County ready to sell land to CAD for new appraisal district headquarters
By BARRY HALVORSON news@leader-news.com

Having established a minimum price, Wharton County commissioners are ready to move ahead with the potential sale of the county-owned lot at the corner of Milam and Resident streets to the Wharton County Central Appraisal District.

During Tuesday's meeting, commissioners established a minimum bid of $46,000 for the property based on an appraisal prepared by Hudgins-Groover Appraisals and Consulting. The commissioners pushed their normal Monday meeting day back 24 hours in recognition of the Veterans Day holiday.

The new appraisal sets the price slightly higher than the $44,600 value established by the WCAD.

As part of a motion to accept the new value, the court reaffirmed requesting sealed bids for the sale and approved having County Judge John Murrile, County Attorney Trey Maffett and County Auditor Sharon Boedeker prepare the wording of the bid. Those instructions included wording to try and limit the bidders to groups or entities, like the WCAD, that would benefit the county.

Precinct 3 Commissioner Philip Miller questioned the need for any such wording by pointing out the court retains the right to reject the bids.

The motion passed by a 3-2 margin with Miller and Precinct 4 Commissioner Jimmy Kainer for while Precinct 1 Commissioner Mickey Reynolds and Precinct 2 Commissioner Chris King were opposed. Murrile cast the deciding vote in favor.

The county will also soon have a source for second opinions on local government issues as the commissioners approved a consulting agreement with David B. Brooks. Maffett said Brooks is well respected in the field and has published several books and articles on various local government subjects.

Among Brooks' local clients are Colorado County and Matagorda County with the list also include Bexar County and Harris County, which retains his services on as a part-time assistant county attorney.

Commissioner King said it would more convenient and more timely to have Brooks available than to request an Attorney General's opinion at the cost. Brooks' consulting services are priced at $100 per month and include not only opinions but also a written monthly report in letter form advising on recent judicial decisions (state and federal), attorney general rulings and requests for the same, state administrative rules or decisions and other matters he may feel pertinent.

In another item involving potential land sales, the commissioners approved cancellation of the Orchard Section No. 3 subdivision plat.

King recommended going forward with the canceling the plat, which is located in his precinct. He explained there was a drainage problem in the area that cannot immediately be corrected.

Because of the problem, the road leading to the subdivision currently cannot be built to county standards. A representative of the owners said no lots had been sold in the subdivision so cancellation would not create a hardship.