The burn ban has officially been lifted by the Erath County Commissioners Court.
During its Monday, March 9 meeting, commissioners, County Judge Brandon Huckabee and Fire Marshal Tommy Shelton had a lengthy conversation about how burn bans were determined in the county, when and who could put them into place and what was looked at in advance when determining a burning ban.
Huckabee said he was in daily communication with both Shelton and Erath County Emergency Manager Chris Brooks in regards to fire danger.
Shelton said currently Erath County is in low fire danger and has been for some time, receiving rain over the weekend, and again this week.
“Things have greened up quickly,” Commissioner Jim Buck said.
Shelton and Huckabee explained burn bans were a balancing act of trying to protect the general public while not impeding people’s freedoms and saving volunteer firefighters from running on controlled burns when they are not needed.
Huckabee encouraged people to engage their intelligence and have personal responsibility when it comes to burning legally, such as not setting a fire when the wind is blowing.
Though not a concern since the burn ban has been lifted, Shelton addressed agriculture burning such as for planting and harvesting not being restricted even during a burn ban.
Shelton asked that anyone who had questions about burning, and when it was safe to do so call his office at 254-4595000.
The court also addressed a number of regular business items during the meeting.
Precinct 3 Commissioner Sherman Edwards will be leasing a new pickup for his precinct to assist in an existing vehicle shortage in precinct 3. He will be able to buy out an Enterprise lease for his current vehicle for $393, and then begin a new vehicle lease without impacting his budget.
The county is also switching their fuel car program from its current vendor to WEX, aiding the county with less charges and it being accepted everywhere.
The court also denied accepting submitted road bid proposals. They went back out for more site specific proposals as they simply did not receive enough proposals.
The commissioners also gave unanimous approval to become intervenors on two tracts in regards to the Public Utility Commission and the Dinosaur-Longshore 765 KV line.
Commissioners from both Erath and Somervell Counties are meeting each Tuesday at 2 p.m. in the Erath County Courthouse with regards to this project.
Meetings are open to the public and livestreamed.