Commissioners Court Recap: Nov. 12, 2024

Caldwell County Commissioners discussed a grant application for several projects, amending an ordinance relating to large truck traffic, a proposed sign ordinance and road improvements related to the county’s new evacuation center.

(Pictured l-r: Pct. 1 Commissioner B.J. Westmoreland, Pct. 2 Commissioner Rusty Horne, County Judge Hoppy Haden, Pct. 3 Commissioner Ed Theriot, Pct. 4 Commissioner Dyral Thomas)

Upcoming meetings

Friday, November 15 (Special Meeting)

Tuesday, November 26

County to apply for grant funding for bridge, low-water crossing projects

Caldwell County will submit an application for state grant funding to address approximately $10 million worth of improvements to bridges and low water crossings located throughout the county. The Disaster Recovery Reallocation Plan utilizes funding from six natural disasters that occurred in the state from 2008-2019. The grants will be awarded through the General Land Office. Commissioners voted to include projects to address the following water crossings in the county’s application:

• • CR 140 at Copperas Creek
  • CR 205 at Plum Creek Branch
  • Old Lytton Springs Road at Dry Creek
  • FM 672 at Draw
  • Boggy Creek Road at Clear Fork Plum Creek
  • SE River Road at Morrison Creek
  • Old Colony Line Road at Daniels Creek

Six roads added to order prohibiting large truck traffic

Commissioners voted to amend an order prohibiting thru traffic on designated county roads to include portions of six more streets after receiving feedback from residents. The order prohibits thru traffic for vehicles with five or more axels. The additional streets include:

• Mustang Street aka County Road 278 – the section between State Hwy 80 and Mill Street

• River Street aka County Road 279 – the section between State Hwy 80 and St. Joseph Street

• School Street aka County Road 280 – the section between State Hwy 80 and St. Joseph Street

• Church Avenue aka County Road 281 – the section between State Hwy 80 and St. Joseph Street

• Water Street aka County Road 282 – the section between State Hwy 80 and St. Joseph Street

• Market Street aka County Road 283 – the section between State Hwy 80 and Mustang Street

Discussion on proposed sign ordinance continues

Commissioners continued a discussion from a previous meeting regarding a proposed ordinance prohibiting unauthorized signs from being placed in rights-of-way and imposing criminal penalties on violations. While no action was taken on the discussion item, it appears unlikely that commissioners will further pursue an ordinance or enact a plan using volunteers to clean up signs during the current fiscal year. County Judge Hoppy Haden expressed reservations about utilizing volunteers because of liability issues if an accident were to occur, noting that he would prefer to discuss how to use available funding and county employees to regularly remove the signage, but that such a thing would have to be discussed while planning for the next budget cycle.

Other Action

Commissioners also:

• • Voted to leave the burn ban on
  • Accepted a proposal from Doucet for the scope of work needed for a project to build a turn lane on US 183 to allow safe access to the county’s new eventual evacuation center near Luling.
  • Approved resolutions related to creating the Prairie Lea Planned Improvement District (PID) on 346 acres located north of San Marcos Highway, east of Callahan Road and west of Plant Road. The resolutions included accepting a petition to create the PID, calling for a public hearing on Dec. 10 to determine the feasibility of establishing the district and executing a professional services agreement between the county and RODG DT Lockhart Prop Co LLC, the developer.

This is only a summary of meeting highlights. Click here to access full meeting minutes and watch video of the meeting.