WASHINGTON CO. COMMISSIONERS ADOPT BURN BAN

  

Washington County is enacting a burn ban. 

County commissioners voted unanimously this (Tuesday) morning to enter into a burn ban, following a recommendation by county fire chiefs.  The ban is effective at midnight tonight. 

The ban restricts outdoor burning in unincorporated areas of the county for 90 days from the adoption of the burn ban order, unless it is lifted earlier based on a determination by the court or the Texas Forest Service.

The order does not prohibit outdoor burning of household garbage in screened barrels or properly constructed screen pits.  It also does not restrict outdoor burning activities that are related to public health and safety and are authorized by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality.  Those authorized purposes include for firefighter training; public utility, natural gas pipeline or mining operations; planting or harvesting of agricultural crops; and burns that are conducted by a prescribed burn manager under Texas Natural Resources Code.

Violation of the burn ban order is a Class C misdemeanor, punishable by a fine of up to $500.

All counties surrounding Washington County are also under burn bans.

On Monday, Governor Greg Abbott issued a disaster declaration for 143 counties in response to increasing wildfire danger and activity.  Washington and all nearby counties are included in the declaration, and more counties will be added as conditions warrant.

Also at today’s meeting, commissioners agreed to purchase two 2023 Chevrolet Tahoes for the Washington County Sheriff’s Office from Caldwell Country Chevrolet, using $96,400 in reserves. Commissioner Dustin Majewski explained that the dealership reached out to the sheriff’s office about the two vehicles after a separate order for them was cancelled, since the vehicles match the county’s color scheme.  The county will return two vehicles it had been renting from Enterprise and should receive reimbursement.

Commissioners also amended a bid approved during their meeting on October 1^st for Engineering and Development Services Department fleet vehicles.  County Engineer Wesley Stolz said one of the vendors approved, Oviedo Chrysler Dodge Jeep & Ram of La Grange, was not going to be able to meet the county’s desired specifications for one of the vehicles being purchased.  The second-lowest bidder, LaRoche Chevrolet Buick GMC in Brenham, also could not meet the county’s specs for the particular vehicle. 

The county is now going with the bid of Brenham Chrysler Jeep Dodge.  While the bid of $80,315 is higher than Oviedo’s bid of $54,471 and LaRoche’s bid of $57,919, Stolz said the cost still comes in under the original budgeted estimate of $81,000.

In other business, the court:

• Received a presentation from the Texas A&M Telehealth Institute and the Washington County Human Resources Department’s quarterly report.
• Discussed a formal notice from Comcast for fiber installation along the county right-of-way of North Berlin Road, Dixie Road and Sunset Road in Precinct 3.
• Approved an annual resolution for the Fiscal Year 2025 Indigent Defense Grant Program.
• Approved a subdivision variance request for a land division of 20.956 acres fronting Zientek Lane and Confederate Lane in Precinct 3.
• Approved a subdivision variance request for a land division of 5.409 acres fronting Highway 237 in Precinct 4.
• Approved oil and gas development permits for Magnolia Oil and Gas Operating, LLC on FM 594 and Sandtown Road in Precinct 4.
• Accepted the placement of Primrose Lane (0.223 miles) and Sunflower Lane (0.294 miles), located in the Brenham Hills subdivision in Precinct 2, into the county’s one-year maintenance period.