The commissioners court agreed to turn over a key to the president of the Williamson Senior Citizen Center Tuesday morning during its regular meeting.

Newly elected president Leroy Rhoades made an impassioned plea before the council.

“We plan to have a lot (of activities),” Rhoades said. We bring food in and out, especially frozen food. We have to bother other people to even get a key... it’s a pain in the neck.”

The seniors group locked horns last year over access to the building with Edith Collins, elderly services supervisor whose office is also in the building. Last summer, Collins had the locks changed when the key was taken away from the members by the court.

Tuesday, she voiced her objections again. Collins asked the court to find out the number of times the group needs the key and why the current policy is not working for them. She said it was her responsibility to secure the building.

“I don’t see it’s necessary,” Collins said.

Rhoades said when they take the key after hours, Collins doesn’t have the responsibility.

“When I come get the key, she doesn’t come down to see what I’m doing,” Rhoades said. “Anybody can get the key. I’m not going to rob the place. Ninety percent of what’s in there belongs to us anyway. If she doesn’t trust me, she’s the only one in Refugio County.”

Judge Rene Mascorro said he always has been in favor of the group having a key.

“It’s a matter of inconvenience, not who can be trusted,” he said.

Commissioner Rod Bernal, in whose precinct the center lies, said he was in favor of giving the key to the seniors.

With two commissioners (Ann Lopez and Stanley Tuttle) absent, Commissioners Gary Bourland, Bernal and Mascorro agreed to turn the key over for a six-month trial and reevaluate the policy.

“Can we make a stipulation that the key can’t be duplicated?” Collins asked.

The commissioners amended the motion, adding her suggestion.

The court also approved the tax abatement for the new branch of First National Bank of Woodsboro which recently was built in Refugio at a cost of $393,000.

Arlen Fehner, president of the bank, said he knew nothing of the abatement until after the bank was built. He suggested that the information be disseminated to prospective builders as an incentive to “encourage others to come to Refugio.”

The commissioners also:

• Signed a contract for the purchase of a pumper fire truck for the Tivoli Volunteer Fire Department.

• Acknowledged the employment of Jason Todd Maley as a deputy for the sheriff’s department, effective Jan. 16, at a salary of $30,626 per year.

• Acknowledged employment of Mary Rippstein as a temporary jail cook for elderly services, effective Jan. 18, at a salary of $9.07 per hour.