More Land for Community Center?
Steve Sturtz reported to Glasscock County commissioners Jan. 8 that the planned community center’s septic system might require more land than had been anticipated. Sturtz said the Midland TNRCC septic system permitting office has told GSW Engineering Services that the building will require a 5,000 gallon septic system, and that there is not enough room on the land immediately east of the courthouse to build a drain field for a system that size.
Sturtz said two other options are being considered: 1) pumping up and into a drain field to be constructed on three lots owned by the county and located inside the baseball field south of the courthouse (at an additional cost of approximately $15,000) or 2) purchasing the Bill Cave house and property south of the post office for a sum of $35,000.
According to GSW, the septic system will cost more
than architects’ estimates, regardless of how or where it is built.
No action is to be taken until members of the
community center building committee, GSW engineers and building architects can
meet and discuss the matter.
Vote
Splits on Maintainer Purchase
With commissioners Jimmy Strube, Michael Hoch and Hugh Schafer voting
for, and Mark Halfmann abstaining, the court approved the lone bid for a new
maintainer for Strube’s precinct. The bid, from West Texas CAT of Abilene, was
$168,000, less $115,000 trade allowance, for an amount to be paid of $53,000.
There is a guaranteed minimum repurchase of $117,500 after 5 years or 5,000
hours. Strube said the new machine has approximately $15,000 more equipment than
the one it replaces, due to the addition of a rear ripper and larger tires. The
old maintainer cost $136,500 when it was purchased new five years ago.
The court once again discussed the need to either equip the fire truck
from the Forest Service or return it to them. Halfmann estimated repairs,
including a new engine, will cost $15,000. County Judge Wilburn Bednar asked the
representative from West Texas CAT to look at the truck and estimate how much it
would cost to replace the engine, and to do other necessary repairs.
Bednar said there are building materials (lumber and roofing) at the west
dump, violating state regulations. He said the materials need to be moved to the
north landfill.
More
Pagers Discussed
The court discussed pagers for emergency volunteers, and there was
unanimous agreement to purchase additional pagers and/or have existing ones
repaired as needed. Hoch reported that three additional people have volunteered
to drive ambulances if they are provided pagers. Halfmann said the Garden City
fire department is deteriorating, and pointed out that there is no fire chief in
Garden City or in the northern part of the county. He said enough pagers to go
around would help the situation. Alan Dierschke was to check into the location
and status of existing pagers.
Bednar said there have been no applications for the emergency management
coordinator job.
Commissioners all agreed that the volunteer emergency medical service and
the sheriff’s office should be commended for handling the unusually heavy
number of emergencies since Christmas.
In other action, the court approved a letter of intent to have any
autopsies done at Texas Tech Health Sciences Center in Lubbock at a cost of
$1,000 each; approved the tax-assessor/collector’s bond, and the chief
appraiser’s contract; approved a resolution for a grant for a district court
coordinator.