Will recent snow end burn ban?

After the record setting snowfall earlier this year, the Ector County Commissioners Court will review and make a decision regarding the county’s burn ban during a Monday meeting.

Commissioner Freddie Gardner, Precinct 1, said he had the item placed on the agenda after the snow left the area about half an inch wetter than it normally is.

Gardner said he wasn’t sure if the court would look at lifting the ban completely or for a limited time.

“I feel like we’ve got so much fuel that’s accumulated that I feel it would be beneficial to allow the residents to burn some,” Gardner said. “If we don’t get any moisture and it gets as dry as last year, we can put the burn ban back in effect.”

Midland County lifted its year-long burn ban on Jan. 12 and Howard County lifted their burn ban Tuesday. The Texas Forest Service states as of Friday, 112 of Texas’ 254 counties were still under a burn ban. However, the website still had Midland and Howard counties listed. A record 251 counties were under a burn ban by late August.

County Judge Susan Redford said the commissioners were polarized on the topic and, with no irony intended, said the topic would spark a “heated debate.”

West Odessa Fire Chief Jimmy Ellis said he planned on being at the meeting and would like to see the county get another 6 to 8 inches of rain before commissioners make a decision on lifting the burn ban.

“I’ve talked to (Midland Emergency Management Coordinator) Dale Little and to an extent, I see what (the commissioners) are thinking, but I don’t know about that,” Ellis said. “The stuff that’s piled up, there’s that much more around it that’s dry.”

Commissioners will also:

• Receive a quarterly report from the Environmental Enforcement Officer.
• Consider a surcharge for non-residents of Ector County purchasing property at the Ector County Cemetery.
• Consider approval of appointees to Ector County Anti-Discrimination and Harassment Policy Executive Committee.
• Accept a $250 donation from Jasper Police Association and a $1,000 from the Odessa Peace Officers Memorial for the purchase of a new K-9.
• Consider a recommendation to hire an oil and gas attorney to advise in the process of leasing the mineral rights at Odessa-Schlemeyer Field.
• Consider specifications on a proposal for industrial ceiling fans for the Ector County Coliseum and for the Employee Health Benefits Insurance Consultant.
• Consider extensions of the Odessa Jackalopes Hockey Contract and the Odessa Sports Concessions Contract.
• Accept a Task Force on Indigent Defense grant for $63,506.
• Consider a $2,500 grant from the Food and Drug Administration in order to implement the FDA Voluntary National Retail Food Regulatory Program Standards.
• Consider a fee increase for the yellow fever vaccination and Tuberculin testing.
• Consider approval of services agreement between HireRight/Kroll Background America and Ector County for driver’s license record checks.
• Consider the placement of 35 mph speed limit signs on Station Road in Goldsmith.

@OAgovernment