[A. CALL MEETING TO ORDER]
[00:00:03]
THANK YOU FOR COMING TO CALDWELL COUNTY COMMISSIONER'S COURT THIS MORNING.
IT'S THURSDAY, MAY 14, 2026 AT 9 A.M.
AND THIS MEETING IS CALLED TO ORDER.
I THINK WE HAVE PASTOR JODY HERE THIS MORNING TO DO THE INVOCATION.
HEAVENLY FATHER, THANK YOU FOR GIVING US THE OPPORTUNITY TO GATHER HERE TODAY.
THANK YOU FOR PROTECTING US AS WE TRAVELED AND PROVIDING AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO MEET, LEARN, AND GROW.
AS WE BEGIN TODAY, WE DEDICATE THIS TIME TOWARD THE GOODWILL OF OUR NEIGHBORS OF CALDWELL COUNTY.
WE PRAY FOR OUR COMMISSIONERS, OUR COUNTY JUDGE, THE ATTENDEES HERE, AND THE VOLUNTEERS WHO STEWARD THIS COUNTY.
GRANT US THE WISDOM TO WORK TOGETHER EFFECTIVELY AND THE HUMILITY TO VALUE EACH PERSON'S PERSPECTIVE.
GUIDE OUR DISCUSSIONS AND DECISIONS THAT THEY MAY HONOR YOU AND SERVE OUR SHARED GOALS.
PLEASE GUIDE OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS AND OUR SPEAKERS THIS MORNING.
IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER, SON, AND HOLY SPIRIT, AMEN.
...PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.
HONOR THE TEXAS FLAG; I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THEE, TEXAS, ONE STATE UNDER GOD, ONE AND INDIVISIBLE. OKAY, FOLKS, IF WE COULD HOLD IT DOWN, PLEASE.
WE HAVE A LOT TO GET THROUGH TODAY.
WE HAVE A LOT OF COMMENTS, I KNOW.
SO, IF WE COULD KIND OF HOLD IT DOWN SO WE CAN GET THROUGH THE BUSINESS WE HAVE, I'D MUCH APPRECIATE IT.
[D. ANNOUNCEMENTS]
DO WE HAVE ANY ANNOUNCEMENTS, COMMISSIONERS? NO ANNOUNCEMENTS FOR ME, JUDGE.NONE FOR ME, JUDGE? NONE, JUDGE.
ALL RIGHT, WE'RE GOING TO GO AHEAD AND GO TO STAFF ANNOUNCEMENTS.
HELLO COMMISSIONERS, GOOD MORNING.
I JUST WANT TO GIVE YOU GUYS A MONTHLY UPDATE ON CYBERSECURITY OF THE 225 ENROLLED, 212 HAVE TAKEN IT.
THAT MEANS THERE'S 13 PEOPLE LEFT SO YOU WILL BE GETTING AN EMAIL FROM ME.
I WANT THIS DONE BY JUNE BECAUSE I HAVE TO REPORT IT BY JULY SO I WILL BE EMAILING EVERYBODY.
GOOD MORNING, I JUST WANTED TO LET EVERYBODY KNOW DEPARTMENT HEADS AND ELECTED OFFICIALS IZZY SENT OUT AN EMAIL THAT BUDGET YOUR PROPOSED BUDGET IS DUE BY MAY 30TH SO IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS REACH OUT TO HER IN MY OFFICE AND GET READY FOR BUDGET. OKAY, ANY OTHERS? ALL
[E. CITIZENS' COMMENTS (Part 1 of 2)]
RIGHT WITH THAT, WE'LL GO AHEAD AND MOVE TO CITIZENS COMMENTS. YOU WILL HAVE FOUR MINUTES TO SPEAK, ASK THAT YOU GIVE YOUR NAME AND WHERE YOU'RE FROM. YOU DON'T HAVE TO GIVE US YOUR ADDRESS, YOU JUST SAY LOCKHARD OR WHEREVER YOU'RE FROM AND WE WOULD ASK THAT WE'RE GOING TO TRY TO WE'RE GOING TO KEEP THIS CIVIL.WE WANT TO HEAR WHAT YOU HAVE TO SAY.
AND DURING CITIZENS COMMENTS, I DON'T KNOW IF MANY OF YOU KNOW THIS, BUT WE WE DO NOT AND ARE NOT ALLOWED TO RESPOND DURING CITIZENS' COMMENTS.
BUT IF YOU COME UP AND ASK US A QUESTION, WE ARE NOT ALLOWED TO RESPOND DURING THIS TIME.
IF IT'S ON THE AGENDA, WE CAN THEN LATER PICK IT UP AS A CONVERSATION.
SO, WITH THAT, I THINK THAT WE ARE READY TO START.
AT LEAST MY ADDRESS SAYS THAT.
I ACTUALLY LIVE IN GUADALUPE COUNTY.
I DO GET MY UTILITIES FROM MARTINDALE WATER SUPPLY AND BLUE BONNET ELECTRIC, BOTH IN CALDWELL COUNTY.
I'M HERE IN OPPOSITION OF THE PROPOSED DATA CENTERS.
WE CAN ALL LOOK AT A MAP AND CLEARLY SEE COUNTY LINES, TOWNS, AND BODIES OF WATER.
WHAT WE CAN'T SEE IS OUR UNDERGROUND AQUIFER WATER LEVELS.
AQUIFERS DON'T CARE ABOUT LINES ON A MAP.
AQUIFERS DO NOT BELONG TO A SPECIFIC TOWN OR COUNTY.
COMMISSION ALLOWS DATA CENTERS IN CALDWELL IT STILL SUCKS WATER FOR ME IN GUADALUPE COUNTY BECAUSE HAYS, CALDWELL AND COMMUNITIES LIKE MINE IN GUADALUPE
[00:05:01]
ALSO USE SURFACE WATER FROM THE SAN MARCOS RIVER.THESE DATA CENTERS WILL BE SUCKING WATER FROM THE SAN MARCOS RIVER HEADWATERS IN HAYS, SAN MARCOS, TEXAS, TO WHERE THE SAN MARCOS RUNS INTO THE GUADALUPE RIVER, WHICH EVENTUALLY ENDS UP IN THE GULF OF MEXICO.
THAT IS WATER FOR LOTS OF PEOPLE, LIVESTOCK, AND BUSINESSES.
EVERY FEW MONTHS, AND THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR YEARS NOW, I RECEIVE LETTERS FROM MY WATER COMPANY, AND IT'S ALWAYS EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY, IN COMPLIANCE WITH TEXAS STATE GOVERNOR'S DECLARATION OF DISASTER, DUE TO EXTREME DROUGHT AND SEVERE WILDFIRE RISK, THE MARTINDALE WATER SUPPLY COMPANY IS IMPLEMENTING STAGE 3, MANDATORY DROUGHT MANAGEMENT.
IT IS ONE BECAUSE THE FLOW OF THE SAN MARCOS RIVER IS SO LOW AND BECAUSE WE HAVE PERSISTENT DROUGHT CONDITIONS AND WARMER THAN NORMAL TEMPERATURES.
WE HAVE THE INTELLIGENCE TO MAKE POWER.
I DON'T THINK THE LOCALS SHOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR NEW POWER FOR A DATA CENTER.
ONE THING WE CAN'T DO IS MAKE GROUNDWATER OR MAKE SURFACE WATER.
IN MY 70 YEARS, I'VE BECOME QUITE FOND OF...
TURNING ON THE FAUCET IN MY HOUSE AND HAVING CLEAN FLOWING WATER.
