91st Annual West Texas County Judges and Commissioners Association Conference

August 18 - 21, 2020

McNease Convention Center
501 Rio Concho Dr.
San Angelo, TX 76903

For more information, contact Michele Ewerz or Rachel Kucera at (800) 456-5974.

Overview
Hotel
Scheduled Activities
Agenda
Continuing Education
Cancellation

Our 2020 conference will provide valuable information on road and bridge grants, courthouse security, legislative updates and other timely topics that affect your daily operations as an elected official. This event also offers a great opportunity to get together with fellow judges and commissioners from West Texas and across the state.

The conference agenda was crafted to include the latest information on hot topics in county government, as well as advanced curriculum sessions. But not all of the learning will take place in the classroom. You may also choose to network with other officials during the golf, domino, 42 or pool tournaments on Thursday afternoon. Other opportunities include the Welcome Reception and the Host Court Night on Tuesday, the Dinner and Dance on Wednesday and the Installation Luncheon on Thursday.

Traditions

Naming the County Official of the Year and the Distinguished Service Award recipients is always a highlight of the conference. Nominations for these awards may be sent to the West Texas County Judges and Commissioners Association: Rex Fields, Eastland County Judge, 100 Main St. Ste. 203 Eastland, TX 76448 or via email.

Another tradition of this Association is the annual scholarship program. 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 July 10, 2020. To be eligible for scholarship consideration, applicants must be a child, grandchild or individual under the legal guardianship of a current West Texas county judge or commissioner. All applicants must also be a current resident of a county in the West Texas region, as well as a graduating senior of the class of 2020 from a high school within the 118-county West Texas region. To download the application, click here.

Become a Board Member

Interested in serving on the West Texas County Judges and Commissioners Association Board? Click here to fill out an application.

Spouse Activities

Activities for spouses will be arranged for Wednesday. More details will be available when final.

Continuing Education

This program is approved for 14 continuing education hours for commissioners. Four additional hours will be offered on Tuesday, August 18, during the early bird session. Four judicial education credit hours have been approved for judges during the judicial training for county judges on Wednesday, August 19.

Vendor Information

For information on vendor registration, please go to the County Progress website or contact Sarah Lazarowitz or Becky Frost.

Sponsors Information

For information on sponsorship opportunities, please contact Eastland County Judge, Rex Fields by calling (254) 629-1263.

Association Officers

Hon. Rex Fields, President
Eastland County Judge

Hon. John Nanny, First Vice President
Irion County Commissioner

Hon. Glen Whitley, Second Vice President
Tarrant County Judge

Hon. Tim Addison, Past President
Yoakum County Commissioner

Association Directors

Hon. Kirk Frye
Parmer County Commissioner

Hon. Cindy Irwin
Hutchinson County Judge

Hon. Roger Morris
Oldham County Commissioner

Please remember to bring a door prize.

The host hotels are the Red Lion Hotel and the Pearl on the Concho. Please request the "West Texas County Judges and Commissioners Association" room block when reserving your sleeping room. The deadline to reserve rooms at the special rate is July 27, so make your reservations early. All reservations received after this date will be accepted on a space-available basis only and at the prevailing hotel rates. Guests will need to guarantee reservations with a credit card. Reservations cancelled within 48 hours of expected arrival will be billed to the credit card that was used to guarantee the reservation.

Red Lion Hotel (HOTEL FULL)
441 Rio Concho Dr
San Angelo, TX 76903
(325) 658-2828
Room rate: $79 per night

Pearl on the Concho (HOTEL FULL)
333 Rio Concho Dr
San Angelo, TX 76903
(325) 653-4500
Room rate: $84 per night

If you need to cancel your room or be added to the waitlist, please contact Rachel Kucera at rachelk@county.org or (800) 456-5974.

Other Hotels in the Area

Courtyard by Marriott San Angelo
2572 Southwest Blvd
San Angelo, TX 76901
(325) 703-6400

Springhill Suites by Marriott San Angelo
2544 Southwest Blvd
San Angelo, TX 76901
(325) 949-6900

Home2 Suites by Hilton San Angelo
2569 Southwest Blvd
San Angelo, TX 76901
(325) 942-9012

If special accommodations are needed, please contact Michele Ewerz at (800) 456-5974 or by email at michelee@county.org.

