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January 11, 2024
Bandera County Commissioners Court briefing
Court appoints new tax assessor/collector following resignation of current elected official
By Jessica Nohealapa’ahi
The Bandera Prophet
Bandera County commissioners appointed Andrea Jankoski to fill the soon-vacated position of County Tax Assessor/Collector, following the resignation of Rebekah “Reba” Dolphus.
Jankoski is currently first assistant auditor in the Bandera County Auditor’s office; she is also a candidate for Tax Assessor/Collector in the March 5 primary election. Dolphus, who is also on the ballot as the incumbent, submitted her resignation this month, which the court accepted today. It will be effective Jan. 31.
“It becomes effective whether we accept it or not, so we might-as-well move on,” County Judge Richard Evans said.
After confirming Jankoski was available and willing to fulfill the position, Pct. 4 Commissioner Jody Rutherford motioned to appoint her, with Pct. 3 Commissioner Jack Moseley casting a second for a unanimous vote. County Auditor Darryl Sadler said he would work with Jankoski to ease the transition and her training.
“It will give [Jankoski] a head start,” Moseley said. “I know the tax office can continue working like it does now, whether [Dolphus] is gone, but the election is the major issue to me. That’s what we really need to focus on today.”
County Judge Richard Evans said the tax assessor is in charge of elections, and the court would need to immediately communicate with the secretary of state.
“The party chairs are very concerned,” Evans said, adding Jankoski would not have official authority until Feb. 1.
“I’m confident that we can get through this,” Jankoski said.
Although she is resigning, Dolphus will still appear on the primary election ballot; it is past the deadline for a candidate to withdraw.
Early voting for the primary election begins Feb. 23.
In other business, commissioners unanimously approved the appointment of Carter and Tessa Kolodny to be voting members of the Bandera County Historical Commission, replacing outgoing members Ray Carter and Nicole Flowers.
In her report, historical commission Chairperson Kim Miles said in 2023, the commission successfully launched a redesigned website and email, and installed two new marker dedications and two new street-side shadow boxes in Medina and Lakehills. For 2024, Miles said the commission plans to identify and highlight Bandera’s musical history, and continue work toward the June 2025 Smithsonian project. Two marker dedications submitted a year ago are still pending with the state.
~ Commissioners approved the final plat for a new Dollar General in Lakehills, on FM 1283.
It was noted that contractors had begun construction prior to the court’s approval, which County Engineer Dieter Werner acknowledged, stating, “That was at their own risk.”
Jankoski is currently first assistant auditor in the Bandera County Auditor’s office; she is also a candidate for Tax Assessor/Collector in the March 5 primary election. Dolphus, who is also on the ballot as the incumbent, submitted her resignation this month, which the court accepted today. It will be effective Jan. 31.
“It becomes effective whether we accept it or not, so we might-as-well move on,” County Judge Richard Evans said.
After confirming Jankoski was available and willing to fulfill the position, Pct. 4 Commissioner Jody Rutherford motioned to appoint her, with Pct. 3 Commissioner Jack Moseley casting a second for a unanimous vote. County Auditor Darryl Sadler said he would work with Jankoski to ease the transition and her training.
“It will give [Jankoski] a head start,” Moseley said. “I know the tax office can continue working like it does now, whether [Dolphus] is gone, but the election is the major issue to me. That’s what we really need to focus on today.”
County Judge Richard Evans said the tax assessor is in charge of elections, and the court would need to immediately communicate with the secretary of state.
“The party chairs are very concerned,” Evans said, adding Jankoski would not have official authority until Feb. 1.
“I’m confident that we can get through this,” Jankoski said.
Although she is resigning, Dolphus will still appear on the primary election ballot; it is past the deadline for a candidate to withdraw.
Early voting for the primary election begins Feb. 23.
In other business, commissioners unanimously approved the appointment of Carter and Tessa Kolodny to be voting members of the Bandera County Historical Commission, replacing outgoing members Ray Carter and Nicole Flowers.
In her report, historical commission Chairperson Kim Miles said in 2023, the commission successfully launched a redesigned website and email, and installed two new marker dedications and two new street-side shadow boxes in Medina and Lakehills. For 2024, Miles said the commission plans to identify and highlight Bandera’s musical history, and continue work toward the June 2025 Smithsonian project. Two marker dedications submitted a year ago are still pending with the state.
~ Commissioners approved the final plat for a new Dollar General in Lakehills, on FM 1283.
It was noted that contractors had begun construction prior to the court’s approval, which County Engineer Dieter Werner acknowledged, stating, “That was at their own risk.”