Editorial: BURNING CONCERNS

In 2023 the City of Brackettville amended their budget to accommodate additional spending in the waste management line item. Most of this increased expense can be attributed to the increase in commodity prices resulting in an increase in disposal costs for the city. A majority of the waste picked up by the city is hauled off in rolloff dumpsters. The City Administrator, Nora Rivas, indicated that the City of Brackettville and Fort Clark Springs Association are discussing options to lower disposal costs and bring additional revenue to the locally owned landfill. At one time Brackettville did haul their waste to FCSA, but operational issues limited the sustainability of this arrangement so the contract was canceled. These operational issues have been solved, and hopefully these two entities can work together to produce a contract that benefits the community. 

In the more immediate future, the City of Brackettville announced they will start charging a fee to dispose of bulk items. This was previously included in the regular monthly fee of $29/month. Bulk items include: sofas, dressers, sheetrock, mattresses, shingles, chairs, and lumber. The city does not pick up tires or televisions. The city has yet to decide when they will cease picking up these items, or how much they will charge to collect items on a case by case basis. 

While I completely understand the change in operations, and I think it is completely reasonable to charge for these services, my concern is that citizens will lean towards allowing bulk items to accumulate or burning these items instead of scheduling a pickup at an additional cost. We are all aware of the limited resources in our county, and if we see an increase in burning and buildup we have the potential for an additional strain on our volunteer fire department. We also have limited resources on the enforcement side of the equation. 

Sources have reported the burning of mattresses and other bulk items in Spofford and at the FCSA designated burn site. I am assuming that this has occurred, despite the legal implications, because of the increase in costs associated with disposing of these items. We are all aware of the drought conditions in Kinney County, and that we spend most of the year in a burn ban status. However, without proper enforcement and education about the environmental and safety impact of burning waste these new fees may result in unforeseen consequences.

When you see or experience an environmental, health, or regulatory concern, the best way to request TCEQ action is for you to submit an environmental complaint. More details can be found online at the link below or call the TCEQ toll-free complaint hotline at 1-888-777-3186
https://www.tceq.texas.gov/compliance/complaints/