Voters to decide Hays-Caldwell ESD No. 1

By LPR Staff
Editor/POST-REGISTER

The Caldwell County Commissioners approved an updated order on Monday that will put the issue of the Hays-Caldwell County Emergency Services District No. 1 to a vote in November.
Petitions have been filed with the Judges of both Caldwell and Hays County asking for the district to be created after the election. The petiti

on was approved last week by the Caldwell County Commissioners Court, and will be the subject of a public hearing before the Hays County Commissioners Court on Aug. 21.
Should voters approve the emergency services district, which encompasses some 117 square miles in northern Caldwell County and eastern Hays County, an appointed board of directors will then go about setting a tax rate on all taxable property within the district. In most cases “taxable property” within an emergency services district amounts to structures, but not land, within the district. The taxes levied will be used to find fire and rescue services within the district.
Only those voters living within the district and who will be directly impacted by the tax will be allowed to vote in the election.
In other Court news, the Commissioners decide to move forward in acquiring a third radio frequency to maintain radio systems. In the event the City of Lockhart receives federal grant funds under a cooperative application with the City of Austin, the County”s communications systems may be adversely impacted. According to Commissioner Tom Bonn, the third frequency, along with an additional radio repeater, would be necessary to maintain communications at their current level if the City of Lockhart decides to upgrade. The two entities currently share radio systems through an interlocal agreement signed several years ago.
Gerry Ohlendorf, a member of the Courthouse Restoration Committee and self-proclaimed “long-time support of the beautification of the Courthouse – inside and out,” approached the Court to discuss lawn and garden maintenance on the Courthouse grounds.
According to Ohlendorf, the Courthouse lawn and flowerbeds give visitors to the Square their “first impression of Caldwell County.” She volunteered to help find a contract service to maintain the lawns and flowerbeds, provided the Court could budget the funds to pay for such a contract. They quickly and unanimously approved earmarking funds for Courthouse lawn maintenance in the next fiscal year”s budget.
County Fire Marshal Jeff Wright informed the Court that the area is still “plenty wet,” and there is no need to instate an outdoor burning ban yet this summer.
In brief news:
The county will soon move forward in negotiation acquisition of a right of way on Borchert Loop of the Texas Department of Transportation to build a bridge on Borchert Loop.
They discussed the paint and decal schemes of the Caldwell County Constables” vehicles, as well as donating one vehicle to the Prairie Lea ISD Automotive Technology class for educational purposes.
The County paid bills in the amount of $76,957.45, including $11,945 in indigent legal defense and $1,852 in indigent health care.
After the regular meeting, the Court convened into a closed, executive session to discuss the Unit Road System. No decisions were made during the session.
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.