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Smith County Questions Release of Commissioners Court Videos

Posted/updated on: April 27, 2017 at 7:20 pm
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nathanielmoran_1468939724101_9592194_ver1.0TYLER — Following the release of videos showing controversial Smith County Commissioners Court meetings, the county is fighting back. That’s according to KETK. After Grassroots America – We the People filed an open records request, the videos were released on the order of state District Judge Jack Carter. Smith County Judge Nathaniel Moran (pictured) issued a statement saying the county is seeking appellate review of the court order “because of irregularities surrounding the timing and procedure used to obtain this order and because the law is clear that improper disclosure of videos of closed sessions is a crime.”

Moran says this course of action has nothing to do with the content in those videos. According to Moran, “The reason for my suggested course of action rests solely with the desire to ensure continued adherence to the laws of the state and avoid any future accusations of violations of the law by Smith County.” Moran says if the order is determined to be valid, the county will comply with its instructions — but if it’s void, it will prevent any future accusations. Grassroots America’s JoAnn Fleming says her organization was hopeful the officials involved would apologize to taxpayers could move on. But instead, she says she’s disappointed they have decided to keep digging. Grassroots America says spending tax dollars to go to appeals court isn’t going to gain the public’s trust.

The videos and other documents of the 2014 meetings were released this week. Judge Carter ruled the meetings violated the Texas Open Meetings Act. During the meetings the commissioners discussed adding school zone cameras in the county to catch speeders. Grassroots America filed complaints against former County Judge Joel Baker with the state attorney general’s office, which opened a full investigation. Some who have heard the tapes say the problem was far worse then they had imagined. In fact, an attorney general’s investigator said at least nine meeting were held improperly.

The cameras program was later shelved. Baker later resigned and ended up, in a plea deal, pleading no contest to one of the three charges of violating the state’s open meetings act. The other two counts will be dismissed. Baker was fined $200 and served 30 days of deferred adjudication. We’ll continue to follow this story as it develops.



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