Saline County Quorum Court approves 2025 budget, honors long-serving JP Barbara Howe

The Saline County Quorum Court at its final meeting of the year approved the county's annual budget for 2025 and passed multiple ordinances, and issued proclamations recognizing retiring Justice of the Peace Barbara Howe and commemorating the service of the late Everett Hatcher.

The court voted unanimously on the major items. Ordinance 2024-35, described in the meeting as the annual budget ordinance for Saline County for 2025, passed on a roll call vote with all 12 members present voting yes. Two other ordinances that the court read and passed by roll call were identified in the record as Ordinance 2024-33 and Ordinance 2024-34; each passed with all members recorded as voting yes. The court also passed an ordinance described in the record as obligating remaining RPA funds and adopting an interlocal agreement; that measure was recorded as passed unanimously.

Why it matters: the annual budget ordinance establishes the county's appropriations and set compensation for county officials and employees for 2025. The other ordinances recorded at the meeting amend 2024 appropriations and obligate remaining RPA funds; the transcript includes the readings and unanimous roll-call approvals but provides limited text for some measures.

During a recognition segment the court presented a proclamation to Justice of the Peace Barbara Howe marking 20 years of service to Saline County. The proclamation recounted projects and local efforts cited in the meeting record: her leadership in Lake Norrell-area events and fundraising, work with the Salem Water Users Association to acquire city water and fire hydrants for residents, involvement in construction of a bridge over Caney Creek, longstanding support for the Lake Norrell Fire Department and other local fire departments, and participation in county projects cited in the record including the detention center on Neely Street, the county road department property and building, a solar array on Edison Avenue, and the Career Technical Center and Southwest Trail redevelopment mentioned during the presentation.

Presiding officer Matt Groen presented the proclamation and addressed the court; the record shows the court asked Howe if she wished to speak. Justice of the Peace Barbara Howe introduced family members who were seated with her at the meeting. The court also recognized the late Everett Hatcher and noted that Wilson Hatcher has been elected to serve as his successor; Wilson Hatcher addressed the court and said he felt both grateful and aware of the responsibility of filling his father's seat, adding that "Shaquille O'Neal couldn't fill it," a remark recorded during his remarks.

Several routine administrative items were handled before adjournment, including approval of minutes and an announcement that the court will take new headshots at the next meeting in January.

Votes at a glance

- Ordinance 2024-35 (annual budget for Saline County for 2025): motion/mover not specified in the record for the final approval step; roll-call vote 12 yes, 0 no, outcome: approved. Note: the ordinance was read by title in the record.

- Ordinance 2024-33 (record text: amendment to 2024 budget ordinance): motion to approve recorded as moved by JP Bellinger and seconded by JP Engel; roll-call vote 12 yes, 0 no, outcome: approved. Description in the transcript: an ordinance to amend the 2024 budget (transcript text garbled); full ordinance language not specified in the meeting record provided.

- Ordinance 2024-34: recorded readings and approval; motion to read by title was moved by JP Howell and seconded by JP Bellinger; a subsequent motion to approve for the item was recorded as moved by JP Lilly and seconded by JP Powell; roll-call vote 12 yes, 0 no, outcome: approved. The transcript provides incomplete wording for the ordinance; description not specified in the record.

- Ordinance (recorded in transcript as obligating remaining RPA funds and adopting an interlocal agreement, ordinance number recorded unclearly as part of the 2024 sequence): motion to approve recorded as moved by JP Billingsley and seconded by JP Alvarez (per the transcript); roll-call vote 12 yes, 0 no, outcome: approved. Full ordinance number and complete text not specified in the transcript excerpt.

Discussion, direction and formal action are recorded separately in the meeting transcript. The budget and appropriation ordinances were presented, read by title (in some cases by motion to read by title only), and approved on roll-call votes with no public opposition noted in the provided record. Several ceremonial items and recognitions preceded those votes.