Is there some logical explanation as to why the Hearne city and school government seem to be so dysfunctional? There are plenty of cities that might have one or two dysfunctional members in their elected government offices, but Hearne seems to have more than normal.

This latest story from KBTX exemplifies this. http://www.kbtx.com/content/news/Hearne-council-questions-43000-bill-after-being-dumped-by-city-attorney-409609645.html

The city attorney resigns citing the "combative, unprofessional and inconsistent" actions of council members. I guess this upset some of the council so they are now questioning whether they will pay the bill from the attorney. On top of that, the city decides to place an ad in the paper for 30 days to advertise the city attorney position.

So what quality of attorney do you think they will get considering:

• the last firm quit because council is impossible to work with
• you are refusing to pay their bill
• you are placing a newspaper ad for the next attorney, you know, because that is where all the good attorneys look for a job?

Slocum on a mobile said:

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You must not be from 'round these parts. I grew up in Hearne, My Mom and Dad were both graduates of Hearne High School. I am related to a number of people.

Nothing much has changed. They might have better luck advertising in the paper. The City Attorney they had before that was scamming old folks out of their oil royalties (and he was my soccer coach when I was a kid). History will keep repeating itself because most of the people left in Hearne don't want any better. I left a long time ago, and will not move back.

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I can understand one bad apple like you cite with the previous city attorney but the disfunction is everywhere. They currently have an interim city manager and they tried to get rid of him and failed. They school district has gone through 5 superintendents in 5 years and now the state is recommending getting rid of the entire school board.

There are plenty of smaller cities around here (Caldwell, Somerville, Navasota, etc.) that may have their own struggles but none of them seem to make the news like Hearne does.

Don't forget Woody Harrelson's daddy killed Sam Degila of Hearne in a murder for hired deal back in the late 60's. It didn't happen in Hearne but Sam was doing business there as a grain dealer. And, in another incident, I can't remember the guy's name, but his death was ruled suicide, despite having several gunshot wounds. And look up the $12,000 check cut for the Brown Street overpass in Hearne......should I go on?

It's one of two, to my knowledge.

Tim Weaver said:

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Aaahhh Hearne. The town that fired their Drug Dog because it was "racist".

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You are kidding, right?

TellMeMore said:

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Don't forget Woody Harrelson's daddy killed Sam Degila of Hearne in a murder for hired deal back in the late 60's. It didn't happen in Hearne but Sam was doing business there as a grain dealer. And, in another incident, I can't remember the guy's name, but his death was ruled suicide, despite having several gunshot wounds. And look up the $12,000 check cut for the Brown Street overpass in Hearne......should I go on?

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Henry Marshall died of "multiple" self-inflicted(sic) gunshots. He was investigating the fraud perpetuated by Billy Sol Estes. More of a "Robertson County" story than Hearne.

Charles Harrelson' story

The Billy Sol Estes/Henry Marshall conspiracy

AGnCS said:

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Is Hearne still the only city that WalMart moved OUT of?

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Robstown, TX had the same problem.

The OP (and any others who wonder what is going on in that dumpster fire to our north) should click these two links, then form their own opinion of whether it's legit or b.s. I'm undecided, but it's fascinating reading, better than anything on TV in my opinion. You would think a book and movie will eventually come out of it all.

http://lawflog.com/?p=1520

http://boogercountymafia.com/

Was about to post Lawflog, noted above.
Humorous, evidently first person, accounting of elected officials' bad behavior in Robertson County with tracks to Austin.

Slocum on a mobile said:

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Quote:

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It's hard to know what's worse...the City Council or the School Board.

And I was born in Hearne; it was great in my early years...but rarely admit to where I'm from in nice company

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Agreed. I usually just tell people I'm from College Station. Saves all the probing questions.

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Yep. That's why I do as well.

http://www.kbtx.com/content/news/Hearne-council-members-storm-out-of-meeting--411026465.html

And the craziness continues.

So the city is without an attorney, they are trying to fire the interim city manager, take away the mayor's ability to vote and then three council members walk out of the meeting because they are not getting their way.

BigBubba said:

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http://www.kbtx.com/content/news/Hearne-council-members-storm-out-of-meeting--411026465.html

And the craziness continues.

So the city is without an attorney, they are trying to fire the interim city manager, take away the mayor's ability to vote and then three council members walk out of the meeting because they are not getting their way.

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Well I guess that gives us some insight as to why that law firm quit acting as their city attorney - some on the council want to make up the rules as they go.

Taking away a council member's right to vote?!? Are they serious?!?

the mayor's right to vote

apparently city council and the law firm disagreed as to whether the mayor was supposed to get to vote on everything or just in the case of a tie

Generally the mayor should only cast a tie breaking vote. They amended their charter to reflect this, but the mayor said that wasn't legal. He likes having his thumb in everything.

gettingitdone said:

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Generally the mayor should only cast a tie breaking vote.

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Hearne has 5 council members, so unless a council member is not there then there would not be any tie votes. This seems very odd to me. By comparison, Bryan and College Station both have 6 council members and the mayor's vote would break a 3-3 tie.

gettingitdone said:

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They amended their charter to reflect this, but the mayor said that wasn't legal. He likes having his thumb in everything.

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You sure they "amended their charter"? I thought council just passed a resolution. I would assume something like this would require voter approval.

Edit: I checked the City Charter and it does state that changes require voter approval.

threecatcorner said:

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the mayor's right to vote

apparently city council and the law firm disagreed as to whether the mayor was supposed to get to vote on everything or just in the case of a tie

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Would it be fair to say:

apparently city council members that don't like how the mayor votes and the law firm disagreed as to whether the mayor was supposed to get to vote on everything or just in the case of a tie

Arguing over the mayor's right to vote, AGAIN.
http://www.kbtx.com/content/news/Heated-discussion-centered-on-the-mayors-right-to-vote-erupts-during-meeting-418305213.html

Removal of entire school board and superintendent.
http://www.kbtx.com/content/news/Texas-Education-Agency-orders-removal-of-Hearne-ISD-trustees-superintendent-418252893.html

Police officer on administrative leave for unknown reasons.
http://www.kbtx.com/content/news/Hearne-Police-Officer-on-administrative-leave-418227633.html

Family claims murder.
http://www.kbtx.com/content/news/Family-friends-demanding-justice-following-mysterious-death-of-Hearne-man-418295833.html

I am just amazed at how incompetent the school board and city council appears to be. Having one or two bad apples getting elected happens at times but this something much different.