Fire suppression and county safety were top of mind among commissioners and reporting agencies at Monday morning’s Dickens County commission meeting.
One hot topic is the pending demolition of the old Wyatt Tractor building on Spur’s Burlington Avenue directly north of the new Spur fire station. While the county’s request to be indemnified from any liability that might result from its demo activity has been stymied by legal backand- forth, by meeting’s end it appeared a solution might be decided as early as Tuesday night’s Spur city council session.
“It’s a win-win” plan, said former commissioner Charlie Morris, who has been overseeing the removal of compromised structures to make way for the new million-dollar facility that opened a year ago. Demolition of the now-emptied tractor repair building will be the last of this work needed to open up the back bay doors of the fire station for pull-through access.
Morris detailed some of the risk mitigation the committee had put in place to protect the new station, including sturdy covers to protect the station’s large air conditioning units, and plans to park large cotton trailers between the buildings during demolition.
Dickens commissioners, who had previously approved an interlocal agreement for the work, sought exoneration from liability for potential damage that might occur during demolition, a slim possibility according to Morris. Spur’s new city attorney, Bryan Guymon, had recommended changes to the agreement drafted by the county attorney, and the matter had hung in limbo for some weeks.
Commissioners noted that removal of the deteriorated building would be beneficial to the growth of both city and county. During the meeting, County Attorney Aaron Clements reported that a response had arrived from Guymon advising that if the city wished to shield the county from liability it could proceed with the county’s original proposed language (a possiblility as early as July 15, when the matter is again on the city council agenda).
was also on the minds of Spur Fire Chief Wess Abbott and McAdoo Fire Chief Mack Gardner, as well as Dickens EMS chair Debi Gardner, each of whom expressed thanks to their hard-working volunteers and staff but that laid groundwork for new equipment requests in coming years.
Spur is particularly in need of a tanker capable of transporting multiple 2,500-gallon water supplies to a fire site, especially in light of “all the industrial stuff going on up to the north” of the county. Also, Spur’s frontline pumper is 22 years old (with its brakes currently being repaired; its other pumper is 36 years old; and its current tanker is 20 years old. Restrictions on used trucks make them hard to find and purchase.
Personal gear is also needed, Abbott said. Boots and helmets are showing wear, and over half of Spur’s air packs are more than 20 years old. He recommended that the grant process begin as soon as Spur qualifies again.
Nonetheless, said Abbott, Spur’s fire rating was expected to improve when issued this September, thanks to installation and repair of hydrants, and the one-year anniversary of move-in to the new fire station July 15. The station “contributes to motivation of volunteers to come work on trucks in a better environment,” Abbott said.
Abbott advised when the fire insurance rating for a five-mile radius is updated in September, each homeowner should call their carrier to see if they qualify for lower rates.
“The support the county gives the VFD is an investment that usually pays off to property owners,” he said.
Abbott and Mack Gardner also noted that the Rural VFD Assistance Program from the recent legislative session represents the largest investment in the program’s history.
Senate Bill 34 increased the funding cap for the Rural Volunteer Fire Department Assistance Fund from $30 million to $40 million, with 10% designated for high-risk wildfire areas, according to online sources. Additionally, the legislature approved $44 million for volunteer fire department grants and $382 million for the Texas A&M Forest Service, which includes funds for aircraft to fight wildfires.
Mack Gardner noted that county funds throughout the year “definitely helped out,” since McAdoo is unincorporated. He also expressed thanks to Dickens and Spur VFDs for help in identifying gates and locations.
The McAdoo VFD can muster eight people on call during the day, but it takes them some time to respond as they are often out working their day jobs. “We can roll our 5,000 tanker anytime, but during the day we don’t have help.”
Gardner called attention to a recent semi truck loaded with 67 bales of cotton that caught on fire; TxDOT gave permission to blade off the bar ditch and dump cotton to let it burn out, as there is no way to extinguish such a fire with water.
Their department is also in need of updated gear, he said.
Commenting on recent weather, Gardner noted, “The rains have been nice, but if you’ve seen these pastures, the grass is high. Y’all get prepared for what’s coming.”
For the
Dickens County
Emergency Management
Service,
Debi Gardnerd reported six people on schedule to cover ambulance needs; they are also able to use firefighters Mack Gardner and William Hancock as alternate drivers. The county has two ambulances: a large truck stationed in Spur, and a smaller one in Dickens that sustained some damage in a hailstorm. “We went and got it so we would have two trucks in the county for the 4th of July,” Gardner said. A few small parts still remain to be reinstalled. “It looks like a golf ball right now, but it will get better,” she said.
Gardner expressed the need for a convenient way to purchase fuel in Dickens, as Penman’s pumps (recently purchased from Lone Star) were down and the new Lucee’s pumps were not yet set up for direct pay from the county.
The legislature recently approved a grant for up to $500,000 for smaller communities to obtain an ambulance, with a fiveyear window to procure after approval.
