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Van Zandt County Commissioners Court approves job-title change, disaster debris contract and brief fireworks sales window
Summary
At a 3:30 p.m. special session, the Van Zandt County Commissioners Court approved renaming a deputy fire marshal position to environmental compliance officer, authorized a contract with Drewry Construction for storm debris removal and authorized a temporary fireworks sales period from Feb. 25 to March 2, 2025.
Van Zandt County Commissioners Court voted at a special session called to order at 3:30 p.m. to change a deputy fire marshal position to an environmental compliance officer, authorize the county judge to sign a contract for disaster vegetative debris removal with Drewry Construction and permit temporary fireworks sales from Feb. 25 through midnight March 2, 2025.
The change to the job title was presented by the Van Zandt County Fire Marshal, who said the office handles On-Site Sewage Facilities (OSSF) septic permitting, abatement and illegal-dumping enforcement and that the county has historically assigned those duties to deputy fire marshals. The fire marshal said Deputy Fire Marshal Ashley Bowen has submitted a two years notice and recommended replacing that deputy fire marshal position with an environmental compliance officer to attract applicants with environmental experience; the position and its qualifications are posted on the county website. The court approved the title change by voice vote. The fire marshal described the officetraining expectations for deputy fire marshals and said the county is moving toward a career path focused on environmental work.
During public comment, resident Ronnie Jones urged the court to provide clearer agenda descriptions, saying, "All the public comments say what I've already said many times before, if you define what you're talking about down in the description, I would have less of a problem." Jones specifically referenced the contract item on the agenda and asked for clearer language about projects before public comment and votes.
On the debris-removal contract, court members heard that the county solicited proposals for removal of trees and vegetative debris from storms in May and June of last year. The disaster committee reviewed proposals and recommended Drewry Construction; the court authorized the county judge to sign the contract for disaster vegetative debris removal, reduction and disposal services. The court recorded the motion and approved it by voice vote.
The court also approved a county authorization allowing the sale of fireworks for a limited period beginning Feb. 25, 2025 and ending at midnight March 2, 2025. The fire marshal told the court that the office had been consulted on the matter; the court noted that sales are not automatically authorized for other periods such as July 4 or late-December holidays. The motion to authorize the fireworks-sales period passed by voice vote.
There was no executive session requested; the court moved to adjourn shortly after the votes. Commissioner Williams was absent from the session.
Votes at a glance - Item 4 (agenda item 4): Change deputy fire marshal position to environmental compliance officer — motion made and seconded; approved by voice vote (tally not specified). - Item 5 (agenda item 5): Authorize county judge to sign contract with Drewry Construction for disaster vegetative debris removal, reduction and disposal services — motion made and seconded; approved by voice vote (tally not specified). - Item 6 (agenda item 6): Authorize sale of fireworks Feb. 25March 2, 2025 — motion made and seconded; approved by voice vote (tally not specified).
The court ended the special session within minutes after the final votes.
