Greetings from the land of allergies and cedar trees. Spring is most definently here and in full bloom. I know all of you have planted your gardens and worked your yards into tiptop shape.
My precinct has started preparing our roads for reseal, cleaning ditches, picking up winter trash, and getting our shredders going, but we do that nearly everyday. I think job security is road and bridge work or having a county jail. The work is never done!
Do you ever think about reaching milestones in your life? The first one I remember is graduating from high school. I didn’t think school could start again without me, but I soon learned that life goes on. Then the milestone of getting married, having children, children graduating from school, college, getting married, having grandchildren, losing parents, friends, and, as I experienced the other day, signing up for social security. I think that was one of the worst things I have ever experienced, sitting there looking around at all those old people. I kept thinking, “Where has the time gone?” I ought to be getting ready for teenage baseball and here I was surrounded by walkers and canes. I am now a card-carrying member waiting for a check and hoping for a raise…and that they don’t run out of money.
Another milestone I think about is retirement. In our profession do we wait for the voters to make that decision, or do we go out on our own terms. I talked to a couple of former commissioners who were defeated in the last election but are doing well. In fact, some said it was good for them and their health has drastically improved. I, along with some of you, am facing that prospect in the runoff, and I wish all of you the best. I still have social security’s phone number if any of you need it.
This is the time of the year to start thinking about budgets, appraisals from the district, sales tax revenue, fines and fees, employees, jails, and what the Legislature is going to do to us. I know interim activity has been ongoing, and some of our members have already been testifying before committees. I really appreciate you coming to our aid.
I have been receiving notices of upcoming regional meetings to take place in the next few months. I encourage you to attend your local conference and to get to know the officials in your region. I plan on attending all of the regional meetings and trying to bring something from each one of them to make our State Association conference in Waco Oct. 5-8 truly a state conference that represents all of you. I look forward to seeing you and getting to know your local people in your area.