September Meeting of the Hopkins County Environmental Committee

During the September meeting of the Hopkins County Environmental Committee, several topics were discussed related to Hopkins County educational needs. One of them was the need of having aerobic septic systems from homes properly maintained and inspected. In response to this educational need, the Homeowner Maintenance of Aerobic Treatment Units training has been scheduled for October 17, 2014 at the Professional Ag Workers Building starting at 8:00 AM. This training, directed to the homeowners provides a basic training in proper evaluation of structures, equipment and operation of already installed aerobic septic systems in homes. A certificate of attendance will be provided. It is necessary to register for the training by calling the Hopkins County Extension Office at 903-885-3443 by October 10^th, 2014. The cost of the training is $100 including lunch and teaching materials. There will be a minimum of 10 participants for the class to make with a maximum of 50 participants spaces in the class. This is a unique opportunity for those interested in learning about aerobic septic systems and specially those interested in conducting their own audits. Another program related to Sulphur Springs on Oct 21, 2014, The Local Control of Scrap Tires from 9:00 a.m. to 4: 00 p.m. to be hosted by Hopkins County Environmental Committee. Prior-registration required. Of all the things dumped by Texans, scrap tires are probably the most difficult for communities to handle. In many ways scrap tires are the “perfect waste.” About one scrap tire is generated each year for each Texan. Texans generated around 25 million scrap tires 2013, and this number will increase with the population (projected to be around 44 million in 35 years). This class looks at the ways that local communities can respond to this waste now and in years to come, considering the role of the TCEQ in administrative enforcement. Local code enforcement officers and registered sanitarians; local peace officers; local health department officers; specialized environmental enforcement officers; fire marshals and firefighters; prosecutors; city and county staff and elected officials needing a good understanding of the approaches available to control mishandling and dumping of waste tires; state agency officers needing a good understanding of the specific enforcement powers available to local governments to deal with this waste are encouraged to participate. Six (6) hours code enforcement/RS continuing education credits will be awarded for successful completion. For code enforcement officers, this class includes one hour in “Legal / Legislative Update Related to the Profession of Code Enforcement.” Six (6) hours TCOLE credit may be given at the discretion of participant’s agency (Lesson Plan and Instructor Biography will be provided to Agency Training Officer). Peace officers seeking to earn TCOLE credits for completion of Class 3880 should verify with their Training Officer that this class meets Agency requirements prior to registration. In some cases TCOLE credit will be filed by the local agency hosting the class. Your instructor for this class is John Ockels, Ph.D, Director of Texas Illegal Dumping Resource Center. If you need to contact him for any reason, you can do so at [email protected]. The program will be FREE thanks to Ark-Tex COG through a grant from the TCEQ. The program will be held at the Professional AG Workers Building, 957 Connally,  Sulphur Springs, TX 75482. To register visit http://www.tidrc.com/classes.html. The Hopkins County Heifer Validation Committee will be validating registered heifers for major shows October 25^th 2014 (Saturday) at Dairy Health Services 4:00 to 6:00. Any major show heifer exhibitor in Hopkins County must be present to have the heifers validated. The cost is $10 per heifer. Original registration papers must be present with the animals to validate. Contact your FFA chapter of 4-H club for further information. For more information on this or any other agricultural topic please contact the Hopkins County Extension Office at 903-885-3443 or email [email protected].