TESTING SITE FOR CHRONIC WASTING DISEASE CHOSEN

  

Washington County Commissioners have selected a location where wildlife samples can be tested for chronic wasting disease (CWD).

The court today (Monday) approved a drop box site to be set up in the large parking lot on Blue Bell Road between the constable headquarters and the Exxon station at the corner of Blue Bell Road and Highway 105.  The temporary testing site will be used to allow landowners to drop off deer samples and detect any additional cases from the first confirmed one in March at a deer-breeding facility in the north part of the county.

Texas Parks & Wildlife Department (TPWD) Natural Resource Specialist Stephanie Damron said the site will open in late September—after the county fair—and remain open through mid-January. 

CWD is a prion disease that severely hinders a deer’s neurological function.  It is ultimately fatal, as there is no treatment or vaccine.  Currently, no evidence exists that the disease can affect humans, but wildlife officials recommend avoiding eating meat from infected animals.  Damron said there is still only one positive case in the county, with no new ones identified. 

Damron said the testing site will have a carport for vehicles to drive up and drop off samples into a freezer.  It can be utilized by any landowner looking to get a sample tested, but submitting samples is mandatory for landowners who harvest wildlife within a 2-mile surveillance zone around the area of the first confirmed case.  TPWD officials will make arrangements to assist in the collection of samples, if necessary.

Commissioner Dustin Majewski said this site was picked because it is a good distance away from the fairgrounds and also stays out of the way of the constables.  County Judge John Durrenberger called it “a good site,” adding that he was in favor of restricting the 18-wheelers that currently park there from doing so.  Commissioner Kirk Hanath said it is a “liability” to have the 18-wheelers parking on county property and believes this will help “fix that problem.”

Also at today’s meeting, commissioners:

• Appointed Environmental Health Director Mark Marzahn to the Post Oak Resource Conservation and Development Area, Inc., replacing former Precinct 4 County Commissioner Joy Fuchs.
• Granted the county engineer authorization to advertise for bids for Washington County volunteer fire departments’ auto policy, including theft fee coverage, accident and sickness coverage, portable equipment coverage and coverage for first responders.  Bids will be due on Friday, July 28^th at 9 a.m. and will be considered by commissioners during their meeting on August 1^st.
• Heard the quarterly report from the Office of Emergency Management.
• Met in executive session to deliberate on real property and consult with the county attorney. No action was taken.