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In a special meeting of the Blanco County Commissioners Court on June 23, commissioners heard a report by Sheriff Bill Elsbury regarding the status of a legal case regarding the Christ of the Hills Monastery. Sheriff Elsbury petitioned the court to authorize County Judge Bill Guthrie to hire legal counsel to represent Blanco County in a forfeiture cause against 105.1 acres of land and a mobile home currently owned by Ecumenical Monks, Inc.

Blanco County seeks to acquire the Monastery property subsequent to court proceedings that found several of the monks guilty of felonies. By acquiring the property the county hopes to defray the costs incurred by tax payers during ten years of investigating the monastery personnel’s illegal activities. The report indicated that the district attorney’s office lacks the time and the staff to pursue the forfeiture issue at this time. That being the case, the county will be hard pressed to meet a July 14 deadline. The Sheriff said, “We thought the D.A. was on it. Now, we have to fish or cut bait.”

The issue is further complicated by a plaintiff who claims he was sexually abused by the monks several years ago. He successfully sued the Greek Orthodox Church and claims the property should go to him. He has rejected offers by Blanco County to mediate the case for the benefit of both parties. The County’s claim to the property was made prior to the plaintiff’s claim. The commissioners voted unanimously to approve the hiring of legal counsel to represent Blanco County in the matter.

In another agenda item, the commissioners authorized advertising for bids for the demolition and removal of the old Sheriff’s sub-station buildings and slab located on Hwy 281 in Johnson City. After an inspection revealed that the old vinyl floor tile may contain asbestos, the commissioners recommended having the tile removed before awarding the bid. The commissioners voted unanimously to approve the item.

In a Commissioners Court meeting held on June 9, commissioners, on a split vote, approved a burn ban to be in effect until 9:00 a.m. on Thursday, July 9.

Also at that meeting, due to drought conditions, commissioners approved a July 4th “fins and sticks” fireworks ban. Judge Guthrie and Commissioners Wood and Granbury voted in favor. Commissioners Sultemeier and Liesmann voted against the proposal.