By Terry Britt
Staff Writer
Van Zandt County Court-at-Law Judge Randal McDonald once again criticized the county commissioners’ court for what he said was a lack of effort in collecting fines and fees owed the county.
Speaking at a public hearing on the county’s proposed tax rate for the upcoming fiscal year, McDonald also said the commissioners’ court should consider “making do with one secretary.”
He said he thought that county court coordinator Kathy Jackson should serve as commissioners’ secretary in the courthouse. Current commissioners’ secretary Ruthie McAdoo is planning to retire.
Precinct 4 Commissioner Ron Carroll replied that he felt the commissioners were making enough of a sacrifice already with the loss of jobs from the road and bridge departments.
Van Zandt County Judge Rhita Koches addressed McDonald’s statements about old fine and fee collections reiterating earlier comments on the same subject.
“There is bad information in here. We have to make sure the information is good before we send it out (to the collection agency), because we don’t want them sending out a letter that a warrant will be issued for a person who has already been discharged from probation or has sat out the fine in jail.”
The only other person to speak at the public hearing was Dwayne Collins, who was in support of the proposed tax increase, saying, “I know the county has tough issues to face.”
Collins also mentioned uncollected fines as an ongoing problem for the county’s revenue.
A second public hearing on the proposed tax rate will be held Tuesday, September 4, at 6 p.m. in the county courtroom.