Tuesday, Aug. 18
2-4:30 p.m.	Welcome Reception Exhibit Hall Sponsored by: Hart InterCivic
6-9 p.m.	Host Court Night Christoval Vineyards Sponsored by: Tom Green County Commissioners Court Transportation provided by: San Angelo Convention & Visitors Bureau
Wednesday, Aug. 19
9:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m.	Spouse Event Sponsored by: BIS Digital, Inc. Trane Commercial Services
Noon	Past Presidents' Luncheon (by invitation only) Miss Hattie's Restaurant Sponsored by: Allison, Bass & Magee, LLP
6:30 p.m.	Dinner and Dance Fort Concho Live music by Jake Hooker & the Outsiders Sponsored by: Warren CAT Transportation provided by: San Angelo Convention & Visitors Bureau
Thursday, Aug. 20
7 a.m.	Inspirational Breakfast Red Lion Hotel: Ballroom A/B/C Speaker: Pastor Cameron Strange, PaulAnn Church Sponsored by: Wilson Culverts, Inc.
11:30 a.m.	Installation Luncheon Red Lion Hotel: Main Ballroom Speaker: McCreary, Veselka, Bragg & Allen, P.C.
1:30 p.m.	Golf Tournament San Angelo Golf Club Sponsored by: YellowHouse Machinery Co. Pool Tournament Pearl on the Concho Sponsored by: Bickerstaff Health Delgado Acosta LLP Domino Tournament Pearl on the Concho Sponsored by: LaSalle Corrections 42 Tournament Pearl on the Concho Sponsored by: Lonestar Truck Group - San Angelo
9 p.m.	President's Farewell Jam Session Red Lion Hotel: Black Sheep Bar & Grill Sponsored by: Perdue Brandon Fielder Collins & Mott, LLP

