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 April 1, 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
An application is pending approval for 14 continuing education hours for commissioners. Four additional hours will be offered on Tuesday, April 21, during the early bird session. Four judicial education credit hours for judges during the judicial training for county judges on Wednesday, April 22, have been approved.
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 March 30, 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
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, April 21 |
| 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, April 22 |
| 9 a.m.-3:30 p.m. |
Spouse Event |
| 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, April 23 |
| 7 a.m. |
Inspirational Breakfast
Red Lion Hotel: Ballroom A/B/C
Speaker: Pastor Cameron Strange, PaulAnn Church |
| 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 |
*Agenda is subject to change
| Tuesday, April 21 |
| 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. |
Registration and Information Desk Open |
| Early Bird Session |
| 9:30-10:20 a.m. |
Overview of Senate Bill 2 |
| 10:20-11:10 a.m. |
Property Values and Calculations |
| 11:10-11:20 a.m. |
Break |
| 11:20 a.m.-12:10 p.m. |
County Budgeting Overview |
| 12:10-1:10 p.m. |
Provided Lunch for Early Bird Session |
| 1:10-2 p.m. |
Implementing SB 2: Practical Considerations and Strategies |
| 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
Transportation provided by: San Angelo Convention & Visitors Bureau |
| Wednesday, April 22 |
| 7:30 a.m.-5 p.m. |
Registration and Information Desk Open |
| 7:30 a.m.-5 p.m. |
Exhibit Hall Open |
| 7:30 a.m. |
Coffee in the Exhibit Hall
Sponsored by: National Association of Counties |
| 8:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. |
Spouse Event |
| 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 |
| 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.-4 p.m. |
Spouse Event |
| 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
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. |
Guardianship and Probate Issues in Mental Health and Intellectual Disability Cases |
| 2-3 p.m. |
Impaired and Distracted Driving Issues and Motions |
| 3-3:30 p.m. |
Refreshment break |
| 3:30-4:30 p.m. |
Texas Commission on Jail Standards Update |
| 4:30-5:30 p.m. |
Moderated Discussion |
| 5:30 p.m. |
Adjourn |
| Commissioners Court Training |
| 1-1:50 p.m. |
Road Repair Grants
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 |
| 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 |
| 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, April 23 |
| 7 a.m. |
Inspirational Breakfast |
| 7:30-10:40 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
Legal Aid of Northwest Texas |
| 8:50-9:50 a.m. |
Refreshment break in the Exhibit Hall |
| 9:50-10:40 a.m. |
3.018 Environmental Issues
Veteran Services Programs |
| 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 |
| Friday, April 24 |
| 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 eight hours of credit towards CCAC Certification.
Early Bird Session
Four hours have been approved and will be offered on Tuesday, April 21.
Conference cancellations and all refund requests must be received in writing (fax or email acceptable) by 5 p.m. on March 31 (less an administrative fee of $30). Substitutions accepted. No refunds will be made after March 31.
Please email cancellations to Rachel Kucera or fax to (512) 477-1324.