Poteet resident calls county enforcement of dumpster rules a violation of rights during public comment

During the Sept. 22 Atascosa County Commissioners Court public-comment period, resident Steve Bullard of 84 Brandywine Drive in Poteet told the court he believed county rules restricting placement of a dumpster on his rural property violated his constitutional civil rights.

Bullard said he recently sustained severe burns and is recovering; he said he is trying to clean up his property and wants to place a dumpster to remove debris. Bullard said he lives in the county (not inside a city) and objected to what he described as a county rule prohibiting his use of a dumpster. He said he has medical issues (burns, heart problems, leukemia) and that the enforcement threatened his ability to clean the property. Bullard identified himself as a Vietnam veteran and said he intended to speak with Commissioner Mark Gillespie after the meeting.

The presiding officer told Bullard that court rules do not permit answers during public comments and invited him to meet with his commissioner after the meeting. No formal action or response was taken on the record during the meeting.

What was on the record: Bullard asked the court to either allow his dumpster or to have county staff take his trash; he said he felt county officials were violating the same laws he was being held to. He repeated concerns about crime and past losses and said he would discuss the matter with Commissioner Gillespie after the meeting. The court did not debate or act on the matter during the session; staff advised the resident to meet with the commissioner for follow-up.

No agenda item was opened to change county code or enforcement at this meeting; Bullard's comment was recorded as public comment only.