County eyes opening DPS office part-time

By LPR Staff

Editor/POST-REGISTER

During a brief meeting on Monday morning, the Caldwell County Commissioners made a move toward reopening a Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) drivers’ license office in Caldwell County.

According to County Judge Kenneth Schawe, DPS has entered into talks to open a drivers’ license office i

n Caldwell County, which will be staffed with a full-time DPS staffer to provide driving tests and license renewals. However, as a part of the agreement, Caldwell County has been asked to provide a part-time employee for “backup” when the DPS employee is out of the office.

“All of the expenses will be absorbed by DPS, except for the office space, and the part-time employee,” Schawe said.

The first step toward opening that office was approval of the job description for the position, which the Commissioners approved at a salary not to exceed $12.25 per hour. The employee will have to undergo the standard background checks and other employment requirements observed by both Caldwell County and DPS.

The funds needed for the position will be taken from the County’s contingency fund.

Details are still sketchy as to when, exactly, the drivers’ license office will open, Schawe said. The employee will not come on board until that time, unless they are provided with off-site training prior to the opening.

“I don’t want us to put someone on staff until we know they have something to do,” Commissioner Eddie Moses said.

In other business, the Court approved the dates and locations for Early Voting in the upcoming Primary Elections. Early voting will begin on Feb. 16, and continue until Feb. 26, prior to the March 1, 2016, Primaries.

In Lockhart, voters may cast their vote at the LW Scott Annex, 1403 Blackjack St. Polls will be open from 8 a.m. – 5 p.m., Tuesday, Feb. 16 – Friday, Feb. 19. They will reopen from 7 a.m. – 7 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 20, and again from 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 21. The final week of early voting, polls in Lockhart will be open from 7 a.m. – 7 p.m., Monday, Feb. 22 – Friday, Feb. 26.

In Luling, voters may visit the Luling Civic Center, 300 E. Austin St., from 8 a.m. – 5 p.m., Tuesday, Feb. 16 – Friday, Feb. 19. The Civic Center will also be open from 8 a.m. – 5 p.m., Monday and Tuesday, Feb. 22 -23, and from 7 a.m. – 7 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 23 – Friday, Feb. 26.

In brief news:

The Commissioners opted, on the advice of Emergency Management Coordinator Martin Ritchey, not to instate a burn ban at this time. They did, however, warn that high winds associated with winter storms could create periodic “Red Flag Days,” and encouraged anyone who wants to engage in outdoor burning to first call the Caldwell County Sheriff’s Department’s non-emergency line at (512) 398-6777 prior to lighting any fires.

They approved a proclamation declaring February Black History Month in Caldwell County.

The County paid bills in the amount of $198,799.55.

The Caldwell County Commissioners Court routinely meets on the second and fourth Monday of each month at 9 a.m. in the second floor courtroom of the historic Caldwell County Courthouse. The meetings are open to the public and are available online at www.co.caldwell.tx.us.