County hikes septic fees, prepares for land sale

In a Regular Meeting of the Grimes County Commissioners Court Wednesday, July 7, commissioners approved the $50 increase to the On-Site Sewage Facilities Permit fee requested by 9-1-1 Addressing/Environmental Coordinator Kat Lee. According to Lee, the recommendation to increase fees was made by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) during a departmental review in 2020.

Lee said, “Currently, it’s $210 for residential and $410 for commercial.”

Judge Joe Fauth said, “If we add $50 to the commercial that will take us to $460. Waller County, our neighbor is $510, Burleson County which is a county over is $540, Walker County which is our neighbor, they’re $510. So, even with the increase, we’re very marketable as far as commercial.”

He continued, “On the residential, if we take it to $260, San Jacinto is at $300, Burleson’s at $330, Leon’s at $410, Montgomery’s at $295, Waller’s at $318 and Brazos is $400. So, again we’re still marketable to people coming into the county wanting to build a home.”

Lee clarified that $10 of each permit goes to TCEQ.

Stoneham barn to go to auction

Commissioners approved Road and Bridge’s request to post a public notice regarding the sale of a portion of the County maintenance barn property on Spur 234 in Stoneham. Just under two of the 3 acres and the maintenance building will be sold at a public auction.

Engineer Harry Walker said, “At this point in time, we’ve completed the initial survey of the property. The next step is to go ahead and abandon the existing roads that were the original Stoneham town and plat. We’re ready to start that process. We have to post notice for 20 days and then y’all can consider taking action on that abandonment.”

According to Walker, the final plat can’t be prepared until the abandonment, and the final appraisal depends on “what we end up with after the abandonment.”

Walker anticipates completion of the appraisal and abandonment in August with the auction in September.

Other county-owned property under consideration for sale is on Piedmont in Navasota. According to Walker, the survey should be completed this week but he is awaiting a response from the City of Navasota as to whether an alleyway can be abandoned or has to remain in place.

CR 215, 302 get complicated

Commissioners approved awarding the base bid only for reconstruction of CR 215 to Glenn Fuqua Construction in the amount of $430,735. According to Walker, Fuqua’s was the only bid received for the base and the add-alternate which came in at $155,081.

Walker said, “At this time we’re recommending that the base bid only be awarded, with the complicating factor that I’m going to recommend that the previous award of the CR 302 project (to Glenn Fuqua Construction) that you considered last week be suspended until we can do some further investigation. There’s been discussion between the County and TxDOT regarding the possibility of TxDOT taking over that road as an FM road. In an abundance of caution, we should allow time for those discussions to develop and see if that actually comes forward. It’s a bit awkward but I’m recommending we suspend that award until we get some kind of definitive answer from TxDOT.”

Commissioners Court may be viewed in its entirety at www.grimescountytexas. gov/page/CCVideos.

Other court action:

•Approved consent agenda items which include the treasurer’s list of claims and bills, payroll, the monthly treasurer’s report and approve budget amendments and/or line items.

•Recognized Tammy Castro, a Felony Legal Assistant in the District Attorney’s office, for 10 years of employment with Grimes County.

•In absence of Facilities Maintenance/Project Manager Al Peeler, Judge Joe Fauth and Commissioners Chad Mallett and Phillip Cox reported that action to remediate mold in the jail is working, work on the Justice and Business Center is progressing and the air conditioner is running, and the interior work is now moving forward.

•Tabled action to July 21 regarding a request from IT Director Gregg Cannon regarding rewiring network lines, removing 60-plus old cameras and cables in the Sheriff’s Department and jail.

•Took no action pending further information on request from IT Director Gregg Cannon regarding possible use of American Rescue Plan funds to provide fiber to the Grimes Central Appraisal District, Anderson City Hall, Anderson VFD and the Grimes County Courthouse, Annex and County Clerk buildings.

•Received the Road & Bridge report related to mowing, drainage, ditch work, road maintenance and repair.

•Approved a renewal of the annual Contract for Services with the Bedias Creek Soil and Water Conservation District #428 with the county judge as signatory. There were no changes from the previous contract with County’s payment remaining at $1,000.

Burn ban: No action taken, and ban remains lifted.

Public comments: Resident Ezekiel Barrientos described some road issues on CR 446 along with a few suggestions to remedy the problems.