LubbockLights.com has learned that Mark Meurer remained on the county payroll even after a judge issued a temporary order that Jason Corley, not Meurer, was rightly the commissioner of Precinct 2 in Southeast Lubbock County.
Breaking news update to the original story: County paychecks to Meurer will stop after LubbockLights.com report
In other words, the county has been paying the salaries of two men instead of one to be the commissioner.
“The fact that Mark [Meurer] has been getting paid, I think that’s wrong,” said Michael Dalby, commissioner for Precinct 1.
“I just found out about this late last week. I’m shocked, disappointed about it!” Dalby said.
LubbockLights.com confirmed from five sources that Meurer remained on the payroll. Dalby spoke on the record. Four other sources remained confidential.
We reached out to Meurer and his attorney for comment. If that invitation is later accepted, LubbockLights.com will provide an update.
Corley did not comment except to say, “I don’t know anything about this until Monday.”
We also reached out to County Judge Curtis Parrish by text and by phone call between Friday and Sunday. He issued a brief statement.
“This is an ongoing legal matter, so I can’t comment. I will say that the 7th Court of Appeals will hear oral arguments on these matters on October 13th, and that should give us further clarification on the issues of this case,” Parrish said.
For the current budget cycle which ends soon, the commissioner’s salary in Precinct 2 is $90,686 per year plus an allowance of $4,800.
How this happened
In December, Curtis Parrish announced that Corley automatically resigned by making himself a candidate for another office. (We covered the story here.) Parrish immediately administered the oath of office to Meurer.
Corley sued and the State of Texas also 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 both in State District Court and the Seventh Court of Appeals. Meurer has continued to file documents in court claiming he is the rightful commissioner – not Corley. The next court date is for oral arguments to the Seventh Court in mid-October.
Sources told LubbockLights.com the county’s HR department filled out paperwork to remove Meurer from payroll after Judge Patrick Pirtle restored Corley to office.
However, Parrish left the document unsigned, according to our sources. Meurer remained on the payroll.
This is not over
Dalby said this topic will come up Monday morning in executive session.
“I have no doubt that you will be able to cut the tension with a knife,” Dalby said.
Dalby added, “This is an exact example of why people don’t trust government, in my opinion. I’m not suggesting that this is criminal in nature. I have one-third of this story, okay.”
Dalby confirmed a detail we learned from other sources. He said Parrish did not sign the paperwork to stop the salary.
“If the county judge is not willing to sign the paperwork to terminate him being paid … then I am willing to do that,” Dalby said.
“Lubbock County needs to be reimbursed immediately with these dollars,” Dalby said.
“No commissioner was a part of this. This stems from a decision that Judge Parrish made. And as far as I’m concerned, he can answer all the questions. … It needs to be fixed by him because this is not okay,” Dalby said.
We asked Dalby if Meurer is justified on the basis that he took the oath of office and maybe he feels like will ultimately win in court. Would that justify taking the salary?
“You can talk about backpay or you can talk about picking up where you left off or whatever the case may be. But that, in my mind, that case is weak,” Dalby said.
LubbockLights.com will attend the commissioners court meeting Monday – looking for updates to this story.
