A three to one vote of the Brown County commissioners’ court approved a burn ban to continue.
Discussion of rain totals throughout the county, which ranged from nearly an inch to six inches, was followed by agreement of all but one commissioner to continue to enforce a burn ban due to the continuing trend of dry and hot weather
“I don’t know that it was really enough to have a hiatus between one burn ban and another,” stated County Judge Ray West.
Commissioner of Precinct 1 Steve Adams expressed worries of wildfire possibilities if a ban were not in place.
“Most of the county received about an inch and a half of rain. We (Precinct 1) were proud of that 0.7 of an inch,” stated Adams. “I think that conditions, although thankful for rain everywhere, as we have seen in the news out there, things will still burn, the grasses are still dry. I’d recommend that we re-implement the burn ban,” stated Adams in a motion to continue the ban.
Although there are many county residents who need to burn brush piles and trash; commissioners, with the exception of Commissioner Joel Kelton of Precinct 2, agreed with Adams that the county need to continue to ban burning because of the threat of possible wildfires.
“I believe the public needs to be reminded that there are protocols in place, even during a burn ban, that include contacting your commissioner, your local volunteer fire department and the sheriff’s office. That being said, it’s not like you can’t have a controlled burn during a burn ban, depending on the circumstances,” stated West.
Commissioner Kelton stated that the 6 inches of rain in May was within the watershed of Lake Brownwood. Rains across the northern part of the county were reported to have added approximately three inches to the lake level, according to Brown County Water Improvement District.
The burn ban is in effect for another 90 days unless commissioners see the need to repeal it prior to the expiration date.
In other matters on the agenda:
*A proclamation to honor Calvin Fryar and J. Fred Perry was approved and will be presented Tuesday at the Boy Scouts 2011 Distinguished Citizens Awards Banquet.
*An interlocal agreement between Brown County and the City of Bangs was approved, which will allow the county to use Bang’s Duropatcher (asphalt heating machine) when paving county roads and Bangs to use the county’s asphalt tanker in exchange for paving roads within their city.
*Brown County Sheriff’s Office hired three new jailers and received approval for them to receive base jailer salary. These new hires are Louis Acebedo (start date August 11, 2011), Kendra Galloway and Eric Tipton (both Galloway and Tipton started on August 12, 2011) according to Becky Caffey Brown County Jail Administrator. Caffey also reported that the jail count is 154 as of Monday morning.
*Commissioners passed on the discussion of the Emergency Communication in North Lake and May until further information can be obtained and alternative choices can be considered. It was reported by Judge West that the original communications equipment was mounted on a tower that is not owned by communications provider, Charles King, but on a tower rented by Brownwood Cable that is no longer in business. When Brownwood Cable went out of business and their rental payment to the tower owner was no longer received, the equipment was moved. King has reported that he can move the equipment to another tower in order to continue this service; however the cost of this would be approximately $3,000 per year. Commissioners will consider other means of communication to compare with this service before an action can be taken.
*Commissioner Adams received approval of a vehicle transfer from precinct 1 to Brown County Emergency Management. The vehicle is a one ton pickup that has been used to pull the Emergency Management Trailer. $10,000 was approved to be paid in exchange of the vehicle. The funds will be paid out of the road and flood account of the county’s funds.
