Illegal dump sites cleaned
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IN OTHER BUSINESS
The commissioners court also approved on Monday the purchase of a flood-prone parcel in Inez under the federal buyout program.
The property is owned by Tim Doelle at 1342 Rodeo Road. County officials anticipate buying a second ...
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IN OTHER BUSINESS
The commissioners court also approved on Monday the purchase of a flood-prone parcel in Inez under the federal buyout program.
The property is owned by Tim Doelle at 1342 Rodeo Road. County officials anticipate buying a second parcel from Tina Porter at 234 Weitz Road.
Total purchase price is $320,000.
If parts of Victoria County are looking cleaner, that could be because of a recent effort to get rid of illegal dump sites.
De-Go-La Resource Conservation and Development Inc. received $6,900 in state environmental funds that helped jump-start the project.
"With that money, we were able to dispose of 23.6 tons of illegally dumped materials," said Joni Brown with Keep Victoria Beautiful. "That's a very conservative number because we may have picked up more than that at just one site."
Brown, who delivered a report to the commissioners court Monday on the cleanup, said more money could be on the way for additional work.
But Brown said probably more important than cleaning up the trash is getting word out that there will be a concerted effort to go after the violators.
"What we want people to know in the long run is if you illegally dump in Victoria County and we can find you, we're going to prosecute you," she said. "We want it stopped."
The $6,900 was used to clean up illegal dump sites in the precincts of commissioners Kevin Janak and Gary Burns. The commissioners provided equipment and personnel.
"We clean up with our equipment what we could," Burns said. "Then the sheriff's office comes in with the inmates and polishes up."
Because that money was spent so efficiently, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality is providing another $3,800 for additional projects, Brown said.
Most of that money will be spent in Commissioner Wayne Dierlam's precinct, although Brown anticipates $900 remaining. She said additional dump sites have been identified for cleanup and commissioners may contact her about the extra money.
"But the biggest illegal dumping problems we have are in Precinct 1," Brown said after the meeting. "We have huge illegal dumping problems in Precinct 1."
Kenny Spann, the Precinct 1 commissioner, said he's aware of problem sites on Black Bayou Road No. 1 and Hiller Road. "Other than that, that's it for right now."
Spann said he would contact Brown about the funding.
Janak said so much work was done by his crews, he's not sure he'll be fully reimbursed. Most of the sites were under river bridges, including some at locations used by paddlers along the Guadalupe River.
"That is a resource for Victoria County," he said. "So, it was a good thing."
