Published: July 21, 2008 06:53 pm            

Commissioners discuss Dolly, burn ban

By Erik Onstott

The Orange Leader



While Tropical Storm Dolly in the Gulf of Mexico is on track to make landfall near the Texas-Mexico border — well south of Orange County — emergency management coordinator Jeff Kelley briefed commissioners on the storm’s status Monday as he discussed a possible burn ban in the county.

“We have about a 30 percent chance of seeing tropical storm-force winds,” Kelley said.

Kelley also told commissioners all the models were predicting the storm to make landfall between Brownsville and Corpus Christi.

The National Weather Service field office in Corpus Christi was forecasting Dolly would bring between 10 and 15 inches of rain to the area, according to Kelley.

Kelley told commissioners the Keetch-Byram Drought Index for Orange County was currently between 600 and 700. The index, which measures ground moisture, goes from 0 to 800. A measurement of 0 indicates no moisture depletion, while a measurement of 800 represents completely dry conditions, according to the Texas Weather Connection website at http://webgis.tamu.edu.

“I wouldn’t recommend it (a burn ban) at this point,” Kelley said. “Unless something dramatically changes, I think we’re good for another week.”

Commissioners took no action on implementing a burn ban for the county.

In other action, commissioners gave property owner Tim Williams a 30-day extension to clean up his property at 1230 Scott Street in Vidor.

“There’s still work to be done,” said Williams, who told commissioners he had moved all the cars and trucks on the property. “I’ll come back as much as you need me to.”

County Judge Carl Thibodeaux said there would not be a problem as long as the cleanup was progressing. Thibodeaux also told Williams he wanted to see progress on a weekly basis.

“At the end of 30 days, I would like to see evidence of progress,” Precinct 3 Commissioner John Dubose said.

Williams said he would send the commissioners pictures of the property as the cleanup progressed.



Reach this reporter at 409-883-3571, Ext. 2616 or eonstott@orangeleader.com

        

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