[{"_1":2,"_110":-5,"_111":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,74,86,98],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":56,"_68":69,"_70":56,"_71":72,"_73":72},"mediaId",6149800,"mediaKeyId","5510570-5d650127eff9e2169de8c8cb4a276c20","parentId",5510570,"title","Kerr County leaders outline debris removal, burn rules and FEMA process as flood recovery continues","audioSeconds",1101,"startMs",952000,"endMs",2053000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5510570-5d650127eff9e2169de8c8cb4a276c20&start=952&end=2053","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5510570-5d650127eff9e2169de8c8cb4a276c20/thumbnail_952000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6149800/Kerr-County/Texas/Kerr-County-leaders-outline-debris-removal-burn-rules-and-FEMA-process-as-flood-recovery-continues","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6149800-bc041f6b815f4b432c370ce73e5364d6/orig.mp4?Expires=1770950930&Signature=nE9p88RlrUH5-mb8ISByEz-mVFEOQhApIQU3v-L1S3YgdTKW5n07Ols1ItOY0FuajCuWbkHMO4bP8aB92GARWKerGBqi-8yHcPmXAFn0gIshWHwLXKJVyb6zcq3pVX7NSIgwceYqvfQJd-k-LwFcKuTo9daB6wj8FpNBt2s4N0O5H-NRZnlfGLjPneysnnpSqK6KwoXUrxZ1KWB6thDFHCH88nju-L8BPLreMKnBYK2o~5hoBcgOhVBwukXOURvqEUjI0wKHBDsteSVOGNT3zPHgt5RADtqGCHmdjxdFnNjPrc-ksC-UebV31FlbOZApSI1KHaCRP-HqAtzgtW3H~g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Kerr County, Texas","date","2025-07-31T02:20:46.85Z","article","Kerr County officials told the commissioners court they are still in search-and-rescue and early recovery 25 days after the July 4 flooding and are shifting into coordinated debris removal and controlled burns in cleared sections of the flood-affected area.

The county judge said contractors and state crews are hauling debris to two main staging sites — near the soccer fields by the landfill and at Center Point ISD — and that contract trucks have been operating at scale. “If you haven’t seen the contractors, trucks are moving debris at warp speed,” the judge said.

Why this matters: county leaders said the work supports both closure for families still searching for two missing residents and public-safety goals to reduce wildfire and health risks from debris. The state is covering millions of dollars of removal on public roads, officials said, but private-property cleanup requires signed right‑of‑entry forms so contractors may enter individual lots.

County instructions and immediate steps
- Right-of-entry: County officials said contractors will not enter private property without a signed right‑of‑entry form. Hard copies will be available at Hunt School, Ingram VFD and Center Point VFD, and an online submission was expected to be posted soon.
- Burn rules: The judge described a limited lifting of the burn ban for areas outside the flood high‑water marks with the requirement that residents call the sheriff’s office dispatcher (the county’s record of the call serves as a formal permit) and notify their local volunteer fire department. Burning is allowed only between one hour after sunrise and one hour before sunset; if a burn continues it must be manned 24/7. Volunteer fire departments are authorized to extinguish illegal burns.
- Phased burning inside affected area: County leaders said the affected area will be split into east and west zones with further subsections; piles will be burned only after Texas Task Force 1 and search teams have cleared them (some piles have been searched four to five times for possible human remains), and after piles are removed or cleared for burning.

Assistance, coordination and funding
- State and federal coordination: Officials said the Texas Division of Emergency Management (TDEM), TxDOT and state contractors are on site; a Joint Information Center (JIC) coordinates public communications among the city, county and state. The county has applied for FEMA public-assistance and the court voted to submit that request unanimously.
- SBA loans and other relief: County staff reported that the U.S. Small Business Administration is offering low-interest disaster loans (the county cited an example rate of about 2.81% for 30-year terms) and encouraged affected residents and businesses to register for assistance. Officials also described the formation of a Long-Term Recovery Group (LTRG) led by local civic and economic development leaders, with the Kerr Economic Development Corporation and Kerr Together as core participants, to coordinate economic recovery planning.

