Commissioners eye wetland park project

By LPR Staff
Editor/POST-REGISTER

Caldwell County has begun negotiations with the City of Lockhart and the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) to claim partial responsibility for more than 250 acres of parkland north of Lockhart.
The project is being developed in connection with the construction of State Highway 130. Federal and state rules requir

e that TxDOT mitigate the loss of wetlands in Williamson and Travis Counties, and the department has decided, with input from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, that the Plum Creek basin will be the most appropriate place to restore the wetlands.
In a meeting last week with Caldwell County Commissioners and City of Lockhart officials, the state asked area governments to take over responsibility for the parklands five years after construction. The Caldwell County Commissioners entertained the proposal during their regular meeting on Monday.
According to County Judge H.T. Wright, TxDOT will fence the nearly 260-acre park and install a walking and running track.
“We consider this an opportunity to have some ownership in a park,” Wright said. Currently, the county has no claim to any parklands.
There remain factors to be discussed with regard to the wetland reclamation project, including the possibility that TxDOT is trying to move the wetlands too far away from their original location. Also, if the City of Lockhart moves forward with plans for “Lake Lockhart,” the site may have to be moved. However, the Commissioners agreed to move forward with negotiations for the construction of the park.
In brief Court news:
Despite the weekend rains, the panel opted to keep the outdoor burning ban in place. Fire Marshal Jeff Wright suggested that, with the weather forecast calling for more dry, sunny days, the rain would do little to saturate the ground.
Commissioner Joe Roland will approach the county departments regarding the sale of surplus equipment. An announcement on the sale will be made at a later date.
The Commissioners agreed to list a six-acre tract of property on FM 1322 for sale. The property will be listed with Ken Watts with the Walker-Lippard real estate office in Luling.
The County paid bills in the amount of $238,298.78, including $1,500 in indigent legal defense.
The Caldwell County Commissioners Court meets on the second, third and fourth Monday of each month in Room 100 of the Caldwell County Courthouse. Commissioners Court meetings are open to the public.