A burn ban was put in place for Blanco County at Tuesday’s commissioners court meeting.
The burn ban is set to last until noon on Tuesday, Nov. 26. County Judge Brett Bray said all of the fire officials in the county, as well as the fire marshal, advocated for a burn ban to be put in place.
Blanco County hasn’t had a burn ban in place in almost a year. The last county-wide burn ban in place was allowed to expire on Oct. 24, 2023.
A burn ban was in place in 169 of the state’s 254 counties as of Monday. The only county surrounding Blanco County to not have a burn ban in place as of Monday was Gillespie County. A burn ban has been in place in Comal County since Aug. 23; in Travis County since Sept. 4; in Burnet County since Sept. 25; in Hays County since Oct. 8; and in Kendall and Llano counties since Oct. 15.
The Keetch-Byram Drought Index for Tuesday in Blanco County was in the 600-700 range, which is the sixth highest level on the seven-step index. The county’s average on the index was 615, with a minimum level of 503 and a maximum level of 709. The county’s average increased three points from Monday to Tuesday.
The county’s average on the Keetch-Byram Drought Index has slowly increased throughout the month. Blanco County’s average on the index was 511 on Oct. 1. It increased to 555 on Oct. 8, and moved up to 596 on Oct. 15. Blanco County is listed in moderate fire danger through Thursday on the Texas A&M Forest Service’s fire danger report.
All of Blanco County is now in some form of drought, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor issued last Thursday. A portion of the county – 4.76 percent – is listed in the extreme drought category in the latest monitor. It’s the first time since the May 28 drought monitor that any of Blanco County has been listed in extreme drought, the fourth highest of five steps on the monitor.
The rest of the county includes 38.61 percent in severe drought, the midpoint of the five-step monitor; 21.42 percent in moderate drought, the second of five steps on the monitor; and 35.21 percent listed as abnormally dry, the first of five steps on the monitor.
The commissioners approved a Hotel Occupancy Tax request from Lights Spectacular in the amount of $12,500. This includes the $6,000 already approved to go to the event that has already been budgeted by the commissioners in their community service budget. The HOT funds will be used instead of those funds budgeted in the community service line item.
The commissioners approved a proclamation to support “Operation Green Light.” The proclamation asks Blanco County residents to honor the contributions and sacrifices made by members of the armed forces and veterans. It also asks that residents recognize the stress placed on members of the armed forces who return to civilian life and help in that transition.
The county will display green lights at both the courthouse and south annex in early November to support this effort. The proclamation asks that residents also consider displaying green lights during this time to “salute and honor the service and sacrifices of our men and women in uniform transitioning from active service.”
The commissioners also: - Approved the submission of a Texas Community Development Block Grant program application for 202526.
- Approved a resolution for fiscal year 2025 for the Texas Indigent Defense Commission Grant.
- Hired a custodian for the south annex to perform custodial duties twice a month there for a total of $400.
- Authorized Frontier Communications to install fiber cable along Tejas Trail and Lindemann Lane. This includes boring under county roads.
