Commissioners reinstate burn ban for county

By Lindsey Vaculin

General Manager

Milam County Commissioners reinstated the burn ban for the county during their meeting Feb. 13.

Commissioners approved the request from Cameron Fire Chief Henry Horelica due to the extensive amount of dry grass in the county. He said there have been several grass fires due to people burning trash and things over the past several weeks.

“Even with a significant amount of rain here in the county, there is an extensive amount of dry grass in Milam County,” he said. 

Agricultural and property clearing burns are permissible upon contacting and approval of the local fire department. Outdoor burning of trash is permitted in appropriate covered containers. 

Horelica said the fire chiefs will revisit the ban in six weeks or so after the grass has started to get greener.

Commissioners also approved a bid for a new roof for the tax office with Parsons Commercial Roofing in the amount of $22,813. The bid is for a 50 mil Duro-Last roof with a 20-year NDL warranty.

“I have had that roof coated for two years in a row at least,” Milam County Judge David Barkemeyer said. “But the roof is past due for replacement. It is leaking over Sherry’s office and over the big area. With this last rain back on the back side in the storage room.”

Milam County Tax Assessor-Collector Sherry Mueck said that the leaking is destroying her storage area and limits her space to store records that Texas says she must keep on hand. It is interfering with what she needs to keep on hand in her office.

“We have had several bids since I’ve been in office and in my opinion we aren’t going to get better than this,” Barkemeyer said. The county is only required to go out for bids on projects over $50,000.

Commissioners also took action to direct Eric Magee to prepare a Solid Waste Ordinance prohibiting solid waste disposal in Milam County. The ordinance will restrict where solid waste can be disposed of in the county.

In other business Commissioners also: Acknowledged Ken Janicek’s completion of specialized training during 2016 to maintain accreditation status with the Texas Veteran’s Commission; approved contracts with Rockdale and Thorndale for the May 6 election; approved installing 35 mph speed limit signs on Los Ranchitos in Precinct 2; approved the sale of used bridge timbers in Precinct 2; accepted the Racial Profiling Report for Constables in Precincts 2 and 3; accepted the Racial Profiling Policy for Constable Precinct 4; approved the reappointment of Opey Watkins to the Cameron Industrial Development Corporation Board of Directors; approved a bid for CR 442 project contingent upon FEMA and state approved grant obligation for Precinct 4; and approved a bid for project for CR 421 in Precinct 4.