THE AVERAGE HUMAN CAN ONLY SURVIVE WITHOUT WATER FOR APPROXIMATELY FOUR DAYS.
TEXAS DOES NOT HAVE THE WATER FOR DATA CENTERS.
OKAY FOLKS, FOLKS WERE NOT GONNA HAVE APPLAUSE AFTER EVERY SPEAKER PLEASE. OKAY.
CLAUDIA HOLLER IN LOCKHART, TEXAS.
FIRST, THANK YOU FOR PUTTING THE DATA CENTER RESOLUTION ON THE AGENDA, AND I ENCOURAGE YOU TO PASS IT AND CONTINUE TO PUSH FORWARD WITH EVEN FURTHER STEPS.
I WORK IN BARBECUE, AND SINCE THE TOWN HALL, I HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO STOP THINKING ABOUT THE FACT THAT CATTLE RAISED CLOSE TO A DATA CENTER HAVE BEEN SHOWN TO LOSE 30% OF THEIR BODY WEIGHT.
SO, BASICALLY, A BRISKET WITH NO FATTY POINT.
WHAT WOULD THAT LOOK LIKE FOR ME AND MY CO-WORKERS? I WOULD ONLY ASSUME IT WOULD LOOK LIKE WE COULD LOSE OUR JOBS AS THE QUALITY OF OUR PRODUCT GOES DOWN WITHOUT ANY WAY OF US CONTROLLING IT.
AND THAT'S JUST ONE SMALL BUSINESS.
THERE IS NO WAY OF TELLING HOW MANY SMALL BUSINESSES WILL BE AFFECTED, JOBS NO ONE HAS EVEN CONSIDERED YET.
IF ANY OF THESE COMPANIES FAST-TRACKING THESE DATA CENTERS CARED AT ALL ABOUT COMMUNITY AND PUTTING PEOPLE FIRST, THEY WOULD SLOW THE PROCESS AND FIND SUSTAINABLE WAYS TO BUILD DATA CENTERS WITH COMMUNITY ENRICHMENT AND ZERO-FOOTPRINT VISIONS.
THEY'RE GOING TO SELL YOU SOME MISINFORMATION THAT, THAT IS NOT POSSIBLE.
BUT WHEN YOU HAVE AN INFINITE AMOUNT OF MONEY, AS THESE COMPANIES DO, ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE.
THEY DON'T CARE IF THEY RUIN OUR LAND.
THEY DON'T CARE IF THEY RUIN OUR CAREERS.
THEY DON'T CARE IF THEY RUIN OUR HEALTH.
THEY DON'T CARE IF THEY RUIN OUR LIVES.
BECAUSE ULTIMATELY THAT IS THE POINT.
THEY ARE BUILDING THESE CHEAP AND FAST AND WITHOUT EMPATHY BECAUSE THIS IS A RACE.
A RACE OF WHO CAN BE THE FIRST TO CONTROL BECAUSE CONTROL IS THE POINT.
THEY ARE GOING TO PRETEND A CITIZEN USING CHATGPT OR CELL PHONE IS THE REASON THESE DATA CENTERS EXIST.
THAT'S A CONVENIENT MISINFORMATION THEY SPREAD TO FURTHER THEIR AGENDA.
THESE CENTERS AREN'T FOR THAT.
THEY ARE FOR MASS SURVEILLANCE.
THEY ARE FOR COLLECTING INFORMATION FROM US WITHOUT CONSENT.
THEY ARE FOR TRYING TO TAKE KNOWLEDGE AND INSTEAD OF FURTHERING HUMANITY, CO-OPTING IT AND SELLING IT BACK TO US.
BUT DO NOT THINK ANY OF YOUR JOBS ARE SAFE.
THEY WANT TO BUILD THESE CENTERS SO THEY CAN TRAIN AI TO EVENTUALLY TAKE OUR JOBS.
AND RIGHT NOW, THEY ARE ALREADY CONTRACTING PEOPLE WITH NO OTHER CHOICE BECAUSE OF DOWNSIZING TO SELL THEIR KNOWLEDGE TO THESE COMPANIES TO TEACH AI HOW TO MAKE OUR JOBS OBSOLETE.
I WILL NEVER DOWNPLAY THE DEVASTATION THESE DATA CENTERS WILL DO TO OUR ENVIRONMENT, BUT THAT IS NOT THE ONLY BEAST WE ARE UP AGAINST.
WE ARE UP AGAINST AN ELITIST CLASS SET ON COMPLETELY DISENFRANCHISING THE WORKING CLASS AS THEY ATTEMPT TO BECOME THE NEW OVERLORDS BY DESTROYING OUR LANDS, OUR JOBS, OUR WAY OF LIFE, SO, THEY CAN LINE THEIR POCKETS.
THE BEAUTY OF AMERICA IS WE ARE A COUNTRY OF THE WORKING CLASS FOR THE WORKING CLASS, AND THOUGH THE SCALES MAY BE SKEWED AND BOUGHT OFF AT THE MOMENT, I HAVE NO DOUBT IF WE THE WORKING CLASS PULL TOGETHER, WE CAN PUSH, THESE COMPANIES OUT WHO SEEM TO HAVE SOME FINAL DYSTOPIAN BLOW TO THE WORKING CLASS IN MIND.
IF YOU PASS THIS TODAY, WE THE CITIZENS WILL CONTINUE TO ORGANIZE.
[00:10:01]
WE WILL CONTINUE TO PUSH TO THE STATE AND FEDERAL LEVELS WITH OUR VOICE.WE WILL BEAR THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THIS RESOLUTION WITH YOU AND HOPE YOU GO FURTHER TO A ONE-YEAR PAUSE AS WE'VE SEEN IN HILL COUNTY BECAUSE THE STANCE WE TAKE TODAY WILL AFFECT GENERATIONS THAT PRECEDES US.
SO, LET'S PROCEED LIKE THE TEXANS WE ARE AND GIVE THEM HELL FROM EVERY ANGLE.
I'M NOT GOING TO SAY IT AGAIN, FOLKS.
IF YOU CONTINUE, TO IGNORE ME YOU CAN WAIT OUTSIDE AND I'LL BRING YOU IN ONE AT A TIME.
I'M TRYING TO DO THIS IN A GOOD CIVIL WAY, BUT WE ARE GOING TO MAINTAIN ORDER IN THIS ROOM.
OKAY? I'M NOT GOING TO SAY IT AGAIN.
GOOD MORNING, BONNIE MARSHALL, LOCKHART.
THE NAME OF MY PRESENTATION IS TRANSPARENCY AND SECRETS.
I ATTENDED THE LAST COMMISSINER'S MEETING TWO WEEKS AGO.
I BELIEVE AT THAT TIME OUR COUNTY HAD SIGNED FOUR DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENTS WITH DATA CENTER DEVELOPERS.
THERE WAS AN IMPRESSIVE PRESENTATION BY A RURAL LANDOWNER RESIDING IN OUR COUNTRY, OUR COUNTY.
ASKING COMMISSIONERS TO TAKE MORE TIME WITH FUTURE AGREEMENTS AND DELAY SIGNING MORE.
THE SPEAKER HAD EXTENSIVE DOCUMENTATION EXPLAINING HOW OTHER COUNTIES WERE SUCCESSFUL IN SLOWING DOWN THIS PROCESS.
THIS MEETING WAS HELD ON APRIL 23RD. IT APPEARS ANOTHER ADDITIONAL AGREEMENT WAS FINALIZED THE NEXT DAY.
