Published: May 27, 2009 10:36 am      

Freeman bids court goodbye

Cooke County Judge Bill Freeman said good-bye Monday, as he adjourned his last, official Commissioners Court.

Special guests for the event included students and teachers of the Muenster Student Council, Freeman’s replacement John Roane and District Attorney Janice Warder.

“Before I make my motion to adjourn, I want to thank the court,” said Freeman. “Ya’ll have been a good court. Leon (Klement) you’re fairly new, but you’re making a fine commissioner and I appreciate that.”

Freeman also noted how well the court commissioners work together and explained to the Muenster Student Council members why that’s important.

“For the students who are here, it’s very important that the commissioners court work with each other to get the business of the county done and not get into fights and stuff,” he said. “Although we do have disagreements sometimes.”

He also extended his sincere gratitude to all of those he has served with, both past and present.

“I want to thank all of the elected officials that I have served with over the past 31 years, and I can tell you, by name, who’s not here anymore,” said Freeman. “I have served, during my time in office, with 78 elected officials that are no longer elected officials of Cooke County.

Everybody who was elected when I came here is gone now and several more after that have gone now. I’ve had the opportunity to serve with a lot of good officials and I’ve served with a lot of good employees in the county. I want to thank all of them and thank the court and I make the motion we adjourn.”

Following his adjournment, all four commissioners, along with those in the court audience, rose to applause Freeman and his career.

Earlier this month, Freeman announced his resignation which will become effective Friday, May 29 with the swearing in of the new interim Cooke County Judge John Roane.

During his county government career, Freeman has spent 8 years as Cooke County judge and prior to that, served 23 years as a Cooke County justice of the peace.

Freeman, who also has a farming and ranching operation near Marietta, Okla., plans to enjoy his retirement with his wife, Rae, on his Love County ranch.

The following motions were made during Commissioners Court:

• Changes of locations, due to the Courthouse Renovation Project, for the location of public hearing/meeting postings, citations, notices of foreclosure sales and notices of sheriff’s sale, the location of public sales, foreclosure sales and sheriff sales and the location of the Cooke County Commissioners’ Court were all tabled for a future court date.

• A reallocation of $3,000 from the Cooke County Library’s Budget, from the full time budgeted salary to part time budgeted salary was approved.

• Possible approval of the re-subdivision of St-Onge Subdivision Lot 2, located off of FM 902 in Precinct 2, was tabled for a future court date.

• Both George M. Brocker and Toby Beane were approve to be appointed as Deputy Constables for Precinct 4. Commissioner Hollowell abstained from the motion to approve the appointments.

• The Human Resources Office was approved for relocation to the old county jail, in order to maintain more privacy for the department.

During the supplemental agenda for Commissioners Court, no action was taken to approve drafting an Interlocal Agreement with the Cooke County Fair Board. However, a 12 month lease renewal amendment with Texas Facilities Commission for the DPS office was approved. The lease will be $900 per month and will begin on Oct. 1, 2009 and last until Sep. 20, 2010.