Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Personnel Changes topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Newton County accepts resignation of tax assessor-collector Melissa Burks and appoints Tracy Noble as interim
Summary
The commissioners accepted Tax Assessor-Collector Melissa Burks's resignation effective Oct. 31, 2025, and appointed Tracy Noble to fill the vacancy until the November 2026 general election; they discussed bonding and swearing-in logistics.
At its Oct. 1 meeting, the Newton County Commissioners Court accepted the formal resignation of Tax Assessor-Collector Melissa Burks effective at the close of business Oct. 31, 2025. The court recorded that Burks had served approximately 22 years in the office.
The court recessed to executive session to discuss personnel matters and reconvened. After discussions with staff from the tax office, the presiding official moved to appoint Tracy Noble to fill the vacancy until the November 2026 general election. Commissioners discussed that the appointee must be bonded before assuming full duties and that the court will schedule a meeting to accept bond paperwork; the appointee's service is provisional until the elected official is certified and bonded.
A motion to appoint Tracy Noble was made and seconded and approved by voice vote. Commissioners clarified that appointment does not replace the elected process: whoever wins the November 2026 election will complete the term in accordance with election and bonding requirements. The court did not adopt written conditions to the appointment beyond standard bonding requirements and directed staff to schedule a subsequent meeting to accept bonds and perform any swearing-in once bond paperwork is in place.
