IN THE COMMISSIONERS COURT OF

BELL COUNTY, TEXAS

December 10, 2007

AFTER proper posting of public notice, a copy of which is attached hereto, on this the10th day of December, 2007, the County Commissioners Court of Bell County, Texas, met in the Commissioners' Courtroom in Belton, Texas, in regular session with the following members of said Court present, to-wit:

1. Agenda #1 - Minutes

• MINUTE ORDER #501/07:  It being nine a.m., Judge Jon Burrows called the regular meeting of the Commissioners' Court to order and called to the Courts attention that the minutes of December 3, 2007 regular session had been received.  After due discussion, these minutes were approved as presented.
  
  
  
  

2. Agenda #2a - Public Hearing - Vacating Portion of Wilkerson Valley Road

• MINUTE ORDER #502/07:  At 9:06 a.m., County Judge Jon Burrows opened the public hearing regarding the vacation of a portion of Wilkerson Valley Road as depicted on maps and drawings provided.  Ms. Rita Seghers, Salado Woods, presented opposing comments.  There were no other public comments.  Judge Jon Burrows closed the public hearing at 9:08 a.m.  The Court took no action on this matter.      
  
  
  
  

3. Agenda #2b - Booth Addition

• MINUTE ORDER #503/07:  County Engineer Richard Macchi presented for approval the final plat of Booth Addition, a One-Lot, 6.0 Acre Subdivision on Knob Creek Road, Precinct 3.  After due discussion, upon motion by Commissioner Eddy Lange, second by Commissioner Richard Cortese, the Court unanimously approved this matter.        
  
  
  
  

4. Agenda #2c - Letter of Credit Number 586

• MINUTE ORDER #504/07:  After due discussion, upon motion by Commissioner Tim Brown, second by Commissioner John Fisher, the Court unanimously approved releasing Letter of Credit Number 586, First State Bank Central Texas, in the amount of $10,000 for the maintenance of improvements in Rangers' Promise.         
  
  
  
  

5. Agenda #2d - Sunset Vista Subdivision

• MINUTE ORDER #505/07:  County Engineer Richard Macchi presented for approval a variance to Subdivision Regulations regarding soils testing and approval of the Final Plat for Sunset Vista Subdivision, Section Four, a 16-Lot, 13.332 Acre Development off of Shaw Road, Precinct 3.  After due discussion, upon motion by Commissioner Eddy Lange, second by Commissioner Richard Cortese, the Court unanimously approved this matter.        
  
  
  
  

6. Agenda #3 - Personnel

   • MINUTE ORDER #506/07:   Upon motion by Commissioner John Fisher, second by Commissioner Eddy Lange, the Court unanimously approved all employee status report forms with approved budget amendment, the same being attached hereto and made a part of these minutes.
     
     
     
     

7. Agenda #4 - Joint Resolution and Statistical Information for Joint Primary and 2008 Primary Election Services Contract

   • MINUTE ORDER #507/07:   County Clerk Shelley Coston presented for approval the Joint Resolution and Statistical Information for Joint Primary and the 2008 Primary Election Services Contract by and between the Democratic Party Chair, Arthur Resa; the Republican Party Chair, Nancy Boston; and the Bell County Election Officer for the conduct and supervision of the 2008 Bell County Joint Primary March Election and Joint Primary Runoff April Election, if necessary.  After due discussion, upon motion by Commissioner Tim Brown, second by Commissioner Richard Cortese, the Court unanimously approved these matters.  A copy of said contracts are attached hereto and made a part of these minutes.
     
     
     
     
     

8. Agenda #5 - Willroy Pitrucha Award

• MINUTE ORDER #508/07:  District Attorney Henry Garza presented the Third Annual Willroy Pitrucha Award to Tim Steglich, an outstanding detective-investigator with the Bell County Sheriff's Office for demonstrating excellence in criminal investigation.  No action taken.         
  
  
  
  

9. Agenda #6 - Order Restricting Outdoor Burning

   • MINUTE ORDER #509/07:   The Court received a report from Fire Marshall Steve Casey, and after due discussion, upon motion by Commissioner Eddy Lange, second by Commissioner Richard Cortese, the Court unanimously immediately lifted the Order Restricting Outdoor Burning which was to have expired on December 13, 2007 and found that circumstances present in all or part of the unincorporated area of the County create a public safety hazard that would be exacerbated by outdoor burning and signed a new Order Restricting Outdoor Burning to be effective sundown Thursday, December 13, 2007 for thirty (30 ) days.
     
     
     
     

10. Agenda #7 - Hazardous Conditions of Rural Acreage

• MINUTE ORDER #510/07:  After due discussion, upon motion by Commissioner Richard Cortese, second by Commissioner Eddy Lange, the Court unanimously determined under Texas Local Government Code Section 352.51, Subsection C, that conditions on rural acreage not under cultivation for a period of at least 12 months are extremely hazardous for the danger of fire because of high grass or dry vegetation.         
  
  
  
  

11. Agenda #8 - Order Prohibiting the Sale, Use, Detonating, Ignition or other Use of Certain Fireworks

• MINUTE ORDER #511/07:  After due discussion, upon motion by Commissioner John Fisher, second by Commissioner Richard Cortese, the Court unanimously determined that conditions on rural acreage are extremely hazardous and approved the Order prohibiting the sale, use detonating, ignition, or other use of fireworks classified under 49 C.F.R. part. 173.100(r)(2) (10-1-86 edition), as "skyrockets with sticks" and "missiles with fins" in any portion of the unincorporated area of Bell County.  A copy of said Order is attached hereto and made a part of these minutes.         
  
  
  
  

12. Agenda #9 - Amendment to August 1998 Memorandum of Understanding

• MINUTE ORDER #512/07:  After due discussion, upon motion by Commissioner John Fisher, second by Commissioner Tim Brown, the Court unanimously approved Amendment No. 3 to the August 1998 Memorandum of Understanding between The Texas Agricultural Experiment Station, the Texas A&M University System and Bell County, extending the agreement to September 30.  A copy of said amendment is attached hereto and made a part of these minutes.       
  
  
  
  

13. Agenda #10 - Claims

    • MINUTE ORDER #513/07:   Judge Jon Burrows presented the claims for review to the Court.  After proper review, upon motion by Commissioner Tim Brown, second by Commissioner Richard Cortese, the Court unanimously approved all such claims.  All according to a copy of the same being of record in the office of the County Auditor.

    
    
    

        (The Court then went into workshop session to discuss those items on the workshop agenda with no action being
         taken on any item.)



         There being no further business, the meeting adjourned.