WOODVILLE – The Tyler County Commissioners Court ratified the countywide order to prohibit outdoor burning during Tuesday morning’s meeting.
The burning ban, which was issued last week by County Judge Milton Powers, is in effect until it is rescinded. The county’s emergency management coordinator John Settlocker was present in court to speak to the conditions that necessitated the ban.
Settlocker said that with burn bans issued in Hardin and Jasper counties on Tuesday morning, the entire Southeast Texas region is under burn bans.
“We’re at a very high [fire danger risk] but not extreme yet,” Settlocker said, and added that the winds are saving us from extreme fire danger levels, yet there is no rain forecast for the next seven days.
The order bans all outdoor burning, except for barbecue pits, Settlocker said.
Powers added that the order makes a variance for governmental entities and fire departments conducting controlled bans and also added that all of the schools in the county that host bonfires for homecoming events have already done them.
Violators of the burn ban can be cited with a Class C misdemeanor offense and fined up to $500.
County joins housing funding opportunity
Powers spoke about an opportunity for the county to receive some funds for housing assistance at no obligation to the county, through the East Texas Housing Finance Corporation, or ETHFC.
The ETHFC was created to serve several counties in the East Texas region to assist low to moderate income families to purchase their first homes. The authorization from the county will help to obtain up to $35 million, Powers said.
Other Business
During Tuesday’s meeting, the county also approved the following items of business:
