A large audience filled Commissioners Court for their meeting on Monday, February 11.

Most were there to support the agenda item that would establish a freeze on property taxes in Karnes County of homestead owners disabled or aged 65 or over.

Bob Busselman presented the supporters’ point of view noting that "taxes would be frozen at this year’s level unless additions were made to the home or property."

Commissioner Darrel Blaschke asked, "How many acres of a homestead is considered the limit?"

"I believe a homestead of 20 acres is the maximum," Busselman said.

County Judge Alger Kendall, Jr. agreed and suggested that the ceiling on taxes will change the available tax base dramatically.

"What happens if another family member younger than the homestead owner takes over the property?" Commissioner Isidro "Stormy" Rossett asked.

Busselman explained that it would still be considered an exemption as long as it remained in the previous person’s possession.

Busselman then shared that a petition for this proposition is being circulated and needs only 400 signatures to be placed on a ballot in November for voters to decide on the proposition.

After further discussion, Judge Kendall said that the court would like to look into the effect and get more information on the details of the tax base freeze before voting to approve or disapprove. The item will be included on the agenda of the last meeting of this month, February 29.

In other matters, the court approved a request presented by Wendy Dunnegan of the GEO Group Inc.’s Karnes County Correctional Center detention facility to go forward with a need to be presented to the government for an increase in the per diem rate per prisoner at the facility.

The rate has not changed in ten years while the costs to the facility, including raises in employees’ wages, have increased. The request for the increase has to be approved by Commissioners Court before it can be presented to the appropriate governmental agency.

Several other agenda items were approved. The extension of the present lease on the State Health Services on a month by month basis at 119 N. Browne Street until a permanent place can be found was approved. The current facility has been put up for sale by the owner.

Commissioner Jeffrey Wiatrek’s request for advertising for bids for the purchase of a used 6x4 2003 or newer truck for Precinct 2 was approved. And the court also approved two new board members to Karnes County Library System Board, Lillian Lyssy, resident of Karnes City and Curtis Plant, resident of Runge, Texas.

The court gave approval to the new annex building’s current architectural firm to include plans in the upcoming bids for all three options in the designs as presented at the last meeting.

The court, however, tabled the decision on renumbering a portion of County Road 280 and a decision of an extension of County Road 279, until further information is available on past actions by the county on these roads. This will be an agenda item at the next meeting of Commissioners Court on Feb. 29.

At the conclusion of the agenda items, several concerned citizens representing farm interests asked for a reprieve concerning the burn ban. It was brought up that the current ban is extremely hard on area farmers who use a burn to help clear and ready their farms for spring planting.

Judge Kendall said unless there is a "burn master" available and the proper procedures for safety are utilized he would not jeopardize any areas of Karnes County to a probable fire hazard. At this time there is no "burn master" in Karnes County.