Scale and local impacts cited by officials and residents
- Reported damage counts and costs: Commissioners cited more than 40 homes with significant damage in the Center Point area plus roughly 30 properties needing debris cleanup; an additional roughly 25 severely damaged homes were reported in the Kerrville portion of Precinct 2. Parks (Lions Park and Flat Rock Park) suffered severe damage, and volunteer groups are proposing rebuild plans that will require court approval because county parks are under county control.
- Market-value estimate: County officials cited an estimated approximate reduction of about $240,000,000 in fair-market value on property rolls; officials cautioned that revenue impacts and budget planning remain fluid.

Public comment and requests
- A resident urged county leaders to press the state to use its economic stabilization fund for local recovery, saying the state fund holds $30 billion and should be tapped for local economic stabilization. County officials said they are in contact with state representatives and emphasized the sequence required to preserve FEMA eligibility while pursuing other funding streams.

What remains unresolved: officials said debris removal and phased burning in the most affected sections could take weeks; the county does not yet have firm timetables for private-property debris collection beyond the right‑of‑entry rollout. County staff and the LTRG will continue to post updates via the county and city websites and Facebook pages.

Sources: statements during Kerr County Commissioners Court public meeting; county staff briefings and public comments.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Kerr County Commissioners' Court Agenda, July 28, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Kerr County officials told the commissioners court they are still in search-and-rescue and early recovery 25 days after the July 4 flooding and are shifting into coordinated debris removal and controlled burns in cleared sections of the flood-affected area.","taxTitle","taxId",54243,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":75,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":76,"_41":77,"_43":78,"_45":79,"_47":80,"_49":81,"_51":82,"_53":83,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":84,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":85,"_67":56,"_68":69,"_70":56,"_71":72,"_73":72},6149785,"Commissioners order constitutional amendment election, pick Union Church and West Kerr Annex for early voting",424,3096000,3520000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5510570-5d650127eff9e2169de8c8cb4a276c20&start=3096&end=3520","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5510570-5d650127eff9e2169de8c8cb4a276c20/thumbnail_3096000.jpg","/articles/6149785/Kerr-County/Texas/Commissioners-order-constitutional-amendment-election-pick-Union-Church-and-West-Kerr-Annex-for-early-voting","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6149785-a78574e9888b7b494ee55e6e8dd42a4b/orig.mp4?Expires=1770950929&Signature=b8sj3VNoq~iHCPSxjZDYRTwq6kQhGTUrIyMzPA~s2BetnzHXIN7DcgvCbUzeils8SxpxmlYi2O5xxcDSKwJn88wLQqKnptX8HKcbi5pQLc-0ksbQAvORhoTgxBFUEGu~butmOdDpzMi6EMHZHGxflCE~5Q9rwuSBhQ40xTGKesyPUNxB0tLrA1D9iDtAhMVq9QszsM16rY9D~EPu-jETm2Uy4OJB-nUKY2CdH2Th41xsq83~Z~D3VRxvx5BZRCyYAVRz6sVkVHXsbYyVwGwUg5s4efiKnZSr8Pd7O~KzVkyhTfavdAVde2YrEnCOuI4v3fAhX-A2SxZ3QMxGNVnIhg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Kerr County commissioners voted 4–1 to order a constitutional amendment election for November and to designate early-voting locations, naming Union Church as the primary early-voting site and the West Kerr Annex for Ingram voters.

Key points and vote
- The county elections administrator (Miss Aufin) told the court early voting would run Oct. 20–31 and proposed the Hill Country Youth Event Center as the main site if available; the court settled on Union Church as the primary early‑voting location and the West Kerr Annex as the Ingram site.
- The motion to order the election using Union Church and the West Kerr Annex passed 4–1. One commissioner opposed the order, citing outstanding issues with the Verity 2.5 voting equipment certification and lab testing from the last constitutional election.

