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Board ends burn ban, declares drought disaster for Washington County
Summary
The Board adopted a resolution terminating the county burn ban and unanimously approved a drought-disaster declaration that staff said estimates $10.7 million in agricultural losses countywide; supervisors discussed farm impacts and previous lack of state or FEMA action on a prior declaration.
The Washington County Board of Supervisors voted to terminate the local burn ban and to adopt a separate resolution declaring the county a drought disaster area.
Mr. Berry asked the board to approve Resolution 2024-425 to end the burn ban because recent rainfall had alleviated the immediate fire risk; a supervisor moved and the board unanimously adopted the resolution.
On the drought declaration, Mr. Berry presented figures drawn from a USDA state report and the county draft resolution: he said pasture values were down 60% with a loss value listed as "3,200,000," hay harvest down 90% with an estimated $4,700,000 loss, and corn production down 50% with an estimated $2,800,000 loss for a total county crop- and forage-loss value stated as $10,700,000. Supervisors commented on the severe stress facing farmers, noting herd reductions and cash-flow pressures; one supervisor recalled a similar 2016 resolution that yielded no direct action from the governor's office or FEMA but said documenting impacts remains important.
The board adopted the drought-declaration resolution (recorded vote 7-0) and asked staff to proceed with any administrative filings required to notify state or federal agencies.
