WASHINGTON CO. COMMISSIONERS APPROVE RECORDS ARCHIVE PLAN

  

Washington County Commissioners approved the county clerk’s records archive plan for the 2025 Fiscal Year at their meeting today (Tuesday).

The county is required each year to approve the plan, which collects fees from the filing of documents with the county, like deeds or contracts.  County Clerk Beth Rothermel estimates her office will receive $70,000 in revenue next fiscal year to put toward the preservation and restoration of archived records. 

No one from the public spoke during a public hearing for the item.

Rothermel said she continues work on preserving birth records and plans to start on death records next year.  She told the court that her office recently discovered the original certificates and the surveyor’s abstract for the county’s school land in Tom Green County, going back to the 1800s.  She said the certificates will go into a protective frame for public view.

Rothermel said the Tom Green County land was given to every county by the state for their own use.  According to Rothermel, Washington County received the land in 1852, and the certificates recently found are from the 1870s.

Washington County is one of five counties that have elected to retain their land instead of selling it.  The earnings from managing the land go to local school districts each year based on their average daily attendance.

County Judge John Durrenberger said management of the Tom Green County land can be time-consuming, but it is well worth the effort to be able to put that money back toward local schools. 

After approval, Rothermel thanked the court for supporting the county clerk’s office’s archival projects, to which Durrenberger replied that it is “very important to do.  It’s our history.”

The vote on the plan was one of only two items commissioners had that were not routine business or monthly reports from county offices. 

The court approved a contract for a TimeClock Plus software subscription.  Human Resources Director Angela Mlcak said the software will be utilized to streamline payroll processing for all county employees.  The contract includes $15,945 in one-time implementation costs and $7,221 in recurring costs for licensing and support.

Commissioners will gather again tomorrow (Wednesday) for a workshop session at 10:30 a.m. at the Washington County Courthouse.  The meeting is for commissioners to consult with a financial advisor.