Tarrant County Commissioners Court changes meeting schedule

Beginning April 4, Tarrant County Commissioners Court will meet on the first, third and fifth Tuesdays of every month after taking action March 7.

Commissioners voted unanimously to adjust the court’s meeting schedule during 2023, according to the court agenda. The vote also authorizes the Tarrant County auditor to pay time-sensitive claims that are due before the court can approve the payments to avoid late fees.

The action follows a series of discussions between commissioners and county staff that occurred during the court’s Feb. 7 and Feb. 21 meetings. The commissioners tabled the item Feb. 21 so they could work out some issues when it came to paying bills.

“I’m not opposed to this,” Commissioner Roy Charles Brooks said Feb. 21. “I would like to see how the auditor’s office is going to function. A delay [in voting] until next week is necessary to see how both pieces of this deal work together so we can see what we’re voting on.”

The new order authorizes the county auditor to pay certain bills related to utility services, payroll, debt services and more, according to the agenda item. Any bills paid by the auditor will be presented to the court at its next meeting for ratification.

Later in the same meeting, the court voted to recall Kathryn Wilemon from her position as chair of the Tarrant Appraisal District board of directors. The vote continues a process that started Feb. 21 with a vote by Keller City Council.