COMMISSIONERS' COURT AGENDA REQUEST
PLEASE FURNISH ONE ORIGINAL AND NINE COPIES OF THIS REQUEST AND DOCUMENTS TO BE
REVIEWED BY THE COURT.
MADE BY: Jonathan Letz
MEETING DATE: May 27, 003
SUBJECT: (PLEASE BE SPECIFIC)
OFFICE: Commissioners Court
TIME PREFERRED:
Consider and discuss implementing "Adopt a County Road" Program to pick up trash on County
Roads.
EXECUTIVE SESSION REQUESTED: (PLEASE STATE REASON)
NAME OF PERSON ADDRESSING THE COURT
ESTIMATED LENGTH OF PRESENTATION:
IF PERSONNEL MATTER -NAME OF EMPLOYEE:
Commissioner Pct. #3
Time for submitting this request for Court to assure that the matter is posted in accordance with Title 5, Chapter
551 and 552, Government Code, is as follows:
Meeting scheduled for Mondays:
THIS REQUEST RECEIVED BY:
THIS REQUEST RECEIVED ON:

All Agenda Requests will be screened by the County Judge's Office to determine if adequate information has been
prepared for the Court's formal consideration and action at time of Court Meetings. Your cooperation will be
appreciated and contribute towards you request being addressed at the earliest opportunity. See Agenda Request Rules
Adopted by Commissioners' Court.
5:00 P.M. previous Tuesday.
May 20, 2003
For many years TxDot has had an "Adopt a Highway" program to help keep our state
highways clean. I think it would be a good idea to implement an "Adopt a County Road"
program for Kerr County to help keep our County roads clean.
This would be a purely volunteer program where individuals, businesses or organizations
could adopt a 2 mile segment of County Road and agree to keep it clean. The County
would:
Supply and install a recognition sign on the road segment;
provide trash bags;
provide safety vests; and
pick up the trash bags.
This program would be of little cost to the County and would help solve the littering
problem we have throughout the County. It also has the benefit of providing
"ownership" to the community and the County.
I have attached information from TxDot concerning the State Program as a reference.
KERRVILLE MAINTENANCE OFFICE
P.O. Box 294029
Kerrville, Texas 78029-4029
Phone: 830/257-8444 Fax: 830/896-1660
May 6, 2003
Sam Smith
Immel Motors
1279 US 87 South
Fredericksburg TX 78624
Re: Adopt-A-Highway Application
Dear Mr. Smith:
am pleased to send you information about the Adopt-A-Highway Program. This includes an
overview of the guidelines of the Adopt-A-Highway Agreement, an application form, and a list of
the sections currently available for adoption in Kerr County.
Please familiarize yourself and your group with this information. If you need assistance in
selecting a section to adopt, please call me. Groups applying for the Adopt-A-Highway Program
are taken on a first-come, first-serve basis.
Please return the completed application form in the enclosed self-addressed envelope within 30
days of the date of this letter. If it is not returned within the 30-day period, the application will be
null and void. Please note that our office must have the original application with an original
signature.
If you have any questions, please call me at 257-8444, Monday-Friday, 8-5.
We are looking forward to your participation in the Adopt-A-Highway Program, and thank you for
your interest.
Sincerely,
Serena Burrough
Kerr County Adopt-A-Highway Coordinator
Enclosures
The following guidelines apply to the Texas Department of Transportation's Adopt-A-
Highway Program:
• Participation in the program is open to members or employees of civic and nonprofit
organizations; employees of private businesses and governmental agencies; and
families.
• A group must be located or reside in the county or county adjacent to the county in
which the adopted section is located.
• In no circumstance is a section of interstate highway eligible for adoption.
The group will:
• obey and abide by all laws and regulations relating to safety and such other terms
and conditions as may be required by the District Engineer for special conditions on
a particular adopted section.
• adopt a section of roadway that is a minimum of two (2) miles long, unless the
District Engineer determines a shorter length is in the best interests of the
Department.
• adopt for a minimum period of two (2) years.
pick up litter a minimum of four (4) times a year and at such additional times as
required by the District Engineer. It is desired that one of these pickups occur
during the Department's annual "Don't Mess With Texas Trash-Off" event.
appoint or select an authorized representative to serve as spokesperson for the
Group.
furnish adequate supervision by one or more adults for participants 15 years of age
or younger.
