92nd Annual West Texas County Judges and Commissioners Association Conference

April 20 - 23, 2021

Odessa Marriott Hotel and Conference Center
305 E. Fifth St.
Odessa, TX 79761

Online registration is closed. You may register on-site.

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

Overview
Hotel
Scheduled Activities
Agenda
Continuing Education
Cancellation

Overview

Our 2021 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: John Nanny, Irion County Commissioner, P.O. Box 129, Barnhart, TX 76930, or emailed to nanny_john@yahoo.com.

Another tradition 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, 2021. 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. 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 2021 from a high school within the 118-county West Texas region. To download the application, click here.

Interested in Serving on the West Texas CJCA Board?

If you are interested in serving on the Board of the West Texas County Judges and Commissioners Association, please contact First Vice President and Tarrant County Judge B. Glen Whitley, (817) 884-1441. Here is the application and detailed information explaining what serving on the Board entails.

Spouse Activities

Activities for spouses will be arranged for Wednesday. More details will be available when arrangements have been completed.

Continuing Education

An application is pending approval for 14 continuing education hours for commissioners. Four additional hours will be offered on Tuesday, April 20,during the early bird session. Four judicial education credit hours for the judicial training for county judges on Wednesday, April 21, have been approved.

Vendor Information

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

Sponsors Information

For information on sponsorship opportunities, please contact Irion County Commissioner John Nanny by calling (325) 876-5108

Association Officers

Hon. John Nanny, President
Irion County Commissioner

Hon. Glen Whitley, First Vice President
Tarrant County Judge

Hon. Kirk Frye, Second Vice President
Parmer County Commissioner

Hon. Rex Fields, Past President
Eastland County Judge

Association Directors

Hon. Cindy Irwin
Hutchinson County Judge

Hon. Roger Morris
Oldham County Commissioner

Hon. Mike DeLoach
Lamb County Judge

Please remember to bring a door prize.

The host hotel is the Odessa Marriott Hotel and Conference Center. 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 19, so make your reservations early. All reservations received after this date will be accepted on a space-available basis and at the prevailing hotel rates. Guests will need to guarantee reservations with a credit card. Reservations canceled within 48 hours of expected arrival will be billed to the credit card that was used to guarantee the reservation.

Host Hotel

Odessa Marriott Hotel and Conference Center HOTEL FULL
305 E. Fifth St.
Odessa, TX 79761
(432) 580-5805
Room rate: $179 per night
Reserve your room here.

Overflow Hotel

MCM Elegante
5200 East University
Odessa, TX 79762
(432) 368-5885
Room rate: $169.99 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.

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

Tuesday, April 20
2-4:30 p.m.	Welcome Reception Permian Ballroom Sponsored by: Hart InterCivic Lubbock Grader Blade
6 p.m.	Host Court Night Hurt Ranch │ 6 p.m. 9200 FM 554, Odessa, TX 79765 Sponsored by: Ector County Commissioners Court Transportation provided by: Discover Odessa
Wednesday, April 21
9 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.	Spouse Event Various Locations Sponsored by: Bruckner Truck Sales, Inc. Lithified Technologies Kirby-Smith Machinery Transportation provided by: Discover Odessa
Noon	Past Presidents' Luncheon (by invitation only) Sponsored by: Allison, Bass & Magee, LLP
6 p.m.	Dinner and Dance Ector County Coliseum Barn G Live music by Jake Hooker & the Outsiders Sponsored by: Warren CAT Transportation provided by: Discover Odessa
Thursday, April 22
7 a.m.	Inspirational Breakfast Devonian I & II Speaker: Ms. Jessica Phillips, Inspirational Speaker and Writer Sponsored by: Dannenbaum Engineering Wright Asphalt Products Co.
11:30 a.m.	Installation Luncheon Devonian I & II Sponsored by: McCreary, Veselka, Bragg & Allen, P.C.
1:30 p.m.	Golf Tournament Odessa Country Club Sponsored by: Yellowhouse Machinery Co.
1:30 p.m.	Pool Tournament Fast Eddies Sponsored by: Bickerstaff Heath Delgado Acosta LLP
1:30 p.m.	Domino and 42 Tournaments Travertine Sponsored by: LaSalle Corrections
9 p.m.	President’s Farewell Jam Session Travertine Sponsored by: Perdue Brandon Fielder Collin & Mott, LLP

