County May Buy New Dump Trucks
Glasscock County’s Commissioners Court decided at their meeting June 11 to advertise for bids on dump trucks, with the possibility of replacing one or two old ones.
The court also (Marck Schafer and Michael Hoch abstaining) voted 3-0 to allow Wind Plus to erect overhead electrical lines across Hamby Road, Drumright Road and Squires Road. The lines are to be a minimum of 25 feet high at the sag.
Gregory Wortham, executive director of West Texas Wind Energy Consortium in Sweetwater, visited with the court, discussing the group’s purpose of providing a forum for everyone concerned with wind energy in West Texas. He said counties, towns, schools, colleges, businesses and individuals in the area should be interested in developing the industry to benefit themselves and their communities. He said some towns, such as McCamey and Sweetwater, are heavily into the wind business already.
He said Texas State Technical College in Sweetwater is offering programs to train maintenance workers for the wind turbines. He said there is usually one maintenance person for every 10 turbines.
Small Communities Benefit from Wind Projects
Wortham said $100 million projects are the smallest now, and most will be $500 million to $1 billion in the future. He said the jobs created across the area will bring new people, and many of them will want to stay. He mentioned Trent, Blackwell, Highland and Roscoe as small communities that are benefiting from the wind industry.
He said state officials need to be friendlier to the manufacturing end of the industry instead of letting other states get the plants to build the equipment that will be sent back to Texas for installation.
The 3rd Annual West Texas Wind Energy Trade Fair will be at Trent ISD on July 10, 11 and 12. Wortham said the event will be of interest to everyone in the area. Day One will focus on small wind turbines for use at schools and for farm and ranch use. Day Two will relate to large-scale development, with tracks including wind operations, landowner considerations, county issues, school issues, industrial development, policy updates, and emergency response. Day Three will feature half-day tours of wind projects. Go to www.WestTexasWind.us (the consortiums’s web site) or call 325/236-9499 for information. The trade fair’s fee is $50 per person.
Memberships in the wind consortium range from $25 per year for affiliate members, $50 for landowners, attorneys and local businesses, $250 for governmental entities and schools, up to $1,000 for utilities and wind energy developers. More information and membership forms are available at the consortium’s web site.
County May Contribute to WTRC’S Reserves
County Treasurer Alan Dierschke reported that West Texas Rural Counties insurance group, of which Glasscock County is a member, needs to raise more money for its reserves. Dierschke said the group feels if it can raise a total of $1 million from the group’s 14 members, it can reduce the amount it spends on reinsurance, and thereby save member counties money. He said some members would not be able to contribute.
He said for contributions of $100,000 or more, there is to be a dividend paid of 10 percent per year and 7.5 percent for lesser amounts. If the group is unable to raise at least $1 million, Dierschke said it will go on with business as usual. After discussing whether Glasscock County should contribute, the court tabled the matter until its July meeting.
There was discussion of the need for a ramp on the south side of the dumpster at the west dump ground, but no action was taken. The only drive-on ramp now is on the north side, and Commissioner Mark Halfmann said the usual south wind makes emptying trash burn-barrels pretty nasty.