Luke Hendryx, AgriLife Extension agent for Brewster and Jeff Davis counties, presented a quarterly report and update at the May 12 Brewster County Commissioners Court regular meeting.

Commissioner, Pct 2, Sara Allen Colando was absent.

Hendryx works primarily with youth and adult programming, and with natural resources initiatives such as wildfire and drought issues.

He highlighted the recent water well testing event held in conjunction with Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service on May 4-5 in Alpine, at which water well samples were screened for contaminants. Hendryx announced that the program was successful, and 160 water well samples were tested.

“Hopefully going forward, that program will be something we do more, and there was a great turnout, a lot of people were interested in that,” Hendryx stated.

Commissioner, Pct. 1, Jim Westermann, inquired as to the results of the well testing, and Hendryx replied there were a few that tested positive for E. coli. He said John W. Smith and Joel Pigg, Texas A&M Ag Extension program specialists, would be contacting those residents whose wells tested positive for contaminants to explain the next steps.

Hendryx also said the AgriLife Extension office would be recruiting volunteers and more youngsters for the 4-H program, and a membership drive would take place some time before the start of the new school year. He was also pleased with the interest in shooting sports.

County Judge Eleazar Cano then encouraged Hendryx to work with county EMC Stephanie Elmore on fire prevention strategies and other hazard mitigation issues.

In other news, Commissioner, Pct. 3, Ruben Ortega, made a positive statement during public comment regarding three newly elected city council members. Ortega said he looked forward to working with the City of Alpine again, and pointed out that recent legal issues between the city and the county were costing taxpayer dollars for legal fees. Cano agreed, saying he wanted a liaison from the city to work collaboratively with the county, and he would be reaching out to Mayor Andy Ramos.

Next, Elmore announced she was working with the Rio Grande Council of Governments on a year-long hazard mitigation plan regarding wildfires and burn bans, and would be sending out a survey to the public about those issues. Elmore also said she and the American Red Cross will be providing several households in need with smoke detectors.

Cano raised the possibility of having Elmore as a future fire marshal, along with her duties as an EMC, and that position would be discussed in an upcoming budget meeting.

Finally, county Tourism Director Robert Alvarez announced that the tourism office would be attending the Texas State Fair in Dallas, which runs from September to October, for tourism promotion activities.

The next regularly scheduled commissioner’s court meeting is set for Wednesday, May 26, at 9:30 a.m. via Facebook Live.