Commissioners Court Recap from January 22, 2026

By Anthony Collins

LPR Editor                            

    Caldwell County Commissioners covered a full agenda at their regular meeting on Jan. 22, 2026, including changes to early voting locations and hours, multiple grant applications for road projects, and the status of the county burn ban. 

   One of the biggest items discussed was early voting for the 2026 primary elections. Voters will see a new main early voting location in Lockhart, along with updated voting hours designed to better accommodate people who work during the day. The Scott Annex will no longer serve as the primary early voting site. Instead, Adams Gym, located at 419 Bois D’Arc Street and owned by Lockhart ISD, will take over that role. County Elections Administrator Devante Coe explained the change is tied to potential legislation that would require early voting locations to also be used on Election Day. Because the Scott Annex is where ballots are counted, using it as an Election Day polling place would not be practical.

   In addition to approving Adams Gym as the main early voting site, commissioners also designated Three Rivers Community Church at 103 Main St. in Martindale and the Luling Civic Center at 333 E. Austin St. in Luling as branch early voting locations. Commissioners also adjusted early voting hours, replacing the traditional 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. schedule with a new 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. time frame to give voters more flexibility after work. The 2026 primary election period will run from Tuesday, Feb. 17 through Friday, Feb. 27, with a full schedule of dates and times to be released.

  Commissioners also approved submitting several grant applications through the Capital Area Planning Metropolitan Planning Organization’s 2028–2031 Call for Projects Funding Program. If approved, these grants would help fund a number of planned road projects, with Caldwell County providing a 20 percent match. The projects include widening FM 2720, adding a turn lane on U.S. 183 from Magnolia Avenue to the Plum Creek turnaround, widening SH 142 from Windsor Boulevard to SH 80 and from Windsor Boulevard to Borchert Loop, widening North Magnolia Avenue from E. Austin Street/SH 80 to E. Pierce Street/U.S. 183, and realigning FM 20 from South Medina Street to South Commerce Street.

   Other actions taken during the meeting included keeping the county burn ban in place and approving an order that allows fireworks sales for Texas Independence Day. Commissioners also proclaimed February as Dating Violence Awareness and Prevention Month. Several board reappointments were approved, including Billy Ray Buckner to the Luling Foundation Farm Board, Sherilyn Adcock to the Caldwell County ESD #5 Board of Directors, Jerry Doyle, Andrew Reyes, and Greg Pope to the Caldwell County ESD #4 Board of Directors, and David Murdoch, Robert Moreno, and Mark Junger to the Caldwell County ESD #3 Board of Directors, all for two-year terms. Commissioners also approved a resolution appointing Precinct 1 Commissioner B.J. Westmoreland as the CAPCOG Clean Air Coalition representative for the next two years.

     The next Commissioners Court meeting is scheduled for Thursday, Feb. 12.