Hays County Historic Court House. Star file photo
The Hays County Commissioners Court agreed to extend the county s burn ban until further notice at its Dec. 22 meeting after a recommendation by Hays County Fire Marshall Nathan Mendenhall.Â
The burn ban will not impact the sale of fireworks, however due to low humidity, Mendenhall says elevated fire weather conditions are possible throughout the county this week. Additionally, he says because of underlying drought conditions in the area fireworks may have the potential to cause spot fires. This means that all fireworks that are normally allowed to be sold will be sold, Mendenhall said in a press release. This does not mean that there is no danger.
Monday, December 21, 2020
The Hays County Commissioners Court will vote on accepting a grant amendment to the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) for COVID-19 funding to continue the county’s contact tracing program.
On May 12, the county accepted more than $300,000 of COVID-19 funding from DSHS which is set to end in March of 2021. The DSHS has approved a request to amend the grant category budget to utilize funds that were previously committed to supplies and equipment for additional materials and personnel that is needed to continue COVID-19 contact-tracing efforts.
The positions were previously funded with CARES funding that ends on Dec. 30.
Terra Rivers | Managing Editor
On Tuesday, the Hays County Commissioners Court voted to extend the Local Disaster Declaration originally proclaimed on March 15, 2020.
According to Mark Kennedy, Legal Counsel for Hays County, the Disaster Declaration was set to expire on December 15.
Kennedy said it was up to the court how long the declaration would be extended, but he recommended 60 days.
The commissioners voted 4-0 to extend the declaration into February with Commissioner Debbie Ingalsbe-Gonzales absent.
Kennedy said the declaration can be rescinded at any time by an action of the court.
In other news, the commissioners voted 4-0 to appoint Commissioner Walt Smith to serve on the Core 4 Policy Group.