In a meeting of less than thirty minutes last week, the Lampasas County Commissioners Court voted 5-0 to cast its ballot for Mike Kriegel and Bob Wright as candidates for the Lampasas Central Appraisal District Board of Directors.

The Commissioners Court split its 1,422 votes evenly between the two new appraisal district candidates. Members running for reelection are Dave Hamilton, Milton Kellner and Ted Newsom.

The Lampasas Independent School District exercises the most influence of the taxing entities involved in the board of directors election, as the LISD casts 3,019 of the 5,000 votes.

In other business, the Commissioners Court voted unanimously to replace water and air gauges at the county courthouse, to replace a water gauge at the Lampasas County Office Building and to move a two-inch drain at the county office building. Those deficiencies requiring correction were noted in a sprinkler system inspection.

Repairs are estimated to cost $1,555. The Commissioners Court will attempt to pay for work at the county office building as part of the expansion project at the Pecan Street facility.

Also at the recent meeting, the Commissioners Court tabled discussion of a policy about end-ofyear purchases of road and bridge materials.

The court also tabled a proposal to increase the county's payments into its retirement system from 13.76 percent of salaries to 14 percent. The 2009/2010 budget, which took effect Oct. 1, was prepared based on a 14 percent level of funding.

The court took no action on an offer from McQuay Air Conditioning Factory Service to replace damaged wire associated with the courthouse air-conditioning system for $1,750.

Several commissioners said they thought the county's contract with McQuay should cover the repairs with no additional charge.

Also, commissioners urged county residents to wait patiently for road repairs, as they said potholes cannot be patched during rainy weather.

"The roads in Precinct 4 weren't in the best of shape before the last set of rains," Precinct 4 Commissioner Jack B. Cox said. "We're trying to get to everything as quick as we can. Every time it rains, it really sets us back."

In addition, at a recent called meeting the Commissioners Court voted 4-0, with County Judge Wayne Boultinghouse not present, to purchase a 2,000-gallon asphalt distributor with a 260-horsepower engine.

The equipment, which will be delivered in 60 to 120 days, will be paid in five annual installments of $29,791.

The county's budget for this fiscal year includes about $175,000 for a distributor purchase.