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Lamar Co. puts guns up for sale
by Bill Hankins
The Paris News
Published September 9, 2008
Lamar County Commissioners have given the go-ahead to the sale of surplus and salvage guns, most of them forfeited to the Lamar County Sheriff’s Department through the years.
The guns continued to pile up in the sheriff’s storage unit until Sheriff B.J. McCoy decided he needed to get rid of them by some means.
McCoy asked commissioners to approve a sale of the weapons in lots and by competitive bid only to federally licensed gun dealers.
Commissioners voiced some concern over such a sale, but approved the bid process with assurances that each potential buyer will submit proof of his or her federal gun dealer’s license.
Chief Deputy Scott Cass told commissioners many of the guns are old.
“Some are good guns, but some no longer work,” Cass said.
Some of the guns were purchased by the county for law enforcement officers and have since been added to the abandoned guns.
“We need to separate and sell the county purchased guns separately,” County Judge Chuck Superville said. “The proceeds from those guns will have to go back into the county’s general fund, while the proceeds from the sale of the forfeited guns will go into the sheriff’s fund.”
Superville said the county must make sure the sale of guns is to qualified or certified federal firearms dealers.
“We do nost want these guns to fall into the wrong hands,” he said.
“Does the county have to have a license to sell the guns?” Commissioner Jackie Wheeler asked.
His question was not answered, but later county officials were assured they did not have to have a license.
“Property officers checked each gun to certify it and provide all the paperwork required for forfeiture,” Cass said.
In other action, commissioners considered closing a section of County road 44480, but took no action when they determined it was not on the official Lamar County Maintained Road Map, and no action was needed.
Commissioners again looked at acquiring a feasibility study for relocating the Lamar county Tax Assessor’s office to the old Hickory House building north of the courthouse, but determined it might be better to keep the office in the Old Post Office Building and make adjustments to provide the needed room.
“We will just keep talking about it and working with the problem until we get a solution,” Superville told tax assessor-collector Peggy Noble. “We will keep it on the agenda.”
Commissioners considered changing the fees charged by the Sheriff’s office and constables’ charged for delivering processed papers, but at McCoy’s request decided to leave them at $50, the same as last year.
“The sheriff said he is fine with it and recommends no change,” Cass said.
Commissioners received into the minutes orders signed by 62nd District Judge Scott McDowell regarding the salary of the official shorthand reporter of his court, and an order signed by 6th Judicial District Judge Jim D. Lovett and McDowell regarding the salary for the Lamar County Auditor and his staff.
Commissioners also executed a memorandum of undestanding of a Texas Supreme Court plan to ensure judicial readiness in times of emergency.
The agreement by commissioners would assure the county’s support of continuity of court operations in any other county that has experienced a disaster and needs to continue its court processes.
“We would provide adequate facilities for judges, administrative staff and all necessary items for seven days in case of emergency,” Superville said. “If the need became longer, we would negotiate an interlocal agreement with the county in need.”
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