Overview
Our 2023 conference will provide valuable information on specialized districts, subdivision regulations, tax abatement issues, legislative updates and other timely topics that affect your daily operations as an elected official. This event also offers a great opportunity for you 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 and cornhole 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
Interested in serving on the WTCJCA board — Contact Cindy Irwin, Hutchinson County Judge, judgeirwin@hutchinsoncnty.com.
Annual scholarship program — Contact Mike DeLoach, Lamb County Judge, jmdeloach@co.lamb.tx.us.
Nominations for awards — Contact Kirk Frye, Parmer County Commissioner, kirkf@wtrt.net.
Interested in serving on a committee — Be sure to check the box when you register online.
Spouse Activities/registration
The spouse registration fee is $50. Activities for spouses will be arranged for Wednesday.
More details, when final, will be available at www.county.org/calendar.
Association Officers
Hon. Kirk Frye, President
Parmer County Commissioner
Hon. Cindy Irwin, First Vice President
Hutchinson County Judge
Hon. Roger Morris, Second Vice President
Oldham County Commissioner
Hon. Glen Whitley, Past President
Tarrant County Judge
Association Directors
Hon. Mike DeLoach
Lamb County Judge
Hon. Reggie Loeffler
Mason County Commissioner
Hon. J.D. Clark
Wise County Judge
Please remember to bring a door prize.
The host hotels are the Cotton Court Hotel and the Overton 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 31, so make your reservations early. All reservation requests 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.
Cotton Court Hotel
1610 Broadway St.
Lubbock, TX 79401
(210) 220-3054
Room rate: $139 per night ($179 Deluxe king/double)
Group Code: WTCJACA374
Overton Hotel & Conference Center
2322 Mac Davis Ln.
Lubbock, TX 79401
(806) 776-7000
Room rate: $98 per night (government per diem)
If you need to cancel your room or be added to the waitlist, please contact Jackie Boone at jackieb@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 25 |
| 2-4:30 p.m. |
Welcome Reception |
| 6-9 p.m. |
Host Court Night |
| Wednesday, April 26 |
| 9 a.m.-3:30 pm |
Spouse Event |
| Noon |
Past Presidents' Luncheon (by invitation only) |
| 6:30 p.m. |
Dinner and Dance
Live music by Jake Hooker & the Outsiders
Sponsored by Warren CAT |
| Thursday, April 27 |
| 7 a.m. |
Inspirational Breakfast |
| 11:30 a.m. |
Installation Luncheon |
| 1:30 p.m. |
Cornhole Tournament |
| 1:30 p.m. |
Golf Tournament |
| 1:30 p.m. |
Domino and 42 Tournaments |
| 9 p.m. |
President's Farewell Jam Session |
| Tuesday, April 25 |
| 8 a.m. |
Exhibitors Set Up |
| 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. |
Registration and Information Desk Open |
| Early Bird Session |
| 8:30-9:30 a.m. |
Calendars: Budgeting, Property Tax and Grievance |
| 9:30-10:30 a.m. |
Calculating Tax Rates and What They Mean |
| 10:30-10:45 a.m. |
Break |
| 10:45-11:45 a.m. |
Advertisements and Public Notices |
| 11:45 a.m.-12:45 p.m. |
Provided Lunch for Early Bird Session |
| 12:45-1:45 p.m. |
Procedures to Adopt Budget and Tax Rate |
| |
| 2 p.m. |
Nominations Committee
Resolutions Committee
Conference City Committee
Scholarship Committee
|
| 2-4:30 p.m. |
Welcome Reception |
| 4:30 p.m. |
Board Meeting |
| 6-10 p.m. |
Host Court Night |
| Wednesday, April 26 |
| 7:30 a.m. |
Breakfast in the Exhibit Hall |
| 7:30 a.m.-4 p.m. |
Exhibit Hall Open |
| 7:30 a.m.-5 p.m. |
Registration and Information Desk Open |
| Opening General Session |
| 8-8:30 a.m. |
Opening Ceremonies |
| 8:30-9:20 a.m. |
Keynote Session
Mr. Jim Bearden |
| 9 a.m.-3:30 p.m. |
Spouse Event |
| 9:20-10:20 a.m. |
Refreshment Break in the Exhibit Hall |
