County shuts door on center

Detention project officially ‘dead issue’

By LPR Staff
Editor/POST-REGISTER

With pressure from concerned residents mounting, the Caldwell County Commissioners made an official vote to withhold support for the proposed Emerald Corrections Management detention facility on Monday.
Residents of Lytton Springs and Dale filled the Commissioners” Cou

rtroom and spilled into the hallway as they made their presence and their opposition to the project known. Though Emerald representative Mike Moore had already indicated the company did not intend to move forward with the project, discussion appeared on the agenda for Monday”s meeting, causing several in the crowd distress.
“If it”s a dead issue, then why are we all here,” one asked. “Why are we still talking about it?”
Several complained they had tried to call County Judge HT Wright or their respective Commissioners to discuss the project, but did not have their calls returned. At least one Commissioner, however, noted some constituents had called him, demanding to know how he intended to vote on the subject – a question Commissioner”s cannot answer outside of a posted meeting.
After lengthy discussion during public comments, Wright called the question and the Commissioners voted unanimously against supporting the project.
In other business, the Commissioners heard discussion regarding six different subdivision projects throughout the county.
Two subdivisions near St. John”s Colony were discussed and appear to be moving forward in development. A public hearing will be held during the Court”s Jan. 28 meeting to discuss the preliminary plat for The Woods at St. John”s Colony, located on St. John”s Road.
Additionally, Kasi Miles presented a preliminary plan for the Nolandale subdivision, which will be located on Highway 80 near the intersection of Highway 130. Nolandale developers are in the process of negotiating with both the Tri-Community and Maxwell Water Supply Corporations to provide water to the 2,700-home subdivision.
Sheriff Daniel Law announced Caldwell County has received the “Rookie of the Year” award from a national neighborhood association for the county”s National Night Out efforts last year. Though it was the first year for the Caldwell County Sheriff”s Department to participate in National Night Out, more than 300 people in rural communities took part in celebrations, Law said.
Despite forecasted rains, Caldwell County Fire Marshal Jeff Wright asked the Commissioners to leave an outdoor burning ban in place, stating the combination of parched land and high winds still presents a very real danger for wildfires.
In brief news:
The Court levied a $10,000 fine against the developer of an illegal subdivision in rural Caldwell County. The developer built several high-end homes and subdivided a tract of land, but did not have appropriate road frontage for each lot.
They heard discussion regarding the Plum Creek Watershed Protection Plan, and offered their support to a variety of cleanup activities.
County Auditor Sonny Rougeou presented information about the county”s property and casualty insurance, and discussed the award of donation funds to several area organizations.
The Caldwell County Commissioners meet on the second, third and fourth Monday of each month at 9 a.m. in Room 100 of the Caldwell County Courthouse. Meetings are open to the public, and citizens are encouraged to attend.