Due to an error, only part of this story appeared in the issue. This is the complete story.

Mason County Commissioners took action on the upcoming elections and the hiring of two new employees at their meeting Monday. Subdivision regulations and progress on the courthouse rebuild were items for discussion.

Commissioners approved the order of the May 24 Primary Runoff Election. All voting for this election will be done at the Eckert Civic Center, said Pam Beam, County Clerk. A Constitutional Amendment election will take place May 7 from 7a.m. to 7p.m. at the Eckert Civic Center. Two propositions will be voted on in this election. The City election will also be held at the same time and place. Commissioners approved the hiring of two temporary employees for this election.

The Mason County Jail had a surprise inspection April 13 from the Texas Commission on Jail Standards and received a letter citing their “excellent work” and verifying their compliance with minimum jail standards, said Judge Jerry Bearden. The letter stated this was a “direct result of your office’s commitment to excellence.”

County Extension Agent Sam Spradlin told commissioners his office was still seeking a full time office administrator. The office has been approved for part time help until a person can be hired. Commissioners also approved the re-hire of Tim Whitt in a part-time position with the Road and Bridge department.

The City of Mason won the bid to purchase a 1990 International dump truck being sold by Mason County. The city offered $12,500, which won out over one other bid.

Work on the courthouse rebuild is “running a little behind,” reported Sheree Hardin, assistant to the County Judge. Hardin attended a Zoom meeting last Wednesday with the entities involved with reconstruction: CPM, Architexas, the Texas Historical Commission (THC) and Stoddard Construction. Labor issues and wind have caused some delays, she said. Dave Stauch of CPM, which is overseeing the project, pushed to get the work going. Workers also discovered an active termite problem, which is now being dealt with, she said.

Subdivision regulations were again a topic, first in regard to city and county responsibility. Judge Bearden said the county was not responsible for regulating any subdivision within the City of Mason or the Extra Territorial Jurisdiction (ETJ) per a 2002 agreement between the two entities. City Commissioner Sue Pledger informed Judge Bearden that the City would be discussing subdivisions at their meeting May 16, he said.

Judge Bearden reported that his office had just heard back from attorney Bob Bass, who previously provided a set of subdivision regulations for the commissioners to consider adopting for Mason County. Commissioners expressed the need to combine the suggestions from the local realtor group and Bass. Commissioner Will Frey suggested the Bass document was a template, and that they should work together with input from the local advisors. In order to get a set of regulations in place by Sept. 1, commissioners need to move quickly, Bearden said.

After several months of delays, the airport may be able to sell fuel again by the end of this week, Bearden said. Problems with the credit card servicing company National Banking Service (NBS) and J.P. Morgan/Chase caused the credit card terminal to be inoperable at the airport. This issue “was one of the biggest problems I’ve ever had” as Judge, Bearden said.

Three Commissioners and the Judge attended the West Texas Judges and Commissioners Association Conference last week in Arlington. Reggie Loeffler, Stephen Mutschink, Buddy Schuessler, and Judge Bearden represented Mason at the three-day conference, which was sponsored by the Texas Association of Counties (TAC).