Commissioners to hold hearing on junked property on Tuesday – Tyler Morning Telegraph

The Smith County Commissioners Court are scheduled to hear testimony on a junked property on Tuesday.

The property, at 16554 Echo Glen Drive in Precinct 1, is considered a public nuisance and a health and safety concern in its current state.

The property has tall grass, standing water and abandoned vehicles on it, said Phillip Smith, assistant district attorney for the civil division.

The Smith County Environmental Crimes unit has sent the property owner two letters, and the DAs office has sent another one, and the property owner has received a public nuisance ticket.

The property owners have been subpoenaed to come before the court, but the owners may not need to come if they resole the issues before Tuesday, Smith said.

County Judge Nathaniel Moran said its not often that environmental crimes come before the Court.

Its a process of that we dont like to engage in unless we absolutely have to, he said. We prefer a more informal means of enforcing the environmental statues, and we prefer to do that through the environmental crimes unit at the sheriffs office. We dont like it to get to this point, but sometimes we have to when folks done comply.

Moran said the process is for properties that rise to the level of a health and safety hazard for the community.

Its not that property looks junky - that does not rise to the point that we can deal with. There has to be a health and safety issue.

In other business:

- Commissioners will receive a presentation from the Texas Association of Counties Risk Management Pool regarding the 2016 Safety Award.

- The body will consider a resolution proclaiming July 29, 2017 as Dr. Gary E. Gross Day in Smith County to recognize his years of service to the community.

- A list of professional salvage yard licenses will be considered for renewal.

-Three vendors for sub-depository services will also be considered for renewal: Austin Bank, Southside Bank and First National Bank of Winnsboro.

- Odam Roth Construction and House Remodeling, LLC would be awarded the contract for the courthouse bathroom renovation project.

- The county will consider advertising for bids for the Big Eddy Road improvement project, or County Road 1261.

- Commissioner will consider accepting 25 donated microchips for the Smith County Animal Shelter.

The Tyler Morning Telegraph will attend the meeting. For updates as they happen follow @TMTFaith on Twitter.

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Commissioners to hold hearing on junked property on Tuesday - Tyler Morning Telegraph