WITHIN THE NEXT TEN DAYS, FIVE ADDITIONAL DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENTS TOOK PLACE.
WE LEARNED THIS IN A NEWS INTERVIEW WITH KXAN.
WHY DO COMMISSIONERS FEEL THE NEED TO MOVE SO QUICKLY? WHY DO YOU WORK IN SECRET? WHY DO YOU FEEL THE NEED TO SURPRISE CONSTITUENTS WITH AGREEMENTS YOU ARE MAKING ON OUR BEHALF AS OUR ELECTED REPRESENTATIVES? WHY DO COMMISSIONERS APPROVE THESE AGREEMENTS IN SECRET, IN PRIVATE EXECUTIVE SESSIONS? WITH NO NOTIFICATION OR POSTED SUMMARIES OF YOUR PURPOSE OR ACTIONS TAKEN.
AS OUR REPRESENTATIVES, YOUR OBLIGATION IS TO ACT IN OUR BEST INTEREST AND INFORM US AS YOUR CONSTITUENTS OF ANY ACTION YOU TAKE ON OUR BEHALF.
YOU ARE ELECTED OFFICIALS WHO CHOSE THE JOB OF WORKING FOR YOUR CONSTITUENTS' BEST INTEREST.
IT APPEARS OUR COMMISSIONERS HAVE SIGNED SOME NDAS WITH MANY OF THESE DEVELOPERS.
THIS WAS NOT A COMMON PRACTICE UNTIL THE DATA CENTER BOOMED.
IN RESEARCHING THIS ISSUE, THE MOST COMMON REASON GIVEN FOR THESE NDAS IS TO PREVENT RESIDENTS FROM LEARNING ABOUT PROJECTS LIKE DATA CENTERS UNTIL LAND IS SECURED OR PROJECTS ARE TOO ADVANCED TO STOP.
NDAS PRESENT A CONFLICT FOR ELECTED OFFICIALS.
IT PLACES THE POLITICIAN IN THE POSITION OF SUPPORTING A PRIVATE BUSINESS INTEREST OVER THE NEEDS OF THE PEOPLE THEY WERE ELECTED TO SERVE.
THERE IS A BILL BEING DRAFTED FOR THE NEXT TEXAS LEGISLATIVE SESSION.
THIS BILL WILL MAKE THIS DEAL-MAKING PRACTICE ILLEGAL.
I AM ASKING ALL OF YOU TO HALT THIS PRACTICE AND WORK IN TRANSPARENCY FOR OUR INTERESTS.
STOP SIGNING NDAS WITH ENTREPRENEURS WHO DO NOT CARE ABOUT CALDWELL COUNTY OR OUR WAY OF LIFE.
WHEN AN ELECTED OFFICIAL SIGNS AN NDA WITH DEVELOPERS, THESE SECRET AGREEMENTS COLLIDE WITH THE ELECTED OFFICIALS' PURPOSE TO ENSURE THE HEALTH, SAFETY AND QUALITY OF LIFE OF CONSTITUENTS AS WELL AS THE BEAUTY OF OUR GREAT COUNTY.
YOU YOU DO NOT HAVE TWO MASTERS. YOUR ROLE AS ELECTED OFFICIALS IS TO REPRESENT CONSTITUENTS NEEDS. YOU SHOULD NOT HAVE SECRET OBLIGATIONS AND DEALS WITH DEVELOPERS. STOP MAKING NDAS. DO YOUR JOB. ALL RIGHT. SIR, I'M TELLING YOU, I WILL REMOVE YOU FROM THE ROOM. IT'S THE LAST TIME I'M GONNA WARN YOU AND YOU CAN DO THAT TILL THE COWS COME HOME.
I'M TRYING TO KEEP ORDER IN THE ROOM, PLEASE.
[00:15:01]
BAILIFF, IF HE DOESN'T STOP, REMOVE HIM.HAS ANYONE IN THE COURT EVER SIGNED AN NDA? NO.
I'M HAPPY TO SEE THIS RESOLUTION ON YOUR AGENDA.
I WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU TO APPROVE IT, THE DATA CENTER RESOLUTION.
IT COULD BE EVEN STRONGER, BUT THIS IS A GREAT NEXT STEP.
I HAVE, LIKE A SPONGE, FRANTICALLY TRIED TO EDUCATE MYSELF ON THIS.
NEW GENERATION OF AI DATA CENTERS AND MOST OF WHAT I READ IS SCARY.
THIS NEW WAY OF TECH ADVANCES IS COMING AT US FAST AND FURIOUSLY, SO NO DOUBT WE NEED TO GET BETTER UNDERSTANDING AND BETTER CONTROLS IN PLACE.
NOT TO STOP PROGRESS BUT TO MAKE SURE PROGRESS IS SUSTAINABLE AND THAT THE PEOPLE OF THIS COUNTY UNDERSTAND THE SACRIFICES WE ARE BEING ASKED TO MAKE FOR THE BENEFIT OF PROGRESS.
WILL WE HAVE ENOUGH WATER? WILL OUR ELECTRIC RATES INCREASE? WILL THE WEST SIDE OF THE COUNTY, WHERE THESE CENTERS ARE CONCENTRATING, BE COMPATIBLE WITH LIFE FOR HUMANS AND OUR ANIMALS? I HAVE A PIECE OF PROPERTY FOR SALE OUT IN THE COUNTRY, AND MY HUSBAND AND I HAVE TALKED ABOUT WHAT WOULD WE DO IF A DEVELOPER CAME AND WANTED TO BUY THE LAND FOR DATA CENTER.
HONESTLY, I WOULD BE HAPPY IF I COULD SAY THAT MY COUNTY HAS PUT A PAUSE ON THIS KIND OF DEVELOPMENT UNTIL WE UNDERSTAND THE IMPACT.
THIS RESOLUTION PROTECTS ME AND PROTECTS MY NEIGHBORS.
YOU'RE VOTED IN TO PROTECT OUR COUNTY, AND I ASK YOU TO DO THAT.
THE ONLY LAST THING I'M GOING TO SAY, TOTALLY CONTROVERSIAL, IS LIVING OUT IN THE COUNTRY, MY NEIGHBOR DECIDED TO PUT A WELL, OIL WELL, RIGHT NEXT TO MY HOUSE.
I DON'T KNOW IF YOU'VE EVER BEEN AROUND A FRACKED WELL, BUT IT LOOKS LIKE AN INDUSTRIAL PARK OVERNIGHT WITH 24-HOUR LIGHTS.
I CALLED THE STATE, I CALLED THE RAILROAD COMMISSION, AND ARE WE TALKING 100 YEARS LATER AFTER OIL WAS DISCOVERED IN THIS COUNTRY, IN THIS STATE? AND I WAS TOLD BY THE STATE, THE PEOPLE WHO WE SAY, OH, WELL, THEY HAVE TO PROTECT US.
I WAS TOLD BY THEM THAT I'M SORRY, BUT IF THEY HAVE THE OIL RIGHTS UNDER YOUR HOUSE, THEY CAN DRILL IN YOUR LIVING ROOM IF THEY WANT TO.
THERE'S NOTHING YOU CAN DO, AND I FEEL LIKE THAT'S WHERE WE ARE WITH DATA CENTERS.
THIS IS HOW WE LIVE IN THIS STATE.
SO, WE'RE HERE, WE'RE TRYING, WE'RE TRYING TO GIVE YOU, OUR OPINION.
THE PUBLIC'S RIGHT TO BE HEARD AND TO HEAR.
