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Home My WebLink About2026/02/24 Emergency Meeting 9:30 AM FILED 02/23/2026 3:46 pm KAREN MCQUEEN COUNTY CLERK :.•• ,T E'o;•..,. BRAZOS COUNTY, TEXAS `'••. By: ASHLIE PETERS-BOWMAN br`, ot• , ��a, . BRAZOS COUNTY BRYAN, TEXAS NOTICE OF MEETING AND AGENDA EMERGENCY MEETING BRAZOS COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT MEETING DATE: February 24, 2026 MEETING TIME: 9:30AM Commissioners Courtroom of the Brazos County MEETING PLACE: Administration Building, 200 S. Texas Avenue, Suite 106, Bryan, TX 77803 1. Call to Order 2. This notice of an Emergency Meeting is being provided in accordance with Section 551.045 of the Texas Government Code. This emergency meeting is being scheduled to take appropriate action on an Order Prohibiting Outdoor Burning. 3. Adjourn The Commissioners Courtroom of the Brazos County Administration Building,200 S.Texas Avenue,Suite 106, Bryan, TX 77803 is wheelchair accessible.Handicap parking spaces are available.Any request for sign interpretive services must be made two working days before the meeting.To make arrangements, please call(979)361-4102. \'" ..Op .. ram. * • * 111# rY OF 8 The following minutes of the Commissioners Court Emergency Meeting held February 24, 2026, have been examined and are approved in open Court this 24th day of March 2026,in Bryan,Brazos County, Texas. Duane Peters Bentley e t County Judge Commissi er, Precinct Chuck Konderla Fred Brown Commissioner, Precinct 2 Commissioner, Precinct 3 d\ /Pr V o ` Wanda J. Wa Commissione , ' cinct 4 Attest: Karen cQueen County Clerk -' y w: * • bV � OF MINUTES FEBRUARY 24, 2026 BRAZOS COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT EMERGENCY MEETING 1. Call to Order An Emergency Meeting of the Brazos County Commissioners' Court was held in the Brazos County Commissioners Courtroom in the Administration Building, 200 South Texas Avenue Bryan, Brazos County, Texas, beginning at 9:41 a.m. on Tuesday, February 24, 2026 with the following members of the Court present: Duane Peters, County Judge, Presiding; Bentley Nettles, Commissioner of Precinct 1; Chuck Konderla, Commissioner of Precinct 2; Fred Brown, Commissioner of Precinct 3; Wanda J. Watson, Commissioner of Precinct 4; Karen McQueen, County Clerk; The attached sheets contain the names of the citizens and officials that were in attendance. 2. This notice of an Emergency Meeting is being provided in accordance with Section 551.045 of the Texas Government Code. This emergency meeting is being scheduled to take appropriate action on an Order Prohibiting Outdoor Burning. Judge Peters called the meeting to order at 9:41 a.m. and recognized Emergency Management Coordinator Jason Ware. Mr. Ware stated that wildfire activity is increasing and fire dangers are high. While the drought index remains on the low side, due to the vegetation freezing and curing in the last few weeks, there is ample fuel for a fire. With the support of the four Fire Chiefs, Mr. Ware recommended that the Court instate a Burn Ban. General Counsel Ed Bull clarified the specifics of the Bum Ban, stating that it is a 60 day Order prohibiting burning and allows the County Judge to terminate early if needed. On a motion by Commissioner Brown, with a second from Commissioner Watson, the Court voted unanimously to instate the Burn Ban for 60 days, with the option for the County Judge to terminate early if necessary. The Burn Ban is effective immediately. A copy of the Order is attached. Motion:Approve, Moved by Commissioner Fred Brown, Seconded by Commissioner Wanda J. Watson. Passed. 5-0. Ayes: Brown, Konderla, Nettles, Peters, Watson. 3. Adjourn The meeting was adjourned at 9:47 a.m. rg I or BRAZOS COUNTY COMMISSIONER' S COURT N DAY OF p cuac , 20 ;30 /PM, ateics2Act e\ Name Organization (PLEASE PRLN'T) (PLEASE PRLNT) Nov Lim wt Le." LC(Ari- (A. 6 yatih-e atcecb_ic/- TaAe, jc ( , � P\4\0geys-fixivoixoArk CO. c Inks iA-eASLAAs 0- C v� cv c" Pfvcop C)-3 \\ z - Fla( (, iiLc (9cz I aT c7(2,4.ez L-(41(/'/AA ithr l x or _,.)_ BRAZOS COUNTY COMMISSIONER' S COURT 2'-f' DAY OF .F.e,4)r uct ry , 20 au q '. 30, Name Organization (PLEASE PRLNT) (PLEASE PRLNT) Del°1 SaINC10\/00 1/-t F L v71 �.�, ► e5 0AF:( 215A0w�'J �c�r fa!`l 4 ,4n�crM 1_ WW1 1 covnrty LATte i S'pv .or 10- (1tli`zcv 6-41t1 Vyttiotkc I r/AAs4 vo-\ RAmlics I 1 A 1 Ch * 114(4_, R/S C,rk ZO)) N c. 4Z.L± 56 () UV . rg ur BRAZOS COUNTY COMMISSIONER' S COURT aye DAY OF -dor pour , 20 acp ()\. PM, Ex\(\tx-rci Real Name Organization (PLEASE PRLNT) (PLEASE PRINT) Y4- s\r}QA . s2✓Vi c S tYakli) Ay'UX\ cYA J SalQ,204- ‘1Zei-Uttu\-ot 1`ct Cir`° 2 ,ate s oyk 5c/� Leuvvo CotAs-iab .e 'c- . g- ti :tiA 7 n BRAZOS COUNTY BRYAN, TEXAS DEPARTMENT: NUMBER: DATE OF COURT MEETING: 2/24/2026 ITEM: This notice of an Emergency Meeting is being provided in accordance with Section 551.045 of the Texas Government Code. This emergency meeting is being scheduled to take appropriate action on an Order Prohibiting Outdoor Burning. TO: Commissioners Court DATE: 02/23/2026 FISCAL IMPACT: False BUDGETED: False DOLLAR AMOUNT: $0.00 ATTACHMENTS: File Name Description Type Emergency Burn Ban Order February 24 2026.pdf Emergency Burn Ban Order Cover Memo ' • • am4):4\ • t. yip:.os.;5Si°' BRAZOS COUNTY BRYAN, TEXAS ORDER PROHIBITING OUTDOOR BURNING