This is the last of a threeparts series written by Kendall County Judge Shane Stolarczyk. For the previous two parts, subscribe to The Star at www.BoerneStar.com.
PROBATE and GUARDIANSHIP COURT MATTERS: In addition to my other duties, I also preside over court proceedings on cases involving probate and guardianship matters. In the past three months, I have handled over 50 cases.
This month, I am confident we will be current on all existing probate cases with no remaining backlog.
For the guardianship docket, which directly impacts the wellbeing of our most vulnerable citizens who cannot care for themselves, I have tackled the oldest and most contested cases first. These cases are challenging and sometimes require me to personally check in on the wards to ensure their well-being and safety in their current living environments. I have no doubt that our guardianship docket is growing and will soon be current.
To streamline this process, our great County Clerk’s Office has worked with me to develop procedures aimed at helping the litigants get to the heart of the matter as soon as possible. I, with the help of some of our seasoned guardianship attorneys, am creating standardized procedures and forms (“Local Rules” and “Standing Orders”).
By providing litigants with these official directives online without the need for
I love Kendall County. This is my forever home and there is no place I’d rather be. I start each workday with a reminder of the enormous trust you have placed in me to be your County Judge. I hope to send out more reports as the year progresses. And I promise to always remember— “DON’T AUSTIN MY KENDALL COUNTY.” a hearing, the parties and lawyers can learn what the general rules are, what is expected of them when in court, and how they can move their case along efficiently and quickly.
This organized process saves the litigants money and the County time. The County Clerk’s Office and I shifted from Zoom/ internet hearings to actual live, in-person hearings. As a 20-year lawyer and, now, as a judge presiding over these important matters, I firmly believe that live, in-person proceedings add value to both the parties’ experience in the judicial system, as well as engendering the necessary respect due to the judicial process. We will afford non-local litigants the opportunity to appear via Zoom/internet, but the default for someone who asks for “their day in court” will be to give them an actual day in court, unless special circumstances exist.
COMMUNITY and EMPLOYEE OUTREACH:
In addition to the monthly Roundtable Discussions, I have made it a point to visit with employees or citizens on a regular basis. So far, I have had the pleasure of meeting with over 100 citizens, elected officials, and community groups.
My job is to understand your views and hear new ideas regarding our County. These meetings have involved our county’s community partners, some of which include a variety of community activists, the City of Boerne, the Kendall County Sheriff’s Foundation, the Alamo Area Council of Government, the Nature Conservancy, the Kronkosky Center, the Boerne Independent School District, as well as many other community partners and private citizens who serve different interests in our County.
Just a few days ago, I enjoyed celebrating my birthday at the Comfort Golden Age Center with the citizens who rely on it for support (see picture attached).
The way I view my role as County Judge, it is essential for me to get out in the community to stay apprised of what is happening around us. My goal is for our county to address the ongoing problems, get ahead of issues rearing their heads, and, if possible, prevent them from becoming larger problems.
So, if you miss me at the office or just want to sit down to meet about how we can make Kendall County even better, just give me a call (830-816-9675) or send me an email (shane.stolarczyk@ co.kendall.tx.us). I will be sure to follow up with you.
OPEN LINES OF COMMUNICATIONS WITH COMMUNITY PARTNERS:
As an experienced business owner and lawyer, I fully appreciate the importance of doing due diligence and collecting as much evidence as you can before you are put in a position to make a vote. This allows us to make the best, informed decisions possible.
The first step in this process is ensuring the County takes its “seat at the table” with our community partners. Having open lines of communication on all issues with all community partners is critical moving forward. We may not always agree on the issue before us, but our county’s ability to express the rights and values of our citizens only occurs if we participate in the discussion. Our county is one of the fastest growing in the nation. I will not lose out on opportunities to talk with our community partners to advocate on behalf of our county citizens to help ensure we preserve all the things that made all of us decide to live in this great County.
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