Tuesday, April 20
8 a.m.	Exhibitors Set Up Permian Ballroom
8 a.m.-4:30 p.m.	Registration and Information Desk Open First Floor Conference Foyer
Early Bird Session: Planning and Communicating Your County's Budget Devonian III & IV │ 9:30 a.m.-2 p.m.
9:30-10:20 a.m.	County Budgeting Speaker: Hon. Tramer Woytek, Judicial Education Liaison, Texas Association of Counties (TAC)
10:20-11:10 a.m.	Adopting and Calculating the Tax Rate Speaker: Mr. Nathan Cradduck, Tom Green County Auditor
11:10-11:20 a.m.	Break
11:20 a.m.-12:10 p.m.	Agendas, Postings and Open Meeting Requirements Speaker: Hon. Mary Cunningham, Judicial Program Manager, TAC
12:10-1:10 p.m.	Provided Lunch for Early Bird Session
1:10-2 p.m.	Communicating to the Public Speaker: Dr. Peter McGuill, Director, V.G. Young Institute of County Government, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service
Standing Committee Meetings
2 p.m.	Nominations Committee Resolutions Committee Conference City Committee Scholarship Committee
2-4:30 p.m.	Welcome Reception Permian Ballroom Sponsored by: Hart InterCivic Lubbock Grader Blade
4:30 p.m.	Board Meeting
6 p.m.	Host Court Night Hurt Ranch 9200 FM 554, Odessa, TX 79765 Sponsored by: Ector County Commissioners Court Transportation provided by: Discover Odessa
Wednesday, April 21
7:30 a.m.	Breakfast in the Exhibit Hall Permian Ballroom Sponsored by: National Association of Counties
7:30 a.m.-4 p.m.	Exhibit Hall Open Permian Ballroom
7:30 a.m.-5 p.m.	Registration and Information Desk Open First Floor Conference Foyer
Opening General Session Ector Theater │ 8-11:55 a.m.
8-8:30 a.m.	Call to Order Hon. John Nanny, Irion County Commissioner; President, West Texas County Judges and Commissioners Association Invocation Hon. Roger Morris, Oldham County Commissioner Presentation of Colors Odessa Police Department National Anthem Hon. Greg Simmons, Ector County Commissioner Pledges of Allegiance Hon. Mike DeLoach, Lamb County Judge Welcome and Greetings Hon. Javier Joven, Mayor of Odessa Hon. Debi Hays, Ector County Judge Hon. Ben Zeller, Victoria County Judge; President, County Judges and Commissioners Association of Texas Hon. Jen Crownover, Comal County Commissioner; President, South Texas County Judges and Commissioners Association Hon. Paul Cothren, Cass County Commissioner; President, North and East Texas County Judges and Commissioners Association Hon. Susan M. Redford, Executive Director, Texas Association of Counties Dr. Peter McGuill, Director, V.G. Young Institute of County Government, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service Mrs. Julie Anderson, Editor, County Progress magazine
8:30-9:20 a.m.	3.010 Building Better Relations Keynote speaker: Dr. Robert Brescia Teacher of Record, Ector County ISD Keynote sponsored by: Bickerstaff Heath Delgado Acosta LLC
9:20-10:20 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: Bruckner Truck Sales, Inc. Kirby-Smith Machinery Lithified Technologies Transportation provided by: Discover Odessa
10:20-11:10 a.m.	The American Rescue Plan Act Speaker: Hon. B. Glen Whitley, Tarrant County Judge
11:10 a.m.-noon	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
Noon	Deli Lunch (lunch with exhibitors) Permian Ballroom Sponsored by: Hilltop Securities, Inc. Linebarger Goggan Blair & Sampson, LLP
Noon	Past Presidents' Luncheon (by invitation only) Sponsored by: Allison, Bass & Magee, LLP
Judicial Training for County Judge Devonian IV│ 1-5:30 p.m.
1-2 p.m.	Drugged Driving Procedures and Options Speaker: Hon. Robert Anchondo, Judge, El Paso County Court at Law #2
2-3 p.m.	Criminal Overview Speaker: Hon. Alan Bristol, County Relations Officer, TAC
3-3:30 p.m.	Refreshment Break Sponsored by: Perdue Brandon Fielder Collin & Mott, LLP
3:30-4:30 p.m.	Problems in Guardianship Speaker: Hon. Sharla Baldridge, Hockley County Judge Hon. Jerry Bearden, Mason County Judge Hon. Mary Cunningham, Judicial Program Manager, TAC Hon. Curtis Parrish, Lubbock County Judge