| 10:20-11:10 a.m. |
4.017 Communications: Broadband
Hon. J.D. Clark
Hon. Marty Lucke
Ms. Andrea Pacheco |
| 11:10 a.m.-noon |
4.013 Risk Management: Active Shooter
Mr. Ricardo Garcia |
| Noon |
Far West Texas County Judges and Commissioners Association Business Meeting |
| Noon |
Lunch With Exhibitors |
| Noon |
Past Presidents' Luncheon (by invitation only) |
Judicial Training for County Judges
The judicial education session is partially funded by a Judicial & Court Personnel Training Fund grant administered by the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals and a Texas Traffic Safety Program grant administered by the Texas Department of Transportation. |
| 1-2 p.m. |
Original Civil Filings |
| 2-3 p.m. |
Mental Health Diversion |
| 3-3:30 p.m. |
Refreshment Break |
| 3:30-4:30 p.m. |
DWI Docket Management |
| 4:30-5:30 p.m. |
DWI Sentencing & Pre-trial Practices |
| 5:30 p.m. |
Adjourn |
| Commissioners Court Training |
| 1-1:50 p.m. |
3.016 County Roads
Mr. Don Bonifay |
| 1:50-2:40 p.m. |
3.002 Commissions and Committees: County Jails |
| 2:40-3:35 p.m. |
Refreshment Break in the Exhibit Hall |
| 3:35-4:25 p.m. |
TxLTAP Overview
Mr. Ray Blek |
| 4:25-5:15 p.m. |
3.006 Personnel Policies: HR Law
Ms. Cheraun Blankenship |
| 5:15 p.m. |
Adjourn |
| 6:30 p.m. |
Dinner and Dance |
| Thursday, April 27 |
| 7 a.m. |
Inspirational Breakfast |
| 7:30 a.m. |
Coffee in the Exhibit Hall |
| 7:30-10:30 a.m. |
Exhibit Hall Open |
| 7:30 a.m.-1 p.m. |
Registration and Information Desk Open |
Concurrent Workshops
Choose one session from each time slot. Attendees will receive one continuing education hour for each complete session attended. |
| 8-8:50 a.m. |
3.019 Subdivision Regulations
Mr. Bob Bass
3.014 Specialized Districts
Mr. Jason Coleman
|
| 8:50-9:50 a.m. |
Refreshment Break in the Exhibit Hall |
| 9:50-10:40 a.m. |
4.002 Cybersecurity
Mr. Robert Ruiz
4.025 Tax Abatement Issues: Renewable Energy Projects
Mr. Eric Magee
|
| |
| 10:45 a.m. |
Association Business Meeting |
| 11:30 a.m. |
Installation Luncheon |
| Phase II Commissioners Court Advanced Curriculum Sessions |
| 1:30-2:20 p.m. |
2.007 County Sheriff
Hon. Kelly Rowe |
| 2:20-2:40 p.m. |
Refreshment Break |
| 2:40-3:30 p.m. |
2.017 County Court at Law Judge
Hon. Mark J. Hocker |
| Leisure Activities |
| 3:30 p.m. |
Adjourn |
| 1:30 p.m. |
Golf Tournament
Cornhole Tournament
Domino Tournament
42 Tournament
|
| 9-11 p.m. |
President's Farewell Jam Session |
| Friday, April 28 |
| 8 a.m. |
Coffee Break |
| 8-11 a.m. |
Registration and Information Desk Open |
| Closing General Session |
| 8:30-9:20 a.m. |
Fire and EMS Relations With County Commissioners Court
Hon. Mike DeLoach
Mr. Mike Hill
Hon. Reggie Loeffler
Ms. Monica McGee |
| 9:20-10:10 a.m. |
3.003 Lawmaking: Federal Issues Affecting Counties
Mr. Mark Ritacco |
| 10:10-11 a.m. |
3.013 Working With the Legislature: Legislative Panel
Mr. Jim Allison |
| 11 a.m. |
Adjourn |
| 11:30 a.m. |
Board Meeting |
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
An application is approved for 14 continuing education hours for commissioners. Four additional hours will be offered on Tuesday, April 25, during 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 11 hours of credit toward CCAC Certification.
| Continuing Education Type |
Hours |
| Commissioners |
14 |
| Judges |
4 |
Vendor Information
For information on vendor registration, please go to the County Progress website or contact Jimi Copeland or Becky Frost.
Sponsors Information
For information on sponsorship opportunities, please contact Parmer County Commissioner Kirk Frye by calling (806) 265‑7514.
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 Jackie Boone at jackieb@county.org or fax them to (512) 477‑1324.