Richards residents voice concerns on social media

RICHARDS- Many Richards residents voiced concerns on social media involving a residence/ business located across the street from the Richards Independent School District.

In the Facebook post it stated an RV was parked in the RISD parking lot and was missing a tire. Contributors to the post expressed the residence has been an eye sore but parking a vehicle on school property crosses the line. The post included statements stating residents have filed formal complaints and have voiced concerns of possible illegal activity to Grimes County Sheriff’s Office with no avail.

Grimes County Sheriff Don Sowell said the department has received several calls. “We have fielded numerous complaints from the citizens and the school,” explained Sow-ell. “We’ve sent out numerous deputies and a representative from the Montgomery Auto Theft Task Force several times and have run into dead ends on any enforcement against the business.”

Sowell said not being able to help is frustrating. “It frustrates me to not have specific laws in place to hold people accountable for complaints such as this in unrestricted and unincorporated areas throughout Grimes County.”

Richard’s ISD Superintendent William Boyce stated in a phone interview that he was made aware of the Facebook post. “When I arrived the following morning, the RV had been moved,” said Boyce. “I have the gentleman’s phone number and he has mine. If I need anything from him, I have the assurance that I can contact him, and I believe he has the same assurance.”

Boyce said it is the responsibility of RISD to educate the students not to focus on surrounding properties.

Sowell said Richards is not the only community that the sheriff’s office receives complaints about. “I’ve received many complaints about the shooting range near Todd Mission as well,” said Sowell. “Not having the laws to curtail the complaints irritates the affected citizens.”