LUBBOCK, Texas (KCBD) – The Commissioners Court approved a non-binding resolution calling for a Texas Rangers probe into why and how Mark Meurer drew a paycheck for nine months despite not holding the Precinct 2 commissioner seat.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis wasn\u2019t just an oversight or an accident. This was a conscious, deliberate decision by you regarding my money, our money,\u201d Cindy Acuff told commissioners during public comment in Monday\u2019s meeting.<\/p>\n
Judge Parrish appointed Mark Meurer to Precinct 2 last December after removing Commissioner Jason Corley. A judge ultimately returned the seat to Corley, but the county kept paying Meurer nearly $70,000.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe cannot be hypocritical in these matters; we have dirt in our house and it must be cleaned,\u201d Precinct 2 Commissioner Jason Corley said.<\/p>\n
Meurer and Judge Parrish said the case was not resolved until Meurer dropped out of an appeal last week. Meurer said he set the money aside and will pay back every cent. Some commissioners said that is not enough.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe felt this needed to be brought up in court for transparency to the people, the citizens we represent,\u201d Cary Shaw, commissioner for precinct 3 said.<\/p>\n
Commissioners passed a resolution \u201cexpressing support for Lubbock County District Attorney Sunshine Stanek\u2019s request that the Texas Rangers\u201d get to the bottom of the case.<\/p>\n
Stanek said she is pursuing an investigation through the appropriate means but did not say whether that means specifically involves the Rangers.<\/p>\n
\u201cI find this resolution to be both unnecessary and neither persuasive nor legally binding on my office. That\u2019s because we have already been looking into this matter since it came to light a week ago, closer to two at this time,\u201d Stanek said.<\/p>\n
Commissioner Mike Dalby said he agreed with everything in the resolution, saying now is the time for the commissioner\u2019s court to take ownership of what happened.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe missed this. We all missed it, whether you like to hear that or not. Okay? Every one of us missed it,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
While he agreed with the sentiment, Dalby voted against the resolution, calling it \u201cborderline defamation\u201d and saying the court can express support vocally without taking risks in writing.<\/p>\n
\u201cI support its idea. But it is not a catalyst for the district attorney\u2019s office to start an investigation which she told us she\u2019s already doing,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Judge Curtis Parrish said it is the commissioners\u2019 way of telling the district attorney\u2019s office how to do its job and abstained from the vote.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt appears this resolution is an attempt to disparage Sunshine Stanek by insinuating she does not know how to do her job. Stanek is well known and respected throughout this county, throughout this state, and by me, and I will not have any part of this,\u201d Parrish said.<\/p>\n
\u201cI have no doubt in Ms. Stanek\u2019s abilities to go ahead and do what needs to be done here. But it sure is nice and speaking from personal experience, when you\u2019re the only one that stands up, to have some people to step up behind you and encourage you to continue to do the right thing,\u201d Corley said.<\/p>\n
Stanek\u2019s civil chief, Neal Burt, said the matter has consumed much of the last two weeks for the office.<\/p>\n
\u201cBecause we do need to figure out what\u2019s going on, not just for now, but to make sure that we don\u2019t have any more situations like this we\u2019ve had,\u201d Burt said.<\/p>\n
Precinct Four Commissioner Jordan Rackler said policies need to be looked at so this doesn\u2019t happen again, and that may need to include two signatures on county payments.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe definitely are going to have to have policy on because, okay, so this was brought to light on an elected official with an appointed position. Is this taking place within our non-electeds with just normal county employees?\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
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