Commissioners Court Recap: April 9, 2026

Next meeting

Thursday, April 23

Commissioners approve development agreement for data center campus

Commissioners unanimously approved development agreements related to a future data center campus that will be located in the Maxwell area.

The campus, which will be owned and operated by Edged Energy, will be split into two phases on approximately 330 acres off SH 142 near the LCRA Timmerman Powerplant. The total estimated cost of improvements is projected to be $7.3 billion.

Two development agreements were approved that applied conditions to each phase. The agreement provides for conditions of operation, including requiring a closed-loop server cooling system that uses a finite amount of non-potable water. The end result: The facilities will only use potable water for ordinary plumbing fixtures like toilets, bathroom sinks and food prep areas.

Read the full drafts of the development agreements here and here.

The item approval built on action taken by commissioners at their March 26 meeting, when they approved a Chapter 312 tax abatement agreement between Caldwell County and EDC Austin LLC.

Chapter 312 agreements are local agreements between a taxpayer and a taxing unit that exempts increases in the value of the property from taxation for up to 10 years.

The Chapter 312 agreement allows the property owner to make pilot payments to the County in lieu of taxation during the years the agreement is in effect. Pilot payments allow the county to keep the property off the tax roll, allowing it to use its operation budget to optimally serve citizens and shift the tax burden to industries.

Other Action

Commissioners:

• Voted to leave the burn ban on. However, a rainy weekend prompted Judge Hoppy Haden to temporarily lift the burn ban on Monday, April 13 through midnight on Sunday, April 19.

• Voted to accept the Caldwell County Annual Financial Audit Report for FY 2025. The independent audit was performed by Armstrong, Vaughan & Associates, which issued an unmodified — or clean — opinion of the county’s financial statements for the previous fiscal year. A clean opinion means that the independent auditor concluded the county’s statements were presented fairly and indicates the financial records are accurate, reliable and free from material misstatements.

• Approved a $30,000 donation to the Hays Caldwell County Child Development Board.

• Authorized the county to pursue grant funding through the U.S. Department of Transportation’s $993 million FY 2026 Safe Streets for All grant program. The program supports planning, infrastructure, and behavioral and operational initiatives to prevent fatalities and serious injuries on roads and streets involving all roadway users, including pedestrians, bicyclists, public transportation, motorists, and commercial vehicle operators.

• Discussed potentially going out for bids to find a firm to help compile a 5-year Strategic and Operational Plan for Caldwell County that would run through 2030.

• Approved a proclamation designating April 26-May 3 as Caldwell-Travis Soil & Water Conservation District (SWCD) Stewardship Week.

• Recognized April 2026 as Caldwell County Child Abuse Prevention and Awareness Month and Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month.

• Recognized April 6-10 as National Community Development Week.

• Recognized April 12-18 as National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week.

This is a brief summary of discussion and action highlights of the April 9, 2026 regular commissioners court meeting. See full agendas and official meeting minutes and watch full video of the meetings.