The Blanco County Commissioners held a Regular Meeting on Tuesday, December 10, 2013, at 9 a.m. The Commissioners met in the Commissioners Courtroom of the County Courthouse in Johnson City, Texas. All four County Commissioners were present. Blanco County Commissioner Paul Granberg conducted the meeting in Judge Bill Guthrie’s absence.
Blanco County Clerk Karen Newman read the minutes of prior Commissioners Court meetings. There were no corrections or amendments to the minutes, and Blanco County Commissioner Chris Liesmann gave a motion to accept the minutes as read. Blanco County Commissioner James Sultemeier seconded the motion, and the minutes were approved as read.
The County Commissioners discussed action on the burn ban. County Commissioner Liesmann asked Kathy Strickland, Secretary to Judge Guthrie, of the current KDI rating for Blanco County. Strickland answered, “we are in the 200-300 range.” County Commissioner Liesmann observed, “this reading is very low, and I suggest taking no action on the burn ban.”
The County Commissioners went on to consider prohibiting or restricting the sale or use of “restricted fireworks” which are defined as “skyrockets with sticks” as classified in 49 Code of Federal Regulations, Sec. 173.100(r)(2)… According to County Commissioner Liesmann, “because no action was taken on item 6 [the burn ban] there is no action on this item either.” County Commissioner Granberg agreed there was no action taken on prohibiting or restricting the sale or use of “restricted fireworks” as defined above.
County Commissioner Granberg told the Commissioners Court there were several replats to Rockin J Ranch Subdivision to consider. Commissioner Granberg continued, “Rockin J Ranch is a subdivision in Precinct Four that includes golf course areas and the lots average one fourth acre each. There are several lots with drainage issues, and these lots are not suitable for home sites. The developer has proposed combining several of the lots to make green space areas that will not ever be used for home sites. The green space areas would include additional parking space. I believe each lot will need to be done individually and then replatted individually.”
County Commissioner Sultemeier asked if the lots would remain as green space and never sold. County Commissioner Granberg answered, “this [using the lots as green space] is what the developer thinks is best.” “So realistically they could be sold?” County Commissioner Sultemeier asked. County Commissioner Granberg answered there is natural drainage on the lots but there could be issues with a big rain event. County Commissioners Granberg and Sultemeier agreed that the lots could be built on but that there is good reason to combine the lots and use the land for green space instead.
Regarding the proposed replat of lots 1732 and 1733 in the Rockin J Ranch Unit Five Subdivision combining two lots into one lot to be known as lot 1732R, County Commissioner Sultemeier gave a motion to approve the replat. County Commissioner Liesmann seconded, with the addition that the paperwork be filed. There was no further discussion, and all voted in favor of the replat.
The County Commissioners also considered and approved replat of lots 1497, 1498, and 1499 in the Rockin J Ranch Unit Five Subdivision. The three lots would be combined into one lot to be known as 1497R. Blanco County Commissioner John Wood made this motion and County Commissioner Sultemeier seconded.
The County Commissioners went on to consider and approve replat of lots 94, 95, 96, 97, and 2.56 acres out of a called 1064.8 acre tract in the Rockin J Ranch Unit One Subdivision. The five tracts would be combined into one lot known as lot 94R. County Commissioner Sultemeier gave a motion to approve the replat and County Commissioner Wood seconded.
The Commissioners Court approved replat of lots 1203 and 1204 in the Rockin J Unit Four Subdivision. County Commissioner Liesmann made a motion to approve the replat with the two lots being combined into one lot to be known as lot 1203R. County Commissioner Sultemeier seconded and the motion carried.
Blanco County Commissioners also considered and approved replat of lots 1333, 1334, 1335, 1339, 1340, 1341 and 1365 in Rockin J Ranch, Unit Four Subdivision and lots 1362, 1363, and 1364 in the Rockin J Ranch, Unit Five Subdivision combining the ten lots into one lot to be known as lot 1333R. County Commissioner Wood gave a motion to approve the replat and County Commissioner Liesmann seconded.
The final item for consideration of replat was for lots 1177, 1178, 1179, 1180, and 1181 of the Rockin J Ranch Unit Four Subdivision. Five lots would be combined into one lot to be known as lot 1177R. County Commissioner Wood made a motion to accept the replat and County Commissioner Sultemeier seconded. As was the case with the other replats, there was no discussion. The motion carried with all in favor.
County Commissioner Liesmann told the Court that the maintenance supervisor had given them a list of equipment that had been in the warehouse for a number of years. Some of the items included propane tanks, furniture, generators, and vehicles. County Commissioner Liesmann recommended and made a motion to put the items on GovDeals as surplus property. County Commissioner Sultemeier seconded Liesmann’s motion, and there was no discussion. The motion passed.
County Commissioner Liesmann also asked the Court to consider authorization for the County Judge to sign a Memorandum of Understanding between the Hill Country Chapter of the American Red Cross and Blanco County Emergency Management. County Commissioner Liesmann told the Court the Memorandum of Understanding would establish the responsibilities of the Red Cross and Blanco County Emergency Management in the event of an emergency situation. Commissioner Liesmann’s motion was seconded by County Commissioner Sultemeier. No discussion followed and the motion carried.
County Commissioner Granberg called for approval of the official reports. Commissioner Granberg told the Court that all reports were in with the exception of the Constable’s report. County Commissioner Liesmann provided a motion to accept the official reports, excluding the Constable’s Report that was unavailable. County Commissioner Wood seconded Commissioner Liesmann’s motion and the action passed.
The Commissioners Court approved the outstanding bills in the amount of $60,503.30 after County Commissioner Wood gave a motion to approve and County Commissioner Sultemeier seconded. The County Commissioners also voted to approve the estimated December 2013 payroll in the amount of $262,574.79. A motion to approve the December 2013 payroll was made by County Commissioner Liesmann and seconded by County Commissioner Sultemeier.
There was no further business for the Regular meeting, and the Court voted to adjourn.
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