4:30-5:30 p.m.	Mental Health Procedures Speaker: Hon. Tramer Woytek, Judicial Resource Liaison, TAC
5:30 p.m.	Adjourn
Commissioners Court Training Ector Theatre│ 1-5:15 p.m.
1-1:50 p.m.	TxLTAP: Who We Are and What We Do Speaker: Mr. Ray L. Belk, TxLTAP Consultant, Division for Enterprise Development
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 Permian Ballroom Sponsored by: Perdue Brandon Fielder Collin & Mott, LLP
3:35-4:25 p.m.	3.011 Councils of Government Speakers: Ms. Virginia Belew, Executive Director, Permian Basin Regional Planning Commission Ms. Ginny Lewis Ford, Executive Director, Texas Association of Regional Councils
4:25-5:15 p.m.	3.007 Civil Rights Issues Speaker: Ms. Michele Arseneau, Senior Human Resources Consultant, TAC
5:15 p.m.	Adjourn
6 p.m.	Dinner and Dance Ector County Coliseum Barn G Live music by Jake Hooker & the Outsiders Sponsored by: Warren CAT Transportation provided by: Discover Odessa
Thursday, April 22
7 a.m.	Inspirational Breakfast Devonian I & II Speaker: Ms. Jessica Phillips, Inspirational Speaker and Writer Sponsored by: Dannenbaum Engineering Wright Asphalt Products Co.
7:30-10:30 a.m.	Morning Break in the Exhibit Hall Permian Ballroom Sponsored by: P2 Emulsions
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.
Ector Theatre
8-8:50 a.m.	4.005 Purchasing Applications: Public Power Pool Mr. David Quin, P3 Program Director, Conference of Urban Counties
9:50-10:40 a.m.	3.018 Environmental Issues Speaker: Mr. Rickey George, Director of Environmental Enforcement/ Emergency Management Coordinator, Ector County
Devonian III & IV
8-8:50 a.m.	Veteran Services Programs Speaker: Mr. James Bracken, Director, Fund for Veterans’ Assistance, Texas Veterans Commission
8:50-9:50 a.m.	Refreshment Break in the Exhibit Hall Permian Ballroom
Devonian III & IV
9:50-10:40 a.m.	Legal Aid of Northwest Texas Speaker: Ms. Farwah Raza, Attorney, Legal Aid of Northwest Texas
Association Business Meeting
11:30 a.m.	Installation Luncheon Devonian I & II
Phase II Commissioners Court Advanced Curriculum Sessions Devonian I & II │ 1:30-3:30 p.m.
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 Sponsored by: Freese and Nichols, Inc.
2:40-3:30 p.m.	2.003 County Clerk Speaker: Hon. Jennifer Martin, Ector County Clerk
3:30 p.m.	Adjourn
Leisure Activities
1:30 p.m.	Golf Tournament Odessa County Club Sponsored by: Yellowhouse Machinery Co. Pool Tournament Fast Eddies Sponsored by: Bickerstaff Heath Degaldo Acosta LLP Domino Tournament Travertine Sponsored by: LaSalle Corrections 42 Tournament Travertine Sponsored by: ICON Software
9-11 p.m.	President's Farewell Jam Session Sponsored by: Perdue Brandon Fielder Collin & Mott, LLP
Friday, April 23
8 a.m.	Coffee and Breakfast Devonian III & IV Sponsored by: iDocket.com
8-11 a.m.	Registration and Information Desk Open
Closing General Session
8:30-9:20 a.m.	4.024 Redistricting Speakers: Mr. Bob Bass, Partner, Allison, Bass & Magee, LLP
9:20-10:10 a.m.	3.003 Lawmaking: Legislative Update Speaker: Mr. Jim Allison, General Counsel, County Judges and Commissioners Association of Texas (CJCAT)
10:10–11 a.m.	3.013 Working With the Legislature: Legislative Panel Moderator: Mr. Jim Allison, General Counsel, CJCAT Speakers: Invited Legislators
11 a.m.	Adjourn

*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 has been approved for 18 hours of continuing education for county commissioners.

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 12 hours of credit towards CCAC certification.

Early Bird Session

Four hours will be offered on Tuesday, April 20.

Continuing Education Types	Hours
Commissioners	18
Judges	4

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

Please email cancellations to Rachel Kucera at rachelk@county.org or fax to (512) 477-1324.