Discuss, consider and take appropriate action ordering a special election on November 7, 2017 for the purpose of allowing for voting “for or against the proposition: Abolishing the Office of County Surveyor for this county.” (NOTE: Under the Texas Constitution, Article 16, Section 44(c): The Commissioners Court of a county may call an election to abolish the Office of County Surveyor in the county. Such type of said special election approved to be called would be included as a proposition within the General Election Ballot and need not be separated in date or ballot.). 

The County Surveyor was originally appointed by Congress under the Republic of Texas, but the Constitution of 1845 made the office elective for a two-year term, and each succeeding constitution has had a similar provision.  In 1954 the term of office was increased to four years by constitutional amendment. Duties of a County Surveyor included surveying open lands for the county and recording and examining field notes of surveys made in the county. With the disappearance of open land in Texas counties (most all real property in the county has been surveyed and transferred from the sovereignty to private owners), the importance of the office has decreased and in many counties the office has remained vacant. An independent surveyor can be contracted to fulfill the functions of the office if it is ever necessary.