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News you can use |
(Texas Association of Counties Paralegal Cathy Argo is known
to many officials as the voice who answers TAC's Legal Hotline (800-ASK-TAC4),
but to people back in the Hutchinson County courthouse, she and sister Renee
McKinney (claims supervisor) are the hometown girls who work at TAC. Following
is her account of a recent visit home.)
On the 12th of May, Hutchinson County citizens and county officials celebrated the county's 100th birthday with a day-long celebration on the courthouse grounds in Stinnett, Texas. Renee and I arrived early and were met by Hon. Mary Lou Henderson, county tax assessor-collector, and Commissioner R.D. Cornelison. We received VIP badges and tours of the grounds and the courthouse. We had several “photo ops” with other county officers. Everyone seemed thrilled that TAC had sent “representatives” to the celebration.
Hon. Jack Worsham, County Judge, presented the welcoming address. All attendees were treated to a catered luncheon of barbecued beef with all the trimmings.
Throughout the day, live music and stories told by county old-timers were presented under a huge tent set up on the lawn. There were chuckwagons, complete with cowboys, from several local ranches on display. The Adobe Walls Indian dancers performed several times throughout the day. Horse and buggy rides were a big hit with all of the children. The highlight of the evening was a performance by Red Stegall, a country-and-western singer who was born in the county. After the performance, everyone was invited to dance in the courthouse. The weather even cooperated, which is a bit unusual for the Panhandle. We had a wonderful time and met many county people.
Renee and I want to thank Sam Seale for giving us the opportunity to attend the big to-do. And, of course, we thank Bob Lemens and Jim Jean (our bosses) for giving us clearance to be gone from work on Friday for the long drive up there.
From left, Kathy Argo and Renee McKinney visit
with Commissioner R.D. Cornelison and Assessor Mary Lou Henderson
October 7-13 are the dates and Fort Worth is the site for the upcoming 2001 County Investment Officer (CIO) Certification Course.
Anderson County Judge Carey McKinney, a graduate of the 2000
class, recommends it to others:
“This training helps build a better team between investment officers and
the commissioners court in developing investment policies to help counties comply
with the Public Funds Investment Act,” he said after attending the course.
“Among many things, I learned what the law mandates for the court’s
responsibilities, much of which I hadn't known.”
This year's course will return to Fort Worth, which last year’s
attendees praised for its Tarrant County meeting facilities and the Fort Worth
location. Restaurants and lodging are all within walking distance of the building
and the Dallas Federal Reserve Bank – a high point of the program –
is a short commute away.
The Texas Department of Agriculture is accepting applications for the 2001 Family Land Heritage Program. The program recognizes farms and ranches that have been in continuous agricultural operation for 100 years or more by the same family.
Since the program started in 1974, the Family Land Heritage Program has honored 3,580 farms and ranches in 219 counties. For the first time last year, TDA recognized farms and ranches in the 150-and 200-year categories. There were three ranches honored for 200 years and nine operations recognized for 150 years.
Program applications are available through county judges and TDA. Applications may be obtained on TDA’s website at http://www.agr.state.tx.us or by writing to Melissa Burns, Texas Department of Agriculture, P.O. Box 12847, Austin, Texas 78711; or by calling Burns at (512) 463-2631. The deadline for submitting an application to TDA is Nov. 15, 2001.
Job Safety is Workshop Topic
At 12 locations around the state this September, county administrators will learn proactive approaches to providing safer environments for county workers. Be it chemicals, noise, blood-borne pathogens or other possible hazards, county workers have their share of exposure in their particular job settings.
The 2001 Regional Loss Control Workshops provide practical, straightforward and cost-effective methods for managers to address these concerns.
The workshops will be held:
Sept. 5: Holiday Inn Centre, Odessa. For directions, contact Pat McCallister
at (915) 498-4025
Sept. 11: Randall County West Bldg., Canyon. For directions, contact
Karon Kantor at (806) 655-6212
Sept. 11: Laguna Madre Learning Center, Brownsville. For directions,
contact Manny Villarreal at (956) 544-0827
Sept. 12: Post Community Center, Post. For directions, contact Meg Nelson
at (806) 495-4405
Sept. 12: Omni Marina Hotel, Corpus Christi. For directions, contact
Servando Caballero at (361) 888-0111
Sept. 13: Region XIV Education Service Center, Abilene. For directions,
contact Jim Compton at (915) 672-8544
Sept. 13: Jackson County Service Center, Edna. For directions, contact
Marcell Maresh at (361) 782-3402
Sept. 18: Smith County Peace Officers Association Training Center, Tyler.
For directions, contact Paul Fisher at (903) 535-0695
Sept. 18: Lone Star Convention Center, Conroe. For directions, contact
Martha Rider at (936) 539-7886
Sept. 19: Hood County Library, Granbury. For directions, contact Don
Kelly at (817) 408-3451
Sept. 20: Gillespie County Law Enforcement Training Center, Fredericksburg.
For directions, contact Laura Lundquist or Wendy Garza at (830) 997-6521
Sept. 21: Williamson County Central Maintenance Facility, Georgetown.
For Sept. 21: Williamson County Central Maintenance Facility, Georgetown. For
directions, contact Kim Hyatt at (512) 943-1532.
Registration information will be mailed in July. For more information, contact the Texas Association of Counties Education Department at (800) 456-5974.
Now that purchasing agents have mandatory continuing education hours, it will be important to take advantage of training opportunities designed for meet their needs. On Aug. 23-24, the Texas County Purchasing Association (TCPA) is holding a two-day workshop in San Angelo. The agenda of this workshop includes a legislative update, purchasing of electricity, GASB 34, risk management and negotiations. Persons interested in attending can contact Sandy Bradley with Johnson County Purchasing at (817) 556-6384.
Regardless of job titles, persons involved in the purchasing
activity for their county are encouraged to join TCPA. For a $15 membership
fee, members receive newsletters informing them of seminars dealing with current
situations on professional and legal issues. These newsletters will also give
updates of changing laws governing the purchasing activities and important contact
information for other purchasing professionals.
Those who join TCPA also gain access to a purchasing listserve which affords
members the opportunity to send e-mail queries to their peers.
TCPA's current membership represents over 40 counties with more than 125 members. More information on membership and upcoming events can be obtained from the TCPA web site at http://tcpa.purchasing.co.harris.tx.us/
NACIO gives four awards to TAC
The Texas Association of Counties picked up four awards from
the National Association of County Information Officers this year.
Graphic Designer David Garcia earned a “Superior” honor for his design
of a booklet announcing the winners of last year's County Leadership Foundation
Best Practices Awards.
Another “Superior” in the feature-writing category went to County Editor Jim Lewis for his article in the November-December issue on indigent defense practices entitled “Bargain Basement Justice.”
Lewis also received two “Excellent” designations:
for an article on the Newton County courthouse fire, “Fire in the Courthouse”
in September-October and for an article on a youth training program entitled
“Aspiring to Awesome” in the July-August County.
Twenty-nine NACIO awards have been presented to the Texas Association of Counties
since 1993.
