Commissioners Court ends year with routine business, burn ban
Stephens County commissioners wrapped up the year during Wednesday’s meeting, taking care of routine business, accepting road material bids and approving contracts.
Commissioners designated the second and fourth Monday of each month for holding regular commissioners meetings, and the first and third Monday of each month for meetings to approve bills and correspondence from the previous week.
They also approved an order for the Stephens County to remain on the salary system for paying county employees every two weeks and mileage reimbursement monthly.
They set 11 dates for next year’s official county holiday schedule. The approved holidays are New Year’s Day, Jan. 1; President’s Day, Feb. 19; Good Friday, March 30; Memorial Day, May 28; Independence Day, July 4; Labor Day, Sept. 3; Columbus Day, Oct. 8; Thanksgiving, Nov. 22 and 23; and, Christmas, Dec. 24 and 25. County offices will be closed on those days.
Commissioners also approved a contractual agreement between Stephens County and the Breckenridge Library and Fine Arts Foundations. As part of the agreement, the county provides the library with $12,000 annually.
In other business, commissioners approved bids for the purchase of crushed rock and road material for the year 2018.
They also approved an attorney retainer contract with the Dallas-based law firm Ferrer, Poirot and Wansbrough regarding the opioid crisis. Under the contract, Stephens County will participate in the lawsuit but will not pay any upfront legal fees. The case is being handled on a contingent fee, meaning the firm will not charge the county any attorney’s fees or costs unless they obtain a recovery from the case. The lawsuit is part of the firm’s municipal lawsuits against opioid manufacturers.
Commissioners also voted keep in place the county-wide burn ban.
Story by Tony Pilkington/Breckenridge Texan
