In-Person Event Safety Guidelines
CJCAT is committed to providing a clean and safe experience when attending meetings and events, and prioritizes the safety and social wellbeing of all attendees, guests and staff. We continue to monitor guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS), Local Health Authorities (LHAs) and state and local governments for regulations and guidelines. physical distancing and safety measures have been put into place for currently planned conferences and events.
From registration to meeting rooms, exhibit halls and meals, the Education and Event Services team has developed detailed plans, processes and procedures to help you feel safe.
Due to possible capacity limitations, some conferences may have to limit the number of attendees to accommodate physical distancing guidelines. For more information, please contact Michele Ewerz or visit the facility's website for specific safety guidelines pertaining to venues.
How Event Staff Are Keeping You Safe
Event staff will wear protective face coverings and gloves in all public areas of the meeting venue.
Event staff will practice physical distancing with Plexiglas shields and/or face shields at registration desk; place floor markers at registration area, meeting rooms, exhibit halls and food and beverage stations.
Event staff will clean and sanitize frequently touched surfaces and provide hand sanitizer for all attendees.

Event staff will conduct a daily symptom assessment of themselves.
Find the full list of guidelines and processes here*.
Education that is Informative
This year's conference offers up-to-date information and how officials can best support their counties.
Educational Co-Sponsor
Co-sponsored by the V.G. Young Institute of County Government, a part of the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service.
Continuing Education
17 hours of continuing education has been approved for county commissioners by CJCAT. This includes four hours of credit offered Wednesday afternoon in the Commissioners Court Advanced Curriculum session. The County Judges Education Committee has approved four hours of judicial education credit for the Tuesday afternoon Judicial Education session.
Advanced Curriculum
Learn more about your county offices. On Wednesday afternoon, take advantage of four advanced curriculum courses. County officials have the opportunity to obtain credits to complete the advanced curriculum. We will present certificates during Wednesday's luncheon banquet to those who have completed the curriculum.
Conference Registration Information
Conference registration will open on April 15 at 8 a.m. Please contact Rachel Kucera for more information.
Registration Fees
(Includes tickets to all events including spouse programs)
Member (county is a member of CJCA): Early Registration $225/After Sept. 14 $250
Non-County Government/Corporate: Early Registration $500/After Sept. 14 $550
Additional luncheon tickets (non-spouse): $60 each
Scheduled Activities
Several fun activities give you an opportunity to network with officials from across the state, including the President's Party and Exhibitor Appreciation night. Have a great time at Host Court Night, hosted by Taylor County. Wednesday is also the popular tournament afternoon and spouse day of activities.
Vendor Information
For information on vendor registration, please go to the County Progress Website or contact Sarah Lazarowitz.
Sponsor Information
For information on sponsorship please contact Taylor County Commissioner, Chuck Statler or call (325) 669-6266.
Association Officers
Hon. Chuck Statler, President
Taylor County Commissioner
Hon. Ben Zeller, First Vice President
Victoria County Judge
Hon. Rick Bailey, Second Vice President
Johnson County Commissioner
Hon. Robert Johnston, Immediate Past President
Anderson County Judge
Thank you to our Sponsors and Contributors
Our sincerest thanks to these businesses and their representatives. Without the participation and support of these folks, the special events presented at this conference would not have been possible.
Please remember to bring a door prize.
Hotel Accommodations
You must register for the conference before reserving your sleeping room. Once registered for the conference you will receive hotel reservation instructions including links and special codes in your confirmation email.
