Calls from magistrates begging for a speech prompted Curtsinger to briefly reflect on the day and her time spent as clerk. Emotional but restrained, she thanked the court and commended her successor.
"This is kind of bittersweet," Curtsinger said, "but it's been turned over to good hands."
Tuesday also marked the first meeting during which Curtsinger's replacement, Trille Bottom, filled the county clerk's chair.
'I still loved it'
Bottom, previously the office deputy for Sheriff Lee Roy Hardin, was chosen by McKinney after the judge interviewed 19 candidates.
"She's going to do a good job," Curtsinger said.
Before returning to her seat, Curtsinger offered four short words in summation of how she viewed her time spent as county clerk.
"I still loved it," she said.
In other business, the court granted Hardin permission to seek bids for two additional cruisers. According to McKinney, the county budgeted $52,000 for two fully-equipped vehicles in its fiscal year.
Hardin said he is satisfied with the Dodge models recently purchased by the department and wishes to continue with that make and model.
"They're good on gas, easy on repairs, and the guys like them," Hardin said.
The new cruisers, when purchased, will replace two older models from 2004 that Hardin said have high mileage and are costing quite a bit in repairs.
It also was announced at the meeting county employees now will be able to enjoy a four-day Christmas weekend. The court voted to change the county Christmas holiday from Dec. 24-25 to Dec. 25-26, which falls on a Thursday and Friday. McKinney said this is how the state government is handling the holiday as well.
