Dateline: August 14, 2003

County enacts ban on outdoor burning

By Roger Estlack, Clarendon Enterprise

The Donley County Commissioners’ Court enacted a countywide burn ban when they met in regular session Monday.

Local firefighters have been busy with grassfires, and Clarendon Fire Chief Delbert Robertson told the Enterprise last week that while many parts of the county have received some rain, we still need a good general rain to eliminate the danger caused by dry conditions.

The ban will be placed until further notice, and the only exception will be for barbecue grills. All violators will be prosecuted.

In other county business, commissioners were addressed by Barbara Seal and Sandra Layton from the Texas Department of Transportation. They told the court that October 28 at 11 a.m. has been designated as the time to officially open the new Texas Safety Rest Area near Giles.

The court was scheduled to open bids for work on the approaches to the bridges on Mulberry and Troublesome creeks, but no bids were received. This followed a bid opening last month in which the bids were too high. Engineer Che Shadle will look into what the county’s next steps should be.

The commissioners approved County Clerk Fay Vargas’ attendance at a workshop in Austin next month and approved the re-appointment of Judge Willis Smith to the Texas Panhandle Mental Health Mental Retardation Board.

The court also approved a resolution creating a transportation board for Panhandle Community Services. County Judge Jack Hall is to serve on that board.

The county approved a $200 payment for local matching funds for the Panhandle Water Planning Group.

A bid was accepted to cover taxes on a lot located in the City of Howardwick.

Johnny Jaramillo was hired to do part time maintenance work for the county.

The court approved a proposal to put the Sheriff’s Department’s computers on the wireless Internet service now being used in the Courthouse.

The court accepted a grant to replace case management software in the offices of the county clerk and the justices of the peace in the sum of $4,000 each.

Budget worksheets were on Monday’s agenda, but commissioners took no action. They will begin the budget process next week.

In Letters to the Court, commissioners received a court opinion regarding the technology funds of the justices of the peace. The opinion says the county can use those funds for supplies, computers, software and other expenses for those offices.