Water and Public Works meeting turns into something different

EL DORADO, Ark. (KTVE/KARD) — Who should be responsible for the payment of security at a funeral? This was the issue that was discussed at the latest meeting involving the city council today. The meeting was stated to be about Water and Public Works but turned into a situation about the funeral this Saturday for Jaylen Robinson. Robinson was one of the victims involved in EL Dorado’s first double homicide this year. Funeral director Robert Henderson was called about having security at the funeral and was told that the cost would be in the thousands.

And I say, what, are you, am I hearing this correctly that you are asking us to pay that money? And he said Well it needs to come from somewhere.

Robert Henderson

Mayor Choate and Chief Hickman were both in attendance for this meeting. They were both asked about this conversation because both individuals were also a part of the conversation with Mr. Henderson.

What I told Mr. Henderson was the city was going to be paying between four to five thousand dollars, in additional cost to place the necessary people there. And it would be nice if somebody shared in that expense.

Paul Choate

Contacted the mayor over what we believe is a critical threat, plans that we were going to make, and we expressed about the concern of the cost because we are already deep into our overtime budget.

Kenneth Hickman

There was no formal agreement by the council on who would pay for the security but for now the police plan to have a presence at the funeral.