County officers take oath Jan. 1
By Melinda L. Lucas
Several Shackelford County elected officials, including first-time county judge John Viertel, took the oath of office during a brief ceremony in the second floor courtroom of the Shackelford County Courthouse on New Year’s Day, Jan. 1.
Retiring county judge Robert Skelton swore in justice of the peace James Breeden, who was reelected in November along with other incumbents – county and district clerk Cheri Hawkins, county treasurer Tammy Brown, precinct 2 commissioner Ace Reames, and precinct 4 commissioner Cody Jordan, who was unable to attend on Sunday.
Breeden also administered some of the oaths of office during the ceremony.
A few days earlier, Skelton had presided over his final commissioners court session on Tuesday, Dec. 27, when a plaque of appreciation was presented to retiring county employee Jeannie Balliew, who has managed office duties for the county judge, county attorney, and county extension agent for just under 25 years.
Public Hearing for Speed Limit
No one from the public was present for a hearing required in order to change the speed limit on the county portion of Griffin Road from 20 MPH to 30 MPH, a proposal that Reames presented last month.
After the hearing was adjourned, a motion was adopted to change the speed limit to 30 MPH from EN 10th St. to Browning St. “Children Playing” signs will be installed on that route.
Public Defenders Agreement
After a brief discussion, an interlocal agreement between Shackelford County and Tom Green County for the Concho Valley Regional Public Defender Office was approved and signed, with an Oct. 1 date to renew or withdraw from the group.
The commissioners appointed Skelton as a community leader to serve on the organization’s Oversight Board.
Other Business
•As required each year, the commissioners approved the list of Shackelford County Historical Commission members.
•An order was adopted approving the Hamby Subdivision Plat for “Hamby Estates.”
•Skelton told commissioners that he had approved the purchase of a new laptop for the probation office after the old one failed so that the office’s operations would not be interrupted.
•Elected officials discussion the possibility of utilizing fiber services from FiberLight, but the item was tabled until the next meeting.
•The November treasurer’s report was approved.
