COLUMBUS — Colorado County Commissioner’s Court met on Sept. 25 for a regular open meeting.
Brooke Wanjura and Ja’Shae Carter were present to receive a proclamation made by Colorado County recognizing Oct. 1 through 7 as National 4-H Week in Texas and commending the 4-H Youth Development Program of the Texas A&M AgriLife Extensions Service.
Judge Ty Prause read aloud the proclamation.
Other items on the regular meeting agenda: During the public comments, Shirley Kirby announced that she would like to place a nativity scene on the courthouse square. She recognized the need to have the permission of the commissioners but was frustrated that the item had not yet been an agenda on which the commissioners could vote.
Kirby claims to have 150 signatures of people who would like to see a nativity scene on the courthouse square.
Another speaker during public comments was Chris Christensen. He spoke about his disapproval of Jamie Diamond, the CEO of JP Morgan Bank and Diamond’s “climate change agenda.”
He urged the county commissioners to consider disinvesting with JP Morgan Bank or any institution that has the same agenda to take people’s land from them.
Also, a request was made by Judge Stan Warfield, Justice of the Peace Precinct 4, for an increase to the JP 4 budget for court clerk positions salaries.
Warfield mentioned the need for salary increases as there have been no increases in many years, inflation is on the rise, and the county is losing employees who are moving to work in other counties that have higher pay.
'We have a problem with JP clerks' salaries.' Judge Warfield said, 'I realize it will open a Pandora's box, but I need a bilingual clerk, and I cannot afford a bilingual with the current budget.'
Judge Billy Heffner, Judge Bo Reeves and Judge Don Clark were all present for the request, and Judge Heffner commented on the need for consistency across the county in compensation.
Commissioner Doug Wessels replied, 'We can't fix this, this morning.'
County Judge Ty Prause asked Warfield about the length of time and where the position had been posted, and 'authorized Warfield to advertise in newspapers as
well as online for another couple of weeks to see what comes up.'
