Liberty County Commissioners Court met in a special session on Friday, Sept. 27, at the Jack Hartel Building in Liberty, where they unanimously voted to terminate Fire Marshal Bill Hergemueller’s employment following his recent arrest on charges of theft, tampering with evidence, and official oppression. His removal also indirectly results in the termination of deputy fire marshals Erskine “Nat” Holcomb and Jesse McGraw, who served under his supervision.
The commissioners reached this decision after an executive session where they consulted with County Attorney Matthew Poston and Assistant County Attorney Kathrine McCarty. Poston explained that Hergemueller’s position falls under Local Government Code Chapter 352, making it a term of office rather than a standard employee appointment. This distinction complicated the termination process, as Hergemueller’s last term began on Sept. 6, 2022, and was set for a maximum of two years.
“The Liberty County Commissioners Court acknowledges that Bill Hergemueller was unqualified to serve as fire marshal for Liberty County,” said Pct. 2 Commissioner Greg Arthur in a statement before making a motion to terminate Hergemueller’s contract. “The incidents that unfolded this week give us an opportunity to develop and adopt a more stringent review process for all county-appointed officials.”
The motion was seconded by Pct. 1 Commissioner Bruce Karbowski and supported by Pct. 3 Commissioner David Whitmire and County Judge Jay Knight. Pct. 4 Commissioner Leon Wilson was absent from the meeting.
Following the vote, the court moved to terminate Hergemueller from his position as coordinator for the Liberty County Office of Emergency Management (OEM). Poston clarified that this role is not considered a public office but rather an appointed position that serves the county judge in emergency management operations. With unanimous approval, Hergemueller was removed from this position as well.
As a result of Hergemueller’s termination, the deputy fire marshals he supervised—Holcomb and McGraw—are also effectively terminated, as they were appointed under his authority. Their employment status is directly tied to the fire marshal’s position, making their roles void without a supervising officer in place. This was not a separate vote by the commissioners but rather a consequence of their supervisor’s contract not being renewed.
After the meeting, County Judge Jay Knight explained that going forward, the positions of fire marshal and OEM coordinator will be held by separate individuals to ensure better oversight and avoid conflicts. An interim fire marshal will be appointed while the county searches for a qualified permanent replacement. One remaining deputy fire marshal, who was not involved in the criminal allegations, will continue serving, along with two administrative employees in the OEM office.