Court eyes honoring Wright

By LPR Staff

Editor/POST-REGISTER

Last year, the Lockhart City Council chose to shed an extensive abbreviation as the name of the access road on SH-130, and instead to call the stretch “Cesar Chavez Parkway.” On Monday, representatives from the Caldwell County Appraisal District and 9-1-1 system asked the Caldwell County Commissioners Court to consider doing the sam

e.

According to mapping expert Matthew Allen, the 3,300-foot stretch, from Old Fentress Road to Cesar Chavez Parkway, should be renamed South Cesar Chavez Parkway, in an effort to lessen confusion for first responders and residents in the area. In fact, he said, some residents had already adopted Cesar Chavez Parkway as their address.

However, County Judge Tom Bonn balked at the idea, believing instead that the stretch should instead be named to honor the late Caldwell County Judge H.T. Wright.

Commissioner Alfredo Munoz, who brought the proposal to the agenda, suggested there should be another way to honor Wright, reminding Bonn that eventually the City of Lockhart would annex the land, and the name would be changed to Cesar Chavez Parkway at that time. He suggested instead that the judicial center should be named for Wright, after its completion next year.

Bonn stood his ground.

“… were it not for him, we would have had to buy all the right-of-way, but he stood his ground,” Bonn said, reminding his colleagues that Wright was instrumental in striking the deal for the right-of-way acquisition, which otherwise would have cost the county millions of dollars.

Bonn made reference to another road currently named for Wright, in what he called “the mosquito ponds” on the banks of Plum Creek north of Lockhart. The wetlands reclamation site, which was intended to be a nature park, has not yet been occupied by the county or the City of Lockhart, as was originally agreed when it was constructed.

Bonn attempted to push the issue through, making a motion to name the 3,300 feet of access road for Wright, but his efforts were stymied by attorney Mack Harrison, who reminded him that public hearings must be announced and held before the Court can name or rename a road.

The first of those hearings is scheduled to be held on Oct. 14, 2013.

In other business, upon hearing a recommendation from Emergency Management Coordinator Jim Parker, the three Court members on hand voted to leave the outdoor burning ban off, for the time being.

As a result of the recent heavy rains, Parker said, conditions have become safe to temporarily lift the ban. He did caution, however, that because autumn weather patterns tend to be unstable, the ground could dry out quickly and create the need to put the ban back on.

The Court urges the public that chooses to burn to do so safely, and to remember to call the Sheriff’s Office at (512) 398-6777 to notify dispatchers of any controlled burns, thereby preventing unnecessary calls to the rural volunteer fire departments.

The Commissioners received a copy of a proposed Host Agreement from Mack Reynolds, a project manager for Green Group Holdings. Because the item was not listed on the agenda, no discussion could take place on the item. Still, Reynolds said he came to open the discussion with Caldwell County about the upcoming 130 Environmental Park project.

In brief news:

The Court signed a resolution declaring Oct. 1, 2013, National Night Out, and made a presentation recognizing two area Eagle Scouts, Daniel E’Libe Watts and Coleman Dean Crowell.

The Commissioners awarded bids for contracts for a variety of materials, including asphalt, diesel and fuel, oil, flexible base and lubricants for the coming fiscal year.

They approved changes to the contract for construction and renovation at the Luling Annex Building. The renovation contract currently stands at $60,050.

The County paid bills in the amount of $407,270.76.

The Caldwell County Commissioners routinely meet on the second, third and fourth Monday of each month at 9 a.m. in the Conference and Training Room at the LW Scott Annex, 1403 Blackjack St., in Lockhart. The meetings are open to the public and broadcast online at www.co.caldwell.tx.us.