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The Dallas County Commission met for the first time in 2021 on Monday evening, during which Dallas County Engineer Heath Sexton delivered a report regarding the ongoing cleanup efforts around Dallas County in the wake of Hurricane Zeta, which caused widespread damage to the area when it swept through at the end of October.

According to Sexton, cleanup efforts began on Dec. 17 and workers cleaned up debris for six days using two trucks before breaking for the holidays.

Sexton said contractors resumed cleanup efforts Jan. 4 and there are now nine cutting trucks and eight hauling trucks working across Dallas County to remove debris.

Sexton further explained that collected debris is being burned at a designated site in Valley Grande, as required by FEMA, but more sites are needed.

Elsewhere in the meeting, the Commission heard from Dallas County Attorney John Kelley, who presented a resolution recommending the Commission temporarily name the newly acquire d former-Regions Bank Building the “Dallas County Courthouse Building No. 2”.

The Commission first discussed the possibility of purchasing the property in August as Regions prepared to vacate the facility for their new space on Highland Avenue.

According to Kelly, the sale of the building to the Commission was finalized last month and is now officially property of Dallas County.

There has yet to be any announced plans as to how the space will be used but it contains roughly 22,000 square feet of space.