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June 29, 2023
Commissioners Court Briefing
By Jessica Nohealapa’ahi
The Bandera Prophet
Announcing the good news to commissioners, Bandera County Convention and Visitors Bureau Executive Director Patricia Moore said Bandera was selected as a host of the Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibit.
One of seven cities chosen, Bandera (jointly the Bandera County Historical Commission, CVB and the Frontier Times Museum as part of the Texas Hill Country Trail Region) rose to the top of 53 applicants seeking to be part of the inaugural Museum on Main Street initiative.
“This is very prestigious,” Moore told commissioners last Thursday. “The Texas Historical Commission is adamant that this program be successful.”
The focus of the exhibit is how rural America has changed in the 20th Century, examining the impacts of the population shift from rural to urban areas in the last 100 years, as well as the importance of preserving small towns for their unique cultures, histories and economic revitalization opportunities. They will be in Bandera from June 21 to Aug. 2, 2025.
“It’s not diving deep, but it’s diving well,” Moore said, adding all funding would be provided by a grant from the Smithsonian Institution. “This should create countywide enthusiasm and development. The goal is to serve rural tourism. We also hope that it will bring a greater sense of volunteerism and excitement in the community.”
~ In other business, commissioners unanimously approved absorbing county employee health insurance premium increases, and not passing the expense on to employees in the next fiscal year.
Other insurance premiums approved that will remain the same as last year include life, dental and vision insurance.
~ Commissioners unanimously approved awarding $8,700 to the Medina Volunteer Fire Department to pay for a water line to the fire station. Though the court implemented a moratorium on distributing funds from Covid relief, Bandera County Auditor Darryl Saddler said this request could be an exception, as the process began in April, before the moratorium was implemented earlier this month.
“Let’s go ahead and fund this, because it needs funding, moratorium or no moratorium,” Pct. 4 Commissioner Jody Rutherford said.
~ During the month of May, the Bandera County Sheriff’s Office responded to 659 911-calls for service. Deputies traveled 23,821 miles, with an average tone to on scene for priority calls of 15.19 minutes. The total for incoming and outgoing calls was 6,761, with 1,696 incoming 911 calls.
Sheriff Dan Butts said deputies made 14 felony arrests, 14 misdemeanor arrests, 70 property crimes, 103 crimes against a person, and 122 animal related calls. The Bandera County Jail had 49 bookings, and the average inmate population was 66 - of whom seven are contract inmates.
There were 122 animal related calls, 65 dogs picked up and five cats picked up.
~ EMS Director Shannon Griffin said EMTs responded to 279 calls, with an average 1.07 minutes lapsing from tone to response, and 11.46 minutes for tone to on scene. EMTs traveled 13,573 miles.
One of seven cities chosen, Bandera (jointly the Bandera County Historical Commission, CVB and the Frontier Times Museum as part of the Texas Hill Country Trail Region) rose to the top of 53 applicants seeking to be part of the inaugural Museum on Main Street initiative.
“This is very prestigious,” Moore told commissioners last Thursday. “The Texas Historical Commission is adamant that this program be successful.”
The focus of the exhibit is how rural America has changed in the 20th Century, examining the impacts of the population shift from rural to urban areas in the last 100 years, as well as the importance of preserving small towns for their unique cultures, histories and economic revitalization opportunities. They will be in Bandera from June 21 to Aug. 2, 2025.
“It’s not diving deep, but it’s diving well,” Moore said, adding all funding would be provided by a grant from the Smithsonian Institution. “This should create countywide enthusiasm and development. The goal is to serve rural tourism. We also hope that it will bring a greater sense of volunteerism and excitement in the community.”
~ In other business, commissioners unanimously approved absorbing county employee health insurance premium increases, and not passing the expense on to employees in the next fiscal year.
Other insurance premiums approved that will remain the same as last year include life, dental and vision insurance.
~ Commissioners unanimously approved awarding $8,700 to the Medina Volunteer Fire Department to pay for a water line to the fire station. Though the court implemented a moratorium on distributing funds from Covid relief, Bandera County Auditor Darryl Saddler said this request could be an exception, as the process began in April, before the moratorium was implemented earlier this month.
“Let’s go ahead and fund this, because it needs funding, moratorium or no moratorium,” Pct. 4 Commissioner Jody Rutherford said.
~ During the month of May, the Bandera County Sheriff’s Office responded to 659 911-calls for service. Deputies traveled 23,821 miles, with an average tone to on scene for priority calls of 15.19 minutes. The total for incoming and outgoing calls was 6,761, with 1,696 incoming 911 calls.
Sheriff Dan Butts said deputies made 14 felony arrests, 14 misdemeanor arrests, 70 property crimes, 103 crimes against a person, and 122 animal related calls. The Bandera County Jail had 49 bookings, and the average inmate population was 66 - of whom seven are contract inmates.
There were 122 animal related calls, 65 dogs picked up and five cats picked up.
~ EMS Director Shannon Griffin said EMTs responded to 279 calls, with an average 1.07 minutes lapsing from tone to response, and 11.46 minutes for tone to on scene. EMTs traveled 13,573 miles.