Travis County Commssioners Court
January 6, 2004
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Item 1
1. Receive briefing and take appropriate action regarding the prohibition of the sale or use of restricted fireworks in the unincorporated areas of Travis County. 2. Receive briefing and take appropriate action regarding the prohibition of outdoor burning in the unincorporated areas of Travis County. We've had these orders in place now about a month. And by law after a month we have to renew the order basically, right?
>> good morning, judge and Commissioners. I'm dennis hodge, the fire marshal for the county.
>> good morning, dennis.
>> I am standing in for pete baldwin the emergency management coordinator. That's correct, judge. The fireworks order does not have the 30-daytime limit or the deadline on it as the outdoor burning ban did. The outdoor burning ban was instituted last month, expired on January th 4th. We are asking the court, to reinstate that burn ban with a February the 4th deadline on that. I provided you a map of the -- of the drought indicator for the state as of Sunday and we are still in the high 5 hundreds. Which cailts, of course -- which indicates, of course, that we haven't had much moisture as you all know so we ask that the court reinstate both of those act as.
>> and we continue to work with the other counties, to our knowledge they are doing about the same thing.
>> that's correct.
>> luckily the fires have been down.
>> we've had some but I think because of the actions of the court they have been minimal as to damage or size.
>> we keep praying for rain, put the order in place, that's about the best we can do.
>> I agree.
>> on the fireworks one, I guess fireworks season is over. But -- but we need the ban in place anyway.
>> that's our feelings, judge. The sales period that's allowed is over -- expired on new year's eve. But we are fearful that there may be some residual use and we would like to keep it coupled with the outdoor burn ban for the obvious reasons.
>> for those reasons I move that we reinstate the two orders for the benefit of Travis County residents. Seconded by Commissioner Davis, any more discussion?
>> yes. Let me ask you this. Do we have pretty good confirmation that the adjacent counties, along the Travis County borders, are in agreement with what we are doing, do we get any confirmation from them on the ban?
>> I know hays county has been in contact with pete baldwin. I'm not certain at this time, Commissioner, if their burn ban is ongoing or whether, you know, it's -- it's stated or has an expiration date or any of those issues that we have talked about this morning.
>> okay. Just other than heys and stuff like that, caldwell.
>> bastrop county, to my knowledge, does not have a ban in place. I could be misled about that.
>> okay. Thank you.
>> all in favor? That passes by unanimous vote. With those two Commissioners, Gomez and Sonleitner absent for the entire meeting.
>> thank you very much.
Last Modified: Wednesday, January 12, 2005 8:50 AM