COLDSPRING — County Judge Fritz Faulkner found that the Democrats of San Jacinto County take their politics, and their professional interactions, very seriously.
At the Wednesday meeting of the San Jacinto County Commissioners Court, Democratic Party Chair Benita Malone told the panel that the county approved a slate of election judges for the upcoming election which had no input from her party.
Malone said she had submitted names in a timely fashion, but it was ignored by Elections Administrator Cheri Walker and she is asking the court to invalidate the list and allow it to be resubmitted, calling it an “illegal act.” She also said the Commissioners Court was complicit that act.
As Malone continued to speak, Faulkner quipped, “I got an old rope in the back of the pickup. You want me to march her over to the courthouse and string her up? She made a mistake, maybe.”
Malone asked the judge if his statement was that an attempt at humor and called it “a very feeble and offensive attempt.”
No action was taken, and the item will be placed on next meeting’s agenda.
In other business, the county:
- approved the use of SB 22 funds to upgrade equipment for the Criminal Investigation Division of the Sheriff’s Office;
- approved a donation of a 2018 Jeep from Multi County Crime Stoppers to the Sheriff’s Office;
- approved the use of the Courthouse Square for the Christmas on the Square event on Dec. 22;
- approved sheriff’s and constable fees for the new fiscal year, raising services fees by $25 for summons and $50 for writs;
- approved seeking bids for a wall to be built in the Reynolds building;
- took no action on renovating the Evergreen Community Center in preparation for its use as a polling station in the November election;
- approved the order of election for the November general election;
- adopted update fire codes;
- approved bond renewal for James Spencer;
- approved use of a compensation plan;
- approved a road use agreement for Grand Prix Pipeline at a cost of $500 per day;
- accepted the resignation of Precinct 1 Justice of the Peace Christina McGee, who lost her primary election bid, and approved the appointment of Tony Sewell as replacement. Sewell would be the lone candidate for the position in the November election, as he defeated McGee;
- approved a resolution acknowledging the 156th birthday of San Jacinto County;
- approved plans for the construction of a soccer field and walking train at Jack Polk Park near Shepherd;
- approved annual fees for motor vehicle registration;
- approved an interlocal agreement with the city of Coldspring for 911 addressing; and
- approve contracts for several road projects.
