Court judges unveiled in paintings
Van Zandt County Judges were well represented during the unveiling of the judge portraits by past judges, from left, Richard Ray, Rick Lawrence, Rhita Koches, State Rep. Dan Flynn and current County Judge Don Kirkpatrick.
The commissioners court meeting Nov. 24 was short and ended on a sweet note during a presentation and dedication of an oil painting of every past and present county judge.
County officials and past county judges gathered together for the presentation of the project while also partaking in refreshments and cookies provided by the historical commission.
VZC Historical Commission Chairman Elvis Allen made a presentation of the portraits in the hallways of the courthouse while also unveiling County Judge Don Kirkpatrick’s painted portrait.
State Rep. Dan Flynn also made an appearance remarking on the “fantastic job” of the county historical commission.
Allen explained that the judge portrait project “took a number of years,” and without the “dedicated work of the VZC Historical Commission, the project would not be possible.”
“We want to honor the service of these dedicated people who led our county throughout the years. They sacrificed their time for the benefit of our county and now we pay homage to them through these portraits,” he said.
Allen briefly touched on some notable judges like John S. Spinks, who according to Allen was “a cherished judge who served from 1882-1892.” Allen also said that a commissioners court meeting was stopped when a raucous from the streets was heard because the World War I had ended.
But before the presentation, county commissioners took to county business as usual.
First up on the commissioners agenda was approving the assistant criminal district attorney salary supplement from forfeiture funds.
Kirkpatrick explained that the supplement comes out of forfeiture funds and will increase the salary of Assistant District Attorney Allison Flanagan. The salary supplement had been explained by Criminal District Attorney Chris Martin at the Nov. 10 meeting. The commissioner’s approved the salary supplementation unanimously.
Pct. 4 Commissioner Tim West had a few words to say about what is not being supplemented, which is the monthly reports submitted from various offices and departments of county government.
According to West, “the law reads that the county offices and departments have to submit their reports. We have a lot of departments that are not turning in their monthly reports. We cannot tell where we are as a county if we do not get them it. The reports have to be submitted,” said West.
West said that only eight monthly reports had been submitted.
The court did approve unanimously the monthly reports that were submitted.
Full disclosure of county business and products were also requested.
The court decided to table the decision to cover the additional costs and scope of work related to the Mentis Technology and aiSmartBench installation. During the Oct. 27 meeting, commissioners approved the technology.
The software, which is described as the “first eBench for judges,” would connect judges to any case or document within the management system.
The paperless pathway that Mentis would provide from the court system to the case system would reduce docketing time and eliminate the staff cost of handling, storing, and securing of paper orders, officials said.
Currently, the county charges a $2 fee for any paper filed, a fee that will help pay for the software.
Cost of the software program would approximately be $65,936 for a four year period.
Joel Green of Mentis presented the program to the commissioners Oct. 27 stating that the program would “effectively make the court system more efficient,” in regards to E-filing.
But, unknown costs have creeped in surrounding the installation of the software that were not discussed during the presentation Oct. 27.
The commissioners generally agreed during talk that full disclosure about the whole, total cost of the software was given.
No action was taken in regards to covering the additional costs not disclosed during the presentation, but commissioners and Judge Kirkpatrick did agree to have a consultation with Green, the consultant of the software.
In other news of the court:
—Approved FY2016 budget amendments;
—Authorized an equitable sharing agreement and certification for the 2015 sheriff’s office report. The report is done on a yearly basis;
—Approved contract changes and a renewal with Ricoh USA through Texas DIR for eight copiers;
—Granted approval for VZC Fire Marshal Chuck Allen to apply for a Homeland and state grant through ETCOG and the State Administrative Agency for communication equipment to benefit the sheriff’s office, fire marshal’s office and each office of the constables.
