Quorum Court approves deputy retention bonuses, authorizes senior-center contract and awards road project resolution

Van Buren County's Quorum Court voted unanimously to adopt multiple ordinances and resolutions at its session, including an ordinance approving retention bonuses for deputies, an emergency amendment directing senior-center contract payments to Ozark Health Hospital, several small budget corrections and appropriations, and authorization for a road improvement contract.

The court passed an ordinance (sponsored from the floor) to move funds within the sheriff's office budget and to pay retention bonuses to deputies: $2,500 for full-time deputies and $1,000 for regular part-time deputies. The ordinance states the payments will be disbursed in two equal halves, one in April and the second in August, and sponsors told the court the money will come from existing budget lines and prior-year savings. A sponsor told members it is a "retention" bonus and described ongoing hiring pressures and the high cost of replacing and training officers.

The ordina…