Politics can be a very good thing, but can also be a very dirty thing. Unfortunately, it appears politics has turned dirty in Jefferson County.
For the past few weeks the big story in Jefferson County has been an ongoing dispute between County Judge Gerald Robinson and County Assessor Gloria Tillman, regarding two employees the Judge believes should not be paid.
Robinson told SeArk Times in April that former county assessor Yvonne Humphrey has had sick leave approved by current assessor, Gloria Tillman, that she does not have on the books. Robinson said that Humphrey has not worked since December 27, 2023, and that she could have been approved for vacation had she brought it to the quorum court, but her vacation and sick time accrued would only equal to three weeks.
Robinson said that Humphrey’s sick time and vacation time would have run out on January 21, 2024, and that she owed Jefferson County $11,000 in back pay as of April 15.
County Assessor Gloria Tillman issued a statement to the Pine Bluff Commercial on Tuesday. In part, the statement touched on the issue with Humphrey:
Yvonne Humphrey retired in 2007 and after leaving her position for the number of days required, she returned as a regular employee. It was at that time Ms. Humphrey resumed to accumulate sick leave. Upon becoming an elected official in 2011, her leave time ceased December 2010, but a record was kept with the number of hours accumulated as a regular employee.
After leaving the capacity of elected official, Ms. Humphrey began to work as a regular employee with no break in time or service. When she became ill in December 2023, she began using sick time accumulated. She has worked for Jefferson County for 48 years. Her time is accurately documented. While on sick leave from January to April 15, 2024, she was paid from sick leave she had rightly accumulated over the eligible years.
The rest of the statement can be read by Clicking Here.
Due to the issue between Robinson and Tillman, Robinson denied pay multiple times in March. April pay for county employees was eventually approved by Robinson, however the pay for May 1 has been denied.
SeArk Times has spoken with numerous Jefferson County employees, who have all confirmed no pay hit their accounts this morning.
Sources within the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office have told SeArk Times that most employees still showed up for work on Wednesday, despite pay being withheld. Other county offices have not returned messages at the time this article was published, however, multiple sources have told SeArk Times that numerous county employees are not at work today due to the ongoing issues.
With pay being denied for county employees, a class-action lawsuit has been filed against the county and Judge Gerald Robinson by Little Rock attorney Luther Sutter.
The lawsuit was filed in the 11th West Circuit Court, but has not been assigned to a judge at this time.
At the end of the day a lot has been said about moving Pine Bluff and Jefferson County forward, yet the area continues to have issues. Deep down it is the belief of this writer that everyone wants to see things move forward in Jefferson County.
Unfortunately, politics seems to get in the way more often the not. Perhaps it is time for Jefferson County citizens to take a closer look at politics, and the toll it is taking on the area.
