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September 10, 2010
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State regulations not courthouse problem
I never cease to be amazed at how politicians can twist facts to emerge into a whole new scenario.
The interview of Judge Wayne Gent headlined “State commission’s objection delays courthouse work” in the June 9 edition of the Terrell Tribune is a perfect example of twisted facts. Reading the article, it appears the county built the security structure on the front of the courthouse last year and that after the fact they were told by the Texas Historical Commission (THC) that it violates a state statute and THC has asked that the new construction be dismantled.
This is very wrong! They were well informed before construction ever began they would be breaking a state law if they did not go before THC for review of alterations at least 120 days before commencement of construction.
In April 2004, when I was still serving as a Governor-appointed Commissioner on the Texas Historical Commission, I gave Judge Gent a letter written by THC’s executive director detailing the unusual architectural features of our courthouse and quoting the state statute giving THC review of changes on all Texas courthouses regardless of age.
While in attending a county budget hearing in July 2005, I noticed that ground was being broken in front of the Courthouse. Upon inquiring, I was told they were working on the sidewalks and were considering adding a security structure.
I reminded the judge and commissioners about the state statute. The judge asked me to fax him the copy of the statute, which I did the same day.
At the meeting, I also reminded them of the free architectural guidance that THC could furnish. THC has over 100 staff members, 15 or more of whom are in the architecture division.
Smith County had security issues and THC worked with them to come up with a solution that would maintain the architectural integrity of their courthouse and address their security concerns. This could and should have happened in Kaufman County. The much needed and necessary security structure should have been added on the back of the courthouse so as not to change the integrity of the front and the courtyard.
In August 2005, construction began without consulting THC. When THC became aware of the construction, they wrote the county a letter, again explaining the law. Judge Gent wrote THC stating he didn’t think the law applied. The Texas Attorney General’s office wrote back that was not his determination to make and to cease work immediately.
The county continued with construction to completion even though they knew they were breaking a state law. The Attorney General’s office and THC were very lenient in their $1,000 fine and three years to remove the structure. The fine could have been immediate removal and as much as a $1,000 a day for each day they worked after the Attorney General’s cease-work order. \
As current chairman of the Kaufman County Historical Commission (KCHC), it is my duty to help preserve and protect the historic resources of our county. KCHC not only answers to Commissioners Court but partners with THC. Even before the July 2005 meeting, I had already begun preparing for the process of putting the courthouse on the National Register of Historic Places. This would have added points in the application process to possibly receive some of the millions of dollars that THC grants to courthouses for restoration and renovation.
Needless to say, that is most likely down the tube.
A little forethought, study and professional planning on the part of the county could have prevented this fiasco.
The article also quotes Judge Gent as saying “he didn’t believe the addition changed the architectural or structural integrity of the courthouse.” It is a wise man who knows on which subjects he is ignorant.
Jean Ann Ables-Flatt
Terrell
Jul 12, 2006
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Minimum wage not enough
The minimum wage was raised to $5.15 per hour in 1997. During the past nine years Congress has voted themselves pay increases of over $31,000 per year according to Congressional Research Service, Congress has given numerous tax cuts for the wealthiest one percent and billions of dollars were wasted during Katrina due to incompetence. Over 10,000 trailers are stored in Arkansas, costing taxpayers thousands of dollars each month for storage fees.
One has to wonder why these trailers were ordered and whose pockets got lined.
Yet, Congress refused to increase the minimum wage, telling us that we are a free market society and wages should be set by job performance, supply and demand.
I wonder how those Congressmen would feel if they were in a free market society and their employers (we the people) set their pay raises and benefits according to job performance, supply and demand.
Minimum wage in England is £5.05 or $9.33 per hour. Surely, the most advanced nation in the world can do better than $5.15 per hour.
George Lawshe
Forney
Jul 1, 2006
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State legislators to be congratulated
With taxes going up all the time, I would like to thank state Sen. Bob Deuell and Rep. Betty Brown and the Texas Legislature for passing a record $15 billion property tax cut to be phased in starting this year, along with nearly $1.7 billion in new state public education funding in 2007. It includes a fairer business tax with lower rates and choice of exemptions for business taxpayers.
The Legislation also includes a $2,000 state funded pay increase for teachers, counselors, librarians and nurses.
We all want our kids to be educated to their full potential and that required stronger accountability and academic standards. New school reforms include:
Establishment of a new dropout prevention program,
requirement that high school students take four years of science and math starting in 2007,
aligns the public school curriculum to improve student performance in college and
increases financial transparency by requiring districts to post detailed budget statements online so we, as taxpayers, can see where the money is going.
I agree that the legislators “would be wise not to rest on their laurels”, but I applaud them for passing this bipartisan legislation that will benefit the children, teachers, taxpayers and the schools.
Lori Cook
Terrell
Jun 17, 2006
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New county courts building needed
As chairman of the Kaufman County Republican Party, I want to urge readers to vote FOR the bond package to build a new Kaufman County Courthouse.
The following are just a few reasons why this is so critical to the successful growth of Kaufman County.
When the Kaufman County Courthouse was built in 1956, the county population was approximately 30,000. The most recent population estimate by the North Central Texas Council of Governments for 2006 was 95,650.
Since 1995, the county court at law reports an annual increase of 66% in caseload and district courts report an annual increase of 55%. Courts are presently sharing space. The county is able to hold only one felony court jury trial at a time. The upstairs bathrooms are closed because they are crammed full of files.
