With the absence of Commissioner Darrel Blaschke, county officials decided to delay the vote on the proposal to freeze the tax on homestead residences of disabled or 65 and older citizens of Karnes County.

County Judge Alger Kendall, Jr. said that he felt it was appropriate to have the full Commissioners Court present to make such an important decision. The proposal will be on the March 11 agenda.

Wayne Beyer, of the auditing firm of Wayne Beyer and Company reviewed the recently completed 2007 Karnes County audit. He gave summaries of the various departments and said that overall, the county is in excellent financial condition showing a $2.8 million general fund balance at the close of 2007. He also said that most counties aim for a three month reserve fund and Karnes County shows a 10 month reserve. Beyer did make some suggestions to make sure that all cash collected would be documented with receipts and that some untapped funds could be designated into one fund.

The court then voted to extend for another 90 days the county’s burn ban which was due to expire soon. Shelby Dupnik, EMS chief for the Karnes County Volunteer Fire Department, gave a report on the recent battle with a brush fire near Gillett that burned about 400 acres and required help from at least a half dozen other fire departments to aid in the effort to extinguish it.

Dupnik said that the governor has urged all Texas counties to continue the burn ban until substantial rains no longer require it. Judge Kendall said that the latest posted reports indicate 250,000 acres and approximately 80 structures, including homes, had been destroyed in Texas to this date since the burn bans went into effect.

Dupnik said it is definitely necessary to have emergency numbers to contact more than one or two fire departments when the areas are so dry and he also asked that the county be able to add its equipment and county employees to operate them when needed for such instances. He said the forest service has helped with their advice and suggestions.

Kendall agreed that a telephone list of the counties that can help each other in such circumstances should be made available. He and the commissioners noted that the ban is not popular and that they continue to get many phone calls about the subject. It was noted that every resident that has tall, dry grass around their property should make an effort to tamp it down or cut it short. In light of these conditions, it was felt by the court that the burn ban must continue.

Approved next was the interlocal agreement for the Elite Program in Karnes County. A spokesperson stated that changes made by the Legislature for school districts have required the approval on the recent updates for it to continue in Karnes County.

Bids sent in for the sale of three trucks used in Commissioner Isidro "Stormy" Rossett’s precinct were opened. The highest bids submitted were disclosed as follows: Truck #1-1989 Chevy 1500 - for $560; Truck #2-1989 Chevy S10- for $850; and Truck #3- 1988 Chevy S10 for $1001.50. The persons who submitted these bids will be notified and they must pay the amounts with cash, certified check or money orders.

Commissioners James Rosales and Jeffrey Wiatrek brought information regarding previous discussions concerning the renumbering of a portion of County Road 280 to become County Road 279 and also the re-establishing of a portion of County Road 279 to be an extension of approximately one-fourth of a mile. Rosales said that this basically returns the county roads to their previous status. Commissioner Wiatrek asked for the establishment of a new road in Gillett off County Road 280 North to be numbered County Road 236. Both requests were approved.

After discussion on a request for another change in a county road, which would mean a portion of CR150 to be closed, it was decided that the request would be tabled until a future meeting when more information is available.