Outdoor burn ban back in effect

By LPR Staff
Editor/POST-REGISTER

The Caldwell County Commissioners decided to reinstate an outdoor burning ban during their regular meeting on Monday.
According to County Fire Marshal Jeff Wright, there were not any serious fires as a result of the ban being lifted. However, because no significant rain has fallen since the ban was lifted last week, the

safest course of action, Wright said, was to reinstate the ban.
Under the order signed by County Judge H.T. Wright with the approval of the Commissioners, it is a Class C Misdemeanor punishable by a fine of up to $500 to use any combustible materials outdoors.
The burn ban, which has been in effect in Caldwell County through most of the year, will continue until the Commissioners believe that it is safe to lift the ban again.
In other Commissioners” Court business:
The Commissioners discussed continuing problems with the Help America Vote Act (HAVA)-compliant electronic voting machines.
According to Caldwell County Election Coordinator Mary Vicky Gonzales, several counties, including Caldwell County, did not receive the proper equipment to have HAVA-compliant machines available during early voting in the primary runoff elections this week.
Gonzales reported that she had received the equipment in time for the April 11 election, however, and that everything in the runoff went smoothly.
The Commissioners decided to sell a seven-acre tract of property on FM 1322 in southern Caldwell County.
According to Ken Watts of Walker-Lippard Realty in Luling, the owner of a neighboring property made the purchase offer. The buyer also agreed to clear brush and debris from the property. He suggested that alleviating the “blind curve” created by the property would make travel on FM 1322 safer.
Because of the size and location of the property, it is unlikely that the buyer will be able to develop the land.
In brief Court news:
The Commissioners signed a proclamation declaring April 2006 as “Fair Housing Month,” and another naming the week of April 17-21, 2006 “County Government Week.”
The panel discussed financing for a Drug Task Force after the Chisholm Trail Narcotics Task Force was disbanded in March. Although Sheriff Daniel Law has applied for a grant to assist in funding drug enforcement, the application is still under review and no funding has been granted.
The commissioners discussed possible options to relieve jail overcrowding in the future.
The county paid bills in the amount of $96,751.