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COMANCHE -- It was standing room only as
the county's volunteer fire departments helped pack the County
Courtroom at Monday's Commissioners Court meeting.
The fire fighters had several issues on
their minds, chief among them being the level of financial support the
county provides their departments.
Judge James Arthur opened the February 11
meeting announcing to the courtroom that he was getting his voice back
after having been told that it was gone forever. He then asked for a
moment of silence on the passing of Paige Sanders, a young girl who
suffered fatal injuries while riding an ATV that crashed into a county
rock hauling truck. He then offered the invocation.
Commissioners Garry Steele, Kenneth Feist,
Bobby Schuman and Jimmy Dale Johnson participated in the meeting.
Other county officials present included County Clerk Ruby Lesley,
Sheriff Jeff Lambert, Constable Mark McDonald, County Attorney Craig
Willingham, Emergency Services Coordinator Ray Helberg and Veterans
Service Officer Jim Coats.
Ruby Lesley read the minutes from the
January 28 Commissioners meeting, which were unanimously approved as
read on a motion by Bobby Schuman, seconded by Kenneth Feist.
The first business item scheduled for
consideration was for Careflite to give a presentation to sell
memberships in Comanche County. No representatives from CareFlite were
on hand to make a presentation and that agenda item was passed without
discussion.
Complaints on CR 319
Charlotte Stark then addressed the court
regarding the condition of County Road 319 in Precinct 2 near Hasse.
She passed around a group of photos which showed rocks in the roadway.
Stark noted that she did not know
Commissioner Kenneth Feist and asked him to identify himself to her,
noting that she had several questions she wanted to ask. Feist
responded, and then Stark asked him why he wanted the Commissioners
job.
Feist responded that he wanted to make a
difference, and quickly added that he hadn't had time yet to get
everything fixed the way it needed to be. He noted that when fresh
roadbase material is brought in and laid down in the current dry
conditions, that there will always be some loose rock in the road.
Stark confirmed that Feist used to be a
homebuilder and then asked him if he ever built a house without a
foundation. Feist responded that he hadn't and then added that he had
not had time to get the roads fully in shape.
Stark responded that she had heard
similar excuses for the last 15 years, not enough money, not enough
time, and more. She added that she had heard that FEMA (Federal
Emergency Management Agency) had provided the county money to patch
the roads.
Feist responded that FEMA has approved a
very specific list of county road repairs for flooding damages and
also gave the county only one year to complete all of the work. He
added that given the extent of the work, that an extension was likely
to be needed, and that work on the FEMA repairs was using up almost
all of his precinct's capabilities.
Feist added, "We know we are not fixing
the roads great. But we are just doing what they are telling us to do
so if we can get an extension to fix them right when we get through
with what they are paying us to do."
Stark stated that she would rather not
have had anything done at all than what was done to the road.
Feist reiterated that once the FEMA repairs were completed that he
would then have the resources to fix the roads right.
Three other ladies joined Stark in
complaining about the condition of the road. Their primary complaint
was focused on the amount of rocks left in the road and the damage it
was causing to their vehicles, and all agreed that the road was in the
worst condition that they had ever seen.
Garry Steele and Judge Arthur both
commented that what was needed when placing raw road base material was
to run a roller over the road to crush or pack the stray rocks and to
level out the road surface.
Feist thanked the ladies for bringing the matter to his attention.
Outdoor Burn Ban Emergency Order
Extended 90 Days
Ray Helberg noted that Judge Arthur had
signed an emergency declaration of a total outdoor burn ban on
Wednesday, February 6, and that conditions have not improved, nor are
they expected to improve until things green up in the spring.
Helberg requested that the Commissioners
extend the total burn ban for 90 days.
Helberg added that even a four inch rain
would not eliminate the fire danger, since the dead vegetation would
soon be sufficiently dry to burn.
He noted that the fire danger in the
North Texas area is widely recognized and that federal agencies have
brought in fire-fighting equipment to back up local fire departments.
He added that with the heavy growth of vegetation resulting from last
year's wet growing season, that the area is in greater fire danger
than it was in 2006.
Bobby Schuman and Garry Steele both
expressed concern that 90 days was a long time for a total outdoor
burn ban. Schuman also asked if there could be a procedure established
to allow a temporary lifting of the burn ban following a rain. The
need for agricultural burning was discussed.
In response to inquiries, Helberg
reiterated that all outdoor burning, including burning trash in burn
barrels, would be included in the ban. Outdoor welding would be
allowed, however, someone must be present with adequate water to
suppress any fires started. Outdoor cooking would be allowed as long
as attended.
Garry Steele noted that he did not like
total outdoor burn bans, even though they were needed in some
circumstances.
Nick Harrison, the regional coordinator
for the Texas Forest Service, spoke to the court and noted that other
counties with burn bans often have provision for temporary lifting in
response to wet weather conditions. He added that burn bans typically
have exceptions for prescribed burns made for agricultural purposes.