Accommodations have been made at the following hotels:
Courtyard by Marriott Abilene Northeast (FULL)
2141 Scottish Road
Abilene, TX 79601
Room Rate: $129
TownePlace Suites Abilene Northeast (FULL)
2141 Scottish Road
Abilene, TX 79601
Room Rate: $129
Home2 Suites by Hilton Abilene (FULL)
2109 Scottish Road
Abilene, TX 79601
Room Rate: $129
Residence Inn by Marriott Abilene (FULL)
1641 Musgrave Blvd.
Abilene, TX 79601
Room Rate: $119
Other Hotels in the Area:
Comfort Suites University
1902 E Overland Trail
Abilene, TX 79601
(325) 672-0338
Holiday Inn Express & Suites Abilene
1802 E Overland Trail
Abilene, TX 79601
(325) 675-9800
Cut-off date
Cut-off date for accepting reservations into these room blocks is Sept. 5. All reservations must be accompanied by a first-night room deposit or guaranteed with a major credit card.
Reservations cancellations must be made 48 hours prior to arrival.
If special accommodations are needed, please contact Michele Ewerz at (800) 456-5974.
Please email Rachel Kucera or send a fax to (512) 477-1324 to cancel your conference registration or hotel reservation. This will help move fellow attendees off of the wait list. We kindly request you do not post your reservation on the listserv as this hinders the wait list management.
Monday, Oct. 5 |
4:30-6 p.m. |
President's Party and Exhibitor Appreciation Night
Exhibit Hall
Sponsored by: Tyler Technologies |
Tuesday, Oct. 6 |
11 a.m. -5 p.m. |
Spouse Event
Spouses will enjoy lunch, followed by a cake and
cookie decorating class, and then will be off to Frontier
Texas! Buses will leave from the Abilene Convention
Center at 11 a.m. |
11:35 a.m.-1 p.m. |
Past Presidents' Luncheon (by invitation only)
Sponsored by: Allison, Bass & Magee, LLP |
6:30-9:30 p.m. |
Host Court Night
Big Country Hall | Taylor County Expo
Coordinated by: Taylor County Commissioners Court
Sponsored by: Warren CAT |
Wednesday, Oct. 7 |
11 a.m. |
Luncheon Banquet and Installation of Officers
Conference Room
Sponsored by: McCreary, Veselka, Bragg & Allen, P.C. |
1-5 p.m. |
Bobby Smith Memorial Golf Tournament
Diamondback Golf Club
Sponsored by: Perdue Brandon Fielder Collins & Mott, LLP
Yellowhouse Machinery Co. |
1-5 p.m. |
Domino Tournament
Upstairs Conference Room
Coordinated by: Hon. J.D. Johnson, Tarrant County Commissioner
Sponsored by: LaSalle Corrections |
Thursday, Oct. 8 |
7-7:45 p.m. |
Prayer Breakfast
Conference Room
Speaker: Mr. Steve Keenum, Regional Director, Fellowship of Christian Athletes
Sponsored by: Wright Asphalt Products Company |
*Agenda is subject to change
Monday, Oct. 5 |
*Buses will be running from 12:30 to 6:30 p.m. |
1-5:30 p.m. |
Registration and Information Desk |
1-6 p.m. |
Exhibit Hall Open/Dedicated Time with Exhibitors |
1-4:30 p.m. |
Refreshment Break in the Exhibit Hall |
2-5 p.m. |
Standing Committee Meetings:
Resolutions
Nominations
Site Selection |
4:30-6 p.m. |
President's Party and Exhibitor Appreciation Night
Sponsored by: Tyler Technologies |
Evening |
Free Night |
Tuesday, Oct. 6 |
*Buses will be running from 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. |
7:30-8 a.m. |
Welcome Breakfast in the Exhibit Hall
Sponsored by: Linebarger Goggan Blair & Sampson, LLP |
7:30-5 p.m. |
Registration and Information Desk Open |
7:30-5 p.m. |
Exhibit Hall Open |
Opening General Session |
8-8:20 a.m. |
Welcome and Greetings |
8:20-9:10 a.m. |
4.016 Leadership / Team Building: Keynote Address
