Kleberg County Veterans Service Officer Tomas Sanchez was relieved of his duties, and retired Texas A&M-Kingsville administrator Arturo Pecos, who is also city commissioner, was named as his temporary part time replacement during the Kleberg County Commissioners Court meeting held Monday afternoon.

There was much discussion among commissioners, the county judge and members of the public, because some believe that the position should be full time.

Sanchez has served in the position part time since 1989, as well as the part time emergency management coordinator for Kleberg County.

Precinct 4 County Commissioner Romeo Lomas stated that in 1989 the emergency management coordi- nator resigned, and at that time during a commissioners court meeting Sanchez was present and was just voted in as the full time Veterans Service Officer.

Sanchez told the court that he could do both jobs temporarily, however Sanchez has been doing both for 21 years.

Israel Mendiola, commander for America’s Last Patrol, spoke on behalf of the veterans of Kleberg and surrounding counties and expressed concern that a full time veteran’s service officer was needed.

“We are asking for a full time officer to better fit the needs of the county; it is the responsibility of the county to look out for our veterans and we are requesting an 8-hour (per day) position effective immediately,” Mendiola said.

Lomas said veterans here deserve a full time officer.

Meanwhile, there has never been a full time emergency management coordinator and Sanchez has served 4 hours per workday at each position everyday since 1989, Lomas said, and Sanchez agreed.

“I am at the veterans office in the morning and at the emergency management office in the afternoon,” Sanchez said.

County Judge Pete De La Garza told the court the reason the position is currently listed as part time is because that is all the budget allows; however, the judge said he does support a full time veterans service officer position.

Precinct 1 County Commissioner David Rosse made the motion for Pecos to begin serving as a temporary replacement until the county can advertise for a full time position.

Precinct 2 Commissioner Norma Nelda Alvarez noted

Dist rib uted by Un iversal Uclick that the full time position could not be put to a vote because the agenda read for a part time position; however, it would be on the next meetings agenda so that it could be put to a vote.

Also discussed at the meeting was the restoration of the Kleberg County Courthouse.

Kleberg County is currently working with architect Killis Almond and Associates of San Antonio, who created a master preservation plan that was presented and approved by the Texas Historical Commission in hopes the county could receive a grant through the Texas Historic Courthouse Preservation Program.

The 81st Texas Legislature allocated $20 million in funding for the 2009- 2010 grant cycle. The THC requested $85 million, but due to uncertain economic conditions, less than the full request was approved.

Almond presented floor

plans for the courthouse to Uclick • For release Nov. 23, 2009

the commissioners court.

He stated that in order for the county to receive the grant from the THC, the courthouse would have to be restored to its original state when it was first built in 1914.

The annex that was attached in 1966 to the east side of the building and currently housing the tax assessor collector and county clerk would have to be removed and would become landscape.

If the county chose not to agree to restore the courthouse to its original state then the county would lose 14 points towards the grant, which is significant.

The layout of the offices would change. The county judge’s office would move to the third floor and there would be new public lobby space and conference rooms.

Current plans also include the use of the old Exxon building on Fifth Street as a temporary workplace for courthouse employees and county offices while the courthouse is being restored.

The 31,000 square foot Exxon building is worth between $1.2 to $1.3 million dollars, according to county officials, and would only need mechanical and electrical systems replaced while the floors, roof, and windows would only need minor touchups.

The building however currently has asbestos, mainly on the floor, and would cost around $150, 000 to handle.

The total amount for the building to be brought up to code would be $2.7 million, which includes an elevator, outside lighting and construction fees.

Once the courthouse was completed, the Exxon building would still be used for county storage, and some of the county offices would stay, such as Emergency Management and County Tax Assessor-Collector.

It was suggested that the veterans office, probation office, or county health and human services could be moved there also.

Almond estimated that the total cost of restoring the courthouse and fixing up the Exxon building for temporary use as well as fees would be around $9 million.

If the grant is approved it would allow the state to allocate up to $6 million towards the restoration and the county would be responsible for the balance.

Commissioners court took no action, however the deadline for the grant request to be submitted is Dec. 1.