Parker, AZ- On Wed. Feb. 2nd, the La Paz County Board of Supervisors held an emergency session to declare an emergency due to the writs of Garnishments placed by Yakima Compost. The county has been in disupute with Yakima for years. In 2007, Yakima received a decision that the county owes $9.2 million in damages. The county appealed the decision. Arizona Appeals Court upheld the verdict and judgment and the Supreme Court declined to hear the case. So the county explored at their options, but in the mean time, Yakima filed writs of attatchments freezing $11 million of the county assests. Employees are worried if they will receive their paychecks tomorrow.
Today at 1:30pm a hearing is being held at La Paz County Superior Court "to see what we can do about it," said a county spokesperson today. She also stated, "it should be very 'interesting'", as there are laws that protect funds for payroll, and funds belonging to other entities. Arguements will be presented to challenge the withholdings. The hearing is open to the public.
Below is the press release sent this morning regarding yesterday's emergency meeting:
"SPECIAL NOTICE OF AN EMERGENCY MEETING
OF THE LA PAZ COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
"Pursuant to A.R.S. §38-431.02(D), notice is hereby given that an emergency session of the La Paz County Board of Supervisors was held on Wednesday, February 2, 2011, at 4:00 p.m. in the La Paz County Board of Supervisors Meeting Room, located at 1108 Joshua Avenue, Parker, Arizona.
"At the emergency session, the La Paz County Board of Supervisors declared an emergency due to the action taken by the Yakima Compost Company filing Writs of Garnishment against the public funds of the County, Schools, and Special Districts, in regards to La Paz County adv. Yakima Compost Company, Superior Court Case No. #CV2003-0119.
"Chairman of the Board Drum recessed the meeting at 4:10 p.m. to attend a hearing scheduled at 4:15 p.m. in the Superior Court, 1360 Kofa Avenue, Parker, with Mohave County Judge Weiss."