THESE SPEAKER SYSTEMS YOU HAVE TOTALLY INTERFERES WITH THAT RIGHT.
I RECOMMEND THAT YOU ALL FIX THOSE SUCH THAT THE VOLUME CAN BE HEARD AT LEAST TO THE DOOR.
MY COMMENT ABOUT THESE CONCERNS THESE DATA CENTERS AND OTHER MATTERS.
HAVE ANY OF YOU MEMBERS ON THIS COURT EITHER ENTERED INTO OR ISSUED OR OPERATED OR ACTED SUCH THAT YOU'VE ISSUED A NONDISCLOSURE AGREEMENT WITH ANY BUSINESS ENTITIES, PRIVATE GROUPS, OR EVEN FOREIGN COUNTRIES OF ANY KIND? YES OR NO? TAYLOR REDMAN.
MY NAME IS TAYLOR REDMAN, AND I LIVE IN LOCKHART.
I STAND HERE AGAIN TODAY AFTER SPEAKING AT THE LAST MEETING TO IMPLORE YOU TO...
[00:20:01]
VOTE IN OPPOSITION OF DATA CENTER DEVELOPMENT IN OUR AREA.BUT MORE THAN JUST A SIMPLE VOTE, I URGE YOU TO CONTINUE THE FIGHT PAST THAT.
HILL COUNTY NEAR FORT WORTH, TEXAS DID MORE.
THEY JUST VOTED IN A ONE-YEAR MORATORIUM FOR DATA CENTERS IN THEIR COUNTY.
NOT JUST TO CONTROL WHAT YOU CAN DO WITH YOUR LAND OR REGULATE OUR FREEDOMS, BUT TO TRULY SEEK ANSWERS ON HOW THIS WOULD AFFECT THEIR COMMUNITY LONG TERM.
WE STAND IN THE SAME CROSSROADS WITH FOUR PROPOSED DATA CENTERS.
WITH NO CLUE ON HOW THAT WOULD AFFECT OUR SMALL COUNTY WITHOUT THE PROPER RESEARCH, STUDIES, AND REGULATIONS.
STAND WITH HILL COUNTY IN SOLIDARITY FOR ANSWERS FOR BOTH OF OUR COMMUNITIES BECAUSE WHAT LITTLE RESEARCH IS OUT THERE NOW LOOKS GRIM FOR OUR WELL-BEING.
EXTREME USE OF WATER, EVEN WITH COUNTY REGULATIONS, WILL MOST LIKELY BE MISUSED.
AND THE PENALTIES ARE ONLY TO SLAP ON THE WRIST FOR A COMPANY LIKE QUALITY TECHNOLOGY SERVICES OR BETTER KNOWN AS A POTENTIAL PARTNER FOR TRACT DATA CENTERS NEAR US BECAUSE THEY ALREADY HAVE TIES IN EAGLE MOUNTAIN UTAH IN FAYETTEVILLE GEORGIA IN MAY QTS WAS REPORTED TO HAVE USED ALMOST 30 BILLION GALLONS OF WATER BUT THEY TOO PROMISED FAYETTEVILLE THAT THEIR CLOSED LOOP COOLING SYSTEMS WOULD REQUIRE VERY LITTLE WATER FOR COOL AND THAT THEIR DAILY OPERATIONS WOULD USE LESS THAN 50,000 GALLONS PER MONTH. THESE COMPANIES DO NOT CARE ABOUT THE INCOME EXCUSE ME INCOME CONTROL RULES PUT IN PLACE BY TAX ABATEMENTS AND WILL SEEK TO POLLUTE THREATEN AND RAVAGE EVERY RESOURCE OUR AREA HAS. ALL WHILE THIS COMPANY QTS IS FILMING TODAY AND TOMORROW A PROPAGANDA AD IN OUR CITY PARK ON HOW THEY'RE HELPING SMALL COMMUNITIES. THIS IS JUST ONE DATA CENTER. THINK ABOUT WHAT COULD HAPPEN TO OUR LAND RESOURCES AND COMMUNITY WITH FOUR.
MAKE THE PUSH WITH FELLOW COUNTIES, REACH OUT TO OTHER LOCAL OFFICIALS, WORK TOGETHER AND FIGHT WITH OTHER COMMUNITIES BECAUSE WE'RE NOT THE ONLY ONES BEING BERATED BY THESE FACILITIES.
MAKE OUR HIGHER GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS LOOK AND LISTEN TO WHAT OUR COMMUNITIES WANT, AND WE WILL STAND ALONG WITH YOU LETTING OUR VOICES BE HEARD AS WELL CALLING AND REACHING OUT TO OUR SENATORS, GOVERNOR AND CONGRESSMEN, SHOWING UP TO MEETINGS AND SUPPORTING YOU IN THE PROCESS.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME ON THIS MATTER. THANK YOU.
I'VE LIVED IN THIS CITY, THIS COUNTY, MY ENTIRE LIFE.
SO DID MY PARENTS, MY GRANDPARENTS, AND MY GREAT-GRANDPARENTS.
THESE DATA CENTERS AREN'T GOOD, NO MATTER WHAT THEY'RE TELLING YOU.
WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH DATA TO KNOW THAT.
THEY USE RESOURCES, WATER, NATURAL GAS, AND ELECTRICITY.
AND IF THEY'RE USING A TON OF IT, WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO PAY MORE FOR IT.
THEY GENERATE HEAT, THEY DISTURB CATTLE, AND THEY CAUSE HEALTH PROBLEMS. THEY DON'T EMPLOY HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE LOCALLY.
THEY AREN'T GOING TO BUY THEIR BUILDING SUPPLIES OR USE OUR LOCAL BUILDERS TO BUILD THE DATA CENTER.
HOW IS THAT HELPING US? CORPORATIONS AND COMPANIES, THEY HAVE A LONG RECORD OF NOT DOING WHAT'S GOOD FOR THE PEOPLE, BUT WHAT'S DOING GOOD FOR THEM AND THEIR BOTTOM LINE.
THEY CARE ABOUT MONEY, THEY DON'T CARE ABOUT US.
LOOK AT ALL THE NUMBER OF CLASS ACTION LAWSUITS THAT HAVE BEEN, SORRY.
LOOK AT ALL THE NUMBER OF CLASS ACTION LAWSUITS THAT HAVE HAPPENED IN OUR HISTORY.
PG&E, THEY CAUSE CANCER TO THEIR LOCAL COMMUNITY.
THERE'S LEAD IN THE WATER IN MICHIGAN.
WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN HERE IN TEXAS? WE DON'T KNOW.
IF DATA CENTERS ARE ALLOWED TO BE HERE, WE'LL FIND OUT IN 20 YEARS THAT IT KILLED US.
EVERY SUMMER ON THE NEWS, WE HEAR THE WEATHER REPORTS.
HOW MANY DAYS HAVE WE GONE WITHOUT WATER? HOW MANY DAYS HAVE WE HAD OVER 100 DEGREES? THESE DATA CENTERS HAVE THESE HEAT FIELDS THAT MAKE IT EVEN HOTTER.
HOW IS ADDING A HUGE CONSUMER OF THAT WATER A GOOD IDEA FOR THIS COUNTY? WE'VE HEARD ABOUT THE AQUIFERS, AND NOW WE'RE HEARING ABOUT THE WELL WATER CHANGES.
I JUST WANT TO ASK, ARE YOU LISTENING?
[00:25:01]
ARE YOU REALLY LISTENING TO WHAT YOUR CONSTITUENTS TODAY ARE SAYING? LOOK AT THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE HERE TODAY.THIS WASN'T THE SAME NUMBER FROM THE LAST TIME.
