By Elise Tennant

Karnes County officials discussed fireworks during their June 12 meeting.

In the past, there have been restrictions against anything with fins, or aerial displays.

This year, however, there will be no restrictions at all.

Regardless of restrictions, county officials still are strongly urging the public to use caution.

Also on the agenda was the distribution of money for road damages due to heavy rains in March of 2007.

The county will distribute a total of $108,000.

Precinct 1 will receive $30,000, Precinct 2 will get $28,000, Precinct 3 will receive $26,000, and Precinct 4 will get $24,000.

The funding is distributed so that the precincts with the most road damages will get the most money.

Another major issue discussed was the renovations of the Karnes County Courthouse.

The state is giving away a total of $62 million to courthouses throughout Texas for renovations. Of that sum, $40 million has already been awarded. County officials said the Karnes County Courthouse is understood to be on of the top three courthouses left that the state is interested in financing.

County officials at the meeting said they are optimistic that the Karnes County Courthouse will be selected as a recipient of grant funding.

If Karnes County is to be granted the money for renovations, there is a question as to what it will be used for.

Officials at the meeting said it is likely that the money will be used for construction and architectural purposes. Karnes County cannot, however, completely tear down and rebuild the courthouse because it has already taken a sum of money for the purpose of renovation, officials said. They also said that the Texas Historical Commission wouldn’t permit a historical landmark to be torn down.

"To me it looks like a deal that’s going to go forward," County Judge Alger Kendall, Jr. said.