Emergency district welcomes Smith to board
By SHANNON CRABTREE scrabtree@leader-news.com

Wharton County's Emergency Service District will start the new year reviewing reports from area volunteer fire departments and welcoming a new member aboard.

Monday, county commissioners approved re-appointment of ESD Board President Patrick Hlavaty along with the appointment of Darrell Smith of El Campo for a two-year term ending Dec. 31, 2009.

Smith, an El Campo volunteer firefighter, takes the place of retired ECVFD member Jessie Hubenak who opted for retirement.

Hlavaty, who is also the ECVFD president, will open the meeting prior to board reorganization.

"During our January meeting, the departments turn in their fire reports for 2007 and also their 2007 financials," he said. "Basically what they did with the ESD money."

With a 3-cent tax levy on all county property, the ESD collected about $722,000 last year which it distributed in June to the eight county volunteer fire departments based on their emergency responses.

Those dollars - ranging from $125,062 each for El Campo and Wharton to $61,625 for Danevang volunteers - can be used for equipment and operations.

The board will meet at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 23, at the Wharton County Central Appraisal District in Wharton.

The meeting is open to the public.