Archive for September 14th, 2009

Time Warner wins contract for data network services

Monday, September 14th, 2009

Bastrop, Tx–Bastrop County commissioners agreed Monday to pay Time Warner Cable just over $75,000 a year for internet access connections between the Courthouse in Bastrop and six other county offices across the county.

Information technology consultant Ken Cruise of Bastrop told commissioners Monday that current arrangements which rely on telephone T1 lines are not adequate to support the county’s data transfer and communications needs. He recommended the Time Warner offer.

The internet proposal includes the Courthouse in Bastrop, as well as Justice of the Peace courts in Bastrop, Elgin, Smithville and Cedar Creek, plus the sheriff’s department and jail at 200 Jackson St. in Bastrop and the animal control office and shelter on Cool Water Dr. in Lake Bastrop Acres. The monthly fee for service is $6,312 under the agreement.

Also Monday commissioners agreed to pay Bastrop attorney James Kershaw $4,000 a month for use of an office building in the 800 block of Water Street for the next two years beginning Oct. 1. The building presently houses offices for a variety of county functions, including development and permitting services, environmental enforcement, flood plain control as well as health and sanitation operations.

In addition commissioners agreed to extend a contract with Bastrop-based Upstart, Inc. to video tape and broadcast regular commissioner meetings on
Bastrop Community Access Television (Time Warner Cable channel 10 in Bastrop) for the year beginning Oct. 1. The cost of $5,200 for the year is unchanged from the current year.

Pine Forest road work approved

Monday, September 14th, 2009

Bastrop, Tx–Briar Forest, Timber Lane and East Tangle Briar roads in the Pine Forest subdivision near Bastrop are due for improvement under an agreement endorsed Monday by Bastrop County commissioners.

The pact call for the Pine Forest Property Owners Association to pay for road base and paving materials, along with half the fuel expenses for the work. Pct. 1 Commissioner Willie Pina said he will provide equipment, cover labor costs and assume future maintenance on the roads. The work will be completed over the next 12 months.

The subdivision was formally platted and approved in the 1970s, but in most cases the roads were neither dedicated to county or city authorities nor accepted for public maintenance at the time.

Bastrop County suspends outdoor burning ban

Monday, September 14th, 2009

Bastrop, Tx–Following a long weekend of welcome rainfall across Bastrop County and the wider Central Texas area, Bastrop County commissioners suspended a months-long ban on outdoor burning Monday.

“It was a nice rain all over,” commissioners were told by Mike Fisher, Bastrop County Emergency Management Coordinator, who recommended lifting the ban.

Weekend rainfall ranged from one to three or more inches over much of the county with the largest amounts across the north and northeast parts of the area, according to weather reports. Some minor flooding was also recorded, said Fisher.

The heaviest rainfall was recorded in the Pin Oak Creek area in eastern Bastrop County.