Mason’s County Commissioners approved an interlocal agreement with the Concho Valley Transit District (CVTD) at their regular meeting February 24. The CVTD will officially take over service from the Hill Country Transit District for the county’s public transportation on March 3. The County, the City of Mason and the Mason Independent School District shared the annual $45,000 cost of the service. “We were lucky all three entities worked together,” said Commissioner Dave Underwood. The cost is paid through 2025, with the bill for 2026 arriving in September, said County Judge Sheree Hardin.
Commissioners approved the final $11,144.13 payment to Fletco for the Courthouse public restroom project. The restrooms, located on the courthouse lawn, are now open 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Monday through Friday, said Judge Hardin. They are closed when the courthouse is closed, but will be open for public functions, she said.
County Treasurer Ally Yonker received the court’s approval to renew the Affordable Care Act Reporting and Tracking service, which is provided free of charge to the county by the Texas Association of Counties (TAC).
A new part time employee, Christie Lehmberg, was approved to begin working Feb. 24 for the Agrilife Extension agency. Lehmberg will earn $20.40 per hour as the 4-H program assistant.
Revisions to the interlocal agreement with the City of Mason rodeo arena were approved to acknowledge the new name of the Mason TX Rodeo Association and to extend the termination notification terms of the agreement from 30 to 60 days.
Commissioners discussed a request to join TEX-21, a “non-partisan, non-profit organization made up of cities, counties, transit agencies, economic development corporations and private organizations with the goal of improving transportation policy and infrastructure at the local, state, and federal levels,” according to its website. Commissioner Buddy Schuessler said a representative of the organization had solicited the county’s feedback on a Texas Department of Transportation (TXDOT) project to widen highway 377, which runs from Del Rio to the Oklahoma border. At this time, commissioners did not feel in favor of paying $2,500 per year to join TEX-21. Commissioners voiced more concern over highways 29 to Llano and 87 to Fredericksburg, due to increased traffic and lack of passing lanes.
Road and Bridge Supervisor Chris Magee received approval from the Court to use his discretion in purchasing two 2020 DayCab vehicles from San Saba County, at a cost of no more than $35,000 each. Both trucks are five years old and have approximately 400,000 miles, which Magee said “would be an improvement over what we have now.” Magee was scheduled to go look at the trucks on February 24 and determine whether or not to purchase them. Commissioners also approved some cattle guard work on Lower Willow Creek Road, which landowners Ken Jordan and Bart Larrimore requested, at no cost to the county.
Judge Hardin announced that the Mason Courthouse has been nominated for a Texas Historical Commission (THC) Preservation Award. The awards banquet will be in April in Austin. THC has provided the county with three complimentary tickets.
The month of March was approved by Commissioners as American Red Cross month in Mason County. Debbie Sultemeier, a member of the board of advisors for the Hill Country Chapter of the Red Cross in Kerrville, presented the Court with a proclamation of the event. Sultemeier told the Court that while the Red Cross is known for responding to earthquakes, tornados and other natural disasters, house fires are the number one problem in our area. The Red Cross exists to deliver relief and care across our world, Sultemeier said.
