Council delays action on appraisal district board nominations to October meeting

The council took no action Sept. 2 on nominations to the Palo Pinto Appraisal District board of directors and directed staff to return the item at the council’s first October meeting (scheduled for Oct. 6) to allow for additional public notice and to solicit potential nominees.

City staff explained that each taxing jurisdiction may nominate candidates for the appraisal district’s board; the nomination period closes Oct. 15 for ballot compilation by the appraisal district. Staff said the city of Mineral Wells has 479 weighted votes in the district’s final ballot process. Three current members — Bill Arneson, Clint Myrick and George Geldard — had agreed to continue serving; Richard Watts was resigning and not available for reappointment.

Why it matters: the appraisal district board hires the chief appraiser, sets the appraisal district budget and appoints appraisal review board members; it does not set property values. Council members asked for additional time to solicit nominees from the public.

Action: no nomination or vote was taken at the Sept. 2 meeting; council instructed staff to place the nominations item on the Oct. 6 agenda so the public has notice of the open positions and an opportunity to express interest.

Ending: staff said they will publish the positions and prepare an agenda item for the Oct. 6 meeting.