§ 74-171. Naming a building, building areas or property

(a) The county commissioners court is responsible by state law and county policy for the care and custody of all county property, which includes the authority to name any county facility or property in whole or in part.

(b) A county building or property may be named for an elected official. This official's service record should be clearly outstanding and their accomplishments distinctive.

(c) Law enforcement buildings may be named to honor an officer killed in the line of duty.

(d) A conference room or other special area or feature within a major county building or property may be named for a county volunteer, or employee who has made a substantial or unique contribution to the county. To maintain the honor of having a room or area named, a minimum number of requests will be granted per building/property.

(e) In special circumstances, such as those associated with a financial contribution to a specialized cause, project or event, a portion of a building or property such as, a conference or courtroom may be named after a citizen. In such cases, this individual must have an outstanding background and accomplishments that would distinguish their service from others.

(f) All requests shall be submitted to the commissioners court administration for briefing to the commissioners court. The administrator will review and to the extent possible validate the request. Meeting the proposed policy requirements does not guarantee that a request will be granted. The commissioners court will review the information presented in each request and then determine the appropriateness.

(g) Requests for naming county property may be initiated by:

(1) Any member of the commissioners court;

(2) Any county board or commission;

(3) The elected official or department head responsible for the building or room.

The general public must contact one of the above individuals to have a request formally submitted.

(h) Requests should include:

(1) The address or location of the property;

(2) Justification for naming or changing the property, building, room, etc.;

(3) A brief biographical sketch and general background of the honoree, including a detailed recitation of the honoree's contributions to the department or county;

(4) A description of how the name should appear, so a general cost estimate may be developed;

(5) Evidence that the individual's background and character would not be inconsistent with the county's purpose and image.

(i) Persons, boards or committees submitting requests should do so in as confidential manner as possible to preserve the dignity of the recommended individual and his or her family, in the event the request is not granted.

(j) If a named county structure is removed, demolished or destroyed, the previous site will remain without a name, unless otherwise directed by commissioners court.

(Ord. No. 2004-1960, 10-26-2004)