NEWS
Montague County qualifies to reopen at 50 percent; 1 new case reported Friday
By BARBARA GREEN
[email protected]
Montague County Judge Rick Lewis said Friday morning he has shipped off the documentation on the “attestation for counties with five or fewer laboratory confirmed cases,” which will allow county businesses to increase the opening capacity for restaurants from 25 percent to 50 percent.
Montague County has had six positive cases with five recovered and one fatality.
Late Friday afternoon County Health Authority Dr. Delbert McCaig confirmed one new COVID-19 case in Nocona, the first in 10 days moving the county to seven.
Lewis cautioned while the county does qualify at this time, citizens and businesses must continue to exercise the same precautions with social distancing and hygiene. Any spike in cases could result in reductions in capacity or shutdowns.
“It has taken a lot of work, but we got it all finished. I am very proud of our people and the public for working so hard to keep down the virus, but we have to continue to be very diligent,” said the judge.
Lewis continued the main comments he has heard from business owners is they want to get open, but he also is scared of a spike in cases which everyone has to work hard to avoid.
The process is part of the governor’s plan to Reopen Texas announced Monday by Gov. Greg Abbott. His existing emergency order on limiting to essential services expired on Thursday.
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Montague County Commissioners wrapped up a few items before the end of the year as they met on Dec. 23.
Grant Coordinator Charley Lanier asked the court to go ahead and obligate $276,961.84 from the American Rescue Funds to complete the new wastewater treatment plant that will serve the courthouse complex.
He explained Dec. 30 is the last date where grant funds can be obligated, and he did not expect any issues since this project had already been approved in court using ARPA funds, he called it a “safety net,” to avoid any problem and possible return of the funds to the federal government.
Montague County has about $276,961.84 in grant funds which has not been allocated.
The court gave approval on the request.
Lanier also asked the court to apply for a grant for a tire cutter. Funded through the Nortex Regional Planning Commission and Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, the application will ask for $26,865 to purchase a larger gas-powered cutter on a trailer, which can be moved around for use. It would cut the larger tires into four pieces, which would be allowed into a landfill. Lanier said if the cutter comes through the county would need to obtain a permit for its use from TCEQ, which he added should not be an issue.
Commissioner Mark Murphey said he picks up more tires abandoned on the county roads than he disposes of at his own yard, adding he probably has 500 at his yard. The court gave approval to apply for this competitive grant.
The remainder of Monday’s brief meeting were year-end items. Bonds for the justice of the peace one, county clerk, county attorney, district attorney, sheriff, commissioner three and constable two were accepted.
A cooperative agreement with Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service and the county was approved, along with a license and services agreement with Local Government Solutions to provide software for both justice of the peace officers. The county attorney’s Chapter 59 Asset Forfeiture report was presented with no new seizures or forfeiture.
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