Commissioners approve DeWitt County burn ban

In the agenda, DeWitt County Commissioners approved a burn ban for unincorporated areas of the county at the June 10 board meeting. This burn ban will be in effect beginning June 15.

The county’s drought index numbers showed that the high for drought was at 556 and the low was at 319. This means the county is in a mild drought. In order for a burn ban to take effect, the high for the drought index must be at 550 or higher.

“These numbers represent the moisture content and the dryness in the air,” Precinct 2 Commissioner James Pilchiek Sr. said. “Judge Daryl Fowler has looked at the numbers and has opted to impose this ban. We went ahead and implemented this burn ban faster than normal because we won’t be having a meeting at the end of the month. The Judge can remove this ban at any time if we get enough good rain. Even with this ban on, folks can go through the DeWitt County Sheriff’s Department or the Fire Department and request access to burn in their area for agricultural purposes.” Commissioners also considered an aerial fireworks ban for July 4, but opted not to implement this ban.

Other items on the agenda included:

• Commissioners approved a contract for new employee uniforms. The contract agreements are with Cintas and UniFirst companies.

• A Project Agreement Form between the Texas Department of Criminal Justice and DeWitt County was approved for prison labor at the DeWitt County Historical Museum. The effective dates for this are from July 2 to Sept. 30. 

• Commissioners awarded a bid for a new one ton crew cab pickup truck for the DeWitt County Sheriff's Office. 

• A transfer of a 2009 GMC Sierra Truck from the DeWitt County Sheriff to the DeWitt County Courthouse Maintenance Department was approved.

• DeWitt County Emergency Management Coordinator Billy Jordan Jr. received a certificate of completion for the Wide Area Search training course from the Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service. 

• A permit application from Select Water Solutions LLC for the installation of a temporary water line along Rogge-Seifert Road was approved. 

• Commissioners received the 2024 road report.

• Pilchiek presided over the meeting as Fowler was out at a conference.

• The June 24 Commissioner’s Court meeting has been cancelled due to most of the Commissioners attending a conference that day.