I WAS HERE THE LAST TIME AND I LISTENED.
OUR MAIN CONCERN ARE THE DATA CENTERS.
I'M A PERSON OF COLOR AND PEOPLE OF COLOR HAVE NOT ALWAYS HAD THE RIGHT TO VOTE OR THE RIGHT TO BE HEARD.
I VOTE EVERY CHANCE I GET BECAUSE OF MY FOREFATHERS COULDN'T.
I SPEAK TODAY BECAUSE MY FOREFATHERS COULDN'T.
I SPEAK ON BEHALF OF THE CHILDREN OF TOMORROW.
ALL THESE PEOPLE HERE ARE HERE TO SAY SOMETHING.
WE HOPE THAT YOU LISTEN, AND IF YOU DON'T LISTEN TODAY, YOU WILL LISTEN ON THE DAY THAT WE VOTE.
MARY HEAP. I APPRECIATE THE RESOLUTION.
I'D LOVE TO SEE IT EXPANDED TO A YEAR OR LONGER.
THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE HERE THAT ARE IN HERE IN SUPPORT OF THE RESOLUTION.
THEY'RE AGAINST DATA CENTERS ARE JUST IN SUPPORT OF THE RESOLUTION.
THERE ARE HUNDREDS MORE THAT WOULD LIKE TO BE HERE, BUT THEY CAN'T COME HERE ON THIS TIME OF DAY.
THEY HAVE LIVES AND WORK AND EVERYTHING.
I BARELY MADE IT AND I'M AN OLD, RETIRED PERSON.
THEY WANTED TO BE HERE, AND THEIR TIME AND THEIR ATTENTION MATTERS, AND THEY JUST NEED TO GET EVERYTHING DONE.
THEY HAVE TO GET DONE AND SO DO I AND SO DO YOU.
AND YOU WORK FOR US, SO HOPEFULLY YOU'RE LISTENING.
OUR BEAUTIFUL COUNTRYSIDE MATTERS.
THE CREEKS, THE WILDLIFE, AND THE PEOPLE.
THE PEOPLE WILL BE LESS HEALTHY AND LESS HAPPY IF THIS GOES ON. OUR HEALTH IS THREATENED BY THE DEVELOPMENT. THERE IS POLLUTANTS AND CARCINOGENS AND AS THE LAST LADY SAID WE WON'T KNOW FOR SURE WHAT ALL FOR YEARS UNTIL THERE'S A BIG ILLNESS CLUSTER OR SOMETHING. THERE'S ALSO THE NOISE AND THE HEAT WHICH ARE REAL.
AND DON'T GET MUCH PUBLICITY OR PRESS, BUT THEY'RE REAL AND THEY AFFECT HUMAN COMFORT, MENTAL HEALTH, PHYSICAL HEALTH, AND DEFINITELY THE SAME THING WITH ANIMALS.
OUR HEALTH IS THREATENED BY THIS DEVELOPMENT.
I DON'T WANT TO SEE BIG, UGLY DATA CENTERS WHEN I'M OFF ON A HIGHWAY WITH A FRIEND FROM THE MIDWEST OR SOME OTHER PART OF THE COUNTRY.
DOESN'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT TEXAS AND THERE'S GIANT BUILDINGS IN THE WAY INSTEAD OF YOU KNOW, INSTEAD OF WILDFLOWERS OR MAYBE THERE'S WILDFLOWERS ON THE EDGES BUT AFTER THAT THERE'S JUST A GIANT UGLY BUILDING WHERE THERE USED TO BE A BEAUTIFUL FIELD WITH A FEW WITH SOME CATTLE OR WHATEVER YOU KNOW AND I'M NOT AGAINST NEW BUSINESSES, NEW JOBS FOR PEOPLE.
I JUST, THERE AREN'T JOBS INVOLVED IN THIS, NOT ENOUGH TO MAKE IT WORTHWHILE, THERE ISN'T ENOUGH HELP, YOU KNOW, STUFF THAT OUR COMMUNITY IS ABLE TO MAKE ANYTHING OUT OF, BUT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE HIGHER PRICES AND I'M ACTUALLY MORE WORRIED ABOUT THE HEALTH ISSUES, BUT YOU KNOW SOMETHING WE JUST NEED THE RICH PEOPLE BEHIND THIS.
THEY HAVE THE RESOURCES TO FIND BETTER WAYS TO DO THIS.
SO, WE SHOULD NOT BE LETTING THEM LIE AND RUSH AHEAD.
DO THIS IN A BETTER WAY WERE WE WON'T ALL BE SITTING HERE THREATENED AND SCARED.
MR. LEPP, THIS IS THE LAST TIME I'M GOING TO TELL YOU PLEASE.
YOU AND I GO BACK A LONG WAY, AND I KNOW YOU WELL AND I'M JUST ASKING
[00:30:01]
THAT YOU BE RESPECTFUL TO ME AND I'LL BE RESPECTFUL TO YOU.WOULD YOU MIND? (INAUDIBLE) I'M NOT GOING TO HAVE A CONVERSATION, HARVEY.
THANKS, JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS, FOR ALLOWING ME TO SPEAK TODAY.
THANK YOU FOR THE COMMUNITY FOR COMING OUT TODAY IN REGARDS TO THIS DATA CENTER PROPOSAL.
I'M JUST GOING TO START WITH SOMETHING QUOTED BY SAM HOUSTON.
A LEADER IS SOMEONE WHO HELPS IMPROVE THE LIVES OF OTHER PEOPLE OR IMPROVE THE SYSTEM THEY LIVE IN.
THIS IS NOT HELPING THE SYSTEM, THE WORLD WHERE WE LIVE.
YOU KNOW, THERE'S A PAMPHLET THAT THEY'RE PASSING AROUND, THE RISK OF DATA CENTERS, 267% INCREASE IN WHOLESALE ELECTRICITY COSTS.
WE'RE GOING TO ENCOMPASS THAT, THE CITIZENS OF THIS COUNTY.
YOU'VE SEEN WHAT'S HAPPENING DOWN IN THE COAST, CORPUS CHRISTI, ROBSTOWN, AND THEN THE...
LADY HERE WOMAN HERE THAT SPOKE EARLIER SHE'S BEING TOLD TO WATCH HER WATER USAGE THIS COMPANY WILL NOT THEY'LL PAY A FINE AND MOVE ON YOU KNOW WE'RE THE ONES THAT ARE GOING TO HAVE TO TAKE YOU KNOW IT'S GOING TO BE LIKE WATER RATIONING 1106 WILL BE ABLE TO WATER TODAY THAT COMPANY IS NOT GOING TO BE TOLD TO STOP THIS PRODUCTION BECAUSE IT'S PROFIT OVER PEOPLE THAT'S WHAT THIS HAS HAPPENED.
AND LIKE IN HILL COUNTY, THEY DID A MORATORIUM, YOU KNOW, THEY STUCK TO THEIR GUNS, AND THEY KNEW THAT THE COMMUNITY IS AGAINST THIS, SO, THEY TOOK IT UPON THEMSELVES TO, YOU KNOW, CHALLENGE THEIR LEADERS AND MAKE THEM BRING THIS UP AND THEY PUT A HALT.
YES, I UNDERSTAND THERE'S, YOU KNOW, LAWYERS AND ATTORNEYS THAT ARE GOING TO GET INVOLVED, BUT THAT'S WHAT WE'RE HERE FOR.