Gardner also reported with optimism that Jordan Jernigan, a high school senior, has passed his EMT test and is finishing up last of his hospital rotation to qualify as an EMT.
For the Dickens County Sheriff’s Office, Deputy Ramiro Rodriquez reported that Sheriff Jay Allen was away at a conference and that Deputy Ramon Golden had suffered an episode the previous night that required a visit to the hospital (no further update on his condition was provided).
Rodriquez reported that the sheriff ’s office was still responding to all calls for service throughout the county and the City of Spur, with “no pushback, no concerns” after the city terminated its police department last year.
County Emergency Management Coordinator Matt Hindman reported that he was checking with SPAG on the status of a previously submitted hazard mitigation plan. He was also working on a plan to inform citizens when emergency shelters were open, possibly via a digital signboard that would indicate when the door was unlocked and ready to enter.
The previously scheduled TDEM ID meeting was cancelled and not yet rescheduled, said Hindman, due to recent redeployment of personnel to Hill Country disaster areas.
There were no annual reports provided by the Dickens County Spur Public Library or either of the county’s historical museums during the July 14 meeting.
Justice of the Peace Stella Carter discussed a report of dishonored checks submitted and still outstanding, going back several years.
County Tax Assessor Rhonda Brendle noted a steep increase in uncollected taxes, which advisors said would begin to decrease by the by end of July.
The county treasurer’s report was presented and reviewed as a digital document.
The county extension agent
was not present to provide a report, and there was no TxDOT report.
Minutes of the regular meeting of June 9, 2025 were approved as presented.
Regarding county roads, all commissioners reported “passable” or “pretty good” conditions following numerous recent rains that had required dedicated maintenance.
Commissioner Mike Smith said that roads in his precinct had been made passable but he still need to haul a lot of gravel. “The Blue Hole down to Lowry Tank ran half foot deep across the road,” he said, describing the high water as a highly unusual occurrence.
In other consent agenda items, the court voted to adopt the 21% Federal Poverty Guidelines as the minimum income standard for Dickens County Indigent Health Care monthly income statement. The county also approved an interlocal agreement with the regional Public Defender’s Office. Consent agenda items were approved unanimously.
Sealed bids for propane contracts from B&J Welding, Spur Farmers Coop, and WTG Fuels were opened and read aloud. Commissioner Dennis Wyatt moved to accept proposals from all bidders; Commissioner Chris Horn abstained, and the motion passed with 4 aye votes.
A lone sealed bid for replacement of courthouse windows and doors proved a more difficult budget consideration, at $345,000 for 43 Peerless windows and $37,300 for three doors, which are approved by Texas Historical Commission standards for historic buildings. The cost for applying 3M security film on the inside of glass would be an add-on, noted County judge Kevin Brendle.
Commissioners considered sources of funding for this repair, which is needed to mitigate leaks. Water appears to be coming from around windows into Elections Room Commissioners suggested the use of approximately $30,000 in courthouse security funds (with the fund balance expected to increase to $60,000 in the next fiscal year). Though commissioners debated recommending another walk-through and solicitation of more bids, it was determined that different results would be unlikely. Commissioner Horn moved to accept the bid from Can-Text; Commissioner Wyatt seconded; the proposal passed with Mike Smith voting nay.
Judge Brendle noted that the project would likely be completed over two fiscal years, providing the opportunity to build the remaining cost into next year’s budget.
Commissioners discussed the possibility of purchasing a midsize crossover SUV, to save on expenses of traveling to meetings. Approximately $110,000 set aside for assisting Spur with law enforcement has not yet been expended, said Judge Brendle, so those funds remained available. No action was taken.
The court voted to keep the schedule of sheriffs’ and constables’ fees the same as current.
The court discussed several issues related to setting election polling places within the county, now that precinct lines have moved the Spur Community Center from Precinct 3 to 4. No action was taken, though County Clerk Danay Carnes noted that the library or the school would be alternatives; either has WiFi available and Spur VFD has WiFi and cameras. The question was raised regarding countywide Vote Centers; Carnes explained that a higher level of software capable of verifying identity by precinct would be required.
The court discussed and unianmously approved a resolution to pursue funding via HAVA (Help America Vote Act, 2022) Grant Funds to enhance voting security. Carnes recommends going to all-electronic voting in time for November constitutional amendments election or no later than March 2026 primary elections.
The court took unanimous action to designate one commissioner to represent the county in tax abatement negotiations.
Chris Horn was nominated and selected for the task.
The court recessed at 11:30 before entering into executive session pursuant to Texas Govt. Code Sections 551.071 and 551.072 and had not returned prior to Monday’s noon press deadline.
Present were commissioners Greg Arnold, Chris Horn, Mike Smith and Dennis Wyatt; County Judge Kevin Brendle, County Treasurer Brandi Abbott, County Clerk Danay Carnes, Justice of the Peace Stella Carter, and Tax Assessor–Collector Rhonda Brendle.
