A 90-day burn ban was put into effect Monday, July 24 by the Erath County Commissioners Court. This followed a seven day burn ban enacted by Erath County Judge Brandon Huckabee Thursday, July 20.
Welding guidelines are included in the ban.
Where welding must be performed in the field, the following mitigating efforts will be in force until the burn ban is lifted or it expires: All areas where welding, cutting or grinding operations are being performed will be free of vegetation for at least twenty-five (25) feet in all directions; b. Surface around welding area will be wetted down; c. Wind speeds must be no more than 20 miles per hour while performing welding, cutting or grinding operations outside of barriers or enclosures; d. A dedicated fire watch person will attend each welder, cutter, grinder and any activity that causes a spark; e. A minimum of one (1) water pressure fire extinguisher per fire watch person is required f. A minimum of 25 gallons of water on site; g. Each site will have cellular telephone communications for emergency response; h. All welding, cutting, and grinding operations may be performed in a total welding enclosure, or “welding box”, that is sufficiently high to control sparks and includes a fire retardant cover over the top. Winds speeds must not exceed 30 miles per hour while utilizing an enclosure; Where welding (above ground and sub-surface) is required in an area where there is a potential for a hazardous atmosphere, barriers will be substituted for total enclosures (e.g. “wind walls”) to prevent sparks from coming in contact with any combustible material; a. The barriers will be installed to allow ventilation of the worked area and ingress and egress to the work area for personnel safety; b. Sub-surface, or “bell hole”, welding and grinding operations within approved excavations are allowed if all other mitigation efforts are included.
In accordance with Local Government Code 352.081 (h), a violation of this Order is a Class C Misdemeanor, punishable by a fine not to exceed $500.
Commissioners also approved the formation of a committee to review the subdivision and rural/land development rules.
Subdivision coordinator Jason Gardner stated that though the Rural Development Rules adopted on July 27, 2020 are still in effect, he wanted a committee formed to review the rules after recent legislative changes were passed.
“There is quite a bit in the legislation about local control,” Huckabee said. “We are still waiting for everything to come down.”
Besides Gardner, Huckabee, County Judge Administrative Assistant Jocelyn Garcia, Environmental Officer Keith Bailey, and a commissioner, Gardner will be choosing three at-large members from the community. During public comment, both Joanna Friebele and Ed Nugent asked to be placed on the committee due to their knowledge of rural development, especially where wind and solar power are concerned.
A slew of subdivision replats were approved including one for Mountain Lakes, combining lot 298 and 299 into a larger lot and one for Rough Creek Lodge combining lots 20 and 21 into a larger lot.
Neither property will be adding additional buildings, but rather just wanted more space.
A variance on paving was approved for the Sunrise Mountain Subdivision and the final phase for 100 X Cabins II was approved.
Huckabee opened boxes received from health insurance companies for a request for benefits. The commissioners court tabled action on the proposals until they can review the submissions for county insurance.
In other business commissioners approved: ■ a regular maintenance agreement between Kirbos and Erath County Tax Office was approved.
■ Precinct 2 to clean a fence row on County Road 322 for Charles Reams to improve drainage along the roadway
■ the sheriff’s office to travel to San Antonio to get a generator through the LESO program
■ Chris Brooks to travel to Mobile, Alabama for L3Harris International Users Group Training Symposium
■ approved a yearly contribution ($3,311) for the NCTCOG’s Aging Program
■ approved the contract for fire alarm system monitoring from Kingdom Fire Pros