Context and next steps
- The court discussed logistical uncertainty because the Hill Country Youth Event Center is currently supporting emergency operations; court members said they expect TDEM demobilization and will use the youth center if it becomes available.
- County staff were directed to notify venues and to finalize early‑voting arrangements with the county elections administrator; the order enables the elections office to proceed with early‑voting planning and public notice.

Source: county elections administrator presentation and court vote recorded during the commissioners court meeting.","The county ordered a constitutional amendment election for November and designated the Union Church (as main site) and the West Kerr Annex (for Ingram) for early voting; the motion passed 4‑1 amid an objection citing unresolved voting equipment certification.",{"_33":87,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":88,"_41":89,"_43":90,"_45":91,"_47":92,"_49":93,"_51":94,"_53":95,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":96,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":97,"_67":56,"_68":69,"_70":56,"_71":72,"_73":72},6149791,"Kerr County approves cat‑kennel purchase, forwards rainwater system bids for review",1651,2485000,4136000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5510570-5d650127eff9e2169de8c8cb4a276c20&start=2485&end=4136","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5510570-5d650127eff9e2169de8c8cb4a276c20/thumbnail_2485000.jpg","/articles/6149791/Kerr-County/Texas/Kerr-County-approves-catkennel-purchase-forwards-rainwater-system-bids-for-review","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6149791-680da52335a927f26cc4a0fca65bd094/orig.mp4?Expires=1770950929&Signature=TC34pEwERT0yUFyhjVCASrqSUaEPm1jrIcBZC-XzKK85FNcy3GL9sLX370icQEZ7QwFiSM2Z7Xj3t-KRUt8ZqHi7OH~C~6y8VTBBEyTdOPUy8nz7kZfyUpsIMSBcpmgDVS4pIFqr4eu98NieWA~3ssJsBGh9Pvdshko9g4Aok1z8wDXDnMvGsiFeNPgXMDS5NELsw7xQib-B5uW0NI~FzT2E~A6sRwbLS3yl5a2kkYfjJnXs3Zv4f2Xf~5nbJZa1wTZcLNyuCs9xupla-7-~WO95ry-IkezFAhp3P81ANoInryjVvACspo~J5~F~k5tCCQMfmoMDCXB~IEYE2oHnCA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Kerr County commissioners approved the purchase of cat‑holding and quarantine cages for the county animal services facility and directed county staff to evaluate two bids for a rainwater-catchment system that will supply the kennel facility.

Cat kennels
Reagan Gibbons, presenting as the animal-services representative, recommended VSS Medical for the cat cages and quarantine/isolation units and asked the court to approve that portion of the procurement while postponing the dog‑kennel decision to allow an in‑person inspection of bid items. Commissioners approved the VSS Medical award unanimously.

- Cost details presented in court: the cat holding cages were listed at $15,078 and the cat quarantine/isolation equipment at $10,926.25; the presenter said the combined cat‑equipment total was approximately $26,000.

Rainwater catchment bids
County staff presented two bids for the rainwater-catchment system intended as the primary water source for the new animal-control kennels. Texas Rainwater Systems (Fredericksburg) proposed a $99,954 package that includes one 16,392‑gallon tank and three 9,907‑gallon tanks; staff identified the tank portion at $54,029 of that bid. A second bid from Rain Bear (Boerne) totaled $121,935 and met the specified requirements.

Action taken
The court unanimously voted to accept the bids as submitted and forward them to the appropriate personnel for evaluation and award recommendations. The court also approved VSS Medical for the cat kennels so that procurement for those items can proceed while staff completes on‑site reviews of dog‑kennel options.

What remains: staff will review the dog‑kennel bids in person where possible, confirm final costs and return with a recommendation to the commissioners for the dog‑kennel contract award.

