Texas County Progress

The Official Publication of the County Judges and Commissioners Association of Texas

Emergency Response

Creating an Emergency Services District

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By Cliff Avery SAFE-D Executive Director Even in these tax-averse times, people want to make sure their emergency services are reliably funded. At any uniform election date, emergency services districts (ESDs) are on the ballot. Even though they may add a small amount to the property tax bill, they pass. In November 2018 – amid the din of a senator election, governor … [Read more...] about Creating an Emergency Services District

RESTORE Act Funding: Partnerships, Persistence Critical

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Gulf Coast Counties Eligible to Apply   By Juan Moya, Ph.D., and Amanda Fuller While the agreement is still subject to final approval, the Justice Department has reached a record $18.7 billion settlement with BP PLC, Transocean Ltd., and other companies responsible for the 2010 Deepwater Horizon disaster that killed 11 workers and spilled millions of gallons of … [Read more...] about RESTORE Act Funding: Partnerships, Persistence Critical

Dallas County Thrust into Global Spotlight

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Dallas County Thrust into Global Spotlight County Judge Clay Jenkins Coordinates America’s Ebola Response          In its Oct. 6 online article, TIME Magazine named Dallas County Judge Clay Jenkins as “the first local elected official in the world to oversee the emergency response to a case of Ebola.” http://time.com/3474650/ebola-dallas-judge-jenkins/. First in the … [Read more...] about Dallas County Thrust into Global Spotlight

Limestone County Judge Defends West Explosion Response

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  By Limestone County Judge Daniel Burkeen I have watched the media response to the West explosion, and there are some points that need to be brought out concerning the efforts by some to blame the McLennan County Office of Emergency Management, headed by Frank Patterson, for the incident in West. First, Frank Patterson is a well-respected emergency management … [Read more...] about Limestone County Judge Defends West Explosion Response

Bastrop Inferno

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Published October 2011 The eyes of the nation turned to the Lone Star State over Labor Day as a catastrophic wildfire raged through Bastrop County east of Austin, setting a sober state record with the highest number of homes lost in a single fire in Texas history. Likened to an inferno, the flames were fanned into a firestorm by the winds of Tropical Storm Lee and … [Read more...] about Bastrop Inferno