Quorum Court re-appoints pair to Equalization Board

Quorum Court re-appoints pair to Equalization Board

Justices vote to keep Thomas, Taylor on committee

news@theeveningtimes.com

The Quorum Court re-appointed two residents to another term on the county equalization board despite call by some justices that they weren’t given the opportunity to nominate candidates.

Justices voted 7-3-1 to reappoint Realtor Thula Thomas to a two-year term and 7-3-1 to re-appoint Wes Taylor, an appraiser, to a one-year term.

But according to Justice Hubert Bass, no one on the court was given the chance to submit names for consideration.

“The last time we got a sheet in our packets and gave everyone an opportunity to nominate someone,” Bass said. “We came in and we got broadsided. That’s wrong.”

Thomas has served on the equalization board since 2013 when she was picked over Diane McAdoo, who withdrew after the appointment got caught up in racial politics.

Thomas was nominated in 2013 by Bass.

Bass said justices should have gotten something in their monthly packets giving them a chance to nominate people to serve on the board.

“We didn’t follow procedure here,” Bass said. “We are supposed to have an opportunity to see who we wanted.”

The equalization board is made up of five residents who are not affiliated with the county who meet to hear appeals from citizens who disagree with their property tax assessment.

According to the law, the mayors of West Memphis and Marion get to appoint one person, the county judge one person, the Quorum Court two people, and the school districts one person.

“These two appointments are the Quorum Court’s responsibility,” said County Judge Woody Wheeless.

County Clerk Paula Brown told the justices that the terms don’t expire until May 31.

Bass attempted to table the matter until next month, but Justice Vickie Robertson’s motion to re-appoint Thomas to a two year-term and Taylor to a one year term were both seconded and passed.

Justices Albert Marconi and Ronnie Marconi joined Bass in voting no. Justice Stacy Allen passed. “I have a problem with the procedure,” Bass said. “For some reason we didn’t get a

chance to nominate someone. That’s not the procedure we’ve been using and everyone knows that.”

By Mark Randall