WE'RE SUPPOSED TO PROTECT THE PEOPLE'S INTERESTS, PROTECT THE LIVELIHOODS OF THIS COMMUNITY, BUT CONTINUE TO...
YOU PRESS FORWARD AND JUST A FRIENDLY REMINDER THAT REMEMBER THAT ONE DAY WHEN WE ALL FIRST GOT ELECTED, WE ROSE OUR HANDS AND WE MADE AN OATH, TOOK THE OATH TO SAY YOU TAKE ON.
WHEN YOU TOOK THAT OATH, YOU RAISED YOUR HAND.
YOU SAID I'M HERE TO PRESERVE, PROTECT AND DEFEND THE CONSTITUTION AND ALSO AGAINST FOREIGN AND DOMESTIC ENEMIES.
THIS IS A DOMESTIC ENEMY, AND I ASK YOU TO STOP THIS DEVELOPMENT GOING FORWARD AND DO A MORATORIUM.
FOLKS, I'VE GOT TO STOP CITIZENS' COMMENTS FOR ONE MOMENT.
WE HAVE A 9.30 PUBLIC HEARING THAT I HAVE TO DO AND THEN WE WILL COME BACK TO CITIZENS' COMMENTS.
[H.1 To consider Regulation of Traffic on County Roads: County Line Road]
OKAY, WE HAVE A PUBLIC HEARING AT 9.33 A.M.TO CONSIDER REGULATION OF TRAFFIC ON COUNTY ROADS, COUNTY LINE ROAD.
WE'LL LEAVE THIS OPEN FOR A COUPLE OF MINUTES, AND IF ANYBODY WISHES TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM, THEN WE'LL GO AHEAD AND CLOSE IT AND CONTINUE WITH CITIZENS COMMENTS.
ARE YOU HERE TO SPEAK ON THE PUBLIC HEARING, SIR? I'M SORRY, I'M HEARING IMPAIRED AND I CAN BARELY UNDERSTAND WHO'S SPEAKING TO ME.
ARE YOU HERE TO SPEAK ON THE PUBLIC HEARING ITEM, THE COUNTY ROAD? COUNTY LINE ROAD, YES.
[00:35:01]
ALL RIGHT, THIS IS MY FIRST COMMISSIONERS MEETING AND SO FAR, I'M PRETTY DISAPPOINTED.SO, THE ISSUE WE HAVE HERE IS COUNTY LINE ROAD.
I'M LISTENING TO OTHER ISSUES BEFORE YOU AND I SEE A PATTERN.
COUNTY LINE ROAD WAS NEVER ZONED OR MADE OR CREATED FOR COMMERCIAL TRAFFIC.
I LIVE IN THE LYTTON SPRINGS AREA, AND THAT COUNTY LINE ROAD GOES FOR SEVERAL MILES.
I'M SEEING COMMERCIAL DUMP TRUCKS, SEMI-TRACTOR TRAILERS, UP AND DOWN THAT ROAD.
YESTERDAY I WAS OUT IN MY YARD FOR THREE HOURS.
I COUNTED 82 COMMERCIAL VEHICLES.
I CAN SEE WHY YOU DON'T HAVE THE REVENUE TO FIX OUR ROADS.
BUT IF YOU ZONE THAT ROAD, YOU COULD STOP THE DAMAGE.
SEE, IT'S NOT JUST THE DAMAGE ON THE ROAD.
YOU'VE GOT THESE COMMERCIAL VEHICLES THAT ARE WHAT WE CALL RAKING THE LEAVES WHEN THEY GO THROUGH BECAUSE THEY'RE BREAKING BENCHES.
YOU'VE GOT A COUNTY ROAD THAT WAS NEVER DESIGNED FOR TWO COMMERCIAL VEHICLES TO PASS.
YET, THAT'S WHAT WE'RE FORCED TO DO.
I NEED TO STOP LOOKING AT HIM AND START LOOKING AT Y'ALL.
WE'VE GOT A FULL-TIME FIRE DEPARTMENT BECAUSE OF THIS.
THAT USED TO BE A VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT.
THE GOOD MEN AND WOMEN THAT DECIDED THEY WERE GOING TO RUSH INTO DANGER ON OUR BEHALF.
IT GOT SO BAD, WE NOW HAVE A FULL-TIME FIRE DEPARTMENT IN LINTON SPRINGS.
BUT CALDWELL COUNTY CAN'T AFFORD THAT.
THEY HAVE TO GET FUNDS ALLOCATED TO THEM FROM OTHER COUNTIES.
BECAUSE THOSE AREN'T CALDWELL COUNTY EMPLOYEES.
THEY'RE EITHER TRAVIS OR HAYES BECAUSE WE CAN'T AFFORD IT.
I TALKED TO THESE GENTLEMEN AND THESE LADIES OVER AT THE FIRE DEPARTMENT.
THEY WENT FROM ONE COLLISION PER MONTH TO ONE COLLISION PER WEEK TO MULTIPLE COLLISIONS PER WEEK TO FATALITIES PER MONTH.
THAT'S WHAT'S GOING ON IN YOUR COUNTY.
COMMISSIONER THOMAS, YOU TOOK A RIDE WITH ME.
YOU SAT IN MY TRUCK, AND YOU SAW IT FIRSTHAND.
THERE'S BUSINESSES OPERATING OUT OF THERE THAT SHOULDN'T BE.
YOU'VE GOT COMMERCIAL VEHICLES THAT IN ANY GIVEN TIME ARE RUNNING DOWN THERE CAUSING DAMAGE TO OUR ROAD.
LIKE I SAID, I STARTED OFF TELLING YOU I'M HEARING IMPAIRED.
I'M A VETERAN, I'M A DISABLED, AND I LIVE ON COUNTY LINE ROAD, AND THOSE TRUCKS WAKE ME UP.
BECAUSE THEY RATTLE THE WINDOWS.
WE HAVE AN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL JUST DOWN THE ROAD.
YOU'RE PUTTING THEM IN DANGER.
NO MORE THROUGH COMMERCIAL TRAFFIC.
IT'S THE SMALLEST THING YOU CAN DO.
I KNOW. OKAY, ANYBODY ELSE WISH TO SPEAK ON THE PUBLIC HEARING ITEM? OKAY, IF NOT, WE'LL GO AHEAD AND CLOSE THE
[E. CITIZENS' COMMENTS (Part 2 of 2)]
PUBLIC HEARING AT 938 AND CONTINUE WITH CITIZENS' COMMENTS.GOOD MORNING, COMMISSIONERS AND JUDGE. NICK MCINTYRE PERRY. HOMES, AUSTIN, TEXAS NOT ON BEHALF OF DATA CENTERS HERE I'M HERE TO WELCOME EVERYBODY TO THE GRAND OPENING OF JUNIPER SPRINGS OVER AT BORCHARD LOOP IN 142 THIS SATURDAY FROM 3 TO 6 P.M.
WE'VE GOT NEARLY 15 LOCAL VENDORS THAT WILL BE THERE, MODEL HOMES ARE OPEN AND RUNNING, AND WE'VE GOT A HUNDRED AND THIRTY ACRES OF OPEN SPACE AND PARKLAND PRESERVED IN THE MIDDLE THAT WE THINK WILL BE A BEAUTIFUL ASSET FOR THE COMMUNITY.
WELCOME EVERYBODY TO COME OVER AND TAKE A LOOK.
I LIVE HERE IN LOCKHART AND I'M HERE ABOUT RESOLUTION 29 2026.
I WANT TO START BY SAYING THANK YOU.
