The Fort Bend County Commissioners Court on Tuesday voted to waive county recycling and hazardous waste disposal fees as part of its Tropical Storm Harvey recovery efforts. The court also approved updated agreements with the Fort Bend History Association to preserve historical artifacts and the city of Houston to collaborate on efforts to fight internet crimes of child exploitation. Harvey recovery actions and updates Commissioners waived recycling and hazardous waste disposal fees at the Fort Bend County Recycle Center for residents impacted by Harvey. The fee waivers last through Jan. 2, 2018. Fees range vary depending on the material. The court also voted to waive permit fees related to repairing damage caused by the storm commercial properties The court authorized payment to employees who worked overtime during the storm and the declared emergency period from Aug. 26 through Sept. 17, according to meeting documents. The total cost the county has spent on overtime hours for Harvey was not provided. In addition, department heads and elected officials were authorized by the court to award eight hours of administrative paid leave to recognize staff who worked in the county’s Emergency Operations Center and other facilities without additional compensation, according to meeting documents. County Judge Robert Hebert also announced he and Precinct 3 Commissioner Andy Meyers testified Monday in front of the Texas House Appropriations Committee to seek government assistance for Harvey relief. “The government has to act,” Hebert said. “This kind of disaster can’t be fixed by just good will and good words. It takes action.” Harvey inflicted approximately $1 billion in damage on the county, Hebert said. The county collected about 292,000 cubic yards of debris as of Oct. 2, he said. “We have a crew on the ground, but it is a slow, painstaking process,” Hebert said. Economic development and historic preservation efforts Commissioners approved a $250,000 contract between the county and the Greater Fort Bend Economic Development Council for economic development services, such as helping to attract business and commercial prospects to Fort Bend County. The court also approved a total of $125,000 to the Fort Bend History Association for preservation activities, including maintaining the Historic Dew House as the DeWalt Heritage Center. The funds will help allow FBHA to continue collecting and archiving documents, photos, and other historical artifacts and to develop plans for an educational museum exhibit, according to meeting documents. Task force program to fight against internet crimes against children In an approved, updated agreement, the Fort Bend County Sheriff’s Office will work with the city of Houston to participate in an Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force Program, a nationally recognized initiative to help law enforcement agencies combat child exploitation crimes, according to the program’s website. FBCSO will help pay for a detective to investigate ICAC-related crimes, according to meeting documents. Fort Bend County will provide $30,267 for salary and benefits out of a total of $100,890, the county’s auditor Ed Sturdivant said. The remaining costs, including $22,952 for equipment, training, and overtime, is grant funded. Truancy prevention and intervention program Fort Bend County approved of renewing a truancy prevention program, Saved by the Bell, to work with Fort Bend ISD and the Fort Bend County Juvenile Board to intervene when students struggle with attendance-related issues. The school district will provide $240,000, and the county will contribute approximately $500,000 to fund six case managers to work directly with students deferred to the program, providing guidance and mentorship, Sturdivant said. The program is pending approval by the county’s juvenile board but will most likely be renewed, he said. “It’s an outreach intervention program,” Sturdivant said. In addition to keeping students out of the judicial system, the program’s purpose is to deter truancy and improve student attendance, which, in turn, generates more revenue for the school district, he said.