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COMANCHE -- Long serving Comanche County
Extension Agent for Agriculture, Bob Whitney, offered his resignation
at the Commissioners Court meeting on Monday, February 12.
All members of the Commissioners Court
and usual county officials were present for the regular meeting.
Whitney explained that he had accepted a
tenured position in the Texas A&M University system with the title of
Team Leader of the Iraq Agricultural Extension Revitalization Project.
Whitney added that his considerable
experience with agricultural development projects in foreign countries
had opened the door for this assignment, which he added was "an
opportunity I just couldn't turn down." He noted his travels and
consulting in China, Guatemala and Honduras in addition with his
considerable experience as a county agricultural extension agent.
Whitney noted that he had earlier
believed he would have more time to wind things up here before
leaving, but that the Department of Defense had asked that his
timetable be accelerated. They have requested an early visit to Iraq
for an evaluation of the agricultural educational and extension
program there. He added that he would have a military escort while
visiting the universities in Iraq.
Whitney said he would be at the Pentagon
for a meeting on the following day. He said that he would be switched
over to the Texas A&M payroll at the end of the current week, but
would be working at conducting various events in the county extension
program in the coming weeks.
Whitney stated that his family would be
going with him and that they would live in Amman, Jordan, where all of
the extension service training that he would conduct would be held. He
commented about the wonderful people and the wonderful county that he
had been privileged to work in for in the last 16 years and how much
he would miss everyone.
There were numerous comments of
well-wishing and appreciation for Whitney's service to the County.
Judge James Arthur said, "You will be sorely missed," and Whitney
responded that he would sorely miss the people of the County, adding,
"My gosh, I've been here longer than I've been anywhere in my life."
Whitney stated that Sharon Watson would
still be in the Extension office and would be keeping various events
on track following his departure. Watson commented that she would not
be able to fill the big shoes that Whitney was leaving empty.
Commissioner Garry Steele made a motion
to "regretfully accept your resignation effective this Friday."
Commissioner Jimmy Dale Johnson seconded and the vote to accept was
unanimous.
Whitney commented as he departed the room
that his e-mail address would remain unchanged and that people could
still contact him about problems wherever he was in the world.
It was noted that Ron Wooley, the area
supervisor for the Extension Service was already at work searching for
Whitneys replacement and that it should take a couple of months to
present a new candidate to the Commissioners.
In other business:
A request by Garland Williams to close
a roadway that crosses his property that he contended was not a deeded
County Road was tabled.
There was some uncertainty as to whether
the roadway in question was included in the official map of county
maintained roads. It is located near an extension of Highway 1496 and
CR 436 in Precinct 3.
Commissioner Bobby Schuman said his
employees had been grading the road, however, the book of county road
maps seemed to indicate that the road in question was a private road.
Garry Steele indicated if it was not an official county road that they
may not have any jurisdiction over it anyway.
Both Commissioners Schuman and Johnson
expressed their opinions in favor of tabling the request, pending
further research on the matter. It was set for reconsideration at the
next Commissioners meeting in two weeks.
The Commissioners acted unanimously on
a motion by Garry Steele, seconded by Bobby Schuman, to officially
return the county to a restricted burn ban.
Under a restricted burn ban, anyone
wishing to do outdoor burning is required to call Central Dispatch to
find out if burning is allowed that day and to receive permission to
burn. Burning will be controlled according to weather conditions, the
time of day and the number of persons requesting permission to burn.
Under a restricted burn ban, county
residents may burn trash in an appropriate container or cook outdoors
in appropriate cooking devices without being required to call for
prior permission.
A request by County Veterans Service
Officer Truman Childress for the temporary hiring of part time
assistance in filing and forms completion work in his office was heard
and tabled for future consideration.
Two additional telephone lines for
Texas Department of Public Safety personnel housed in the County Annex
building were approved. Trooper Vernon Gaines said that the troopers
and the drivers license office currently share a single phone line and
that the drivers license line is constantly busy.
Judge Arthur briefly recapped the amount
of revenue the DPS brings into the County through traffic fines as
additional justification for the added phone lines request.
Janitorial service in the County Annex
was discussed. It was agreed that the DPS would continue doing their
own office cleaning and that an adult probationer in need of community
service hours might be available for cleaning work in the common
areas.
No action was taken following a
discussion with County Attorney Charles Williams regarding the
overweight permitting and bonding requirements imposed by certain
other Texas counties where gas well drilling has become common.
Williams reported that he had found that
the overweight permitting process did not yield much revenue, did
require considerable engineering and signage expense to implement, and
did not solve the worst of the problem. He noted that most of the
damage to county roads occurred from extensive truck traffic by
legally-weighted trucks. It was noted that some control might be
available at weight restricted bridges on county roads.
Judge Arthur was requested to do some
additional calling on the problem and further investigate the
situation with his counterparts.
Certificates of completion of required
training in the public information act and open meetings act were
presented by Commissioner Jimmy Dale Johnson, County Auditor Joey
Boswell and County Attorney Charles Williams and acknowledged.
A request by Commissioner Garry Steele
to authorize the incurring of debt at Comanche National Bank of up to
$20,000 for the purchase of a used farm tractor with front end loader
and side mount mower attachments and a used pickup was approved.
Heard a report from Sheriff Jeff
Lambert about a wall in the new portion of the jail that was having
water problems and a lot of trouble with the tray warmer used for
inmate meals. Commissioner Kenneth Feist suggested the use of a
sprayed-on water seal on the exterior of the brick wall in addition to
guttering. Garry Steele suggested the tray warmer might have to be
replaced. Sheriff Lamberts said he would get quotes, but that the
piece of equipment was "pricey".
Sheriff Lambert also reported that he had
been discussing a bargain price purchase of a used ambulance from
Comanche County Medical Center that would be outfitted as a mobile
command center that the Sheriff or other county law enforcement
agencies could use at major crime scenes. He noted that most of the
equipment needed was already owned.
The Commissioners said it sounded like a
good idea. |
