Grimes County amends temporary waterline permit

ANDERSON- Grimes County Commissioners, in an effort to make fees more manageable for companies throughout the county, approved the amendment of the temporary waterline permit.

Grimes County Road and Bridge engineer Harry Walker stated that earlier this year the county implemented a permit fee and application form for a temporary waterline permit for above ground lines intended to be used when drilling oil. The permit requires the applicant to pay a fee of $500 per crossing on county roads plus a dollar per linear foot laid along the right of way.

“We have our first permit application and after visiting with the applicant they said the linear foot fee would cost them over $45,000,” said Walker.

He said the company generally attempts to use private water for their pumping operations but in this instance, they would have to run pipe approximately 9 miles to reach that water source. After visiting with the company Walker said he agreed to propose an amendment to the permit dropping the linear foot fee from a dollar a foot to 10 cents per foot. The proposed fee would drop the permit linear foot charged to that company approximately $4,500.00.

“I think its reasonable to make this amendment,” explained Walker. “It was never our intention to make the permit fee burdensome, but we thought it was appropriate to charge a permit fee to offset some of the administrative issues associated with dealing with some of these permits. I never knew they would travel distances of this magnitude to obtain water, but I was told they have traveled up to 15-miles to obtain water.”

Commissioners agreed to amend the permit application fee to 10 cents per linear foot along with the $500 crossing fee on county roads.

GCSO Auction

Grimes County Sheriff’s Officer Chief Deputy Todd Green proposed the auction of multiple vehicles owned by the county with the profits going into fund 451-505 (Sheriff’s Office).

Green said the vehicles are either high-mileage vehicles that have exceeded their use, maintenance fees are exceeding their value or are vehicles that have been awarded to the county for various reasons.

Precinct 4 commissioner Phillip Cox questioned the procedure of the disposal of county surplus as opposed to asset forfeiture items. He said he isn’t certain but believes that asset forfeiture items must be disposed of through a sheriff’s sale.

County attorney Jon C. Fultz said he wasn’t aware of there being a difference in the process. Commissioners approved the auction of the items with the understanding that Fultz will investigate the law to determine where those funds should be properly deposited after auction.

Other action

• approved Mr. Creeks’ request for a variance from section 232.001 (Subdivision Plat Requirements) of The Texas Local Government Code for his 4.5-acre lot, A0476 H. Wingfield Tract 9 to be divided in two lots of 2.5 and 2 acres.

• approved electric line installation permit for Mid-South on CR 127 and CR

161.

• approved submission of the Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) Application to the Texas General Land Office to provide drainage and street improvements related to Hurricane Harvey. The grant funds have already been approved but an application process must take place to receive those funds.

• signed a proclamation to declare the month of May as elder abuse prevention month in Grimes County.

No action was needed to the burn ban that was lifted Sept. 12.