In a fast moving agenda, the Erath County Commissioners Court talked through several land development items during its Monday, Jan. 27 regularly scheduled meeting.
Two items allowed replats for Mountain Lakes where property owner simply wanted to combine two lots into one to limit how close neighbors were to them.
Grady Payne with Hidden Ranch Estates were asking for two variances for the subdivision since it requires Bituminous Pavement (asphalt) and a geotechnical report.
Commissioners explained this was the first time it had been brought to their attention and the requirement should be for chip seal, much like what is utilized on many county roads.
The court gave them permission to do a chip seal road and the variance to eliminate the need for a geotechnical report.
County Judge Brandon Huckabee updated court members about preliminary discussions he has had for the county to complete a Master Thoroughfare Plan.
“We have never done one and this is for us to get ahead,” he said. “It would be a way to protect ourselves in the future so a new development doesn’t go where a future road needs to be.”
Once the county moves towards the project, it will take approximately a year to complete.
“A failure to plan is not what I want us to be doing,” Huckabee said.
Commissioner Albert Ray asked permission from the court to go onto private property off County Road 462 to remove dead trees that continue to fall into the roadway. The property owners have already agreed to allow them access to remove the trees.
A proclamation was approved for the Community Wildfire Protection Plan with Emergency Manager Chris Brooks to move forward with a plan and potential grants.
Court members approved the appointment of Janae Smith as a member of the Erath County Historical Commission. (See photo page A8).
There was no change to the burn ban.
Other item approved by the court included: ■ monthly departmental reports
■ reccurring payments of bills