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Keep Texas Beautiful, Inc. Executive Director Rachel Hering presents the Bandera County 2019 award for outstanding recycling efforts to Pct. 4 Commissioner Jordan Rutherford.
Photo by Jessica Nohealapa'ahi
June 7, 2021
Commissioners Court Briefings
County recognized, rabies control officer and EMS director announce resignations
By Jessica Nohealapa’ahi
The Bandera Prophet
Bandera County commissioners were recognized by Keep Texas Beautiful, Inc., for “outstanding recycling efforts” in 2019. Rachel Hering, executive director for Keep Texas Beautiful, said Bandera County amassed 150,000 pounds of recyclable materials in 2019. Last year, the county was on track to beat that total with 90,000 pounds, however Hering said everything changed with the pandemic.
“We’re working on recycling programs through grant funding from HEB and Ozarka,” Hering said, adding recycling efforts are recovering and moving forward.
Hering said plastics used to be tied to oil prices, however Ozarka, Pepsi and Coca Cola are now looking to use recycled plastics in new sustainability programs.
In other business, commissioners unanimously approved a non-exclusive general services agreement with law firm Bickerstaff Heath Delgado Acosta, LLP. The county may still use other firms whenever it chooses and engage BHDA on an as-needed basis, Attorney Charles R. Kimbrough said.
“There are no requirements for monetary retainer. It’s our belief you can’t really do that with a public entity,” Kimbrough said, adding there were no minimum fees or billing.
If engaged, attorney services would cost $350 per hour, paralegal services would cost $160 per hour, which Kimbrough said was a reduced rate structure.
“This is simply a resource… to use at your best judgement and discretion,” Kimbrough said.
Rabies control officer resigns
Dr. Conrad Nightingale submitted his letter of resignation as the county’s rabies control officer, effective June 1.
“Dr. Nightingale has been our rabies control officer for half a century,” County Judge Richard Evans said. “He’s been very diligent. He’s decided it’s time to move on.”
Nightingale said the recent increase in population has taxed the county through the pandemic.
“I just want to say I’ve really appreciated all the hard work and cooperation from the Sheriff’s Office, animal control and other county entities that have helped us out. Rabies is a serious disease,” Nightingale said.
Evans said Sheriff Dan Butts is working on a plan to replace Nightingale.
Monthly reports
In Butts’ monthly report, he said in April deputies responded to 596 calls for service and traveled 21,971 miles. The average tone to on scene for priority calls was 12.37 minutes. Deputies made 12 felony arrests and 19 misdemeanor arrests. The county was the primary responder to city calls four times, 45 people were booked into the county jail and the average inmate population was 57 - seven of whom were contract inmates.
“Fifty inmates is high for us. The average number is 40,” Butts said, adding incoming 911 calls totaled 1,425. “That number just keeps going up.”
Animal control took in 23 dogs and one cat, and the average animal population was seven dogs and one cat.
EMS Director Calvin Plummer reported 241 calls during April for EMS workers, who traveled 13,800 miles. The average tone to response time was 1.85 minutes and average tone to on scene time was 9.19 minutes.
Plummer also announced that he would be stepping down as director in November, and he plans to work at a hospital in the intensive care unit as a nurse practioner.
Plummer has been a member of Bandera County EMS since 2002, and will participate in the selection of his replacement.
“It’s not what I want to have happen, but it’s happening in the right way,” Pct. 2 Commissioner Bobby Harris said. “This is the way the transition needs to happen”
Plummer said he would like to explore hiring in-house. At least two people, possibly three are interested and qualified, he said.
“We’re working on recycling programs through grant funding from HEB and Ozarka,” Hering said, adding recycling efforts are recovering and moving forward.
Hering said plastics used to be tied to oil prices, however Ozarka, Pepsi and Coca Cola are now looking to use recycled plastics in new sustainability programs.
In other business, commissioners unanimously approved a non-exclusive general services agreement with law firm Bickerstaff Heath Delgado Acosta, LLP. The county may still use other firms whenever it chooses and engage BHDA on an as-needed basis, Attorney Charles R. Kimbrough said.
“There are no requirements for monetary retainer. It’s our belief you can’t really do that with a public entity,” Kimbrough said, adding there were no minimum fees or billing.
If engaged, attorney services would cost $350 per hour, paralegal services would cost $160 per hour, which Kimbrough said was a reduced rate structure.
“This is simply a resource… to use at your best judgement and discretion,” Kimbrough said.
Rabies control officer resigns
Dr. Conrad Nightingale submitted his letter of resignation as the county’s rabies control officer, effective June 1.
“Dr. Nightingale has been our rabies control officer for half a century,” County Judge Richard Evans said. “He’s been very diligent. He’s decided it’s time to move on.”
Nightingale said the recent increase in population has taxed the county through the pandemic.
“I just want to say I’ve really appreciated all the hard work and cooperation from the Sheriff’s Office, animal control and other county entities that have helped us out. Rabies is a serious disease,” Nightingale said.
Evans said Sheriff Dan Butts is working on a plan to replace Nightingale.
Monthly reports
In Butts’ monthly report, he said in April deputies responded to 596 calls for service and traveled 21,971 miles. The average tone to on scene for priority calls was 12.37 minutes. Deputies made 12 felony arrests and 19 misdemeanor arrests. The county was the primary responder to city calls four times, 45 people were booked into the county jail and the average inmate population was 57 - seven of whom were contract inmates.
“Fifty inmates is high for us. The average number is 40,” Butts said, adding incoming 911 calls totaled 1,425. “That number just keeps going up.”
Animal control took in 23 dogs and one cat, and the average animal population was seven dogs and one cat.
EMS Director Calvin Plummer reported 241 calls during April for EMS workers, who traveled 13,800 miles. The average tone to response time was 1.85 minutes and average tone to on scene time was 9.19 minutes.
Plummer also announced that he would be stepping down as director in November, and he plans to work at a hospital in the intensive care unit as a nurse practioner.
Plummer has been a member of Bandera County EMS since 2002, and will participate in the selection of his replacement.
“It’s not what I want to have happen, but it’s happening in the right way,” Pct. 2 Commissioner Bobby Harris said. “This is the way the transition needs to happen”
Plummer said he would like to explore hiring in-house. At least two people, possibly three are interested and qualified, he said.