Commissioners hire Fire Marshall, discuss emergency plans
Milam County Commissioners approved a new Fire Marshall, a new County-wide Emergency Communications Plan, took action on a resolution addressing crypto mining developments in Milam County, and got an update on property tax statements during a meeting on Monday.
Commissioners approved hiring Joshua Todd as the county’s new Fire Marshall by a vote of 3-2 during the meeting. Commissioners James Denman and Henry Hubnik and County Judge Bill Whitmire voted for hiring Todd and Commissioners Wesley Payne and Art Neal voted against it.
Commissioners also approved a resolution for the County-wide Emergency Communications Plan as proposed by TxDOT and Motorola Solutions with approval from the cities that are involved - Cameron, Rockdale and Thorndale mostly. The plan will address communications towers and radios for all emergency personnel in the county. The cities of Rockdale and Cameron are expected to address the subject during council meetings next week, with Thorndale meeting the following week.
During judge’s comments Whitmire addressed the situation with county tax statements saying the issue has been taken care of and county residents who wish to pay the split payment for property taxes can go to the tax office and pay. The information will be on the computer. Whitmire said no fees or fines will be assessed and the court will extend the due date for the first split payment during a special meeting on Dec. 2.
Several county residents were at the meeting to voice their opinion on crypto mining developments in the county - mainly one that is in the Thorndale area.
Residents expressed to commissioners that they are against these types of developments coming into the county and that they belong in commercial business parks not near people’s homes.
Whitmire said that the county’s hands are really tied on this matter other then sending a resolution to the State of Texas and our elected officials on the state level, which commissioners approved. He said he has spoken with Lt. Governor Dan Patrick and State Rep. Stan Gerdes on the topic and they both seem to agree that crypto mining developments belong in commercial areas. He said that the best way to fight this at the current time is to address it with our State Senators and Representatives in Austin.
In other business commissioners also: approved advertising for road and bridge materials for 2025; heard from Richard Dodd about a Kroger Opioid Settlement with Milam County; and approved a preliminary plat for Oak Haven Subdivision.