Erath County is in the process of crafting a resolution in opposition to the Oncor Dinosaur Longshore 765 KV transmission line project.
The preliminary resolution which is expected to be discussed at the Tuesday, Dec. 23 Erath County Commissioners Court meeting would ask them to consider the placement due to the potential impact on the communications system that was designed without lines and towers of the height of the transmission line project.
“We would love for them not to come through Erath County, but at least we want them to design and engineer it in a way that does not cause issues with our communications system, and cause us to spend taxpayer money on fixing out already designed and implemented system,” County Judge Brandon Huckabee said.
At the Monday, Dec. 8 commissioners court, Barbara Harmon spoke during public comments about the project.
“We are here today asking the commissioners to do everything in their power to protest the transmission line,” she said. “We need to protect our property owners. Property owners are being impacted by devaluation, environmental health and even losing everything we’ve worked for.”
Harmon said she and her husband have started a petition in opposition to the project, which had 336 signatures on it at the time of the meeting, which she was representing.
“We need each one of you to stand behind the property owners and say, ‘No, we will fight this,’” Harmon said. She said she did not like the transparency since House Bill 5066 was originally passed in 2023, which directed the Public Utility Commission to study the need for new electrical infrastructure.
“We did not know this until May, when we received a letter with a tracking number and thought, ‘What in the world is this?’” she said. Harmon said they came to the meeting that was held in Stephenville, along with a ton of other people.
“We are concerned and we need your help. Please help us,” she pleaded to the commissioners.
Huckabee explained during the meeting the county was working on the resolution, and still gathering specifics on the communications system.
“I had high hopes to have it done today, but we do not have it done today,” he said. “We are working with our engineering team and L3 Harris for some direct language that we can put in this resolution to not make it generic.”
Huckabee said the hope is with a specific resolution stating there could be issues with the new communications tower, that Oncor would take this into consideration.
“We are trying to give a really detailed resolution and response, so when we file it with the PUC that it has detailed information in it by our engineers,” he said.
Several other surrounding counties have also sent letters of opposition to the project.
Commissioners approved revisions to the Erath County Purchasing Policy after recent changes made by the Texas Legislature.
Changes include the amount on a project having to go out for bids raising from $50,000 to $100,000 and the limit on receiving multiple quotes raising from $3,000 to $10,000. Getting multiple quotes is still recommended, especially for items commissioners may not be familiar with.
“We want to be good stewards of the county’s money and I think we are but this will make conducting business easier,” Auditor Kent Reeves said.
There is also an emphasis on purchasing local if at all possible.
Approval was given for Precinct 3 to purchase a new Chevrolet Service Truck from Bruners at a cost of $74,000.
The job description for a Precinct 3 mechanic was also modified to state the county would provide their own tools for the mechanic.
Commissioner Sherman Edwards explained that when the mechanic was utilizing their own tools, then they could not be used by other county workers that may also need them.
A MOU was approved for a used truck to be transferred out of the general fund, to road and bridge for secretarial use for Albert Ray and Jim Buck’s secretary.
The auditor explained as a 2010 truck with 142,000 miles on it there was not much value left to it.
In other business the commissioners: ■ Heard the presentation of the biennial SART report by Cross Timbers Family Services
■ Approved Precinct 2 to clear fence right of way and remove dead trees on CR 365, at Lucky Star Ranch
■ Approved an interlocal agreement between the city of Granbury and Erath County in regards to the communication towers. This agreement will not go into effect until they go live in June, and was a budgeted expense.
■ Approved the statement of work from Eide Bailly in regards to their audit