READING THAT RESOLUTION, I CAN SEE THAT THIS COURT IS PAYING ATTENTION AND TAKING INTO ACCOUNT A LOT OF THE CONCERNS THAT WE'RE EXPRESSING HERE, AND THAT MEANS SOMETHING TO THE PEOPLE IN THIS COUNTY, AND WE APPRECIATE THE HARD WORK BEING DONE HERE ON OUR BEHALF.
I DON'T USUALLY COME TO THESE MEETINGS, I CERTAINLY DON'T EVER SPEAK AT THEM, BUT I, ALONG WITH THE REST OF US, HAVE BEEN OVERLOADED WITH THIS ENCROACHMENT ON OUR BEAUTIFUL STATE AND OUR COUNTY.
FOUR OF THESE PROJECTS ALREADY.
WE'VE GOT ANOTHER ONE MANEUVERING TO
[00:40:01]
TO OVERRIDE OUR SOVEREIGNTY HERE IN THE COUNTY AND COME IN WHATEVER WE SAY.WHAT THEY DISCLOSE IN THEIR PROPOSALS IS THEIR GRID DRAW, BUT THEY DO NOT QUANTIFY CLEARLY EVERYTHING GOING ON BEHIND IT.
EACH CAMPUS REQUIRES HUNDREDS OF DIESEL BACKUP GENERATORS THAT RUN ON A REGULAR TESTING SCHEDULE, AND EVERY TIME ERCOT SHEDS LOAD IN THE SUMMER.
THE COOLING SYSTEMS CONSUME MILLIONS OF GALLONS OF WATER PER DAY.
THE PERMITS ARE FILED INDIVIDUALLY PER FACILITY, SO NOBODY IS MONITORING OR MODELING THE COMBINED WATER DRAW, THE COMBINED EMISSIONS, OR THE COMBINED STRAIN ON OUR ROADS AND INFRASTRUCTURE ACROSS ALL FOUR CAMPUSES AT ONCE.
AND BY THE TIME THE FACILITIES ARE OPERATIONAL, AND WE CAN SEE THE REAL NUMBERS, THERE IS NO MECHANISM TO GO BACK AND ENFORCE THE CONDITIONS THAT WEREN'T WRITTEN INTO THE AGREEMENTS BEFORE THEY BROKE GROUND.
ONCE THEY'RE ROLLING, THEY WILL BE ROLLING.
THAT EXHAUST PUTS FINE PARTICULATE MATTER, NITROGEN DIOXIDE, SULFUR DIOXIDE INTO THE AIR, PM 2.5 FROM DIESEL EXHAUST, THE LITTLE PARTICULATE MATTER, SMALLER THAN WHAT YOUR NOSE CAN FILTER OUT, LODGES DEEP IN YOUR LUNG TISSUE AND IT DOES NOT COME OUT.
AND IN OLDER ADULTS, IT INCREASES THE RISK OF HEART ATTACK, STROKE, AND COGNITIVE DECLINE.
AND IN CHILDREN, THE WHO AND PEER-REVIEWED EUROPEAN RESEARCH DOCUMENT MEASURABLE LEARNING DEFICITS FROM CHRONIC EXPOSURE TO INDUSTRIAL NOISE AND AIR POLLUTION.
AND WHEN IT RAINS, THOSE COMPOUNDS FALL AS ACID ONTO YOUR YARDS AND OUR GARDENS AND YOUR PASTURES AND INTO PLUM CREEK.
FOR THE RANCHERS IN THIS COUNTY, THAT MATTERS BEYOND THEIR OWN HEALTH.
ACID DEPOSITION ON PASTURE DEGRADES FORAGE QUALITY.
THE CONSTANT LOW FREQUENCY NOISE FROM COOLING SYSTEMS RUNNING 24 HOURS A DAY CHRONICALLY ELEVATES CORTISOL IN LIVESTOCK, AND THAT SUPPRESSES THEIR IMMUNE SYSTEMS, REDUCES FEED CONVERSION, AND IT DISRUPTS BREEDING CYCLES.
YOU'LL END UP WITH ANIMALS THAT EAT MORE AND GAIN LESS WEIGHT, THEY BREED POORLY, AND THEY GET SICK EASIER.
THAT IS A SLOW, QUIET ECONOMIC DISASTER FOR EVERY CATTLE OPERATION WITHIN RANGE OF THESE...
CAMPUSES AND NOBODY WILL EVER BE ABLE TO POINT TO A SINGLE FACILITY TO PROVE IT IN COURT.
THIS IS A PUBLIC HEALTH ISSUE AND A PUBLIC SAFETY ISSUE FOR EVERY ELDERLY RESIDENT, EVERY CHILD, EVERY PERSON WITH ASTHMA OR HEART DISEASE, AND EVERY RANCHER WITHIN MILES OF THESE SITES.
TWO DAYS AGO, HILL COUNTY PASSED A ONE-YEAR MORATORIUM ON DATA CENTER CONSTRUCTION ON PUBLIC HEALTH AND PUBLIC SAFETY GROUNDS.
THEIR COUNTY'S ATTORNEY TOLD THEM THEY'D PROBABLY GET SUED, AND THEY VOTED YES ANYWAY.
THEIR JUDGE SAID HE HAD TALKED TO COUNTY JUDGES ACROSS THE STATE AND THAT THEY WERE WAITING FOR SOMEONE TO GO FIRST.
RESOLUTION 29-2026 ADDRESSES WATER AND THE GRID AND THAT IS THE RIGHT DIRECTION, BUT IT DOES NOT MENTION HUMAN HEALTH OR PUBLIC SAFETY, AND IT NEEDS TO.
BEFORE YOU VOTE TODAY, I'M ASKING YOU PLEASE ADD LANGUAGE EXPLICITLY REQUIRING AN INDEPENDENT HEALTH AND SAFETY IMPACT ASSESSMENT COVERING AIR QUALITY NOISE AND WATER CONTAMINATION AS A CONDITION OF ANY DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT IN THIS COUNTY AND I'M ASKING YOU TO FOLLOW HILL COUNTY AND FORMALLY REQUEST REQUEST A MORATORIUM WHILE WE WAIT FOR THE LEGISLATURE TO GIVE US THE TOOLS TO PROTECT OUR OWN PEOPLE, AND I'M ASKING YOU TO LEAD NEXT TIME.
WE ARE FIRED UP ABOUT WHAT IS HAPPENING HERE, AND WE ARE GOING TO KEEP SHOWING UP UNTIL THIS COUNTY'S PEOPLE ARE PROTECTED.
YOU HAVE SHOWN US THAT YOU'RE WILLING TO LEAD ON THIS, AND WE ARE ASKING YOU TO GO A LITTLE BIT FURTHER, AND WE WILL BE RIGHT BESIDE YOU.
SOMETHING COMPLETELY DIFFERENT.
MY NAME IS ANDREW MCCLISH, AND I LIVE IN PRAIRIE LEE.
I'M HERE AGAIN TO ADDRESS A PUBLIC SAFETY CONCERN REGARDING THE MULTI-WAY STOPS IN PRAIRIE LEE.
IT'S AN ISSUE I'VE RAISED REPEATEDLY BEFORE THIS COURT, AND I'VE OBSERVED AND MENTIONED BEFORE THAT A LARGE MAJORITY OF DRIVERS ARE IGNORING THE STOP SIGNS THROUGHOUT THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
THIS IS NOT AN OCCASIONAL OCCURRENCE.
THIS HAPPENS CONSISTENTLY THROUGHOUT THE DAY, EVERY DAY.
