GROVETON — Fires are becoming more frequent, and grass is crackling, so on Thursday the Trinity County Commissioners Court enacted a burn ban throughout the county.
Commissioner Neal Smith said conditions are so dry, the fire department in Trinity is getting two to three calls a day for people burning, and the county needs to put a stop to it.
“All other counties around us are under fire bans, and there’s no chance of rain until the end of the month, and I think we need to do this,” Smith said.
Commissioner Mike Loftin said the situation is escalating and could soon get out of control.
At its regular meeting on Oct. 8, the county approved its participation in a study to create a Foreign Trade Zone, commissioned through the Texas Forest Country Partnership, for Trinity and the surrounding counties, at a cost of $1,636.
Loftin said that county residents had expressed concern that an FTZ would lead the county to become something similar to the Colony Ridge community in Liberty County, which is perceived as a haven for illegal immigrants and drugs.
However, a study would give the county more information while not obligating it to any action.
In other business, the court:
•approved renewal of the retiree health care plan;
•approved leasing a commercial scanner for the District Court Clerk for older case files at a cost of $111.64 per month;
•approved invoices for disaster-related items;
•approved the renewal of a contract for the county victim notification system;
•approved participation in the DETCOG solid waste grant program;
•approved participation in the TxDOT airport RAMP grant program;
•approved an application for a $180,000 grant for general assistance from the Texas Veterans Commission;
•approved an application for a grant from the TLL Temple Foundation for a rescue boat;
•approved a memorandum of understanding with SAAFE House for services;
•approved the use of the County Clerk’s Office as a location for “The Beast of Trinity Texas” movie shoot; and
•approved a $250 donation from Jane Fester in honor of fallen Deputy Justin Fester.