Speaker: Hon. Robert Duncan, Former Texas State Senator and Chancellor of Texas Tech University |
9:10-9:55 a.m. |
Refreshment Break in the Exhibit Hall
Sponsored by: Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service Professional Associations |
9:55-10:45 a.m. |
3.013 Working with the Legislature
Moderator: Mr. Jim Allison, General Counsel, County Judges and Commissioners Association of Texas
Speakers: Area Legislators |
10:45-11:35 a.m. |
3.003 Lawmaking
Moderator: Mr. Jim Allison, General Counsel, County Judges and Commissioners Association of Texas
Speakers: Area Legislators |
11 a.m. -5 p.m. |
Spouse Event
Spouses will enjoy lunch, followed by a cake and
cookie decorating class, and then will be off to Frontier
Texas! Buses will leave from the Abilene Convention
Center at 11 a.m. |
11:35 a.m.-1 p.m. |
Past Presidents' Luncheon (by invitation only)
Sponsored by: Allison, Bass & Magee, LLP |
Judicial Education |
1-2 p.m. |
Judicial Discretion and Ethics
Speaker: Hon. Tramer Woytek, Judicial Resource Liaison, TAC |
2-3 p.m. |
Ex Parte Communications and Pro Se Litigants
Speaker: Hon. Greg Holly, Ward County Judge |
3-3:15 p.m. |
Refreshment Break
Sponsored by: Linebarger Goggan Blair & Sampson, LLP |
3:15-4:15 p.m. |
All Things Magistration
Speaker: Hon. Kirk Noaker, Magistrate Judge, Burnet County |
4:15-5:15 p.m. |
Moderated Discussion: Dockets, Impaired Driving Motions and Alternatives, Emergency Detention Orders, Mental Health Issues and Other Pesky Problems
Speaker: Hon. Mary Cunningham, Judicial Program Manager |
Commissioners Education |
1-1:50 p.m. |
3.016 County Road Panel
Speakers: Hon. Joe Brown, Erath County Commissioner
Hon. Grover “Tiger” Worsham, Trinity County Commissioner
Hon. Richard Zahn, Wharton County Commissioner |
1:50-2:40 p.m. |
3.018 Environmental Issues Roundtable Discussion
Speakers: Hon. Rick Bailey, Johnson County Commissioner
Mr. Eric Magee, Partner, Allison, Bass & Magee, LLP |
2:40-3:10 p.m. |
Refreshment in the Exhibit Hall
Sponsored by: Perdue Brandon Fielder Collins & Mott, LLP |
3:10-4 p.m. |
3.019 Subdivision Regulations
Speaker: Ms. Jennifer Davidson, Director of Public
Works, Lubbock County |
4-4:50 p.m. |
4.024 Redistricting
Speakers: Mr. Bob Bass, Partner, Allison, Bass & Magee, LLP
Mr. David Mendez, Attorney, Bickerstaff Heath Delgado Acosta LLP |
6:30-9:30 p.m. |
Host Court Night
Big Country Hall, Taylor County Expo
Coordinated by: Taylor County Commissioners Court
Sponsored by: Warren CAT |
Wednesday, Oct. 7 |
*Buses will be running from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. |
7:30-8 a.m. |
Tournament Day Breakfast in the Exhibit Hall
Sponsored by: Yellowhouse Machinery Co. |
7:30-10:30 a.m |
Exhibt Hall Open |
7:30 a.m.-5 p.m. |
Registration and Information Desk Open |
General Session |
8-8:50 a.m. |
3.005 Justice System: Indigent Defense
Speakers: Mr. Jim Bethke, Director, Justice Administration Department, Harris County
Hon. Bill McCay, Lubbock County Commissioner |
8:50-9:40 a.m. |
4.012 Personnel: County Retirement
Speaker: Hon. Dianna Spieker, Tom Green County
Treasurer |
9:40-10:30 a.m. |
Refreshment in the Exhibit Hall
Sponsored by: Perdue Brandon Fielder Collins & Mott, LLP |
10:30-11 a.m. |
Association Business Meeting |
11 a.m.-1 p.m. |
Luncheon Banquet and Installation of Officers
Sponsored by: McCreary, Veselka, Bragg & Allen, P.C. |
1-5 p.m. |
Domino Tournament
Upstairs Conference Room
Coordinated by: Hon. J.D. Johnson, Tarrant County Commissioner
