Published: March 23, 2009 11:48 pm      

Hunt County burn ban lifted

GREENVILLE — The burn ban has been lifted.

Hunt County commissioners, in a unanimous decision, voted Monday to rescind the countywide burn ban that had been in place for nearly four months.

The burn ban was enacted on Dec. 8 and extended when the court met March 6. It was placed into effect because of drought conditions in northeast Texas. But over four inches of rain fell in Greenville the weekend of March 14. That was more than the city recorded during the months of October, November, December, January and February combined. And that prompted the commissioners to revisit the issue.

The Commissioners Court is the only governmental entity that can enact and rescind such a ban and the commissioners agreed that the heavy rain had ended the acute fire danger. The burn ban was lifted immediately following the vote by the commissioners.

Commissioners also approved an amendment to the Hunt County Sheriff’s Office seizure fund budget to allow a salary supplement for a drug interdiction officer.

Following the budget amendment, Sheriff Randy Meeks informed commissioners that he intends to hire Harry Washington, who most recently worked in the Morris County District Attorney’s Office.

“His work has resulted in the seizure of more dope than you can imagine, and cash seizures totaling literally in the millions of dollars. The benefit to our community derived from the seizure of illegal drugs would eclipse the financial benefits tenfold,” said Meeks, reading from a prepared statement.

Washington will be hired to fill the open warrant officer slot, which was held by Interim Chief Deputy Joe Knight, who was named as the permanent Chief Deputy Monday morning. The job description of Washington’s position will then be rewritten as a Narcotics Division Interdiction Deputy.

The Sheriff’s Office has approximately $75,000 of uncommitted seizure money in a certificate of deposit that matures in May. Approximately $60,000 will be utilized to purchase two patrol cars, and the remaining $9,300 will supplement Washington’s salary.

In other actions, commissioners:

• Approved to add DrugFree Greenville to the list of organizations to which jurors can donate jury pay;

• Accepted the annual report for the Hunt County Historical Commission

• Passed a resolution to adopt revised Hunt County Subdivision Rules and Regulations;

• Approved an amendment to the Hunt County District Attorney’s Forfeiture budget to allow salary supplements for: Steven Tittle, Keli Aiken, Calvin Grogan and Alton Estrada;

• Approved to reallocate existing unexpended investigator’s travel allowance funds, originally provided for three investigators, equally between Investigators Norris Nix and Daryl Cash;

• Approved $50 per month cell phone allotments for Assistant District Attorney’s Keli Aiken and Steve Tittle;

• Consented on a request to construct electrical power distribution facilities along and across CR 2648 in Precinct 2.

• Approved the preliminary plat for the Southwest Lineman Training Center Addition in Precinct 2;

• Approved the corrected final plat for the Hillview Addition in Precinct 2;

• Consented on a request to construct electrical power distribution facilities along and across CR 3117 in Precinct 3;

• Approved to upgrade 300 feet from dirt to rock on CR 4209 and 425 feet from dirt to rock on CR 4602 in Precinct 4;

• Approved a request to transfer a retired 2001 Ford Crown Victoria Sedan from the Sheriff’s Office to the office of Precinct 1 Constable Terry Jones.

• Accepted the official bonds and oaths of office for Deputy Constables Matthew Hatfield and Terry Ellsworth.

The next regular meeting of the Commissioners Court is scheduled for April 13.