As a state registered historical structure, the Courthouse on the Square cannot be expanded or receive material structural changes without express permission of the State Historical Commission. Mr. Lawshe, who advocates adapting our existing courthouse completely misses the fact that we can’t adapt it. In fact, the security alcove that was added to the front of the courthouse must be removed in 2007 because it alters the original appearance. All of that apparatus will have to come inside the courthouse in the hallway, where jurors now wait for trials, making an overcrowded situation virtually untenable. If we can’t have even a security alcove, what are the odds the State Historical Commission will approve a third floor?
The Courthouse was designed for one district and one county court, not for the number of offices, courts and courtrooms that exist today. We now have two district and two county courts in the same building and our county is one of the fastest growing in the state, making additional courts only a matter of time. Since only one courtroom can accommodate a jury, district courts must alternate weekly to hold jury trials.
Prisoners are being transported through spaces within close proximity to witnesses, jurors, staff and the public. There is only one men’s and one ladies’ bathroom in the courthouse, being shared by prisoners, judges, jurors, visitors and county employees alike. This is a security nightmare and a serious incident is not a matter of if, but when.
Additionally, there is a large cost attached to transporting prisoners from the county jail to the county courthouse. There are serious deficiencies under the Life and Safety Code that have not been addressed.
Kaufman County is on the verge of imploding, if this new courthouse is not built. Mr. Lawshe and associates managed to stop this several years ago. Since then, we have added a county court, construction costs have gone up, interest rates are higher (the Federal Reserve raised them a quarter of a point this week) and the need has gone from pressing to critical.
We are impeding good government and economic development for the entire county. The time is well passed to solve this problem. We would be enjoying the benefits of this new courthouse today at a lower cost and a lower bond rate if we had acted in 2004. Please don’t let this be torpedoed again.
Make no mistake. We WILL have to build a new courthouse. It will only cost more the longer we wait.
David Hinds
Chairman
Kaufman County Republican Party
May 11, 2006
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New courthouse not needed
In 2004 the citizens of Kaufman County objected to the Kaufman County Commissioners issuing Certificates of Obligations for $21.5 million without voter approval.
The citizens signed petitions to force the county commissioners to hold a bond election for the new Courthouse.
That bond election will be held on Saturday, May 13.
Our county commissioners think that we must spend $21.5 million dollars and construct a new court house.
Many people that have worked in the existing courthouse are of the opinion that while we must upgrade our present facilities, they do not think we need another courthouse. It is their opinion that we can work with the property that we have now and provide the necessary court rooms for a lot less than $21.5 million dollars.
I would like to see those people have equal time to explain their viewpoints. The county commissioners are providing only the information they want to provide.
Kaufman County taxes are the highest in this area and with gas going to $3 to $4 per gallon, I do not want any more taxes at this time.
Please join me and vote against this tax increase.
George Lawshe
Forney
May 8, 2006
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Consider Harrison's DWI conviction
On April 11th, Kaufman County voters will go to the polls to vote in a runoff for the position of district attorney. The candidates are Rick Harrison and Mike McClelland. I believe both men are fine attorneys and well qualified. However, one of them has a big problem.
In 1994, while Mr. Harrison was an assistant district attorney in Dallas County, he was arrested for driving while intoxicated and eventually convicted. (Dallas County Criminal Court Case #MB94227548)
In 1966, my cousin attempted to cross a street, and was struck down and killed by a drunk driver who ran a red light. He was 14-years-old.
I want DWI cases aggressively prosecuted in Kaufman County by someone who has the moral authority to do it. Mr. Harrison lacks that authority, and I believe that will complicate all DWI prosecutions in Kaufman County, aggressive or otherwise.
Some say, “Well, it was a long time ago.” My uncle’s only son died an even longer time ago, and it is every bit a fact of life today as it was the day it happened.
The position of district attorney is one of tremendous influence and responsibility in the business of law enforcement. It is almost unheard of for a practicing district attorney to have a criminal conviction on his record, and rightfully so.
Will we choose to be the only county in Texas with that unenviable distinction? Moreover, what kind of a message will we be sending potential drunk drivers if we elect Mr. Harrison?
I implore each of you to vote April 11th, and think very carefully about your decision before you do.
Jan Shedd
Kaufman
Apr 5, 2006
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Wade Gent thanks voters
Dear Editor,
My congratulations go to Betty Brown for a hard-fought race. I am humbled by the number of supporters who helped us come within just a few votes of victory against a seasoned incumbent.
I'm proud of the positive campaign we ran based on the issues. My sincere appreciation goes to our volunteers and voters in Henderson and Kaufman counties.
One of the advantages of campaigning was the face-to-face contact I had with the people of the district. I met some of the greatest people I have ever known. The voters have real concerns and real issues that their elected
representatives need to address in the upcoming legislative session. Hopefully, Austin can put politics aside and solve the issues that are important to the citizens of Henderson and Kaufman counties.
Again, thanks for taking part in the democratic process, and thanks for 48 percent of the vote.
Wade Gent
Forney
Mar 16, 2006
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Kaufman County Black Box Voting
When Kaufman County Democrats and Republicans vote in their primaries March 7th, they'll have more choices than which candidate to vote for--they can cast their ballots by the time-tested paper ballots or by a new electronic voting Black Box that our county election officials say is "easier."
The reason for this machine is to comply with Help America Vote Act of 2002 or HAVA. The main purpose of HAVA was to replace punch card voting and provide a system that is more favorable to our handicap voters, it was not intended to replace paper ballots such as we use in Kaufman County
The new way may be easier on election officials, but how about on the voters and candidates when there's a contested election? I'll cast a paper ballot so that there will be an accurate record in case of a recount. I hope everyone interested in honest Kaufman County elections will do the same, so that the voters' true choices will be on a paper ballot in the March 7th Primary Election.
George Lawshe
Democratic county chairman
Forney, Texas
Feb 21, 2006
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Last Updated: Jan 4th, 2009 - 18:57:55
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