Sponsored by: LaSalle Corrections |
1-5 p.m. |
Bobby Smith Memorial Golf Tournament
Diamondback Golf Club
Sponsored by: Perdue Brandon Fielder Collins & Mott, LLP
Yellowhouse Machinery Co. |
Advanced Curriculum Education |
1-1:50 p.m. |
2.001 County Judge
Speaker: Hon. Tramer Woytek, Judicial Resource Liaison, Texas Association of Counties; Former Lavaca County Judge |
1:50-2:40 p.m. |
2.013 County Health Officer
Speakers: Dr. Annie Drachenberg, Local Health Authority, Abilene-Taylor County
Ms. Annette Lerma, Director of Health Services, Abilene-Taylor County |
2:40-2:55 p.m. |
Refreshment Break
Sponsored by: Indigent Healthcare Solutions |
2:55-3:45 p.m. |
2.014 Extension Service
Speaker: Dr. Jeff Ripley, Associate Director for County Operations, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service |
3:45-4:35 p.m. |
2.018 District Judge
Speaker: Hon. Lee Hamilton, District Judge, 104th District Court |
Evening |
Free Night |
Thursday, Oct. 8 |
*Buses will be running from 7 a.m. to noon |
7-7:45 p.m. |
Prayer Breakfast
Conference Room
Speaker: Mr. Steve Keenum, Regional Director, Fellowship of Christian Athletes
Sponsored by: Wright Asphalt Products Company |
7:30-8 a.m. |
Morning Coffee |
7:30-11:30 a.m. |
Registration and Information Desk Open |
Closing General Session |
8-8:50 a.m. |
4.009 Financial Accounting Basics
Speaker: Mr. Nathan Cradduck, Tom Green County Auditor |
8:50-9:40 a.m. |
4.006 Fees and Revenue
Speaker: Mr. Nathan Cradduck, Tom Green County Auditor |
9:40-10:10 a.m. |
Refreshment Break
Sponsored by: Hart InterCivic
Lubbock Grader Blade, Inc. |
10:10-11 a.m. |
4.018 Emergency Management: Local Powers
Panelists: Hon. John C. Howard, M.D., Donley County Judge
Chief W. Nim Kidd, Texas Division of Emergency Management, Vice Chancellor for Disaster and Emergency Services, Texas A&M University
Hon. Jimmy Sylvia, Chambers County Judge |
11-11:50 a.m. |
4.023 Grantseeking: CARES Act & County Road Repair Grants
Panelists: Mr. Jim Allison, General Counsel, CJCAT
Chief W. Nim Kidd, Texas Division of Emergency Management, Texas Department of Safety, Vice Chancellor for Disaster and Emergency Services, Texas A&M University |
*Agenda is subject to change
Continuing Education
17 hours of continuing education has been approved for county commissioners by CJCAT. This includes four hours of credit offered Wednesday afternoon in the Commissioners Court Advanced Curriculum session. The County Judges Education Committee has approved four hours of judicial education credit for the Tuesday afternoon Judicial Education session.
Type |
Hours |
Commissioners |
17 |
Judges |
4 |
Advanced Curriculum
Learn more about your county offices. On Wednesday afternoon, take advantage of four advanced curriculum courses. County officials have the opportunity to obtain credits to complete the advanced curriculum. We will present certificates during Wednesday’s luncheon banquet to those who have completed the curriculum.
Conference registration forms must be received by Sept. 29. If registering after Sept. 29, please register onsite at the Abilene Convention Center. We will process payment and provide name badges and conference materials.
Registration cancellations must be in writing (fax acceptable) at least 72 hours prior to the conference to receive a refund, minus a $10 processing fee. For more information, please contact the TAC Education Department at (800) 456-5974 or email Rachel Kucera.