On Friday, January 31, District Attorney Franklin McDonough was recognized by Judge Porter and the county commissioners during their bi-monthly meeting.
In October of last year, Franklin had taken the complex and very difficult Texas Board of Legal Specialization Exam for Criminal Law, testing his knowledge on a vast spectrum of both state and federal law, and after an excrutiating three months, received his results in January informing him he had passed.
“First I want to thank you,” Judge Porter said. “You did this, nobody pressed you to do it. You challenged yourself and I appreciate that and I always appreciate your hard work. I know what it takes to do this and not everybody does it. So congratulations and we’re really proud of the fact that you took the effort and were motivated to do this.”
“Thank you, Judge,” Franklin said. “I want to recognize my staff who is here with me today because I will say without the support of them at that time-because I was intense during that time-I wouldn’t be here before you all. So thank you.”
Commissioner Baggerman asked Franklin how they as commissioners could help alleviate the overcrowded population of the jail and what steps can be taken to remedy the issue.
“Right now, we are at a peak where we have been in the last 12 years as far as having the agencies within the district and specifically Gray County who have much more trained and vigilant officers,” Franklin said.
“You have a jail right now that was designed under 1990 standards and it’s 2025. I would say you either have an option to say I don’t want my law enforcement officers doing what they’re trained to do or to look at updating the jail in the next few years.”
Franklin spoke about the added criminal statutes since the jail was built and when the number of offenders was much lower than it is now. He also praised Deputy JC Skinner who was in attendance about being proactive rather than reactive and training his officers to be the same way.
“I do think at some point it is going to be necessary for the county to look at updating the jail facility to fit what we now have. It’s like the state legislature learned-prisons are built to hold people who violate the law, and well, the same is true for jails.”
The first few items on the agenda at the start of the meeting included considering the minutes of the previous meeting, paying bills as presented by the County Auditor, considering any line-item transfers or budget amendments, and accepting the County Treasurer’s Quarterly Report; all were considered and approved.
Next was to accept the 2024 Racial Profiling Reports from the Gray County Sheriff’s Department, Precinct 2 Constable, and Precinct 1&3 Constable; all reports were accurate and approved with no further discussion.
Next was to consider the New Copier Contract for the District Clerk’s Office, which was approved.
Next was to consider the approval of the tax bid struck off property for the amount of $3,500 for the property located at Section 24 Block R A Rowe at 5.33 acres, which was approved.
Next was to consider the approval of replacement of an employee in the Tax Assessor and Collector’s Office, which was approved.
Last was to consider the approval of Angie Smith as a Notary for the County Judge’s Office, which was approved.
With no other items on the agenda or items of interest, the meeting was adjourned.
