Municipal court proposal back to drawing board

The New Brockton Town Council was presented a resolution and ordinance at its Monday meeting calling for re-establishment of a municipal court for the town. Enterprise and Kinston currently have municipal courts and Elba is considering the feasibility of such a court, New Brockton Mayor Lenwood Herron said.
In November 2008, the town gave notice of its intention to pursue the judicial option. In March, the town gave written notice to Coffee County District Judge Paul Sherling of its intent. “We have already surpassed 150 days open notice,” Herron said, and asked for council discussion of the issue.
Councilman Doug Pittman said he did not want to vote on the issue without knowing more specifics and questioned staffing requirements and financing of a municipal court. He also distributed an article to the council from a local newspaper outlining a state audit of municipalities with populations under 6,000. “Only one town in the state passed the state audit,” Pittman said. “The highest fine a municipal court can impose is $500,” he said. “How can that generate enough to set up and maintain a court system?”
“We don’t need more government in this town,” he said. “We don’t need to make money off of the people’s backs.”
  “I don’t think this is the time to re-establish a municipal court,” Pittman continued. “Personally, I oppose it at this time.”
Councilman Jeffery White moved to take the issue back into a council work session set for July 20 and Councilman Lee Etta Edwards seconded the motion, which passed unanimously.