Sources: vendor bids and staff presentation at Kerr County Commissioners Court meeting.","Commissioners approved a cat‑kennel vendor for the new Kerr County Animal Services facility and accepted rainwater‑catchment system bids for evaluation; the court voted to accept the submitted bids and refer them to staff for recommendation.",{"_33":99,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":100,"_41":101,"_43":102,"_45":103,"_47":104,"_49":105,"_51":106,"_53":107,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":108,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":109,"_67":56,"_68":69,"_70":56,"_71":72,"_73":72},6149795,"Sheriff requests immediate CID investigator as fraud and opportunistic crimes emerge after floods",847,5459000,6306000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5510570-5d650127eff9e2169de8c8cb4a276c20&start=5459&end=6306","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5510570-5d650127eff9e2169de8c8cb4a276c20/thumbnail_5459000.jpg","/articles/6149795/Kerr-County/Texas/Sheriff-requests-immediate-CID-investigator-as-fraud-and-opportunistic-crimes-emerge-after-floods","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6149795-6d101d2a685139471240df045d699765/orig.mp4?Expires=1770950929&Signature=TgFMTzUc8GQJzdWTLfLNGkX~b4i6mBS~Or5nT2aN51Syav-NyKpS8h9E~6PF7WSjBT56YXw5xch8j4sLtdgupK1HDctu~4sZi7aNkAGngQdcLtIXTjN4KnYO6C3JfOFbvRZG7yfSNmyvY35QycdYwF1og5mCDsPS1sC1GgxEtVdnigqJaNyQvwZF5~NL4ZHtrraOVHHBmkMw-xzOtQLjujU~Nb2EmjY8k2444oomHqaZl8ll3vm5~jzNa0M6H574ME6AL4Poh5Yzz8i2E8D~nrWdPoZZ6ItFFc8UzKwoeDUjjkbYqM4OaiHEMvaoRkENZzPucGnUAGCGZLFoqRAvIQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Kerr County’s sheriff told commissioners that, as emergency operations move from search-and-rescue to recovery, the county has begun to see opportunistic crimes, including its first reported fraud case linked to post‑flood activity, and asked the court to authorize an immediate hire for a Criminal Investigations Division (CID) investigator.

Sheriff’s concerns and court action
- Increased investigations: The sheriff said he has already observed a “slight increase” in crime related to the disaster and expects more fraud and scams as recovery proceeds. He described examples county officials discussed — individuals offering to haul debris or repair roofs after the flood, sometimes requesting cash up front and then failing to perform services.
- Court approval to hire: Commissioners voted unanimously to approve an immediate new CID investigator, with the sheriff saying the additional investigator would help the county respond once outside responders demobilize and local investigative demands increase.

Public discussion and county guidance
- Public comment and officials’ guidance emphasized vigilance: officials noted scams can include unlicensed contractors offering to remove debris or perform repairs and urged residents to verify credentials, insist on written agreements and, where possible, use contractors authorized by the county or state removal programs.
- Authentication plan: County members discussed plans for a visible credential or identification placard for authorized debris or contractor vehicles so residents can verify a contractor’s official status before entering agreements.

What this means: Commissioners said the hire is intended to cover an immediate need in follow-up investigations and fraud cases that typically appear during recovery. The sheriff said he expects investigative workload to grow as outside first responders depart.

Sources: sheriff’s remarks recorded during the Kerr County Commissioners Court meeting and public comment during the same agenda item.","Kerr County sheriff reported the county has recorded its first fraud case tied to post‑flood activity and asked the commissioners court to approve an immediate hire for a criminal investigator in the CID unit; the court approved the hire unanimously.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Kerr County leaders outline debris removal, burn rules and FEMA process as flood recovery continues

Commissioners order constitutional amendment election, pick Union Church and West Kerr Annex for early voting

Kerr County approves cat‑kennel purchase, forwards rainwater system bids for review

Sheriff requests immediate CID investigator as fraud and opportunistic crimes emerge after floods