Having to move the end-of-month Karnes County’s Commissioners Court meeting from the third floor courtroom due to a heavy court caseload on Friday, April 30, County Judge Alger H. Kendall, Jr., after the opening prayer, called for a short recess until all could gather in the first floor drivers’ license office.

Once in the lower floor office, the commissioners heard from Work Force Solutions representatives Sarah Valdez and Michelle De Leon on the advantage of using their company to employ trained, qualified workers. Karnes County has a 5.5 percent unemployment rate at this time. The company acts as a liaison for the agencies needing employees and the workers needing to be employed.

Michelle De Leon, the local representative for Karnes County, said that their company saves employees time as they recruit, screen, and train those available in the work force.

Judge Kendall thanked them for their information and noted that the company had representatives speaking recently at a workshop here for commissioners from various counties in the area.

Our representative at the workshop was Commissioner Darrel Blaschke, who said that he learned several industries were moving to South Texas, namely steel and military medical services.

Although most would be locating in or near San Antonio, people seeking jobs could be trained to fill the positions.

Constable Dennis Fenner then reported to the court that because of the mandated training required, he had doubled training time from 20 to 40 hours during the year 2007. He gave the officials copies of his report that included the gas mileage for the year. As noted by Sherriff David Jalufka, Fenner also acts as a bailiff when needed.

Paul Bordovsky, chairman of the Evergreen Board, spoke next on the attempts to seed clouds for much needed rain and the plans to possibly buy a larger plane in order to seed the clouds at night.

Commissioner Isidro "Stormy" Rossett asked, "How big a plane will be bought?"

"We are looking at a twin engine plane," Bordovsky said.

"The salt water issue is being solved in Atascosa County, and the studies going on regarding the recharge zone are doing well," Bordovsky added.

"Most attention is being paid to the brackish water issue with some protests from landowners," Bordovsky stated, "while Karnes County, notably Falls City and El Oso, are doing pretty well with their well water." He also added that no Evergreen tax increase is expected at this time.

The court decided and voted to lift the Burn Ban with the consideration of reinstating it, if needed, at the next Commissioners Court meeting on April 13. Those landowners intending to burn must still call to let the Sherriff’s Office know when they are going to do so.

Attention then turned to two bids that had gone out to sell a 1994 Ford tractor with a front end bucket and a 7 x 14 foot cattle guard from Commissioner Rossett’s precinct. It was reported that no bids reached the minimum required for the truck, but the cattle guard bid of $244.44 from Laura Burney was accepted.

The court voted to approve the renewal and extension of the lease agreement with the Texas Facilities Commission for the building at 191 N. Browne Street, the county nurse’s office for another five years, until November 30, 2013.

After returning from a 20 minute closed session, the court took no action on the sale of lots 3, 4, and 5, Block 22 in Karnes City, Texas. The item was tabled until the next meeting. They also tabled hiring a construction manager at this time, but approved hiring on an interim, hourly basis, Mark Bordovsky to use as needed concerning matters related to construction for the new county annex building.

Before the close of the meeting, Judge Kendall brought the Commissioners some updates on several items.

"The Karnes County jail passed the standards inspection with no deficiencies," Kendall said. This was confirmed by Sheriff Jalufka. It was stated that several other county jails did not fare as well as Karnes County.

"The Colonial Planning Fund has grants available and all requests need to meet the deadline of August 1," Kendall said. Those interested may contact his office, he added.

Anne Franke, county tax assessor, asked to go on record before the Commissioners Court that she would rather the Tax Assessor-Collector’s office not be moved from its current location instead of moving to much smaller facilities in any new building.

"As a tax-paying citizen as well as a tax collector, it would be more economical to stay where we are now." Franke said. She added that with the cost of things increasing and all having to tighten their budgets, she did not think it would be fair to spend additional money and get less space at the public’s expense.

Much discussion followed with concerns expressed about having public meetings with the judge and the commissioners in attendance to bring the latest information and to update the public who have been expressing their concerns and questions about the status of the proposed annex construction and preservation cost of the courthouse. It was agreed on by many present that now is the time to speak up and inform the citizens.

"Any small groups of citizens who wish to meet with me about the status of the courthouse and the annex building will be able to do so by contacting my office," Kendall said. He added that planning for the annex and the courthouse will continue.