Editor’s Note: This is Part 3 of our Top 2024 Stories in DeWitt County.
In Part 1 of our series, the results of the local elections were mentioned, including AJ Louderback prevailing over Jeff Bauknight in the May runoff for District 30 State Representative. But behind the scenes of DeWitt County elections a storm was brewing that arrived simultaneously with the May election. This and other area stories round up our DeWitt County year in review.
Election Administrator Fired Due to a number of irregularities in the county election process, the DeWitt County Elections Commission voted for the termination of County Election Administrator Melissa Alcazar on May 6, following the May 4 election.
In late April, the election commission met to hear complaints against Alcazar. Nordheim School Board Trustee Pam Remmers had voiced a complaint about the incorrect ballot for the upcoming election during that month’s Commissioner’s Court meeting. (An updated ballot was used in the May 4 election.)
This and other irregularities, such as backup training, voting machine preparation and missing paychecks were issues leading to the recommendation of termination. County Clerk Natalie Carson, who administered elections before the creation of a separate position, took over the canvassing of the May ballots and preparation for the November election.
In the job search for a new election administrator, the county hired a clerk who would train through the November election, then step into the administrator position afterward.
YISD 4-Day Week, Bond
Yorktown citizens voiced concerns about two proposals by the Yorktown ISD School Board in 2024. First was the recommendation of a four-day week in the 2024-25 school year. Second was the bond proposal to improve safety and security, as well as the aging facilities and infrastructure, costing $20 million.
In April, many residents attended the school board meeting to voice their concerns with a proposed four-day week. One of the major reasons put forth by the district was teacher recruitment. Working parents had concerns about childcare. Later in the month, the board approved a school calendar that was not a fourday week, but it did have almost every other Monday off.
Many residents also attended the school board meeting leading up to the May election with the bond proposal on the ballot. The district held a public meeting to share the plans for the bond monies, but some at the board meeting said they had a lot more questions. Voters rejected the school bond election with 244 votes (71.55%) against and 97 votes (28.45%) for.
Nordheim’s Broadway Bar Closes In June, the Voelkel family, who reopened the landmark Broadway Bar & Grill in 2002, posted on Facebook that they were “having a pretty tough time running this family- owned business.” They were going to take the week off and re-open on June 11. Then on June 13, the state comptroller’s office seized the building “for nonpayment of taxes owed the State of Texas.” The establishment is sorely missed by Nordheim residents who gathered at the family friendly bar for monthly suppers and Fourth of July celebrations. Tourists also often visited the historic bar for its food and music.
Precinct 1 Constable’s Accident On June 12, DeWitt County Precinct 1 Constable Kelly Phelps was involved in a crash on IH-10 in Colorado County, which totaled his county vehicle. In the aftermath, communication between Phelps, Sheriff Carl Bowen and the Commissioners Court was murky, leaving many unanswered questions. Phelps sent a memo to the court explaining the circumstances of the collision. Phelps also let the sheriff know he could not serve papers due to a medical issue from the crash.
Precinct 1 Justice of the Peace Peggy Meyer reached out to Reserve (volunteer) Deputy Roy Kuester to serve the necessary papers to county residents. Kuester, the incoming Precinct 1 Constable in January, agreed to do so if the county supplied a vehicle. Sheriff Bowen and the commissioners court transferred a vehicle from Precinct 2’s inventory to the sheriff’s office for use by Kuester at its September 23 meeting.
On October 28, Phelps appeared at the Commissioner’s Court meeting, at the request of the court, to answer questions of whether he should forgo his salary if he could not do his job. As an elected official, he does not answer to a superior.
Phelps said he was injured in the June accident, but he had been performing the communication and court duties of the Precinct 1 Constable position. He said he had been serving all papers for his office since the end of September. He questioned the fairness of his treatment in relation to other employees with medical issues. At the end of his statement, Phelps tendered his resignation as of December 30, one day short of the full term.
After Phelps’ statement, Sheriff Bowen shared his perspective on the communication between himself and the constable. He said that Phelps did not send him a request for assistance due to medical issues.
“He didn’t,” Bowen said. “He took all his papers, which were significant, and placed them in my civil process server’s box and then sent me a note that said ‘I can’t do my job. I need you to do it.’
Bowen explained the challenges with taking on the constable’s workload and added that his office will assure the work of serving papers will continue to get done. However, he said he would expect the court to compensate his office for any additional expense of performing the Precinct 1 constable duties.
In December, the court voted to compensate Roy Kuester for his time serving Precinct 1 court papers to county residents. Kuester will be sworn in as Precinct 1 Constable on January 1.
Dog rampage in Yorktown
At the end of July, packs of dogs went through the city of Yorktown, hunting and killing cats as well as other small animals. An estimated 25 pet cats were viciously killed in one night. At least one elderly man has suffered medical issues due to bites from stray dogs. The sheriff’s office responds to multiple dog bite calls each month. The town has long had problems with stray dogs that the city government has no answer for. When residents showed up at City Council in August looking for a solution, the mayor said he is open to suggestions.
Mayor Baker has said that his staff are working on a system of putting down dangerous dogs. They have a veterinarian ready to take such animals, but an animal control officer is needed to capture such animals. More progress will be announced in the future, Baker said.
Fair Building Grant In September the Cuero Chamber of Commerce & Visitors Center announced that it was awarded a $1.2 million grant from the U.S. Department of Commerce's Economic Development Administration (EDA) to renovate the historic Fair Department Store building at 101 W. Main Street. The funds will help create a state-of-the-art visitor center, event space, and economic development hub. The initiative will bolster local businesses, attract new investments, and enhance the tourism experience. With an additional $287,500 in local funds, the project is expected to create and retain 105 jobs and generate $25 million in private investment, according to grantee estimates.
The last big story was the resistance to the child advocacy center, Norma’s House, moving into a residence on Hunt Street. But that has been covered at length in this month’s papers and even today’s edition.
There are certainly other noteworthy stories that didn’t get a mention. These we offer as stories affecting the service of the public in 2024. May the New Year see more positive than negative stories unfold in the service of the residents of DeWitt County.
