Wednesday's Internet Edition, August 27, 2008.
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| FIRE AT ALEXANDER’S- For the second time in as many weeks a major Hamilton business was struck by fire when the dust collection unit at Alexander Moulding Mill caught fire Tuesday morning. The fire was contained to the dust collection building. Although the unit is essential to the operation of the entire plant, business owner John Alexander told The Herald-News that he believes a that temporary solution can soon be setup and he hopes to have things up and going again in as little as two days. Approximately 50 people work at Alexander’s. Last week, P&S Masonry’s home office was destroyed by fire in downtown Hamilton. The cause of that fire was undetermined this week. Fire departments from throughout Hamilton County quickly responded to the Alexander fire Tuesday morning to help the Hamilton VFD. The tractor visible in the above picture was pulled from the structure and appeared to only suffer minor damage, although the trailer containing saw dust did ignite. Staff Photo |
In the regular County Commissioners meeting Monday morning, County Clerk Debbie Rudolph presented a petition from citizens requesting the commissioners to place a proposal for “Adopting the Optional County Road System in Hamilton County, otherwise known as the Unit System as the preferred method for the construction and maintenance of roads in Hamilton County. She also verified that the number of persons petitioning in the court were at least 10% of the votes received in the county by all candidates for governor in the most recent gubernatorial election. She said there were 2,852 votes cast in the last election, which would require at least 286 signatures on the petition. She said there were 308 valid signatures received.
Hamilton County Tax Assessor/Collector Terry Short certified the signatures as registered voters within Hamilton County.
Commissioners Jim Boatwright, Mike Lewis, Jon Bonner and Dickie Clary were all present for the meeting presided over by County Judge Randy Mills. The court unanimously approved the reports from Rudolph and Short and ordered the county clerk to conduct a special election for the voters to consider adopting the unit system.
Rudolph explained that, although the issue will be held during the General Election on Tuesday, Nov. 4 and it will be on the regular ballot, an election must be called a “special election” if there is a special interest to be addressed.
She said the item will be at the end of the ballot and voters will select “for” or “against.”
The law states, “if the majority of the votes received in the election favor adoption, this subchapter takes effect in the county on the date the official result of the election is determined.” It also specifies that a county that votes to adopt the subchapter may vote in the same matter to discontinue use of the subchapter. An election on the question of adopting or discontinuing use of this subchapter may not be held more than every two years.”
In counties that adopt the system, the construction and maintenance of county roads, the ownership and use of county road equipment, materials and supplies and the administration of the county road department are to be based on the county as a whole, without regard to commissioners’ precincts.
Under the Unit System the county road department includes the commissioners court as the policy-making body and the county road engineer as the chief executive officer.
The law requires counties using the Unit System to appoint a county road engineer who must: (1) be a licensed professional engineer experienced in road construction and maintenance and (2) meet the qualifications required by the Texas Department of Transportation for its district engineers.
If the commissioners court is unable to employ a licensed professional engineer, it may employ a county road administrator to perform the duties of the county road engineer. The county road administrator must have had experience in road building or maintenance or other types of construction work qualifying the person to perform the duties of the position but need not have had any particular amount of professional training or experience in engineering work
The county road engineer is responsible to the commissioners court for the efficient and economical construction and maintenance of the county roads. He or she may appoint and remove the county road department’s personnel, subject to the approval of the commissioners court and authorize administrative personnel to employ and remove subordinates. The commissioners court is to deal with personnel through the county road engineer, who would attend all meetings of the commissioners court relating to county road matters.
Other responsibilities of the county road engineer include (1) ensure that the policies of the court relating to county roads are faithfully executed; (2) supervise the administration of the county road department; (3) prepare detailed annual budget estimates for the construction and maintenance of the county roads and the operation of the county road department; (4) prepare estimates and specifications for the equipment, materials, supplies and labor necessary for the construction and maintenance of the county roads and operation of the county road department; (5) serve as custodian of the equipment, materials and supplies belonging to the county road department; (6) prepare plans and specifications for county road construction and maintenance; (7) maintain cost-accounting records of county road department expenditures; (8) keep an inventory of county road department equipment, materials and supplies and (9) perform any other duties required by the commissioners court that are consistent with the subchapter.
The county road engineer is also responsible for inspecting the progress of work on a county road construction and maintenance project awarded to a private contractor.
County Commissioners also implemented a burn ban during their meeting Monday morning and heard a favorable outside audit presentation.
Mills reported to the court that there have recently been several fires in the county and he has received a letter for the fire coordinator recommending approval of a burn ban.
“It’s probably time for us to give this some serious consideration,” Mills said. “The forecast for rain is not good.”
Bonner made the motion, seconded by Boatwright to implement a 90-day county wide burn ban effective immediately. The motion passed unanimously.
John Brown of Patillo, Brown and Hill, L.L.P. Certified Public Accountants was at the meeting to give the annual outside audit presentation.
He said, “It is our opinion that the numbers behind the county’s reports accurately represent the state of the county since September 2007.”
Brown reviewed the report briefly with the court. He said that, according to the income statement, the county is doing well. “You brought in more money than budgeted, spent less than budgeted and added to your General Fund,” he said. “It’s a good audit report.”
County officials unanimously approved the report.
The court designated a private drive off of CR 624 in precinct four as a private road for 9-1-1 addressing assignments. Clary said the addresses affect four residents. He said two of them have no 9-1-1 address and the other two have the same address. The court assumed no responsibility for maintenance of the road.
In other business the court approved payment of bills in the amount of $137,186.02 and authorized the Hamilton County Treasurer to receive funds from Texas State comptroller for unclaimed capital credits to be used for the Hamilton Public Library Literacy Fund. They also appointed Rudolph, Keisha Bagwell and Julie Watson as manager, tabulation supervisor and assistant supervisor of the central counting station for the election.
Clary stated that there has been a problem with mischief and vandalism of county signs. He pointed out that when signs are missing, it can be difficult for emergency workers to locate an address.
“It is costly and it is a serious issue,” he said. “We need people to be aware and watch. If anyone in the community knows who is stealing and vandalizing the signs, I would encourage them to call the sheriff’s office or a county commissioner.”