The Burnet County Commissioners Court recently adopted a process to appoint a new county judge to complete the unexpired term of the former county judge, James Oakley, through Dec. 31, 2026.
Currently, the court includes one commissioner per each of the four county precincts, including Pct. 1 Jim Luther Jr., Pct. 2 Damon Beierle, Pct. 3 Chad Collier and Pct. 4 Joe Don Dockery.
During their Jan. 3 special meeting, the commissioners decided to designate Beierle to conduct court meetings, sign county documents and administer routine court business until a new county judge is appointed “Obviously, I’ll need your help and grace,” Beierle said.
Oakley resigned Jan. 2 following a public reprimand from the Texas Commission on Judicial Conduct regarding complaints of alleged sexual harassment by one elected official and county employees.
Thus, all of the commissioners intend to rely much on public opinion to determine a successor to Oakley.
“Public input is valuable,” Beierle said during the Jan. 3 meeting in the county courthouse.
During the same meeting, after they emerged from a closed-door, hourlong executive session, the commissioners decided to appoint the next county judge as follows: 1. General requirements for county judge include residency in Burnet County more than six months, ages 25 or above with no record of felony conviction or official misconduct. Applications for county judge are open now through noon Jan. 31.
2. All eligible residents for county judge may submit an application for the position online at the county website https:// www.burnetcountytexas. org.
3. All applicants are asked to submit a resume and Burnet County employment application.
4. A list of applications will be posted online to the Burnet County website no later than 5 p.m. Jan. 31.
5. The public will have the opportunity to provide comments and questions to the county commissioners effective immediately.
6. Inclusion of all commissioners per one single e-mail correspondence can constitute a violation of quorum rules. Therefore, send emails to commissioners individually as follows: [email protected], dbeierle@burnetcountytexas. org, ccollier@burnetcountytexas. org, jdockery@ burnetcountytexas. org.
7.A public workshop is scheduled 6 p.m. Feb. 6, to discuss the list of applicants in Burnet at the AgriLife Auditorium, 607 N. Vandeveer St.
8. During the regular court meeting 9 a.m. Feb. 11, the commissioners will interview applicants and select two finalists.
9. A public workshop is set 6 p.m. Feb. 13 for the final two applicants at the AgriLife Auditorium. Both applicants will be asked to attend the forum. Details are pending as to the forum format.
10. During the regular court meeting 9 a.m. Feb. 25, the commissioners will ask final questions and appoint a new county judge to fill the unexpired term.
During time for public comment Jan. 3, retired 33rd Judicial District Court Judge Guilford “Gil” Jones told the commissioners people suggested he could apply to be the new Burnet County judge.
“I appreciate the notion,” Jones said.
Jones told The Highlander, “A lot of people popped out of the woodwork for me soon after the resignation of Oakley.”
Last month during one commissioners meeting, Sheriff’ Deputy Alan Trevino indicated he plans to apply for county judge.
Also during the Jan. 3 meeting, the commissioners appointed attorney Glenna Hodge to chair a special committee designated to recognize a successor to replace retiring Justice of the Peace Pct. 4 Debbie Bindseil.
Other committee members include Pct. 4 resident Bill Earnest and each county justice of the peace including Bindseil, Pct. 1 Roxanne Nelson, Pct. 2 Lisa Whitehead, Pct. 3 Jane Marie Hurst and Pct 4 Constable Millicent “Missy” Bindseil.
Too, the commissioners re-appointed Bob Childress and Joanne Hanifan to the Emergency Services District No. 3 board, effective Jan. 3.
In other business, the commissioners:
• Approved the Capital Area Housing Finance Corporation Single Family Mortgage Origination Program certificate to assist first-time home buyers; and
• Authorized the Pct. 2 road and bridge crew to repair a culvert damaged by a recent storm near the 800 block of CR 200, where the county had stored property, near land owned by Marie Esparza of D’Lara Home Construction;
• Approved April 26 for the next Burnet County BOPATE collection of unwanted batteries, oil, paint, antifreeze, tires and electronics and accepted a contract with Triumvirate Environmental Services to assist with the event at the Burnet County Recycle Center, 2411 RR 963; and
• Accepted an undisclosed amount donated by Lavonna Fry for new book shelves and other additions to the Herman Brown Free Library Genealogy room.
