Williamson County commissioners voted to implement a 90-day burn ban at their July 9 meeting despite recent rainfall.

Jarred Thomas, emergency management coordinator for Williamson County, said that the county's overall Keetch-Byram Drought Index rating was in the 600s.

On the KBDI scale, a zero rating represents no moisture depletion, and 800 represents absolutely dry conditions, according to the Texas Weather Connection website, https://twc.tamu.edu.

"It's time to implement a countywide burn ban," Thomas said. "There's no significant change in the 14-day outlook, and a significant portion of the eastern half of the county is already in extreme drought."

As of July 9, the average KBDI rating for Williamson County was 619, with the lowest ratings at 527 and the highest at 720, according to the TWC website.

"We had 2 inches of rain [at my house Monday], and it wasn't enough to move the algae growing in the river," County Judge Dan Gattis said. "I'm all for burn bans, but I'm cautious about it."

Gattis made a motion to implement a 90-day burn ban with the stipulation that the county judge could recall the ban if conditions change.

According to a Williamson County news release, a person violates the ban if he or she burns any combustible material outside of an enclosure that serves to contain all flames and/or sparks or orders such burning by others.

The burn ban prohibits the burning of household yard waste, such as leaves, grass, brush and other yard trimmings, as well as burning to clear land of trees, stumps, shrubbery or other natural vegetation, the release stated. Violation of the burn ban is a Class C Misdemeanor that is punishable by a fine up to $500.