Fire Marshal Kory Klabunde said drought conditions look safe so far, but it doesnât take long for the ground to dry out, so people should continue to take precautions with fireworks this July 4th.
âIf youâre shooting fireworks on grass, cut it down as short as possible or wet it down as much as possible, Klabunde said. âJust be safe, have fun and enjoy the holiday.â
The possession, use and sale of fireworks of any kind are illegal in New Braunfels and its extraterritorial jurisdiction, but are allowed in unincorporated areas of Comal and Guadalupe counties unless specific bans are in place.Â
County commissioners often tout the importance of law enforcement, especially Comal County Sheriffâs Office personnel who patrol our streets and serve inside the county jail.
Last week, they issued a proclamation designating May 2-8 as National Correctional Officers and Employees Week. On Thursday, they will recognize National Police Week and light up the Courthouse bell tower in blue on Friday to commemorate National Peace Officers Memorial Day, honoring those who were injured or lost their lives in the line of duty.
Last week, corrections officers received a proclamation for their hard work.
âThe jailers who work for the county are second to none â the knowledge these men and women possess Iâll put up against any in the state of Texas,â said Maj. Bill Jennings, Comal County Jail administrator, who was joined by more than dozen staffers and licensed correctional officers serving inside the countyâs new 582-bed facility.
Comal County Commissioners will approve the countyâs 2022 budget planning schedule and issue proclamations honoring corrections officers and small businesses during their weekly meeting on Thursday.
The budget process takes roughly four months and concludes by the end of August. The 2021 budget, totaling $107.988 million, went into effect Jan. 1. It is funded by the 2020 combined tax rate of 35.8515 cents per $100 assessed property valuation, with portions designated for county general operations, jury, indigent health, debt service, and road and flood control funds.Â
 âFirst, the process allows other elected officials to submit (budget) requests and define priorities of their offices for the upcoming year,â County Judge Sherman Krause said. âNext, it provides transparency to the taxpayers who are paying the bills. It gives them opportunity to review what weâre doing and gives them a say in the budget process.â
At 6 a.m. Friday, Comal Countyâs fifth ban on outdoor burning in unincorporated areas might just be a precursor for others during officials said could be a very long fire season.
County commissioners unanimously approved the measure after Fire Marshal Kory Klabunde warned last Februaryâs freeze left a lot of dry tinder in fields and along roadways â and it wonât take much to set it off.
âYesterday we reached 502 on the (Keetch-Byram Drought Index) scale after going up six points due to the heat that we re experiencing,â Klabunde said. âThereâs a lot of green out there, only because it s springtime, and itâs not because we ve been receiving moisture or rain.