A highly respected Johnson County elected official gave praise Jan. 14 to members of the commissioners court for his long tenure in office. Sort of.

County Attorney Bill Moore was presented a pin recognizing his 30 years of service to the county. The presentation was made by County Judge Roger Harmon, who noted that Moore has run unopposed during three decades of elections.

“That’s amazing, not to have an opponent during all those campaigns,” Harmon said.

“That’s because no one wants to work with commissioners court,” Moore jokingly replied, as the audience erupted in laughter and applause.

Moore has been a valuable asset as commissioners navigate the often confusing and complicated network of statutes and laws established by the Texas Legislature as to what elected officials can and cannot do.

“I was at his office door time and again when I was first elected, and still visit with him frequently to make sure I do things according to the law,” Harmon said. “His advice is valuable.”
Commissioners Kenny Howell, Jerry Stringer and Larry Woolley echoed Harmon’s sentiments.

Moore credited his staff, some of whom have worked with him for 20-plus years, for the success of his office.

Crowded highways

Harmon, who is a member of the Regional Transportation Council, presented a summary of the Texas Transportation Forum he attended last week in Austin.

Between 1,100 and 1,400 people per day  are moving to Texas and the roadways are crowded, Harmon said.

“They’re moving to the major population centers of Houston, El Paso, Austin and the Metroplex, and our highways cannot accommodate the explosion of growth,” he said.
TxDOT has plans to improve congestion at FM 917 and I-35W, and U.S. Hwy. 67 and I-35W, but those projects will take some time, Harmon said.

Commissioners Howell, Stringer and Woolley expressed frustration with the railroad crossing at FM 917 and FM 2280 (Old Betsy Road) in Egan.

“I’ve seen traffic backed up all the way to I-35W, and that’s ridiculous,” Stringer said.

Woolley expressed concern about first responders being blocked by a train or the traffic caused by a stopped train.

“It’s amazing that when I speak with TxDOT about that crossing, they indicate there have not been any fatalities there, so they see no need to improve the situation. It’s amazing to me they don’t see the need.”

Other business

In other business, commissioners:

• Transfered $108,375 from the Indigent Defense Formula Grant Fund from the state to the general fund for indigent defense.

• Supported a resolution proposed by Harmon in “Opposition to Unfunded Mandates” from the State Legislature.

• Agreed to trade-in four Sig Sauer .357 caliber pistols valued at $1,400 towards the purchase of nine new Sig Sauer 9 mm caliber pistols for a net purchase price of $2,461 for the office of Precinct 1 Constable Matt Wylie.

 • Appointed Ken Miser of Cleburne to the Johnson County Historical Commission for 2019-2020.

Length of Service Pins

During the presentations portion of the agenda, length of service pins were presented to 20 employees in addition to the 30-year pin presented to Bill Moore. Employees honored for length of service were:
Judge John Neill of the 18th District Court and Andrea Jones of the sheriff’s office were awarded 20-year pins.

Fifteen-year pins were presented to Christopher Taylor of the county clerk’s office and to Garritt Bennett and Juan Torres of the sheriff’s office.

Those receiving 10-year pins were David Blankenship and Tabitha Rippin of the sheriff’s office, Aislinn Parson of the tax assessor’s office, Jeffrey Acklen of the county attorney’s office and Robbie Deen of the county clerk’s office.

Five-year pins were presented to Deborah Allison, Rhonda Parnell and Lori Davis of the county clerk’s office, Calvin Miller and Rebecca Peyton of the sheriff’s office, Derrell McCravey of the district attorney’s office, Duane Webber and Jeremy Pendergraft of the public works department, Donna White of the purchasing department, and Christy Williams of the tax assessor’s office.

Watch court Online

Readers can watch court proceedings online at www.johnsoncountytx.org. Navigate on the tool bar to Commissioners Court and scroll down to “Meeting Video.” Click on “Commissioners Court.”

The next scheduled meeting of the Johnson County Commissioners Court is 9 a.m. Jan. 28 in Room 201 of the Johnson County Courthouse in Cleburne.

Note that this is a change from the usual second and fourth Monday of the month schedule.

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