County Gets Help for Araujo's Office

County Gets Help for Araujo's Office
Floyd County Commissioners met, April 13, and discussed staffing the Justice of the Peace office in Lockney, after J.P. Michelle Araujo was suspended with pay from her position.
The State Commission on Judicial Conduct, on April 5, 2007, ordered that Araujo be suspended with pay from her office of Justice of the Peace and from the office of Municipal Court Judge for the City of Lockney, following charges being filed against Araujo for Official Oppression.
Because the County has to continue paying Araujo, Commissioners discussed "where the money was going to come from" to hire someone to take care of the office in Araujo's absence.
Commissioner Lennie Gilroy spoke to the Court about the problem being created from Araujo's absence.
"People are calling in to pay tickets," said Gilroy. "Some pay by the week, or month. People are concerned and want to take care of their business.
"We have to continue to pay Michelle's salary and we haven't budgeted the funds to pay 2 full salaries.
"I'd like to change the office recording and refer questions to J.P. Tali Jackson in Floydada and put new hours on the answering machine. Judge Jackson has agreed to help in any way possible.
"Michelle's secretary, Sandra Suarez, was paid for out of Michelle's budget. The budget covered the salary when Michelle was on vacation or in school and I think Michelle paid out of her own pocket for any other time."
Suarez told the court she made $7.00 an hour when she worked. She said Monday's were usually very busy at the office. When asked what days would be good for her to work, Suarez said she could work on Mondays and Wednesdays.
After looking through Araujo's budget, the Commissioners saw there was at least $1,600 left in extra labor and supplies.
After discussion the Commissioners decided to pay Suarez for two days a week--Monday and Wednesdays. When the money runs out for the budgeted "extra help", then Suarez would be paid out of the other line items in Araujo's budget.
Suarez will work in the J.P.'s office and collect money, enter payments in the computer, make deposits and monthly reports.
Local law enforcement have already started referring their tickets to the J.P. office in Floydada instead of Lockney.