A Travis County district judge has ruled that a Bexar County commissioner must release e-mail messages about county business from his private e-mail account. The court ruling confirms a 2010 AG Opinion that e-mails concerning public business from private accounts are not exempt from the Texas Public Information Act. Bexar County Commissioner Tommy Adkisson has stated that he … [Read more...] about Controversy Continues Over E-mails
Commissioner Encourages Public Input
In a small-population county, one of the struggles I seem to face in my role as county commissioner is giving my constituents the knowledge of exactly what my job consists of and what they can do to help me in my job. Many commissioners wish the public was not so involved in the process of county government; however, on occasion I find myself wanting the involvement of local … [Read more...] about Commissioner Encourages Public Input
Monuments of Justice: Kent County Courthouse
County Seat: Jayton • County Population: 808
Kent County has been home to two temples of justice. The inaugural courthouse was raised in the original county seat of Clairemont in 1893 in an Italianate style as designed by Martin, Byrnes and Johnston. The current county capitol was erected in Jayton in 1957 in a Modern style as created by Wyatt Hedrick. The county was named in honor of Andrew Kent, who died in the … [Read more...] about Monuments of Justice: Kent County Courthouse
Where is he now?
January 2002 Former Runnels County Commissioner Skipper Wheeless took office in 1989 and served as president of the County Judges and Commissioners Association of Texas in 2001-02. Skipper was also president of the West Texas County Judges and Commissioners Association and the Far West Texas County Judges and Commissioners Association. He served on the Texas … [Read more...] about Where is he now?
Open Meetings
KEY CONCEPT: Open Meetings KEY QUESTION: What are the general statutory regulations regarding Commissioners Court meetings? MAIN REFERENCE POINT: Texas Government Code Chapter 551, The Open Meetings Act TALKING POINTS: The Open Meetings Act provides public access to meetings of governmental bodies – such as the commissioners court … [Read more...] about Open Meetings