Crawford County Quorum Court approves two emergency budget ordinances and confirms local appointments

The Crawford County Quorum Court on Feb. 17 approved two emergency appropriation ordinances to amend county budgets and confirmed two local board appointments during a meeting chaired by the county judge.

Justice Mark Schaeffer introduced Ordinance 20-26-08, described by the court as “an emergency appropriation ordinance amending the budget ordinance … to appropriate additional funds and approve additional expenditures to the Crawford County 2025 budget for various departments, transfers and other purposes.” After a motion, second and roll-call vote the ordinance carried; the clerk recorded affirmative responses from the listed members and announced 13 in favor.

A second emergency appropriation, Ordinance 20-26-09, to amend the Crawford County 2026 budget for additional appropriations and transfers was read by title, moved and seconded. The court again took a roll-call vote and the clerk announced 13 affirmative votes, approving the ordinance.

The minutes and court discussion do not specify dollar amounts, department-by-department allocations or which expenditures the emergency appropriations will fund. Those quantitative details were not read into the record and are therefore not specified in this meeting transcript.

The court also confirmed two local appointments. The judge nominated Becky Carrero to fill the Mulberry library position vacated by Keith Pigg; Justice Morgan moved to confirm Carrero, Justice Woodruff seconded, and the court approved the appointment by voice vote. The judge nominated Johnny Beaver to replace Keith Gray on the Lockfern and Dollar Road Water Works board; the motion to confirm received a second (Justice Stinchcomb) and the appointment was approved.

Committee members reported on a recent meeting to discuss livestreaming Quorum Court proceedings. A committee member said their plan is “to hopefully have that live by April,” a timetable the court did not modify in the meeting.

The judge opened the meeting with brief remarks praising county road crews for their response to recent icy conditions: “I’m glad to say that everybody is here and survived our icepocalypse for the year,” the judge said. The court closed the meeting with an announcement that early voting had begun and a reminder that Election Day is March 3. The meeting adjourned after a motion and second.

Votes at a glance: - Ordinance 20-26-08 (emergency appropriation amending 2025 budget): Passed by roll call; clerk announced 13 in favor. Vote recorded by clerk by name on the roll call. - Ordinance 20-26-09 (emergency appropriation amending 2026 budget): Passed by roll call; clerk announced 13 in favor. Vote recorded by clerk by name on the roll call.

Next steps: The ordinances were adopted as emergency appropriations at the meeting; the transcript does not record subsequent administrative steps, specific allocations, or the date the appropriations become effective.