LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — Jefferson County officials are back in front of state lawmakers after not following Arkansas law.
While lawmakers said this should be an easy fix, county leaders said it's not easy, and operations are "dysfunctional."
Jefferson County Judge Gerald Robinson appeared before the Legislative Audit Committee again Thursday after he was found not abiding by Arkansas law.
The audit said there were repeat findings of non-compliance, including a meeting in 2022 that went into executive session during a quorum court meeting to review the legislative audit. Then, the minutes did not reflect that session or the review.
This hearing in front of lawmakers was to ensure these issues were fixed.
"When the statute was pointed out to me, I realized it had to be documented, and that wasn't done," Robinson said. "We will go back to the drawing board to make sure that happens."
However, some county leaders are not satisfied.
"I am a little disappointed that some of the accusations we brought forth by the request of the committee were not discussed," Justice of the Peace Lloyd Franklin said. "It kind of gave the feeling of kicking a can down the road."
Franklin requested a full forensic audit with a special investigator and special prosecutor to look into county business. Still, committee co-chair Republican Sen. Mark Johnson said that was beyond the committee's duties.
The committee deferred the issue once again, citing the Jefferson County Quorum Court's need to review the legislative audit before making a decision. If it isn't presented, the committee said it would serve the quorum court and the judge again.
Robinson said he will present the audit findings at the next scheduled quorum court meeting in August.