Court appoints Foster as JP 1

The Lavaca County Commissioners’ Court met in its first regular meeting for the new year with a short agenda.
Prior to meeting on Monday, the court held a special-called meeting on Friday, Jan. 5, where it conducted interviews on three candidates for the Precinct 1 Justice of the Peace seat.
At that meeting after interviewing the three candidates, the court voted unanimously by roll call to appoint James Foster to fill the JP 1 position.
Foster has been a resident of Lavaca County since 1992 and served as a Lavaca County Juvenile Probation Officer for 28 years.
“We had three wonderful, qualified candidates and one stood out, and that was James Foster,” Judge Keith Mudd said at Monday’s meeting. “He’s got 28 years of probation service for the county and he retired with dignity and good graces with the court in 2020. He just has an impeccable record.”
The JP 1 chair came open in December, when current judge Steven Greenwell announced his resignation to submit himself as a candidate for the Lavaca County Sheriff’s position with the primary election taking place in March.
The court set Tuesday, Jan. 16 at 9 a.m. as the date to hold an official swearing-in ceremony of Foster. The swearing-in ceremony will take place in the Lavaca County Commissioners’ Courtroom.
Employee Promotions
The court approved appointing Gregory Janik to foreman for Commissioner Pct. 3 and also appointed Charles Lewis as assistant foreman for Pct. 3.
Janik and Lewis will take over the positions held by William Petru and James Blaschke, who both retired from the Pct. 3 this past December.
LCCAD Board of Directors
The court acknowledged the six candidates, who have been elected to serve as members of the Lavaca County Central Appraisal District Board of Directors for a two-year term beginning Jan. 1, 2024.
The board members who were acknowledged by the court include: James Fenner, Walt Hairell, Fred Hilscher, Lonny Montgomery, Ronald Braeuer and Roddy Renger.
In other action taken by the court:
• Acknowledged a $10,000 donation from Dickson-Allen Foundation to the Lavaca County Press Gang in care of Records Retention/Archives.
• Approved a contract for secure long-term and short-term residential service of juvenile offenders between Lavaca County Juvenile Probation and San Patricio Juvenile Justice Center.
• Approved a racial profiling report submitted by the Pct. 3 constable, which has been filed with the Texas Commission of Law Enforcement.
• Approved the transfer of $5,000 from the Sheriff’s Deputy Salary fund to the Sheriff’s Training fund account to fund the Sheriff’s office jailer promotion plan.
• Approved all consent agenda items.
County Judge Keith Mudd presided over the meeting with commissioners’ Wayne Fairchild, Kenny Siegel and Dennis W. Kocian present for the meeting.