92nd Annual West Texas County Judges and Commissioners Association Conference
April 20-23 │ Marriott hotel and conference center│Odessa – Ector county
Road grants, courthouse security, and county-related legislation are among the many topics to be covered at the Annual West Texas Conference April 20-23 in Ector County.
Pending approval, Commissioners who attend every class will receive 14 continuing education hours; an additional four credit hours will be offered on Tuesday morning during the early bird session. Four credit hours for County Judges have been approved.
The agenda will include eight hours of Commissioners Court Advanced Curriculum coursework, as designated by the blue logo on the accompanying agenda.
Meeting Registration and Other important Information
The most convenient way to register for the conference is online at www.county.org. Click on Calendar of Events at the top right, and scroll down to the 92nd Annual West Texas Conference. The online registration deadline is April 13. Following that date, please register onsite at the conference. Other information available on this website includes hotel accommodations and the cancellation policy.
Social Events
Opportunities to visit with your peers and meet new officials include the Welcome Reception and Host Court Night on Tuesday, the Dinner and Dance on Wednesday, and the Installation Luncheon on Thursday. The popular golf, domino, 42, and pool tournaments are set for Thursday afternoon.
Special Awards
Naming the County Official of the Year and the Distinguished Service Award recipients is always a highlight of the West Texas Conference. Nominations for these awards may be sent to the West Texas County Judges and Commissioners Association: John Nanny, Irion County Commissioner, P.O. Box 129, Barnhart 76930, or emailed to nanny_john@yahoo.com.
Call for Scholarship Applications
College scholarships in the amounts of $1,500, $1,000, and $750 will be awarded to three applicants during the conference. The application deadline is April 1. To be eligible for consideration, applicants must be a child, grandchild, or individual under the legal guardianship of a current West Texas County Judge or Commissioner, be a graduating senior of the class of 2021 from a high school within the 118-county West Texas region, and be a current resident within the region. The application is available for download at https://bit.ly/3nhMV3y.
Interested in Serving on the West Texas Association Board?
Please contact Tarrant County Judge B. Glen Whitley at 817-884-1441 if you are interested in joining the West Texas Board. For more information on what this service entails, go to https://bit.ly/3rX5RbD.
Spouse Activities
Activities for spouses will be arranged for Wednesday. More details will be available in next month’s issue of County Progress.
Agenda and Class Schedule
Tuesday, April 20
8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Registration and Information Desk Open
10 a.m.-1 p.m. Exhibitors Set Up
Early Bird Session: Planning and Communicating your County’s Budget
9:30 a.m.-2 p.m.
9:30-10:20 a.m. County Budgeting
10:20-11:10 a.m. Adopting and Calculating the Tax Rate
11:10-11:20 a.m. Break
11:20 a.m.-12:10 p.m. Agendas, Postings, and Open Meeting Requirements
12:10–1:10 p.m. Provided Lunch for Early Bird Session
1:10-2 p.m. Communicating to the Public
Standing Committee Meetings
2 p.m. Nominations Committee
Resolutions Committee
Conference City Committee
Scholarship Committee
2-4:30 p.m. Welcome Reception
6 p.m. Host Court Night – Hurt Ranch
Wednesday, April 21
7:30 a.m.-4 p.m. Exhibit Hall Open
7:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Registration and Information Desk Open
7:30 a.m. Coffee in the Exhibit Hall
Opening General Session
8-8:30 a.m. Welcome
8:30-9:20 a.m. 3.010 Building Better Relations
9:20-10:20 a.m. Refreshment Break in the Exhibit Hall
Spouse Event
9:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Various Locations, TBD
10:20-11:10 a.m. Property Taxes Are Too High: The Pitch to Diversify Revenue Streams for Counties
11:10 a.m.-noon 4.013 Risk Management: Courthouse Security
Noon Far West Texas County Judges and Commissioners Association Business Meeting
Noon Deli Lunch (Lunch with Exhibitors)
Noon Past Presidents’ Luncheon (by invitation only)
Judicial Training for County Judges
1-2 p.m. Drugged Driving
2-3 p.m. Rules of Evidence
3-3:30 p.m. Refreshment Break
3:30-4:30 p.m. Mental Health Procedures
4:30-5:30 p.m. Probate/Guardianship
5:30 p.m. Adjourn
Commissioners Court Training
1-1:50 p.m. County Transportation Infrastructure Fund
1:50-2:40 p.m. 4.021 Strategic Planning: Road and Bridge Projects
2:40-3:35 p.m. Refreshment Break in the Exhibit Hall
3:35-4:25 p.m. 3.011 Councils of Government
4:25-5:15 p.m. 3.007 Civil Rights Issues
5:15 p.m. Adjourn
6:30 p.m. Dinner and Dance
Thursday, April 22
7 a.m. Inspirational Breakfast
7:30-10:30 a.m. Exhibit Hall Open
7:30 a.m. Coffee in the Exhibit Hall
7:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Registration and Information Desk Open
Concurrent Workshops
8–10:40 a.m.
Choose one session from each time slot. Attendees will receive one continuing education hour for each complete session attended.
8-8:50 a.m. 4.005 Purchasing Applications: Public Power Pool
8-8:50 a.m. Veteran Services Programs
8:50-9:50 a.m. Refreshment Break in the Exhibit Hall
9:50-10:40 a.m. 3.018 Environmental Issues
9:50-10:40 a.m. Legal Aid of Northwest Texas
10:45 a.m. Association Business Meeting
11:30 a.m. Installation Luncheon
Phase II Commissioners Court Advanced Curriculum Sessions
1:30-2:20 p.m. 2.012 County Auditor
2:20-2:40 p.m. Refreshment Break
2:40-3:30 p.m. 2.015 Juvenile Probation Officer
3:30 p.m. Adjourn
Leisure Activities
1:30 p.m. Golf Tournament
Pool Tournament
Domino Tournament
42 Tournament
9-11 p.m. President’s Farewell Jam Session
Friday, April 23
8 a.m. Coffee Break
8-11 a.m. Registration and Information Desk Open
Closing General Session
8:30-9:20 a.m. 4.024 Redistricting
9:20-10:10 a.m. 3.003 Lawmaking: Legislative Update
10:10–11 a.m. 3.013 Working With the Legislature: Legislative Panel
11 a.m. Adjourn
Agenda is subject to change.
