The Kleberg County Commissioners Court voted unanimously Monday to hire retired Texas A&M University-Kingsville administrator and Kingsville City Commissioner Arturo Pecos as a full-time Kleberg County Veterans’ Service Officer.

His salary will be $32,664 annually.

Pecos, a retired military veteran and active in several veterans organizations, replaces embattled longtime veterans’ service officer Tomas Sanchez, who had come under fire for not always being available to veterans.

Commissioners have been quick to point out that Sanchez was never hired as a full-time service officer, and veterans organizations showed up at at Monday;s meeting of the commissioners court to urge the county to make the position full-time.

While the hiring of Pecos was met with endorsements from veterans groups here, some representatives expressed concern about the county’s willingness to make the position full-time and what some perceived as a lack of input from veterans and veterans organizations about the county’s hiring decision.

Kleberg County Judge Pete de la Garza said he spoke “to anyone who approached me” on the matter and he was joined by other commissioners in pointing out that the position was advertised heavily in the Kingsville Record and Bishop News. Several people expressed an interest in the position and were encouraged to apply, the judge said, but in the end, there were only three applicants, including Pecos, who was unable to attend Monday’s meeting because he was assisting a veteran who needed some paperwork help.

In other action, the commissioners court tabled a proposal to move the office of county insurance coordinator Tina Trejo from the second floor of the courthouse to the basement.

The proposal prompted a tongue lashing to the judge by Kleberg County Commissioner Romeo Lomas who said the county judge lacked the authority to make the move happen without the approval of the commissioners court.

Lomas said the basement of the courthouse is unhealthy and would only compound problems Trejo has with allergies.

Kleberg County District Attorney told commissioners he thought Trejo was in favor of the move in order to make room for an additional assistant district attorney.

“It is important that we keep our staff together,” Hubert said, after Lomas suggested the new assistant district attorney move to the basement.

Commissioner Norma Alvarez suggested the law library be moved to the basement instead, and her idea met with some nods of approval.

A decision is not expected until some time in February.