Dateline: September 27, 2001

County okays budget  

Roger Estlack, Clarendon Enterprise

The Donley County Commissioners’ Court approved the 2001-2002 county budget last Wednesday, September 19, during a called meeting.

The budget had been the subject of much debate and was a point of contention among some county officials because it trimmed three secretarial positions to part time status.

Justice of the Peace Jimmy Johnson, whose court clerk was one of the affected employees, proposed at the meeting that the county consider reducing six secretary/clerk positions to a 30-hour work week schedule in order for all offices to share in the cuts.

Commissioners listened to Johnson’s proposal but did not accept it. They voted unanimously to adopt the county budget.

Commissioners also voted unanimously to set the county ad valorem tax rate at $0.288297 per $100 valuation and the county special or road and bridge rate at $0.084637.

In other business, the court voted to move the ballot box for voting precinct 402 from the Hess residence to the Zelda McClellan residence. The court also discussed automatic depositing for the county payroll.

Previously, the court met in regular session on Monday, September 10.

The court then approved a contract with Gordon Maddox to perform the audit for fiscal year 2000-2001 and authorized the county treasurer to look into an automatic deposit method for paying employees.

A new motorgrader for Precinct #3 was discussed, and the bidding process was approved.

The court granted requests to attend continuing education courses for the county tax assessor and for deputy clerks in the county clerk’s office.

Steve Sell was tapped to be a voting delegate to a regional emergency medical services board.

Reserve deputy bonds were approved for Ed Bailey, Mark White, and Jim Mincey; and the court approved the appointment of Joe M. Stewart as a deputy sheriff.

The court also entered into contract with Texas Tech University Health Science Center for autopsy services.