Everything was approved with flying colors, including a preemptive fireworks ban.

The Lampasas County Commissioners Court conducted a brief meeting last week and agreed unanimously to double the county’s minimum advertised bid amount to $50,000.

Increased from $25,000, the new minimum amount is expected to help eliminate wasted effort in getting competitive bids for smaller purchases like office supplies, according to County Auditor Jack Clark.

The court also approved a ban on specific fireworks in all unincorporated areas. County Fire Marshal Gene Harrison requested the ban be put in place for any fireworks capable of traveling considerable distances upon use, including bottle rockets that use sticks and missile-type fireworks that stand on fixed feet.

The ban would go into effect in conjunction with a burn ban issued by the Texas Forest Service.

State law requires counties to take action by June 15, which made the meeting the final opportunity for commissioners to address the matter.

“This ban doesn’t have to be used; it is just in case,” County Judge Wayne Boultinghouse said. “It must be in place, though.”

The presentation from Dixie Telecom for county telephone service was skipped, and no action was taken after the item inadvertently was placed on the agenda.

Clark is scheduled to meet with the county’s current provider, NTS Communications, on June 14 and the matter will be evaluated after those discussions.

Also at the recent meeting, Clark asked all department heads to turn in budget requests by June 21.