From left are Pachyderm Club President Scott McColpin, Circuit Court Clerk Larry Henry, Assistant Chief Clerk Sharon Daniels, Chief Clerk Susan Sissom and Chief Clerk Sessions Nancy Masterson
photo by John Shackleford
Circuit Court Clerk Larry Henry said he hopes to bring E-Filing of documents and other court papers to the clerk’s office this year. He said at first it appeared it might take much longer, but that progress is being made to the online program.
Mr. Henry told members of the Pachyderm Club that attorneys, litigants and members of the public would be able to go online to view the court documents. He said there would be no charge for viewing, though there will be a charge to get copies of documents.
He said with the new system “attorneys will not have to be sending runners to the courthouse. They will be able to view documents 24/7.” Mr.
Henry said it would likely cut down on office phone calls and might allow the office to eventually operate with fewer personnel.
He said reductions would be made through retirements or resignations.
The former county commissioner, who has been in office just since September, said he learned that office personnel were being allowed leave time of a maximum of 42 days per year. The leave has been reduced to 29 maximum days per year.
He said that has led to much better work attendance. “We have more people in the office working,” he said.
Mr. Henry also said when he got into office he found that the office was paying $654.52 per month for employee parking spaces. He said, “That has been cut to $100.68 per month by only including himself and the four top clerks in the perk.”
He said one employee in the office retired before he came into office. He said he did not fill that position—saving their $54,000 salary.
The speaker said he found that the jury clerk was being paid $60,500. He said he eliminated that position and salary. He then assigned the duties of jury clerk to a current staff member.
Mr. Henry said when he took office the salaries and benefits were $3,151,423. He said, “That has been reduced to $2,929,869—a savings of $221,554.” That brought applause from club members.
The speaker said the tight budget operation is vital. He said, “It’s not smart to have to go before the County Commission to ask for more money in the middle of the year.”