Meeting after meeting, the item of the burn ban is tabled. It is just too dry. When we do get rain, it is not widespread enough to lift the burn ban. After some much-needed rain, the burn ban was finally lifted on Monday, August 22, 2022.
It's budget time, and with that comes much discussion. Your commissioners have worked together and with other county departments to get a budget that will work best for San Saba County. They are very passionate about San Saba and want what is best for the County Employees and its citizens. After weighing carefully all the options presented, the Commissioners’ Court approved the Budget F/Y 2022-2023 with a vote of 3-1.
Other actions by the Commissioners’ Court in the past few weeks: McKinley Crownover was introduced by Neal Alexander, San Saba County Extension Agent, and his supervisor from San Angelo, Marty Gibbs, on August 22. Ms. Crownover will take over as Family Community Health Agent. The first month will be training which will be held in Waco, Texas. She was welcomed and congratulated by the Commissioners’ Court.
The Court has discussed at several meetings the idea of selling the Annex Building. The item was voted on and approved. A notice to solicit bids was put in the San Saba News & Star for two weeks, and County Attorney Randy Robinson stated he had three serious inquires. However, the deadline of August 18, 2022, has passed, and no bids were submitted.
The Court approved the purchase of a 1969 Fruehauf Tar Hauling Trailer for $10,200 during their meeting on July 25th. It will be paid for out of the American Rescue Funds because all precincts will be using it.
The County has gone back and Continued - See Commissioners’ Court, Page 2 and forth with FEMAto get grants related to the flooding in 2018. The Commissioners wanted to save money by doing much of the work themselves. At the time, FEMA said that was fine. But since then, FEMA has tried to add stipulations such as getting several bids for the different jobs. The Commissioners have jumped through many hoops to get this grant money. Emergency Management Coordinator Marsha Hardy stated this week that the process is finally very close to being finished.
The Sheriff’s department placed an ad in the San Saba News & Star July 23rd and July
28th requesting bids on a silver
2013 4-door Ford Taurus Police Interceptor, but no bids were submitted by the July 28th deadline. The department then had an auction on August 1st, but no one was interested in the vehicle. On August 8th, the Court approved the transfer of the vehicle from the Sheriff’s department to the Justice of the Peace office. It was reported that Justice Blossman drives many, many miles in her personal vehicle and is not compensated for her mileage or car maintenance. She is the magistrate, is called out when there are death calls and mental health calls, and she has many other times when she must put miles on her car in her official position as Justice of the Peace.
Richland Springs and Cherokee have submitted requests for sub-grants under the American Rescue Funds Act for their first responders. This money will be used for items such as communication equipment, personal protective gear, and a portable generator. This was approved by the Commissioners’ Court August 8th. The approximate amounts are Richland Springs -
$48,195, and Cherokee - $47,178.
The Court approved
33rd/424th Judicial District Courts Administration Order setting compensation and expenses of Court Reporters at the July 25th meeting. The Judge noted there have been times court had to be postponed due to not having a court reporter.
On August 22, 2022, the Commissioners’ Court accepted a donation from Larry Hanrahan for $1,100.00 with requested distribution of $500.00 to the San Saba VFD and $600 for San Saba County.
Commissioners Court meetings are open to the public. The next meeting will be held Monday, September 12, 2022, at 9:00 a.m. in the Commissioners’ Courtroom – 2nd floor of the courthouse. The following report was provided by Hamilton EMS.
07/01/2022 - 07/312022 Weekly County-Wide Calls –
07/03/22 4
07/10/22 5
07/17/22 1
07/24/22 5
07/31/22 4 TOTAL CALLS: 19
00:00-04:59 1
05:00-07:59 2
08:00-08:59 2
09:00-09:59 1
10:00-11:59 0
12:00-14:59 3
15:00-16:59 4
17:00-17:59 1
18:00-19:59 1
20:00-29:59 4
30:00-59:59 0 TOTAL CALLS: 19 Exceptions: 1
07/01/2022 - 07/31/2022 Weekly City-Wide Calls –
07/03/22 9
07/10/22 10
07/17/22 18
07/24/22 9
07/31/22 14 TOTAL CALLS: 60 Weekly City-Wide Response Times: Minutes Calls
00:00-04:59 30
05:00-07:59 23
08:00-08:59 3
09:00-09:59 0
10:00-11:59 2
12:00-14:59 0
15:00-16:59 0
17:00-17:59 0
18:00-19:59 2
20:00-29:59 0
30:00-59:59 0 TOTAL CALLS: 60 Exceptions: 0