BEAUMONT — The Jefferson County Commissioners filed and executed local agreements with cities residing in Precinct 2. Port Neches, Groves, Nederland and Port Arthur all have parts of their cities within the precinct.

The agreement is the next step of the process for the county to help cities with their respective streets.

“We sign off on the inter-local agreement and then it gets sent to the cities for their mayors to sign,” Jefferson County Judge Jeff Branick said. “Then, we get it back and file it.”

The judge said the next step is for the county to determine what days are available for county workers to begin on the city streets.

Branick said Precinct 2 Commissioner Brent Weaver has already told some of his workers there will be overtime possibility for the next few months due to the volume of streets that need to be fixed.

Commissioners also approved a proclamation for Soil and Water Stewardship Week. Commissioners heard from Joe Smith, a member of the Coastal Soil and Water Conservation District #432.

Smith started his presentation by citing scripture.

“God took clay, he molded man and breathed the breath of life,” Smith said. “We all have a tie to the soil. What is soil? It’s not dirt. My teacher at [Texas] A&M said dirt is what is under your fingernails. Healthy soil is alive with complex communities of bacteria, algae, fungi, plants and animals.”

The next commissioner’s court is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. Monday at on the fourth floor Jefferson County Courthouse.