Citizens voice concerns of road, cement batch plant

By Kyle Mooty

LPR Editor

The upkeep of Sandhill Road, south of McMahan, was the cause of concern of many citizens who addressed Caldwell County Commissioners at Tuesday morning’s meeting. One citizen said it was considered a county road, but said the county had not maintained it and it had become unsafe with water runoff, making it dangerous to emergency vehicles and school buses.

The main concern was a .9-mile stretch where residents said the road had vastly deteriorated.

Carlos and Nicole Martinez said the road was eroding on both sides. “My wife calls them the mini grand canyons,” Carlos Martinez said.

Commissioner Rusty Horne agreed that something needed to be done to the road.

“The road is in pretty bad shape,” Horne said. “There are probably 50 or so residents out there, maybe more. My main thing is the Lockhart ISD bus.

“I recommend we extend our maintenance. It’s gonna be some work, but we can manage it. It will help out these citizens a lot.”

County Judge Hoppy Haden also noted the road had become a “dangerous situation.”

The motion for the county to begin maintaining Sandhill Road was unanimously approved.

Another concern for citizens came in the west Caldwell County area with a proposed cement batch plant on Old Fentress Road and about 1,000 feet from SH 130.

“Five miles is considered an extreme danger zone, and 20 miles is considered a danger zone. Five miles includes our elementary schools,” said Ragan Frey.

Another citizen compared the cement plant’s addition to the effects of the Permian Pipeline, which she said uprooted families.

Yet another citizen asked Commissioners to “reach out” to TxDOT and SH 130 regarding the proposed cement batch plant owned by Lauren Concrete Inc.

“All they’ve done is put up a 12-foot fence to keep down the dust,” Craig Smith said.

Virginia Parker of the San Marcos River Foundation said there were two air quality requests in the works at Clearkfork and Plum Creek, and another four miles south of Martindale.

Commissioners cannot respond during Citizens Comments.

In other business:

Andrew McClish of Prairie Lea said the number of stop signs in his area of Prairie Lea had been deemed unwarranted, but no action had been taken to remove some signs.

“Why do we have to stop when there’s no need?” asked McClish. “Why are there 14 stop signs in such a small area of town when six were just fine? I have to break 150 percent more. No one is stopping. Were they just put up because of people’s feelings?”

Commissioners also approved:

* Adopting elected officials’ salaries for FY 2024-2025.

* Adopting the FY 2024-2025 Budget.

* Adopting the proposed No-New-Revenue Tax Rate for FY 2024-2025.

* A proclamation designating Sept. 21 as River Appreciation Day and commemorating local commitment to San Marcos River cleanup and preservation efforts.

* A proclamation from Capital Area Councils of Government (CAPCOG) designating the week of Sept. 23-27 as Falls Prevention Awareness Week.

* Appointing Lee Rust to the Plum Creek Conservation District Board of Directors.

Commissioner Horne noted on Sept. 21 Luling will celebrate its 150-year anniversary beginning at 10 a.m. at Zeddler’s Mill.

Horne also commended Caldwell County Jail following its surprise inspection last week where it was noted how well it was maintained.

Emergency Management Chief Hector Rangel asked for and received approval from Commissioners to remove the Burn Ban.

“We’ve had a few fires in the last couple of weeks, but nothing major,” Rangel said. “The next week or so we’ve got anywhere from a 10 to 40 percent chance of rain.”

The county will resolicit a bid for Jail Food Services.