (motion carried). - Advertise Superior Court transfer requests (grant‑funded equipment and contracted services) — motion to advertise; outcome: approved (motion carried). - Advertise EMA additional appropriations (subscriptions, training, overtime, supplies) — motion to advertise; outcome: approved (motion carried). - Approve Jacob as council attorney (contract with $6,000 retainer; $215 hourly for government work) — motion to approve; outcome: approved (motion carried). - Approve transfers for prosecutor and assessor — motion to approve transfers; outcome: approved (motion carried). - Minutes (regular meeting minutes 01/13/2024) — motion to approve minutes; outcome: approved (motion carried).
The council moved quickly through routine items after the ERA discussion; department heads and presenters were instructed to follow up with required advertising and documentation as part of the county’s normal budget and procurement processes.
