Jefferson County Commissioners Court today voted unanimously to approve the county’s commitment to a minimum revenue guarantee for commuter airline American Eagle.

The county will be providing $250,000 to an escrow account to meet its part of obligations for air service at the county’s airport, County Judge Jeff Branick said.

“We’ll be asking other governmental entities and industry and business to contribute also,” Branick said. 

The guarantee is part of a bid for the company, a commuter carrier operated by American Airlines, to establish a connector flight route to Dallas-Fort Worth from Jefferson County’s Jack Brooks Regional Airport.

“We want to get the dominoes moving, and so we want to be the first to commit our resources to this,” Branick said.

The commissioners court voted unanimously to award an $861,895 contract to Maguire Iron, Inc. for construction of a 200,000 gallon steel leg above ground storage tank, and for surfacing a driveway.

The storage tank will be the majority of the contract’s cost, totaling $849,120.  The project is funded through the Texas Department of Rural Affairs Grant administered by the Texas General Land Office.

The commissioners court tabled action regarding a burn ban order.  No burn ban is currently in effect for the county.

The commissioners court voted unanimously to authorize County Judge Jeff Branick to set juror pay for FY2013.  The pay schedule for jurors includes a $2 increase this year.

All other items were approved by unanimous vote.  All members were present.  Agenda