During an early-morning special meeting, the Burnet County commissioners voted unanimously to invoke a burn ban for all of the unincorporated areas of the county.
Emergency Management Coordinator Derek Marchio recommended the ban before the commissioners voted.
During the brief Jan. 9 session, Marchio told the commissioners his talks with local fire department chiefs and statistics released by the U.S. Drought Monitor and the Keetch-Byram Drought Index (KBDI) support his recommendation.
Federal drought studies indicate moisture conditions have “deteriorated very rapidly” and the county has “dried out tremendously” since Dec. 28, Marchio said.
He added, the KBDI current reading of 469 ranks several points above an average of 450 and points toward an increasing risk of fire danger.
“The entire county is going through a drought,” Marchio said. “It is a good time for a burn ban.”
Pct. 3 Chad Collier asked Marchio whether local media predictions of rainfall after Jan. 9 could change his recommendation.
“We will be lucky to get rain, and if we do, it won’t be much,” Marchio replied.
During time for public comment, Burnet County resident Ray Feeley voiced concern related to the proposed installation of one new 765-volt electrical transmission line from south of Temple in Bell County through Burnet County, due west below U.S. 87 and 190 and above Texas 29 to the Big Hill electrical substation in Schleicher County.
Feeley asked the commissioners to “provide reputable health research and clinical studies” related to the proposed transmission.
“My understanding is we do not have any good research regarding what effect (electrical) emissions might have on pregnant women and unborn babies and if you have a pacemaker or other electronic health devices,” Feeley said.
Too, Feeley asked the commissioners to develop an emergency plan for the evacuation of Black Buck Ridge, Antler Lane, Rife Ridge and other areas located along the proposed transmission line if the line ever collapses or other “worst-case scenario.”
County Judge Bryan Wilson thanked Feeley for his comments and explained the court could not act nor respond immediately to his concerns.
However, Wilson did direct Feeley to visit the county official Web site at www.burnetcountytexas.org for more information related to the transmission line.
Last month, Pct. 2 Commissioner Damon Beierle announced he does plan to “gather all interested citizens” into one group to express opposition to the proposed line.
According to the Texas Public Utility Commission (PUC) Web site at www.puc.texas.gov, the transmission case is open and active. Also, the web site indicates more than 60 letter protests have been filed against the installation of the transmission line since Dec. 31.
