Brazoria County official is fired; Ousted director of airport says accusations untrue

ANGLETON - Brazoria County Commissioners' Court voted unanimously to fire the director of the county airport Tuesday, but not before he claimed he is the victim of political chicanery.

"For shame, for shame, for shame," Louis Jones said to the court. He said various people had made untrue accusations that he and his son had bought airport aviation fuel at reduced prices and that he'd used workers doing community service for the county to clean out private hangars.

Brazoria County Judge Joe King refused to comment on Jones' firing but said, "I was at the same meetings he was at and I don't remember them the same way."

Making a motion to terminate Jones, County Commissioner Mary Ruth Rhodenbaugh said, "I feel this working relationship has deteriorated."

After the meeting, Rhodenbaugh said Jones has not tried to work with new members of the commissioners court.

The court was to have discussed Jones' termination in a closed session, but Jones asked that it be in an open session. None of the other commissioners made any comment.

Jones, 73, has been the airport director since 2002.

Jones said he felt that some members of county government want to sell the airport so it can be operated by a private company.

Commissioners did go into a closed-door meeting Tuesday to review an offer from an unnamed group to buy the airport for $6 million. No action was taken.