In an effort to help area contractors, the Lampasas County Commissioners Court voted during its recent meeting to use competitive sealed proposals to select the builder of the Lampasas County Office Building addition.

When using competitive sealed proposals, the Commissioners Court may interview and "prequalify" contractors who submit proposals, Komatsu Architecture architect Gordon Marchant said.

Several commissioners said a Lampasas County contractor likely will have a better opportunity to receive the contract for the building under a competitive sealed proposal system than with competitive sealed bids.

If the Commissioners Court had selected a sealed bid process, it would be required to pick the lowest price and would have had fewer chances to screen bidders based on references, Marchant said.

The contractor selected will have to obtain Commissioners Court approval for any change order, Marchant added.

In another item, the court voted 4-0 to decrease the subdivision cancellation fee to $25. Previously, revisions and cancellations had been classified as one fee, and the charge was $200, plus $10 per affected lot.

Revision and final plat fees remain at their current rates.

Commissioners also voted 4-0 to approve a slate of members for the Lampasas County Water Control and Improvements District No. 1 Board, which maintains 10 flood-control dams in the Sulphur Creek watershed.

Members are John Walker, Russell Johnson, William J. McLean, Suzanne Goen, Paul Wilborn, Precinct 4 Commissioner Jack B. Cox and Lampasas City Councilman Robert McCauley -- who was selected at a recent council meeting.

Charlene Nash is an alternate.

In other business, the Commissioners Court approved moving the veterans service office from 412 S. Live Oak St. to the break room on the third floor of the courthouse.

When the court resumed its session after a threehour recess, however, Precinct 1 Commissioner Robert Vincent -- who presided over the meeting in County Judge Wayne Boultinghouse's absence -- said there is no computer outlet in the third-floor room.

As a result, commissioners rescinded their earlier motion and voted 4-0 to consider at the court's next meeting the proposal to move the veterans service office.

Also, Vincent reminded citizens that the county's outdoor burn ban has resumed. All burning in unincorporated areas, except for barbecue pits and household trash burned in a barrel with a screen on top, is prohibited.

The only other exceptions are for agricultural purposes with prior approval from the county fire marshal. A violation of the order is a Class C misdemeanor punishable by a fine not to exceed $500.