Minutes for Commissioners Court - Special Session

MINUTES OF THE WILLIAMSON COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT MEETING
MARCH 14, 2025

STATE OF TEXAS )(
COUNTY OF WILLIAMSON )(

BE IT REMEMBERED that at 11:06 A.M. on FRIDAY, MARCH 14, 2025, a SPECIAL SESSION of the Commissioners Court of Williamson County, Texas, was held with the following being present, to-wit:

Present:

County Judge (Vacant Position)
Commissioner Precinct 1 Terry Cook
Commissioner Precinct 2 Cynthia Long
Commissioner Precinct 3 Valerie Covey
Commissioner Precinct 4 Russ Boles
County Clerk Nancy E. Rister

Others Present:

Hal C. Hawes, General Counsel to Williamson County Commissioners Court
Bill Fairbrother, Executive Assistant to County Clerk

REGULAR AGENDA

Discuss, consider, and take appropriate action to receive and accept a resignation from Judge Bill Gravell, Jr., County Judge of Williamson County Texas, to be effective as of March 10, 2025 at 7 AM CST [Tex. Election Code §201.001 & §201.023].

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Motion by: Commissioner Precinct 4 Russ Boles
Second by: Commissioner Precinct 2 Cynthia Long

Motion:To accept the resignation from Judge Bill Gravell, Jr., County Judge of Williamson County Texas, to be effective as of March 9, 2025 at 7 AM CST [Tex. Election Code §201.001 & §201.023].

Aye:: Commissioner Precinct 1 Terry Cook
Commissioner Precinct 2 Cynthia Long
Commissioner Precinct 3 Valerie Covey
Commissioner Precinct 4 Russ Boles

Discuss, consider, and take appropriate action on the appointment of the Williamson County Judge to include, setting forth an appointment process to be conducted in order to appoint an individual to serve as the Williamson County Judge, action and consideration on an appointment and taking any other action that may be necessary in relation to such appointment (Tex. Local Gov’t Code §87.041).

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Motion by: Commissioner Precinct 3 Valerie Covey
Second by: Commissioner Precinct 1 Terry Cook

Motion:To approve the appointment process to fill the vacancy in the office of Williamson County Judge as follows. Those interested in seeking to be appointed Williamson County Judge will send their resume, cover letter, and other materials they wish to EACH County Commissioner in the next week. Each Commissioner shall identify no more than three applicants they wish to interview. During the March 25, 2025 Commissioners Court meeting, the Commissioners Court will decide who they wish to interview, and conduct interviews on March 25, 2025 and/or March 27, 2025 and make the appointment on April 1, 2025.

Aye:: Commissioner Precinct 1 Terry Cook
Commissioner Precinct 2 Cynthia Long
Commissioner Precinct 3 Valerie Covey
Commissioner Precinct 4 Russ Boles

Discuss, consider, and take appropriate action on amending policies of the Commissioners Court and its Departments in order to provide that, in the County Judge’s absence, the most senior member of the Commissioners Court that is present (in terms of total number of years as an elected member of the Commissioners Court) shall serve as the authorized signatory and act in the capacity necessary to perform actions that would otherwise be performed by the County Judge under such policies.

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County Auditor Julie Kiley addressed the Court.
County Purchasing Agent Joy Simonton

Motion by: Commissioner Precinct 3 Valerie Covey
Second by: Commissioner Precinct 2 Cynthia Long

Motion:To approve amending policies of the Commissioners Court and its Departments in order to provide that, in the County Judge’s absence, the most senior member of the Commissioners Court that is present (in terms of total number of months as an elected member of the Commissioners Court) shall serve as the authorized signatory and act in the capacity necessary to perform actions that would otherwise be performed by the County Judge under such policies to include Oracle and Purchasing policies.

Aye:: Commissioner Precinct 1 Terry Cook
Commissioner Precinct 2 Cynthia Long
Commissioner Precinct 3 Valerie Covey
Commissioner Precinct 4 Russ Boles

Motion by: Commissioner Precinct 4 Russ Boles
Second by: Commissioner Precinct 1 Terry Cook

Motion:To amend the Rules of Procedure, Conduct, and Decorum at Meetings of the Commissioners Court of Williamson County, Texas in order to provide that until a new County Judge is appointed, the presiding officer of the Commissioners Court shall rotate weekly with Commissioner Precinct 1 the first week, Commissioner Precinct 2 the second week, Commissioner Precinct 3 the third week, Commissioner Precinct 4 the fourth week, and repeating until a new County Judge is appointed by the Commissioners Court.

Motion fails on a 2-2 vote.

Aye:: Commissioner Precinct 1 Terry Cook
Commissioner Precinct 4 Russ Boles
Nay:: Commissioner Precinct 2 Cynthia Long
Commissioner Precinct 3 Valerie Covey

Motion by: Commissioner Precinct 2 Cynthia Long
Second by: Commissioner Precinct 3 Valerie Covey

Motion:To designate the most senior member of the Commissioners Court as the presiding officer of the Williamson County Commissioners Court in the event of the absence or vacancy of the County Judge in the Rules of Procedure, Conduct, and Decorum at Meetings of the Commissioners Court of Williamson County, to help with continuity for staff.

Aye:: Commissioner Precinct 1 Terry Cook
Commissioner Precinct 2 Cynthia Long
Commissioner Precinct 3 Valerie Covey
Nay:: Commissioner Precinct 4 Russ Boles

Discuss, consider, and take appropriate action to ratify Purchase Requisitions approved as of March 10, 2025.

View Agenda Item

Motion by: Commissioner Precinct 3 Valerie Covey
Second by: Commissioner Precinct 2 Cynthia Long

Motion:To ratify purchase requisitions approved as of March 10, 2025.

Aye:: Commissioner Precinct 1 Terry Cook
Commissioner Precinct 2 Cynthia Long
Commissioner Precinct 3 Valerie Covey
Commissioner Precinct 4 Russ Boles

Discuss, consider, and take appropriate action on setting dates for holding Special Sessions of the Williamson County Commissioners Cour for purposes of deliberations and action on the appointment of the Williamson County Judge.

View Agenda Item

Motion by: Commissioner Precinct 3 Valerie Covey
Second by: Commissioner Precinct 1 Terry Cook

Motion:To approve holding a Special Session of the Williamson County Commissioners Court for the purpose of deliberations, interviews, and action on the appointment of the Williamson County Judge on Thursday, March 27, 2025, at 2:30pm.

Aye:: Commissioner Precinct 1 Terry Cook
Commissioner Precinct 2 Cynthia Long
Commissioner Precinct 3 Valerie Covey
Commissioner Precinct 4 Russ Boles

Comments from Commissioners.

Commissioner Precinct 2 Cynthia Long reminded everyone that Commissioners Court would not be meeting next week, and wished everyone a safe spring break.

Public Comment Period.

There were no comments on this item.

COMMISSIONERS COURT ADJOURNED AT 12:06 P.M. ON TUESDAY, MARCH 14, 2025.

THE FOREGOING MINUTES had at a Special Session of Commissioners Court of Williamson County, Texas, having been read are hereby approved this 25th day of March, 2025.

ATTEST: Nancy E. Rister, Clerk of Commissioners Court, Williamson County, Texas

By: Bill Fairbrother, Deputy/Executive Assistant to County Clerk