Upshur County Commissioners, at their meeting Monday, rescinded an action they had taken in 2003, and required the County Clerk to provide minutes of previous meetings for approval of the court.

The court had changed its rule about adopting minutes in 2003 after a change in state law made it optional for county clerks to provide minutes to their respective county courts.

Now, County Clerk Peggy LaGrone will be required to present minutes to the commissioners 24 hours in advance of a meeting.

The item had been put on Monday’s agenda by Pct. 1 Comm. James Crittenden.

He pointed out that according to Robert’s Rules of Order, which the court adopted as its guidebook for parliamentary procedure a few years ago, approving the minutes is supposed to be the first item on the agenda of a governmental body.

Minutes are presented for approval so that any errors found by the members of the governmental body can be corrected.

Crittenden said that “our minutes are just as important as any other item that we consider.”

He said it was “a disgrace” that the court did not get minutes for approval.

He cited an article in the Longview News-Journal which quoted Gregg County Judge Bill Stoudt as saying minutes are “an accountability tool.”

Ms. LaGrone praised Pct. 3 Comm. Lloyd Crabtree for coming to her to discuss the way minutes were being handled.

Crabtree was the commissioner in 2003 who made the motion to not require the clerk to present minutes to the court for approval.

Ms. LaGrone said that the change will delay making the minutes available to the public by about two weeks (the average time between court meetings).

Crittenden told her that he couldn’t find the minutes on the Internet, and that neither could “her opponents” in the upcoming 2010 elections.

“Obviously, Comm. Crittenden doesn’t know where to look,” Ms. LaGrone said.

The vote to rescind the 2003 action was unanimous.

(After the meeting, Ms. LaGrone demonstrated to press members present how to find minutes on the Internet.

Ms. LaGrone said that the minutes are available on the Internet on a link to the county’s website, www.countyofupshur.com, or for a direct link, www.countyofupshur.com/8000.)

Ms. LaGrone said that Crittenden’s motion and comments were political attacks on her. Former political allies in the Republican Party, they have become political enemies in recent years.

Judge Dean Fowler said requiring court approval of the minutes would not prevent Ms. LaGrone from making minutes available on the Internet ahead of meetings.

He criticized Comm. Crittenden for making “nothing more than a political attack by Comm. Crittenden,” the judge said. He said that he expected the commmissioner to use the court as a political forum to attack the clerk between now and the election.

Fowler said he was offended when Crittenden tried to use the court for other than a business meeting.

In other business, the court voted to take bids for a 2009 wheel loader for the Road and Bridge Department.

They also authorized requesting proposals for a new or retrofitted security door control system in the county jail.

Judge Fowler said that potential vendors would be required to visit the jail and develop their own specifications for the work.

He said it was “highly technical.”

Crittenden said he felt the county should develope a list of vendors for such equipment.

“I’d like to have a list, too,” said Sheriff Anthony Betterton.

He said there was no one nearby that could provide the equipment.

Fowler said that they would advertise in The Gilmer Mirror and on the county’s web site.

Crittenden said they should advertise also in The Dallas Morning News.

Pct. 2 Comm. Buddy Ferguson said that would they would “spend a lot of money for nothing” if they did that. He said that there were only two companies in Texas that could provide that service, and “we’ve contacted both of them.”

The court approved letting the District Clerk’s Office purchase three office chairs.

They voted to let the Child Advocacy Center, based in Winnsboro, use office space in the southeast section of the Rock Building, if they would bear the cost of remodeling the 1,500-square-foot section to meet their needs.

The Center is not a law-enforcement agency, but works closely with law enforcement in interviewing children who have been the victims of physical and/or sexual abuse.

Their plans are to hire two local employees and be open twice a week, but eventually to be open five days a week.

Commmissioners also approved a request from Pct. 1 Justice of the Peace Wyone Manes to purchase three computers at a total cost of $3,350, to be paid from the county technology fund. That fund currently has about $12,000 in it, Judge Fowler said.