After months of rumblings of an Emergency Services District for all of Grimes County, a decision has been made: There will be no ESD.
At the most recent meeting of commissioner court, Commissioner David Tullos told court that the plan does not meet feasibility requirements, according to Texas Constitution, and Health and Safety Code.
“The proposed district must meet five district elements. It must be feasible. It must promote the public safety of persons in the district. It must promote the welfare of persons in the district. It must promote the health of persons in the district. And, it must promote the convenience of persons in the district,” said Tullos. “If the proposed district fails to satisfy any one of these five elements, by statue, the court must deny the petition.”
Discussion at court followed a public meeting, which was held back on January 18th.
Commissioner Phillip Cox shared the same sentiment as Tullos, saying responding to any and all emergencies in the county would just not be possible
“I, personally, have a difficult time wrapping my mind around the element of feasibility, based on the proposed district boundaries as a whole. I have a difficult time believing that would meet the feasibility standards, and I am not so sure that the creation of this distrcit…it might be an impediment to public welfare, safety, and health. It certainly would not be, in my opinion, a convenience for the people living in the proposed district,” said Cox.
Commissioners voted to deny the petition for creation of a county-wide ESD.
City Manager of Navasota Jason Weeks also sent a letter, saying the ESD would not be in the best interests of the city.