CHAPPELL HILL CHAMBER DONATES $3,500 TO WASHINGTON CO. EMS

  

Just in time for the holidays, the Chappell Hill Chamber of Commerce gave a present to Washington County EMS today (Tuesday) in appreciation of the services provided in Chappell Hill.

Chamber officials presented EMS with a check for $3,500 during the county commissioners court’s meeting, representing the Chamber’s annual contribution to the department.

Chamber board member Sharlie Douglass said EMS has gone above and beyond to care for the community.  

Douglass also recognized Chappell Hill Bank for providing vouchers every month for EMS members to get lunch.

In 2016, EMS opened a substation at the old fire station in downtown Chappell Hill.  EMS Director Kevin Deramus said the project came about through the collaboration of community advocates like Roger Imm, Edward Smith Jr., Dr. Robert Stark and Joel Romo.  Deramus said the department is extremely thankful for all of the support it receives. 

County Judge John Durrenberger commended the Chappell Hill community as one that pulls together to make things happen.  Commissioner Kirk Hanath called the four men named by Deramus “pioneers” and said, “It’s very rare to find community folks these days who are willing to love their community enough to do these kinds of things.”

Also at today’s meeting, the court held a public hearing before voting to approve the installation of no thru truck signs on Sacred Heart Road in Precinct 4, from its intersection with FM 389 to where it meets Sawmill Road.  This follows the no thru truck signs that were placed on Rolling Creek Road in Precinct 4 after the commissioners court’s meeting on October 10^th, a move intended to reroute oil and gas traffic to roads that can better handle it. 

Two residents spoke during the public hearing in favor of adding the signs, saying these roads are not meant for heavy truck traffic and that the signs on Rolling Creek Road have already led to a significant reduction in big trucks coming through.  Another resident asked how this would affect deliveries; County Engineer Wesley Stolz clarified that the signs are meant to address heavy traffic that cuts through Sacred Heart Road on the way to another destination, and do not stop trucks from making deliveries or performing construction on that specific road.

In other business, commissioners:

• Approved a renewal contract for participation in the rotation log for towing services for abandoned, impounded, junked and disabled vehicles.  The contract is with towing companies in Washington County for individuals in non-consent tow situations.
• Tabled action on authorizing the county auditor to seek sealed bids (requests for proposals) for outside financial audit services.  This was due to the agenda stating requests for proposals, rather than requests for qualifications.
• Approved the placement of Orchard Oaks Lane (0.3968 miles) in the Orchard Oaks subdivision in Precinct 3 into the one-year maintenance period and reducing the bond to 50 percent.
• Moved the commissioners court meeting scheduled on Tuesday, December 26^th to Wednesday, December 27^th due to the Christmas holiday.