Hays County commissioners voted Tuesday to approve nearly $6,000 in overtime pay for emergency operations center employees.
Kharley Smith, the county's emergency management coordinator, said most of the overtime occurred when Hurricane Harvey hit the area.
She said some of the $5,786 in overtime pay was used for employees working the
county's controlled burn that ran awry in July, consuming nearly 785 acres in the northern portion of the county.
"[The overtime pay] is definitely outside the norm," Smith said.
She said the overtime pay was going to Hays County Fire Marshal Clint Browning and Assistant Emergency Management Coordinator Justin McInnis.
"I can’t afford to really have them flex that amount of time out and be away from the office,” Smith said.
Hays County commissioners also voted Tuesday to provide resources to Caldwell County as it works to recover from the damage caused by Hurricane Harvey last month.
Hays County will help with road maintenance as repairs as well as provide personnel and equipment to the neighboring county.
A record 140 roads and low water crossings were closed in Caldwell County at the height of the storm, according to county emergency management officials. The county is still receiving reports of property damage.
Caldwell County is waiting to hear whether it will receive financial assistance through public assistance grants from the Federal Emergency Management Agency, or FEMA.
If the county does receive federal disaster recovery funding, it will reimburse Hays County for expenses. If not, Caldwell County will offer to assist Hays County with future needs.