• conduct at feast two (2) safety meetings per year and ensure all participants attend
a safety meeting conducted by the Group before participating in a cleanup.
• obtain required supplies and materials from the Department during regular business
hours.
put up opened roll-up traffic control signs during a cleanup and take them down after
the cleanup.
wear Department-furnished safety vests during the trash pickup.
place litter in trashbags furnished by the Department.
• groups may pick up litter in only the mowed areas of the right-of-way, if they are truly
concerned about the hazards of walking in the unmowed areas. However, the group
should also remove large pieces of litter in the unmowed areas that would be visible
from the roadway.
• return unused materials and supplies to the Department within one week following
each cleanup.
• not possess or consume alcoholic beverages while on the adopted section.
• maintain afirst-aid kit and adequate drinking water while on the adopted section.
• not subcontract or assign its responsibilities to any other group, organization or
enterprise without the expressed written authorization of the department.
• have the option of renewing the agreement subject to the approval of the District
Engineer and continuation by the Department of the Adopt-A-Highway Program.
The Department will:
• work with the Group to determine the specific section of the State highway right-of
way to be adopted.
• erect a 4' x 4' sign at each end of the adopted section with the Group's name or
acronym displayed. A sign that recognizes a family will not state the full name or
title of an elected official.
provide roll-up traffic control signs, safety vests, trashbags and safety literature.
• remove the filled trashbags the first workday after the pickup.
• remove litter from the adopted section only under unusual circumstances, i.e. to
remove large, heavy or hazardous items or if the group has not fulfilled its
responsibilities.
The District Engineer may defer approval of this application to the Executive Director or
the Executive Director's designee. Should the District Engineer deny approval, in whole
or in part, of this application, the applicant may appeal that action to the Executive
Director or the Executive Director's designee.
ADOPT-A-HIGHWAY PROGRAM
Texas APPLICATION FOR PARTICIPATION
Department
of Transportation
The Texas Department of Transportation will work with the adopting group to determine the
specific section of state highway right-of-way to be adopted. The Department may consider
such factors as width of right-of-way, geometrics, congestion, and sight distance of roadways in
determining what sections of highway shall be eligible for adoption.
(Name of Organization)
(Mailing Address)
(City, Zip Code)
Clean-up)
(Printed Name of Authorized Representative)
Representative)
(Mailing Address)
(City, Zip Code)
(Date of Application)
(Street Address -Required)
(Est. No. People Participating in Each
(Signature of Authorized
(Day Phone Number)
(Evening Phone Number)
Highway section you are interested in adopting:
***********(Please do not write below this line. To be completed by TxDOT only.)***************
Description of adopted section (to be completed by TxDOT):
Mail this form to:
Texas Department of Transportation
Attention: Serena Burrough
Kerr County Adopt-A-Highway Coordinator
P.O. Box 294029
Kerrville, Texas 78029-4029
PLEASE RETURN ONLY THIS PAGE.
ADOPT-A-HIGHWAY
Texas
Department SAFETY TIPS
of Transportation
REMEMBER: You are working in a Dangerous Environment ... .
A Public Highway.
To protect yourself and others.. .
• Fold down traffic control signs during the cleanup and return them to the closed position
after cleanup.
• Park all vehicles clear of roadway.
• Face oncoming traffic.
• Stop work in inclement weather.
• Avoid overexertion.
• Wear light-colored clothing and safety vest.
• Wear heavy gloves.
• Wear leather shoes or boots.
• Wear a hat and long sleeves.
• Wear sunscreen and bug repellant.
• Drink plenty of fluids.
• Do not remove hazardous substances.
• Be alert for snakes.
• Avoid contact with noxious weeds and areas treating with herbicides.
• Do not pick up items on bridges, in tunnels or on overpasses.
• Stay clear of any construction.
• Do not enter the roadway/shoulder.
• Furnish adequate supervision by one or more adults for participants 15 years of age or
under.
• Work in pairs whenever possible.
• Hang a litter bag or trash bag from your vehicle.
In case of emergency.. .
• Every crew should have a first aid kit.
• Have transportation available.
Housekeeping.. .
• Pick up supplies at your local Maintenance Section Office during regular business hours
(see contract for name and phone number of contact person).
• Call the Maintenance Section Office afterwards to advise them to pick up the full trash
bags (see contract for name and phone number of contact person}.
• And thank you for doing your part to keep our beautiful state litter-free.