Campaign Signs, Asset Management Plan to be Discussed during Pulaski Commissioners Meeting

Pulaski County Commissioners: Mike McClure, Jerry Locke, Kenny Becker

A proposal to repeal Pulaski County’s regulations on campaign signs will be brought to the county commissioners tonight. The Pulaski County Election Board has been leading efforts to remove the section of the county’s Unified Development Ordinance dealing with “special signs.” Election board members feel there are already enough rules at the state and federal levels to regulate campaign signs, without additional zoning restrictions.

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Pulaski County Council Approves Budget Transfer to Help Cover Circuit Court Overtime Costs

Overtime costs continue to add up for Pulaski Circuit Court. The Pulaski County Council voted Monday to transfer $5,000 into the court’s overtime budget from the law books line item, at the request of Judge Michael Shurn. “Last week, a two-day jury trial morphed into a four-day one,” he explained. “And I was working 16-hour days, and my staff was real close to that.”

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Pulaski County to Reactivate Security Committee, Following Proposal to Move Circuit Court

Pulaski Circuit Court Judge Michael Shurn discusses the proposed relocation of circuit court with the county commissioners.

Discussions about moving Pulaski Circuit Court into the Justice Center are drawing complaints from Judge Michael Shurn. During Monday’s county commissioners meeting, Shurn complained that he hasn’t been included in recent discussions. “I never see it on the docket, but yet I read about it in the newspaper,” he said. “You’re trying to decide what security is, and you’re trying to decide the future of the Circuit Court. You know, I think it would behoove you all to actually involve the Circuit Court in that conversation. I’m sort of shocked that you don’t do that.”

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Pulaski Superior Court Faces Budget Shortfall for Pauper Counsel, Following Uptick in Cases

An increasing number of court cases in Pulaski County has led to some challenges when it comes to providing legal representation for those who can’t afford it. Superior Court Judge Crystal Brucker Kocher told the county council and commissioners Monday that the number of criminal filings increased from 715 in 2015 to 1,295 in 2017. During that same period, the number of felony and misdemeanor cases rose from 351 to 672.

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Pulaski County Council to Consider Additional Appropriations for Circuit Court, IT Department

The Pulaski County Council will consider extra funding to cover overtime costs for Circuit Court staff tonight. Judge Michael Shurn is asking for permission to spend another $10,000 for employee overtime. Several cases have been transferred to Circuit Court from Superior Court, following Crystal Brucker Kocher’s appointment as Superior Court judge this past summer. There are many cases she’s not allowed to hear because she worked on them when she was chief deputy prosecutor.

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Pulaski Superior Court Makes Second Attempt at Funding Requests, After Money Fails to Arrive

The Pulaski County Council is revisiting a couple Superior Court funding requests. According to Judge Crystal Brucker Kocher, a budget transfer was requested back in March and an additional appropriation was requested in April, before she officially took over the position. But for some reason, those funds were never moved.

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