On any given day, a Texas county commissioner wears a multitude of hats. But when disaster strikes, that number can double. After the steady rains of Aug. 17-18, Jones County Commissioner James Clawson became a loader and a hauler, piling and pushing soaked belongings of flood victims and dumping them into sobering heaps of prized-possessions-turned-trash. Clawson became an … [Read more...] about Relentless Rains Soak Hamlin
Miscellaneous
Legislation Expands County Subdivision Authority
Effective Sept. 1, 2007, SB1867, by Sen. Zaffirini and Rep. Guillen, expands the subdivision regulation authority of most Texas counties. Prior to this legislation, the authority to adopt certain subdivision regulations in Subchapter E, Chapter 232, Local Government Code, was limited to certain urban counties. Section 6 of SB1867 repealed this population bracket. Therefore, … [Read more...] about Legislation Expands County Subdivision Authority
Briscoe County CourthouseCounty Seat: SilvertonCounty Population: 1,716
The Briscoe County Courthouse was completed in 1922 in a Classical Revival style. The brick and concrete structure was then remodeled in 1954. Organized in 1892, the county was named for Andrew Briscoe, a Texas patriot and veteran of San Jacinto. In their book, "The Courthouses of Texas," Mavis P. Kelsey Sr. and Donald Dyal offer the following history on the christening of … [Read more...] about Briscoe County CourthouseCounty Seat: SilvertonCounty Population: 1,716
The Test of Time Counties Offered Limited Opportunity to Adopt Official County Road Maps
Texas counties still have a window of opportunity to legally clarify the public interest in long-maintained roads, a measure that could save counties hundreds of thousands of dollars in litigation costs. House Bill 1117, passed by the 78th Texas Legislature, went into effect Sept. 1, 2003, and expires Sept. 1, 2009. Implementation of the bill, a discretionary measure found … [Read more...] about The Test of Time Counties Offered Limited Opportunity to Adopt Official County Road Maps
The Precinct Road System
This month, County Progress asked a road expert to explain the benefits of the Precinct Road System. Next month, we will give equal space to a discussion on the plus side of the Unit Road System. The precinct road maintenance system has been the service backbone in many counties for generations. An estimated 75 percent of Texas counties continue to operate under the … [Read more...] about The Precinct Road System