Commissioners' court votes 3-2 to keep burn ban

After a heated debate between two Ector County commissioners regarding the future of the burn ban, the court split their votes and left the final decision to the county judge.

Without a moment of hesitation, Ector County Judge Susan Redford sided with Precinct 2 Commissioner Greg Simmons and Dale Childers of Precinct 3 to keep the burn ban in place with a 3-2 vote.

 “I thought it might come to the point where I had to vote, so I did my research over the weekend … to help me make the decision I needed to,” Redford said.

Commissioners Freddie Gardner of Precinct 1, and Armando Rodriguez of Precinct 4, voted to lift the ban.

Andrews County Judge Richard H. Dolgener said the commissioners in Andrews also voted to keep their burn ban in place; however, their vote came in a unanimous decision.

“It’s just too dry,” Dolgener said.

Midland and Howard Counties had previously voted to lift their burn bans and as of Monday, the Texas Forest Service stated 113 of Texas’ 254 counties were still under a burn ban. The record was 251 counties in late August.

After receiving a record-setting snowfall earlier in the month, Gardner said the moisture was higher than normal for this time of the year and felt it would give people a chance to burn any tall grass or brush growing on their property to prevent it from becoming possible fuel for fires.

Gardner said he was also open to lifting the ban even if only on a temporary basis.

“Even if it’s only for a few weeks,” Gardner said during the meeting. “Yes, we had a red flag warning (Sunday) … but the day before was a good day, and I feel like the residents have enough common sense.”

Childers argued against lifting the ban for any reasons, saying that even burning trash in a barrel could potentially spark a wildfire.

“My fear is mass chaos,” Childers said about lifting the ban.

Redford said the current burn ban has been in effect since mid-December and the county has been under a ban for a little more than a year — the longest she’s ever seen it.

“It’s unusual,” she said. “But the dry conditions are unusual and it’s required.”

Using the Keetch-Byram Drought Index, Redford said Ector County was at 591 when she checked it Monday morning. The drought index is used to determine forest fire potential and ranges on a scale from 0 to 800. Counties over 575 usually set a burn ban.

Meteorologist Kurt Kotenberg with the National Weather Service in Midland said while the snow was beneficial to the area, it did not bring as much moisture to the ground as rain would have and the area still needs “significant rainfall” before the index could be raised.

Forecasting a 30 percent chance of rain starting Wednesday morning and 20 percent Thursday morning, Kotenberg predicted the rain could bring anywhere between 0.10 to 0.25 of an inch.

“I just know we’re basically below where we ought to be at this time of year,” he said.

Redford said the court would be monitoring the rainfall and the item could be placed on a future agenda.

West Odessa Volunteer Fire Department Chief Jimmy Ellis previously said he was against the burn ban and was pleased with the vote.

“It takes some of the strain off my trucks,” Ellis said.

Burning trash in a barrel with a cover is still OK under the current burn ban and Ellis said the best thing people can do is take safety precautions before burning anything.

“A water hose, fire extinguisher, even a shovel and a bucket of dirt helps,” Ellis said.

The court also accepted $1,750 in total donations for the purchase of a new K-9 named “Mermal” for the Ector County Sheriff’s Office, which is already in service.

The dog was purchased to replace Kazoe, a 4-year-old German Shepherd killed during a chase in December 2011. Angel Herrera Morales was eventually arrested and charged with second-degree felony interference of a police service animal (with death) in connection to Kazoe’s death.

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Commissioners also:

• Received a quarterly report from the Environmental Enforcement Officer.
• Adopted a surcharge for non-residents of Ector County purchasing property at the Ector Cemetery.
• Approved the appointees to the Ector County Anti-Discrimination and Harassment Policy Executive Committee.
• Discussed hiring an oil and gas attorney regarding leasing the mineral rights at Odessa-Schlemeyer Field.
• Accepted the proposal of purchasing industrial ceiling fans for the Ector County Coliseum.
• Accepted the sole source list of vendors.
• Approved a five-year extension of the Odessa Jackalopes Hockey contract and Odessa Sports Concessions contract.
• Accepted a $63,506 Task Force on Indigent Defense grant.
• Approved a $2,500 grant from the FDA in order to implement the FDA Voluntary National Retail Food Regulatory Program Standards.
• Approved a fee increase for the Yellow Fever Vaccination and Tuberculin testing.
• Approved a professional services agreement between HireRight/Kroll Background American.
• Approved the placement of a 35 mph speed limit sign on Station Road in Goldsmith.