Galveston County Commissioners Court voted unanimously to approve a lease agreement with Buzbee Properties, Inc. for the lease of 10 parking spaces in the Llewllyn Building parking lot, across the street from some rental property he owns.  Listen Download

The unanimous vote came after Anthony Buzbee, a former chair of the Galveston County Democratic Party, accused Republican County Commissioner Ken Clark and Galveston County Tax Assessor-Collector Cheryl Johnson, also a Republican, of having political motives in regard to questions Clark raised last week about delinquent taxes on property owned by the Buzbee company.

Buzbee explained that he had purchased the tax foreclosed property from the county, thus the delinquency no longer exists.

County Tax Assessor-Collector Cheryl Johnson said that the county's delinquent tax attorney had not yet erased the delinquency from the property records when the issue was discussed at last week's meeting.

"Commissioner Clark acted on the best information that we have in our records," Johnson said, adding that she did not reply to an email from Buzbee because she does not respond to threats.

Buzbee denied that his email to Johnson was threatening.  Email

"It is a sad day in this county when it is so political that when you make a mistake you can't simply acknowledge it," Buzbee said.

Clark apologized for the mistake, but denied that his questions were political.

"As many of you know who attend commissioners court, I tend to look at things that I vote on," Clark said, referring to his frequent questions about expenditures on the commissioners court agendas.  "I said that it probably was an oversight."

"Right or wrong, I have to give Ken credit that he does check the balances of all the transactions," said Commissioner Eddie Janek.  "If it was political?  I don't think so.  But he apologized and I appreciate the apology."

The commissioners court voted to approve a new five year management agreement with Galveston Historical Foundation for the management of the Galveston County Historical Museum.

The commissioners court approved a list of presiding judges and alternate judges for the November 7 election.  County Clerk Mary Ann Daigle reported that all of the judge positions are filled, but there is still a need for some alternate judges in both political parties.

The commissioners court voted to proclaim the week of November 6-11 as Veterans Week in Galveston County.  Listen Download

All other agenda items were approved.  All votes were unanimous.