County commissioners Monday morning denied a petition filed by Sonny Tackel and his neighbors to keep a half-mile section of County Road 3214 in Precinct 4 closed. The section of road will be re-opened, and Commissioner Terry Ross will replace the bridge. Commissioners came to their decision after an hour-long discussion, which included citizen comments on both sides of the issue.
Commissioners also ordered a special election to allow voters to decide whether or not there should be a county surveyor position. There will be a proposition — abolishing the office of county surveyor for Wise County — on the general election ballot in November. Voting options will be “for” or “against.”
Davey Edwards filed in December to run for county surveyor, a position that has not been filled locally in about 40 years. He did not draw an opponent and was listed on the primary ballot as a Republican. The county surveyor’s position was first established in 1837, and according to Don King, head of the Texas Society of Professional Surveyors’ historical committee, a state election was held in the 1980s that allowed counties to choose whether or not to abolish the office of county surveyor.
Edwards questioned the timing of the commissioners decision and contends that he is fighting for the existence of the position, not just his intention to hold the office. Of the 254 counties in Texas, only 43 have county surveyors.
Read more in the midweek Messenger.
