As county departments complete their move into the new courts building on Jackson Street in Waxahachie, the Commissioners’ Court prepared to disband the Citizens’ Bond Oversight Committee.

“I know everyone is aware that we had a very dedicated bond oversight committee, who were stewards of the building project,” said County Judge Carol Bush during Monday’s regularly-scheduled meeting of the Commissioners’ Court.

“They did a fabulous job and we owe a great debt of gratitude to all of them.”
Members of the committee are Roy Orr (Chair), Cathy Altman, Cheree´ Barrett, Jimmy Boon, Larry Burns (Co-Chair), Ken Chambers, Albert Garcia Sr., Scott Jackson, John Knight, Bill Lewis, James Moon, Charlie Morton, John Tabor, John Wyckoff, and Doug Young.

The committee, which has been meeting quarterly for almost three years, will be officially disbanded following its final meeting, scheduled for Monday, June 21, 2010.

“That will be a fun time to rehash a little history and sort of pat each other on the backs for the success of our adding this new facility,” Bush concluded.

The Court also voted to reaffirm the historic Ellis County Courthouse, located at 101 West Main in Waxahachie, as the location for all legal postings for the County.

“We are required by law to have legal postings in a place that’s public and where the public can go 24/7 to see these items,” Bush said. “We do post on our website, but we have a bulletin board that you are familiar with outside. Because we are now in the two different facilities, we don’t want any confusion, so we want to go ahead and designate one locale. I am suggesting that it continue to be right here at 101 West Main.”

Commissioner Bill Dodson, pct. 2, received the support of the other members of the Court for a memo to be sent out to all Volunteer Fire Departments and all Emergency Service Districts regarding emergency radio communications.

“In 2013 we will be required to go to narrow band,” Dodson said. “We’ve got to do something now to give ourselves time to do the testing.”

Dodson’s memo asks all rural fire personnel who have not already complied with voluntary reprogramming to take their equipment in for programming. Some equipment, depending upon its age, may have to be replaced.

“This has been complicated, and there have been lots of meetings,” Bush added. “Bill, you’ve done a great job.”

In other business, Commissioners:

• Authorized the Ellis County and District Attorney’s Office to file an application for temporary restraining order and pleading for a temporary injunction and permanent injunction in Cause No. 80843, Ellis County, et. al. v. Michael McConnell, et. al, in the 40th Judicial District Court, Ellis County, Texas.
• Authorized upgrade of a precinct 2 road worker position from Road Worker VI ($17.75 per hour) to Equipment Operator ($18.12/hour) effective June 28, 2010;
• Selected three public members and three alternate public members for the Elected Official Salary Grievance Committee for FY 2010-2011, drawing from a list of grand jurors for the preceding year as required by statute.