County Jail negotiations continue with Lockhart

By LPR Staff
Editor/POST-REGISTER

Caldwell County and City of Lockhart officials came together to hurdle one of the roadblocks impeding construction of the Caldwell County Jail Expansion on Monday.
According to County Judge H.T. Wright, one of the city’s requirements before the facility could be expanded was the extension of a water main and installati

on of three fire hydrants. Lockhart City Manager Vance Rodgers announced during the regular meeting of the Caldwell County Commissioners’ Court that Lockhart had plans in place to extend the existing water line 300 feet and install the hydrants this week.
The city’s Fire Marshal has also suggested a road be constructed around the perimeter of the facility and sprinkler heads be installed in each inmate cell. While Sheriff Daniel Law is in agreement with one suggestion, he has grave concerns about the other.
“We spend a lot of time driving around the jail now,” Law said. “I think putting in a road would be a great help, because at this point, we often get stuck [at certain points in the perimeter].”
The sprinkler heads, however, were cause for alarm.
“There’s not a jail in the State of Texas that has [sprinkler heads in inmate cells],” Law said
Apparently, the heads are often pulled down by inmates and turned into weapons.
Law said he had asked the Texas Commission on Jail Standards for a variance to override the City of Lockhart’s fire codes and remove the sprinkler heads from the plans, and he expects the variance will be granted.
However, the Commission’s decision will not be announced until after Nov. 1, putting the jail construction project on hold for at least another week.
In other business, the Commissioners opted to leave the outdoor burning ban in place, because fire conditions continue to be dangerous and dry throughoutBy LPR Staff
Editor/POST-REGISTER

Caldwell County and City of Lockhart officials came together to hurdle one of the roadblocks impeding construction of the Caldwell County Jail Expansion on Monday.
According to County Judge H.T. Wright, one of the city’s requirements before the facility could be expanded was the extension of a water main and installation of three fire hydrants. Lockhart City Manager Vance Rodgers announced during the regular meeting of the Caldwell County Commissioners’ Court that Lockhart had plans in place to extend the existing water line 300 feet and install the hydrants this week.
The city’s Fire Marshal has also suggested a road be constructed around the perimeter of the facility and sprinkler heads be installed in each inmate cell. While Sheriff Daniel Law is in agreement with one suggestion, he has grave concerns about the other.
“We spend a lot of time driving around the jail now,” Law said. “I think putting in a road would be a great help, because at this point, we often get stuck [at certain points in the perimeter].”
The sprinkler heads, however, were cause for alarm.
“There’s not a jail in the State of Texas that has [sprinkler heads in inmate cells],” Law said
Apparently, the heads are often pulled down by inmates and turned into weapons.
Law said he had asked the Texas Commission on Jail Standards for a variance to override the City of Lockhart’s fire codes and remove the sprinkler heads from the plans, and he expects the variance will be granted.
However, the Commission’s decision will not be announced until after Nov. 1, putting the jail construction project on hold for at least another week.
In other business, the Commissioners opted to leave the outdoor burning ban in place, because fire conditions continue to be dangerous and dry throughoutthe county.
The Commissioners also heard a presentation from Lydia Serna and Norma Castilla-Blackwell regarding CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) of Texas. CASAs provide services and guidance for children who were brought into the court system through abuse, neglect or other CPS activities.
They approved a $500 contribution to Combined Community Action, Inc., to help fund Meals On Wheels projects in Caldwell County.
The County paid bills in the amount of $131,736.48, which includes $4,266.42 for indigent legal defense and $21,182.26 for indigent health care.
The Commissioners Court will meet again on Monday, Nov. 12 at 9 a.m. in Room 100 of the Caldwell County Courthouse.