The Hill County Commissioners Court enacted a 30-day burn ban Tuesday, October 14, as dry conditions persisted in the county.
Emergency Management Coordinator Chris Jackson told the court that the Keetch-Byram Drought Index had reached 624 as the week began, higher than the 575 that indicates drought conditions.
The drought index ranges from 0 to 800, with an index of 0 representing no moisture depletion and an index of 800 representing absolutely dry conditions.
According to Texas A&M AgriLife Extension, an index of 600-800 is generally associated with severe drought and increased wildfire occurrence. This can lead to intense, deep-burning fires with significant spotting problems. Live fuels will burn actively at these levels, and fires can be difficult to contain and control.
Jackson said that there had been a slight increase in call volume for fire departments over the previous few days, including a three-acre fire that originated with someone working on a vehicle.
A violation of the order is a Class C misdemeanor punishable by a fine of up to $500.
The ban does not include welding, cutting and grinding operations as long as provisions in the ban are followed, such as having a dedicated fire watcher, water source or fire extinguisher and ability to call 9-1-1. Wind speeds must also be less than 20 miles per hour outside of approved enclosures.
Outdoor cooking is also not prohibited, as long as cooking equipment is monitored at all times and a person has the ability to call 9-1-1 and water or a fire extinguisher on site.
The 30-day order went into effect immediately as of the meeting date.
The court approved a request from County Clerk Nicole Tanner to implement a property fraud alert program. Tanner said that she has been trying to get a system in place for the past two years to address the rise of property and deed fraud across the state.
The scam involves criminals unlawfully filing fraudulent deeds or documents in county records to transfer property ownership without the actual property owner’s knowledge. She said that these crimes often go undetected until significant damage has occurred.
The software will allow Hill County residents and business owners to register their name with the clerk and receive automatic notifications if any document is filed under their name. There will be no charge to residents to sign up.
The cost of the agreement with Fidlar Technologies was included in the county clerk’s budget this year.
Commissioners approved entering into an agreement with the City of Hillsboro for the replacement of lighting along the courthouse square. Hillsboro Main Street Manager Tiffany Barron said that lighting in the Main Street district will be updated in phases, with the first phase being the square.
The standard Christmas-style lighting currently maintained by the fire department will be updated to permanent lighting in a metal channel color-matched to the historic buildings. It will include a warranty and maintenance plan to keep the lights in operation.
The cost of lighting on the square is $60,000, with the cost-share broken down to 30% business owners, 30% fundraising, 30% city funding and 10% county funding. The county’s share was $6,000, which the court approved.
The court convened in executive session for real estate discussions and voted when open session resumed to authorize the county judge to negotiate for a property in Precinct 3.
In open forum, Hill County Emergency Services District (ESD) 1 President Greg Brown told the court that the district had recently received a citizen concern about how the district does business, including questioning its audits. Brown said that he wanted to make sure the court had the facts and submitted information refuting the claims made. County Judge Shane Brassell said that the county received an email with concerns, looked into it and determined that the ESD is in compliance.
Commissioners also approved several routine items, including a service agreement with Dailey Wells Communication for maintenance of the county’s radio system, equipment purchases and the disposal of surplus items.
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