County votes to obtain new office space

GONZALES — County commissioners on July 10 voted to obtain new office space for Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA), and are planning to use the old tax-assessor-collector’s office as the location. County Judge David Bird said the building, located in the 500 block of St. Matthew St., will be put to good use this way until the county decides to sell it.

“These people we’re talking about are court appointed special advocates, similar to what we call an ad litem,” Bird said. “They look out for the best interests of children who are involved in Child Protective Services (CPS) courts, often those in foster care, or children who are going to be in foster care. If they think [the child’s] lawyer is not doing a good job then they’ll notify a CPS court judge.”

Bird said the objective is to have an office space in Gonzales so volunteers don’t have to drive to Victoria to get their training, and to visit with the professionals in the office.

“They could just come here, it would be for Gonzales and Lavaca County volunteers,” Bird noted.

Bird added that once he and CASA sign off on the agreement, the volunteers will then be able to move into the building.