The murder of Kaufman County Assistant District Attorney Mark Hasse near the Kaufman County Courthouse on January 31, has sparked security discussions by the Commissioners' Court. The Kaufman County Commissioners' Court has appointed members to serve on the Citizens Facility Advisory Committee.
The murder of Kaufman County Assistant District Attorney Mark Hasse near the Kaufman County Courthouse on January 31, has sparked security discussions by the Commissioners' Court. The Kaufman County Commissioners' Court has appointed members to serve on the Citizens Facility Advisory Committee.
The committee members will “make recommendations to the Commissioners' Court no later than July 1, 2013, concerning the current and future needs as it relates to the safety, security, storage, and space requirements for Kaufman County facilities,” states a press release from the Commissioners' Court.
Although the murder of ADA Mark Hasse didn't prompt the initial concerns for increased security or possibly a new courthouse, it has brought the issue to the top of the agenda for future discussions. In 2007, the voters of Kaufman County were presented with a bond package that would have fund a new courthouse, but ultimately voted against it.
If after the advisory committee and the Commissioners' Court decide to move forward with a new Justice Center, Kaufman County District Attorney Mike McLelland hopes it could be named after Mark Hasse. Discussions have centered around the possibility of relocating the new courthouse to near the Kaufman County Law Enforcement Center and Jail off of US Hwy 175.
Ultimately, the voters will again be presented with a bond package if the discussion reaches that point.
The below members make up the Citizens Facility Advisory Committee:
Chairman Jim Thompson
Precinct 1 - Commissioner Jimmy Vrzalik
Mike Snook
Bob Babovec
Ron Schoenberger
Precinct 2 - Commissioner Ray Clark
Mega Spain
Cary Griffin
Sandra Wilson
Precinct 3 - Commissioner Kenneth Schoen
Jim Davis
Bill Bedrick
Bill Baker
Precinct 4 - Commissioner Tom Manning
Tonya Ratcliff
Larry Teague
Carl Thomas
The members of the Citizens Facilities Advisory Committee will study and make recommendations on the existing courthouse conditions, the annex building, the south campus, the old jail (currently leased to Masonic Lodge), the Public Defenders' Office, public parking areas owned by the County, regional 9-1-1 call center (old Armory), Kaufman County Jail and Sheriff's Department, Sub-Courthouses in Forney, Kemp, and Terrell, and the County precinct barns.
The Commissioners’ Court also asked the following individuals to serve as members of a Resource Advisory Committee to assist the Citizens Advisory Committee with pertinent information as it relates to their areas of responsibility:
Judge Howard Tygrett, 86th Judicial District Court
Judge Mike Chitty, 422nd Judicial District Court
Judge Erleigh Norville Wiley, County Court at Law
Judge David Lewis, County Court at Law
District Attorney Mike McLelland
Sheriff David Byrnes
District Clerk Rhonda Hughey
County Clerk Laura Hughes
