WASHINGTON CO. AWARDED GRANT FUNDING FOR FERAL HOG TRAPPING PROGRAM

  

Washington County will receive over $15,000 in grant funding to support feral hog abatement activities in the county.

County Commissioners at their meeting today (Tuesday) approved an award of $15,530 from the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension – Wildlife Services division to assist the county with its feral hog abatement program continuing through August 2023.

Kara Matheney, Washington County Extension Agent for Agriculture and Natural Resources, said the county is one of the only counties that received the full amount of funding it requested.  The funding will go toward trap and camera systems to be loaned to property owners.

 

The grant program made $100,000 available to all Texas counties, with awards ranging from $5,000 to $20,000.

Matheney told commissioners upon submitting a grant application for the funds in August that no matching funds would be needed from the county.  However, the grant is on a reimbursement basis, so the county will have to have a line of funding for expenses to run out of and come back in.

Also at today’s meeting, Washington Extension Education Association (WEEA) Chairperson Patricia Graves presented the county with a check amounting to $75,783 in volunteer service hours the group donated to the county.  The WEEA works with the AgriLife Extension Service to strengthen and enrich families through educational programs, leadership development and community service.  The WEEA also donated two scholarships totaling $2,000 to two high school seniors.

In other action, commissioners:

• Approved resolutions for Homeland Security grants titled ST/CP Road Barriers and Transport Barrier; IISC OEM Message Board Trailers; and Washington County EMS Tactical Equipment. Emergency Management Coordinator Bryan Ruemke said the county is being awarded the grants, and these resolutions formally state the county will use the funding as intended.  The grants amount to $10,746 for the road barriers and trailer to transport them, $38,550 for the programmable message board trailers, and $46,725 for the tactical equipment that includes shields, vest plates and headsets.
• Approved the first payment application totaling $215,312 to Schrader Construction Company for road improvements within the Pecan Glen Road District.
• An oil and gas development permit for Magnolia Oil & Gas Operating, LLC for Young Circle in Precinct 4. Oil and gas development permits were also approved for GeoSouthern Operating II, LLC for Zibilski Road, Maass Road and Old Gay Hill Road in Precinct 3.  Commissioner Joy Fuchs said the permitting process for the oil wells is handled by the Railroad Commission of Texas, and the county cannot tell a company no if it meets the necessary agreements and bonding procedures.  She said the permits being approved by the county include the road use agreement that covers the bonds to repair roads damaged by well operations.
• Accepted a bid for removal of salvaged bridge material from the job site and yard stockpile, as recommended by the county engineer.
• Approved the second replat of Lacina Division, a division of 8.27 acres into two lots fronting FM 50 in Precinct 1.
• Approved a resolution authorizing the home delivered meal grant program for Fiscal Year 2023.
• Approved a subdivision variance request for a 10.697 acre land division forming two tracts fronting FM 109 in Precinct 2.
• Discussed a formal notice from GCP Technologies to place 930 feet of AT&T fiber optic cable on Happy Hollow Road in Precinct 3.
• Discussed a formal notice from Magnolia Oil & Gas Operating, LLC for a lay flat water line for Eberhardt Road in Precinct 4.
• Discussed a formal notice from GeoSouthern Operating II, LLC for a lay flat water line for Old Mill Creek Road and Boehnemann Road in Precinct 4.
• Renewed bond for reserve deputy Steve Westbrook with the sheriff’s office.
• Received monthly reports from the sheriff’s office, E-911, EMS, veterans service officer, emergency management coordinator, county and district clerks, justices of the peace, auditor, tax assessor-collector, treasurer, constables and elections.