*Agenda is subject to change

Tuesday, Aug. 18
8 a.m.-4:30 p.m.	Registration and Information Desk Open
Early Bird Session
9:30-10:20 a.m.	Early Bird Session
10:20-11:10 a.m.	Early Bird Session
11:10-11:20 a.m.	Break
11:20 a.m.-12:10 p.m.	Early Bird Session
12:10-1:10 p.m.	Provided Lunch for Early Bird Session
1:10-2 p.m.	Early Bird Session
Standing Committee Meetings
2 p.m.	Nominations Committee Resolutions Committee Conference City Committee Scholarship Committee
2-4:30 p.m.	Welcome Reception Exhibit Hall Sponsored by: Hart InterCivic
4:30 p.m.	Board Meeting
6 p.m.	Host Court Night Christoval Vineyards Sponsored by: Tom Green County Commissioners Court Linebarger Goggan Blair & Sampson, LLP Transportation provided by: San Angelo Convention & Visitors Bureau
Wednesday, Aug. 19
7:30 a.m.-5 p.m.	Registration and Information Desk Open
7:30 a.m.-4 p.m.	Exhibit Hall Open
7:30 a.m.	Coffee in the Exhibit Hall Sponsored by: National Association of Counties
Opening General Session
8-8:40 a.m.	Opening Ceremonies
8:40-9:30 a.m.	Keynote Session - 3.010 Building Better Relations Keynote speaker: Rep. Drew Darby, District 72, Texas House of Representatives Sponsored by: P2 Emulsions
9:30-10:15 a.m.	Refreshment break in the Exhibit Hall Sponsored by: Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service Professional Associations
9:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m.	Spouse Event Various Locations Sponsored by: BIS Digital, Inc. Trane Commercial Services
10:15-11:05 a.m.	Property Taxes are Too High: The Pitch to Diversify Revenue Streams for Counties Speaker: Hon. B. Glen Whitley, Tarrant County Judge
11:05-11:55 a.m.	4.013 Risk Management: Courthouse Security Speaker: Mr. Hector Gomez, Court Security Director, Office of Court Administration
Noon	Far West Texas County Judges and Commissioners Association Business Meeting South Room Lunch with Exhibitors Exhibit Hall Sponsored by: Hilltop Securities, Inc. Past Presidents' Luncheon (by invitation only) Miss Hattie's Restaurant Sponsored by: Allison, Bass & Magee, LLP
Judicial Training for County Judges
1-2 p.m.	Emergency Detention Orders and OPCs: Mental Health/Intellectual Disability Considerations Hon. Mary Cunningham, Judicial Program Manager, Texas Association of Counties Hon. Tramer Woytek, Judicial Resource Liaison, Texas Association of Counties
2-3 p.m.	Impaired and Distracted Driving Issues and Motions Hon. Laura Weiser, Judicial Resource Liaison, Texas Center for the Judiciary
3-3:30 p.m.	Refreshment break Sponsored by: Perdue Brandon Fielder Collins & Mott, LLP
3:30-4:30 p.m.	Bail Bonds and Indigent Defense Hon. Kirk Noaker, Burnet County Magistrate
4:30-5:30 p.m.	Moderated Discussion Hon. Mary Cunningham, Judicial Program Manager, Texas Association of Counties Hon. Tramer Woytek, Judicial Resource Liaison, Texas Association of Counties
5:30 p.m.	Adjourn
Commissioners Court Training
1-1:50 p.m.	County Transportation Infrastructure Fund Speaker: Mr. Trent Thomas, State Legislative Affairs Director, Texas Department of Transportation
1:50-2:40 p.m.	4.021 Strategic Planning: Road and Bridge Projects Speaker: Mr. Don Bonifay, Owner, Bonifay & Associates, Engineering and Construction Management
2:40-3:35 p.m.	Refreshment break in the Exhibit Hall Sponsored by: Perdue Brandon Fielder Collins & Mott, LLP
3:35-4:25 p.m.	3.011 Councils of Government Speakers: Ms. Ginny Lewis Ford, Executive Director, Texas Association of Regional Councils Mr. John Austin Stokes, Executive Director, Concho Valley Council of Governments
4:25-5:15 p.m.	3.007 Civil Rights Issues Speaker: Ms. Michele Arseneau, Senior Human Resources Consultant, Texas Association of Counties
5:15 p.m.	Adjourn
6:30 p.m.	Dinner and Dance Fort Concho Live music by Jake Hooker & the Outsiders Sponsored by: Warren CAT Transportation provided by: San Angelo Convention & Visitors Bureau
Thursday, Aug. 20
7 a.m.	Inspirational Breakfast Red Lion Hotel: Ballroom A/B/C Speaker: Pastor Cameron Strange, PaulAnn Church Sponsored by: Wilson Culverts, Inc.
7:30-10:30 a.m.	Exhibit Hall Open
7:30 a.m.	Coffee in the Exhibit Hall Sponsored by: Kofile Technologies, Inc.
7:30 a.m.-1 p.m.	Registration and Information Desk Open
Concurrent Workshops
8-8:50 a.m.	4.005 Purchasing Applications: Public Power Pool Speakers: Mr. Brandon Fowler, Principal, Enstrat Analytics Mr. David Quin, Program Manager, P3, Conference of Urban Counties Veteran Services Program Speaker: Mr. James Bracken, Director, The Fund for Veteran’s Assistance, Texas Veterans Commission
8:50-9:50 a.m.	Refreshment break in the Exhibit Hall Sponsored by: ROMCO Equipment Co.
9:50-10:40 a.m.	3.018 Environmental Issues Speakers: Mr. Randy Ammons, North Central and West Texas Area Director, Texas Commission on Environmental Quality Mr. David Ramirez, Border and Permian Basin Area Director, Texas Commission on Environmental Quality Legal Aid of Northwest Texas Speaker: Ms. Farwah Raza, Attorney, Legal Aid of Northwest Texas
10:45 a.m.	Association Business Meeting North Room
11:30 a.m.	Installation Luncheon Red Lion Hotel: Main Ballroom Master Ceremonies: Hon. Rex Fields, Eastland County Judge; President, West Texas County Judges and Commissioners Association Sponsored by: McCreary, Veselka, Bragg & Allen, P.C.
Phase II Commissioners Court Advanced Curriculum Sessions
1:30-2:20 p.m.	2.012 County Auditor Speaker: Mr. Nathan Cradduck, Tom Green County Auditor
2:20-2:40 p.m.	Refreshment break
2:40-3:30 p.m.	2.015 Juvenile Probation Officer Speaker: Chief Monica Schniers, Chief Probation Officer, Tom Green County
3:30 p.m.	Adjourn
Leisure Activities
1:30 p.m.	Golf Tournament San Angelo Golf Club Sponsored by: Yellowhouse Machinery Co. Pool Tournament Pearl on the Concho Sponsored by: Bickerstaff Health Delgado Acosta LLP Domino Tournaments Pearl on the Concho Sponsored by: LaSalle Corrections 42 Tournaments Pearl on the Concho Sponsored by: Lonestar Truck Group — San Angelo
9 p.m.	President's Farewell Jam Session Red Lion Hotel: Black Sheep Bar & Grill Sponsored by: Perdue Brandon Fielder Collins & Mott, LLP
Friday, Aug. 21
8 a.m.	Coffee break North Room Sponsored by: iDocket.com
8-11 a.m.	Registration and Information Desk Open
Closing General Session
8:30-9:20 a.m.	Census and Redistricting Speakers: Mr. Bob Bass, Partner, Allison, Bass & Magee, LLP Mr. Kenneth Leonard, Partnership Specialist, Census 2020
9:20-10:10 a.m.	3.003 Lawmaking: Legislative Update Speaker: Mr. Jim Allison, General Counsel, County Judges and Commissioners Association of Texas
10:10-11 a.m.	3.013 Working with the Legislature: Legislative Panel Moderator: Mr. Jim Allison, General Counsel, County Judges and Commissioners Association of Texas Speakers: Invited Legislators
11 a.m.	Adjourn
11:30 a.m.	Board Meeting

*Agenda is subject to change

Education Sponsor

Special thanks to the V.G. Young Institute of County Government, a part of the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service, for serving as the education program co-sponsor for this conference.

Commissioners Hours

This program is approved for 18 hours of continuing education for county commissioners (Including the Early Bird Session).

Judges Hours

The judicial education session on Wednesday afternoon is approved for four hours of continuing education for county judges.

Commissioners Court Advanced Curriculum

This program includes eleven hours of credit towards CCAC Certification.

Early Bird Session

Four hours have been approved and will be offered on Tuesday, August 18.

Conference cancellations and all refund requests must be received in writing (fax or email acceptable) by 5 p.m. on July 27 (less an administrative fee of $30). Substitutions accepted. No refunds will be made after July 27.

Please email cancellations to Rachel Kucera or fax to (512) 477-1324.