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Voter registration is up in Brewster County
By Cindy Perry / cindyperry@alpineavalanche.com
Elections, building projects, jail inspections and money matters made up for a long agenda but a quick session Monday for the Brewster County Commissioners Court.
Looking toward the Nov. 4 general elections, commissioners approved closing both the county courthouse and the tax office that day, and they heard Elections Administrator Jerri Jones report that voter registration is up by about 500 people, while 250 names have been purged from the rolls. Jones said machines will be set up late this week in preparation for the early voting period Oct. 20-31.
Commissioners and County Judge Val Beard weren’t happy with a proposed contract for infrastructure projects with Southwest Architects Inc. of Fort Worth, voting to review and revise it, then bring it back for consideration at the next commissioners’ meeting. Numerous projects are awaiting contracts including both the South County and Alpine/North Brewster County emergency response centers, the Marathon Law Enforcement facility, modifications to the old library and an outdoor meeting space for Marathon Town Square.
Sheriff Ronny Dodson told the Commissioners Court that state jail inspectors launched a surprise review of the Brewster County Jail and reported they were pleased with everything except one minor computer glitch dealing with classification of prisoners. Dodson said that problem can be solved quickly.
The court gave County Treasurer Carol W. Ofenstein approval to open a new account for the TexSTAR (Texas Short Term Asset Reserve Program), where money from the recently-approved certificates of obligation will go. Ofenstein also got the go-ahead to open a checking account dedicated to infrastructure projects.
Tom Santry, the emergency management coordinator, updated commissioners on the Code Red notification system that would automatically alert residents of emergencies, evacuation orders, etc. Santry said he’s been working with telephone companies to get names and addresses to place in the database but some residents don’t have landlines and use only cells; getting physical addresses for them has proven to be difficult.
Santry is asking all Brewster County residents to provide him with their addresses and phone numbers, including those who aren’t in a directory.
Representatives of the Brewster County Tourism Council provided updates on recent advertising, including at the State Fair of Texas in Dallas; the county is running a cooperative ad campaign with Fort Davis and Van Horn. “It’s going really well; we’ve gotten a lot of response,” said Ron Sanders. He and Travis Roberts also gave commissioners a list of entry points where welcome signs are planned after consultation with the Texas Department of Transportation. Commissioners also approved the tourism council’s $150,000 budget for 2009-10 and the reappointment of the council’s board members.
In other action, commissioners:
Approved Santry’s request to spend $2,827 on a number of cots and blankets for emergencies/evacuees. He cited the recent Presidio/Ojinaga flood that sent evacuees up to Alpine, many of whom stayed with family members or in motels. The cots and blankets would be used in designated evacuation centers, such as Alpine Middle School and Sul Ross State University.
Commissioner Kathy Killingsworth asked Santry, “Where would we keep all that?”
Santry said, “We’re working on that.”
Commissioner Ruben Ortega volunteered storage space in Marathon, and Killingsworth offered some space in the Terlingua Community Center.
Announced a Multi-Agency Coordination System (MACS) training course scheduled for Oct. 25 on the Sul Ross campus. Beard said elected officials and staff in the past have had to attend these courses in College Station. She and Jeff Davis County Judge George Grubb thought it more efficient to have a course in Far West Texas for officials from this region.
Approved a Sheriff’s Depart-ment request to bid for three new vehicles funded by Operation Linebacker grants; Dodson will provide vehicle specifications to Beard for bids to be let. (Operation Linebacker is a state initiative that give sheriff’s departments on the Texas-Mexico border money for extra manpower and equipment.)
Approved an amended contract with Permian Basin Community Centers, the MHMR provider for the county.
Approved the IT Department’s request to inventory computer hardware and designate old items for donation, auction or to parcel out to various offices.
Decided to change the permit process for trenching across county roads; Beard said she wanted to see “in big print” the stipulation that an applicant or contractor who tears up a county road patches it and gets county approval of the work. The court will deliberate the permit process at its next meeting.
Congratulated Killingsworth on being named incoming president for the Far West Texas County Judges and Commissioners Association. The group had a conference last week in Terlingua.
Presented a resolution honoring Tri-County 4-H Club members and sponsors, and recognized National 4-H Week. The club members gave “goodie bags” to Beard and commissioners.\
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