Bobby Schuman returned to the temporary
burn ban lifting following a rain, noting that if it were left up to
the Commissioners to meet and lift the ban, given the 72 hour public
notice requirements for a non-emergency meeting, then the best window
of opportunity would have passed. He reiterated that someone needed to
have the authority to temporarily lift the total burn ban when it was
appropriate.
Helberg responded that the County Judge
would be the best person to fill that need.
Bobby Schuman then offered a motion to
extend the total burn ban for another 90 days and to authorize the
County Judge to temporarily lift the ban when weather conditions
allow. Jimmy Dale Johnson seconded and the vote of approval was
unanimous.
Sheriff Lambert inquired about outdoor
cooking and what his deputies were to do if called to where such was
occurring.
Garry Steele offered a motion to
authorize outdoor cooking in enclosed containers with an attendant
cooker and outdoor welding as long as there is a helper in attendance.
Jimmy Dale Johnson seconded and the vote of approval was unanimous.
Ray Helberg thanked the Commissioners for
their actions.
(Note: After rainfalls, the daily
status of the countys outdoor burn ban may be checked at
www.comanchefire.com.)
Helberg then began discussion of a
proposal to purchase "Burn Ban in Effect" signs to be posted on
highways leading into the county and for display within the county.
Helberg proposed purchasing vinyl banners
at an approximate cost of $60 each that could be mounted on T-posts.
Garry Steele noted that the county
already owns sign-making equipment and could produce signs for
significantly less than $60. He then made a motion to authorize the
production of 10 homemade signs and the purchase of 10 banners and
installation of the signs on the highways leading into the county and
on the highways leading into the towns of the county. Jimmy Dale
Johnson seconded and the vote of approval was unanimous.
Funding for County Volunteer Fire
Departments
DeLeon VFD Fire Chief Doyle Rone, backed
up by approximately 25 volunteer firefighters from various departments
in and surrounding the county, made a pitch to the Commissioners for a
substantial increase in funding for the departments that did not enjoy
the support of a municipality such as the case of DeLeon and Comanche.
Rone noted that during the recent
Jakehammon fire two trucks of ancient vintage broke down while trying
to control the fire and added that a home was lost in that fire.
Rone noted that the fire fighting
situation had grown a lot worse in the last ten years with the demise
of row cropping in the area and the consequential conversion of many
acres to coastal bermuda grass.
Garry Steele commented that Comanche
County's financial support of volunteer fire departments is
demographically about average, but added that he believed that with
the changing agricultural situation more support is probably needed.
He noted that the need will have to be addressed at budget time.
Bobby Schuman complimented Doyle Rone and
the fire fighters for their work on the Jakehammon fire. He added that
from his observations it had been well coordinated and managed.
Steve Watson with the Eastland VFD spoke
to the Commissioners. He stated that counties are responsible for law
enforcement, public safety, indigent health care, roads and welfare in
unincorporated areas and added that fire fighting was an important
part of that county government responsibility.
Watson stated that the $250-300 per month
currently provided to the VFD's is not sufficient to pay for a fuel
fill up for many of the fire trucks being operated. He noted that
Comanche County was very fortunate to have as many volunteer fire
fighters as it does.
Watson stated that he was very familiar
with the importance of the governmental budgeting process and thus was
encouraging the Commissioners to begin a long term planning process to
provide a significantly higher level of financial support for its
VFDs.
Doyle Rone commented that Steve Watson
had been very instrumental in securing a $168,000 grant for the DeLeon
VFD for a tanker that can be used throughout the county.
Garry Steele asked if anyone else wished
to speak and no one volunteered. He stated that the concerns expressed
would be considered during the coming budget cycle and that they had
been heard.
Judge Arthur thanked the fire fighters,
noting how important they were to their communities and the dangers
they faced in performing their duties.
Arthur continued, "As far as the County
Judge, I would like to express my whole-hearted thank you for the work
that you have done, and the work you continue to do. In fact, I can't
thank you enough. I have watched you work. I've watched what you do
and I've seen the areas you have had to tackle... I salute you."
Other Matters
In other matters of business, the
Commissioners:
Heard a status report on the FEMA
projects given by Trish Grimshaw and set a coordination planning
session meeting on FEMA projects for Friday afternoon, February 15.
Approved the deputation of Tammy
Shelton as Deputy Sheriff.
Approved the appointment of members of
the County Historical Commission for a term expiring Jan. 1, 2010.
Approved a request by Feije Terpstra
for an irrigation line to cross CR 167 in Precinct #1.
Approved the purchase of a bond for
County Attorney Craig Willingham.
Approved the acquisition of internet
service for the Veterans Service Office.
Heard Sheriff Jeff Lambert report that
he had nothing to report, that things were running smooth in his
office and the jail.
Approved the County Treasurer's monthly
financial report.
Approved various non-emergency budget
amendments.
Audited accounts due and owing and
approved the payment thereof in the total amount of $167,748.39.
Approved payment of salaries and
related benefits coming due prior to the February 25, 2008 meeting. |