WHEREAS,in accordance with provisions of the Texas Local Government Code,Chapter 352,a drought condition exists or has existed in Brazos County,Texas as determined by Texas Local Government Code Chapter 352;and, WHEREAS,Section 352.081 of the Local Government Code provides that the commissioners court of a county, by order may prohibit outdoor burning in the unincorporated area of the county if the commissioners court makes a finding that circumstances present in the unincorporated area create a public safety hazard that would be made more severe by outdoor burning;and, WHEREAS,the Brazos County Commissioners Court does hereby find that circumstances are currently present in all or part of the unincorporated area of Brazos County that create.a public safety hazard and would be exacerbated by outdoor burning. BE IT THEREFORE ORDERED that the following regulations are hereby established for all unincorporated areas of Brazos County,Texas for the duration of the above mentioned declaration; 1. Action Prohibited: A person violates'this order if he or she bums any combustible material outside of an enclosure serving to contain all flames and/or sparks,or orders such burning by others. 2. Enforcement: A. As soon as possible,a duly commissioned peace officer shall be sent to the scene to investigate the nature of the fire. , B. Upon notification of suspected outdoor burning,the fire department assigned to the location of the fire shall respond to the scene and take immediate measures to contain and/or extinguish the fire. C. If in the opinion of the officer at the scene and/or the fire chief;the goal of the order can be attained by informing the responsible party about the prohibitions established by this order,the officer may,at his discretion,notify the party about the provisions of this order and request compliance with it.In such instances,an entry of the notification shall be made into the dispatcher's log containing the time,date,and place of the warning,and the name of the person receiving the warning. 3. At the discretion of the peace officer or the fire chief, second or flagrant violations of the order may be prosecuted in accordance with the statutes and procedures governing misdemeanors. 4. This Order prohibiting Outdoor Burning is in effect today,February 24,2026,and will expire sixty(60) days from today's date,April 25,2026;-unless and until it is either extended or terminated earlier by the Commissioners Court or terminated earlier by the County Judge.The Commissioners Court hereby designates the County Judge the authority to terminate this Order in accordance with Local Government Code Section 352.081(c)(2). 5. This prohibition does not apply to prescribed outdoor burning activities related to public health and safety and/or trench-burning related to public health and safety that are authorized by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality for: (1) firefighting training;(2)public utility;(3)natural gas pipeline or mining operations;(4)planting or harvesting of agriculture crops;or(5)burns that are conducted by a prescribed burn manager certified under Section 153.048 of the Texas Natural Resources Code, and meet the standards of Section 153.047 of the Texas Natural Resources Code 6. Exception(s): A. Welding Welding may be allowed under the following guidelines only: Provide a spotter for each welder,each cutter,each grinder, and for any activity that causes or may cause a spark. • Maintain a minimum perimeter around the welding area of a radius of 25 feet or three times the height of the actual welding,whichever is greater.(Example: if the welding is occurring ten feet off the ground,a perimeter of thirty(30) feet radium must be protected).The perimeter must be clear of vegetation and kept wet. If the perimeter cannot be cleared of vegetation, proper precautionary measures must be taken(Example:protecting brush,etc.,by utilizing fire resistant tarps). • Maintain a minimum of 100 gallons of water at the site. • Maintain a minimum of one(1)water pressure fire extinguisher per spotter. • No weldingshall occur if winds are greater than 20 mph or relative humidity is less than 30%. • Prior to conducting any welding activity, the welder shall give notice to the Brazos County Dispatch on their non-emergency number at(979-361-3888).The notice may be by phone but shall give the name of the welder conducting the welding operation,the location of the operation, cell phone number of other contact information,and the name of party responsible. B. Outdoor Cooking All outdoor cooking or open flame devices are prohibited. • Unless the cooking device is propane or natural gas and has a complete and full enclosure that it utilizes at all times. • Unless the cooking device is wood or charcoal and has a complete and full enclosure that is utilized, and all areas around cooking device shall be clear of vegetation and/or'combustible materials or debris for a 5' radius. BE IT ALSO ORDERED that this order may be enforced by any duly commissioned peace officer and that the venue for prosecution of this order will be the Justice of the Peace. APPROVED this .:2-111 day of NS-a-1DNr U c:,`K ,20 eters,County Judge Bentl Nettles,Com i sio recinct l uck Kon a,Commissi ner,Precinct Fred Brown,Commissioner,Precinct 3 Wanda J.Watso Lo issioner,Precinct 4