Gainesville — Cooke County commissioners lifted a burn ban and approved general election polling judges during Monday’s regular meeting.

The ban, which had been imposed Aug. 13, outlawed outdoor burning and placed restrictions on welding and outdoor cooking. But recent moisture levels have been ample, allowing commissioners to approve lifting the ban.

Commissioners also approved the appointment of election judges and their alternates for the general election on Nov. 6, and approved the consolidation of polling locations.

Precincts 1, 3, 5 and 31 — North Central Texas College Library lyceum, 1525 W. California St. in Gainesville.

Precincts 2, 30, 34 and 35 — First Christian Church, 401 N. Dixon St. in Gainesville.

Precincts 4, 26 and 37 — Hillcrest Church of Christ, 1712 O’Neal St. in Gainesville.

Precincts 6 and 9 — Callisburg Community Center, 92 McDaniel St. in Callisburg.

Precincts 7 and 28 — Tabernacle Baptist Church, 305 County Road 194.

Precinct 8 — Callisburg Elementary School, 648 FM 3164.

Precinct 10 — Mountain Springs Community Center, 173 Mountain Springs Lane in Valley View.

Precinct 11 — First Baptist Church activities building, 504 N. Lee St. in Valley View.

Precinct 12 and 14 — Era Community Center, 102 Malone St. in Era.  

Precinct 15 — Myra Baptist Church, 218 Bradford St. in Myra.

Precinct 17 — Muenster VFW, 136 Ash St. in Muenster.  

Precinct 18 — First Baptist Church, 121 N. Pecan St. in Muenster.

Precincts 19 and 21 — Conrad Hall, 504 W. 4th St. in Lindsay.  

Precincts 20, 24, 25 and 27 — East Side Church of Nazarene, 1415 S. Radio Hill Road in Gainesville.

Precinct 22 — Lake Kiowa Lodge, 905 W. Kiowa Drive in Lake Kiowa.

Precincts 33 — Moss Lake Fire Station, 160 Spur 1201 in Gainesville.

Election judges and their corresponding precincts are as follows: Chris McNamara (Republican) and Claudia Melugin (Democrat), precincts 1,3,5 and 31; Dick Sparkman (R) and Mary Onugha (D), precincts 2, 30, 34 and 35; Mike Myers (R) and Farzana Ravjani (D), precincts 4, 26 and 37; Elizabeth Mendenhall (R) and Carolyn Hassell (D), precincts 6 and 9; Jim Yeargan (R) and Nell Ware (D), precincts 7 and 28; Sharon McCormack (R) and Pauline Bashaw (D), precinct 8; Loyd Hutson (R) and Patrick Hermes (D), precinct 10; Pauline Lesch (R) and Ken Leach (D), precinct 11; George Jones (R) and John Kubicek (D), precincts 12 and 14; Bill Black (R) and Wes Bashaw (D), precinct 15; Art Opperman (R) and Phyliss Dittfurth (D), precinct 17; Tom Schad (R) and Evelyn Fuhrmann (D), precincts 19 and 21; Tricia Williford (R) and Darlene Crawford (D), precincts 20, 24, 25 and 27; Bill Burhans (R) and Gayla Robles (D), precinct 22; and Taylor Vestal (R) and Barbara Pybas (D), precinct 33.

Other meeting highlights:

• Commissioners approved the date of Sept. 10 — during the next commissioners’ court meeting — as the appointed time to vote on and set a county tax rate.

• Commissioners approved a proclamation honoring exiting Cooke County Treasurer Judy Hunter, who has served as treasurer for more than 25 years.

• Commissioners approved a proclamation honoring Chief Juvenile Probation Officer Jim Farquhar, who has served the county for 23 years.

• Commissioners approved a declaration naming Sunday, Sept. 9, 2012, as “Presbyterian Centennial Sunday” in recognition of the 100th anniversary of the First Presbyterian Church of Gainesville.

• Commissioners approved the 2011-12 contract between the county and the Lake Kiowa Volunteer Fire Department.

• Commissioners approved a write-off for uncollectable Cooke County EMS ambulance billings in the amount of $2,320,274.64.

• Commissioners approved these consent agenda items: fiscal year 2012 budget amendments; monthly bills; payroll and related expenses; the indigent cremations of James G. Simpson and Jerry D. Riggs; advertising for bids for ground maintenance services for the Cooke County Justice Center; advertising for bids for vending services in the courthouse and annex building; the cost allocation plan contract with Justice Benefits used to calculate the indirect cost for Cooke County; the processing fees between Midwest Tape and the Cooke County Library for a one year term Sept. 1, 2012, until Aug. 31, 2013; law enforcement professional liability coverage renewal through the Texas Association of Counties; the quarterly internal audits for the Cooke County Compliance Office and the Cooke County Library; the 235th District Court Order setting the salaries of the auditor, first assistant auditor, second assistant auditor, third assistant auditor, fourth assistant auditor, and 235th District Court reporter; and the 2010 Texas Department of Public Safety/Homeland Security grant program adjustment.