Note: This story was first posted as breaking news and then updated.
Lubbock County stopped paying Mark Meurer, according to commissioner for Precinct 1, Michael Dalby. Dalby said the paperwork was signed late Monday afternoon.
The move came less than 24 hours after LubbockLights.com broke the story that the county was paying two people for the same position.
“Payment to him has been stopped. Now we will recoup the money,” Dalby said.
Commissioner Jason Corley also confirmed it – saying he was the one who signed the document.
Lubbock Lights was first to report that the county continued paying Meurer even after a judge restored Corley to office as commissioner in Precinct 2 in December. We covered that story here.
LubbockLights.com reached out repeatedly to Meurer and his attorney. If they choose to comment, Lubbock Lights will provide an update.
How we got here
In December, Curtis Parrish announced that Corley automatically resigned by making himself a candidate for Congress. Corley denied his campaign started earlier than permitted under Texas law and the state constitution.
Within minutes of his announcement, Parrish administered the oath of office to Meurer.
Corley sued that same day and the State of Texas later intervened through Potter County Attorney Scott Brumley. A judge restored Corley to office on a temporary order 11 days after the dispute began.
The case remains pending before the Seventh Court of Appeals in Amarillo. The next court date is for oral arguments in mid-October.
According to the commissioners, the paperwork to stop Meurer’s paycheck was taken to County Judge Curtis Parrish, but he did not sign it.
Commissioner for Precinct 3, Cary Shaw, said, “When I first found out about it, I asked for a Texas Ranger investigation. I was told that there are only two people in the county that can request a Texas Ranger investigation, and that is [District Attorney] Sunshine Stanek and [Sheriff] Kelly Rowe.”
Sheriff Rowe said that’s actually up to Stanek, not him. LubbockLights.com then asked District Attorney Sunshine Stanek if she planned to request a Texas Rangers investigation.
She responded late Monday, “We are looking into the matter. As you know, I would not be able to comment further on any pending investigation.”
Shaw said if there is not a Texas Rangers investigation, then he will ask the office of Texas Attorney General to get involved.
Corley said, “It’s public integrity. So, no matter what, it needs to be investigated.”
Parrish said the matter is still in front of the court system, and Corley was returned to office under a temporary court order – not a final ruling.
“Anything that’s being done right now is just on a temporary basis,” Parrish said.
Dalby did not accept Parrish’s argument, saying, “He [Meurer] is getting paid for a job that a judge said that he is not going to do legally. Cut and dry, right?”
Parrish said any commissioner could have signed the paperwork – not just him.
“I have as much oversight on the payroll department as any of the other commissioners do. I’m just one person, one of five. … I don’t tell the payroll department who to pay and how much to pay them. That is done by the Commissioners Court.”
However, all four commissioners told LubbockLights.com they did not know until last week a salary continued going to Meurer for nine months.