IN FACT, I RECENTLY RAN INTO A NEIGHBOR I HADN'T SEEN IN A WHILE.
IN FACT, HE RECOGNIZED ME AND HE SAID, YOU'RE THE ONE WITH THAT STOP SIGN PETITION, RIGHT? AND WE GOT TALKING ABOUT IT.
AND HE OPENLY ADMITTED THAT HE DOESN'T STOP AT THOSE STOP SIGNS BECAUSE IN HIS VIEW, THEY'RE NOT NEEDED.
WHEN PEOPLE START DECIDING FOR THEMSELVES WHICH TRAFFIC CONTROL DEVICES MATTER AND WHICH ONES DON'T, WE LOSE CONSISTENCY.
AND CONSISTENCY IS WHAT KEEPS ROADS AND THE PUBLIC SAFE.
NOW GO AHEAD AND TAKE A LOOK AT THAT HANDOUT THAT I GAVE YOU.
IT'S FROM THE PRAIRIE LEE TRAFFIC STUDY, AND IT TELLS YOU THAT UNWARRANTED STOP SIGNS BREED DISRESPECT AND CAN RESULT IN POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS BEHAVIOR AND THAT'S NOT MY OPINION THAT'S THE ENGINEER'S CONCLUSION AND THE CONCLUSION OF THE TRANSPORTATION CODE. IT'S EXACTLY WHAT WE ARE SEEING IN PRAIRIE LEE. IT WAS PREDICTED AND THIS DANGEROUS BEHAVIOR IS OCCURRING THROUGHOUT MY NEIGHBORHOOD.
[00:45:02]
WARNED WOULD HAPPEN.NOW, I'VE MADE A SIMPLE REQUEST MULTIPLE, MULTIPLE TIMES HERE TO HAVE A TRAFFIC ENGINEER COME EXPLAIN THAT REPORT.
BUT THIS COURT HAS CHOSEN TO IGNORE THE STUDY, RECOMMENDATIONS, AND TRACY BRATTON'S EXPLANATION.
SO LET ME PUT THAT INTO PERSPECTIVE.
IF I GO TO THE DOCTOR AND HE ORDERS AN MRI, I DON'T EXPECT HIM TO GIVE ME A REPORT FULL OF IMAGES AND NUMBERS AND SAY, GOOD LUCK, ANDREW, NOW WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO DO? I EXPECT HIM TO EXPLAIN THE RESULTS IN WORDS THAT I CAN UNDERSTAND AND ASSIST ME IN MAKING A GOOD DECISION AND THAT SAME EXPECTATION SHOULD APPLY HERE THERE ARE PROVEN APPROACHES THAT ADDRESS SPEEDING DIRECTLY WITHOUT CREATING NEW RISKS.
IN FACT THE CITY OF LOCKHART HAS RECENTLY ADOPTED A POLICY ADDRESSING NEIGHBORHOOD SPEEDING AND THEIR TRAFFIC CALMING POLICY FOCUSES ON SPEED CUSHION DEVICES SPECIFICALLY DESIGNED TO SLOW VEHICLES ALONG THE ROAD AND THEY DO NOT ALLOW STOP SIGNS FOR CONTROLLING SPEED.
BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, THEY FOLLOW A STRUCTURED PROCESS.
AND THEY START WITH DATA, ACTUAL SPEED AND VOLUME THRESHOLDS, AND THEY DO REQUIRE COMMUNITY SUPPORT.
BUT THEY ALSO INVOLVE ENGINEERING AND EMERGENCY SERVICES BEFORE ANYTHING IS INSTALLED.
AND THEY APPLY CLEAR, CONSISTENT STANDARDS FROM START TO FINISH.
BECAUSE WHAT HAPPENED IN PRAIRIE LEE WASN'T JUST THE WRONG TOOL.
IT WAS THE ABSENCE OF A SYSTEM TO ENSURE THAT THE RIGHT ONE WAS CHOSEN.
SPEED CUSHIONS WORK BECAUSE THEY DON'T DEPEND ON DRIVERS CHOOSING TO COMPLY.
THEY CHANGE DRIVER BEHAVIOR PHYSICALLY AND CONSISTENTLY.
MULTI-WAY STOP SIGNS TRAIN DRIVERS TO IGNORE THEM.
SO THE QUESTION BEFORE THIS COURT IS NOT JUST IF TO CORRECT A PAST MISTAKE, IT'S IF YOU'RE WILLING TO ADDRESS THE CONSEQUENCES OF THAT MISTAKE.
AND RIGHT NOW THE COUNTY HAS A POLICY GAP WHEN IT COMES TO TRAFFIC CALMING.
AND THAT GAP IS WHAT LED TO THIS SITUATION.
ADOPTING A STRUCTURED POLICY LIKE THE ONE USED HERE IN THE CITY OF LOCKHART WOULD CLOSE THAT GAP AND JUDGE THIS WOULD ENSURE FUTURE DECISIONS ARE BASED ON DATA NOT ASSUMPTIONS AND WOULD PREVENT THE SAME PROBLEM FROM HAPPENING AGAIN IN ANOTHER NEIGHBORHOOD. THIS IS ABOUT MORE THAN PRAIRIE LEE THIS IS ABOUT HOW THIS COUNTY APPROACHES SAFETY MOVING FORWARD.
I DO HAVE COPIES OF THAT LOCKHART POLICY WITH ME TODAY AND I WILL NOW HAND THEM OUT TO YOU SO YOU CAN REVIEW THEM IN FULL. PUBLIC SAFETY IS AT STAKE HERE I NEED YOU TO DO YOUR JOB AND LET'S GET THIS ON THE AGENDA.
GOOD MORNING, MY NAME IS TORI BLAKE MARTIN, AND I AM YOUR NEIGHBOR, BORN AND RAISED IN SAN MARCOS, TEXAS.
AND I HAVE SPENT THE LAST 15 MONTHS FIGHTING FOR MY LIFE AND LIVING IN A PERPETUAL STATE OF DREAD BECAUSE SOME MAN WITH NO MORALS AND VALUES WANTED TO BUILD A DATA CENTER NEXT DOOR.
AND BY NEXT DOOR, I MEAN TOUCHING MY FAMILY'S RANCH THAT I GREW UP ON.
IT'S REALLY HARD TO READ WHAT I WRITE WHEN I'M CRYING.
BUT THESE ARE VERY EMOTIONAL ISSUES.
NEXT DOOR TO MY FAMILY'S RANCH THAT I GREW UP ON AND I RACEHORSES ON, AND I DEPEND ON THAT LAND, AS DO ALL OF MY NEIGHBORS WHO ARE ZONED AGRICULTURAL LAND.
I SEE YOU HAVE A LOT OF AGRICULTURAL LAND HERE IN LOCKHART, AS I SPEND A LOT OF TIME HERE AND HAVE MANY FRIENDS THAT LIVE HERE.
AND AT THAT TOWN HALL, I NOTICED A LOT OF WHAT LOOK LIKE OTHER PEOPLE THAT DEPEND ON THEIR LAND.
HARDWORKING PEOPLE MAKING AN INCREDIBLY HONEST LIVING THAT HAVE BEEN HERE THEIR WHOLE LIVES, NEVER TRYING TO GET RICH AT THE COST OF HURTING THEIR NEIGHBORS AND ENTIRE COMMUNITY.
THESE PEOPLE THAT WANT TO BUILD DATA CENTERS DON'T EVEN LIVE HERE, AND THEY DON'T WANT TO LIVE HERE.
I WAS HOPING TO CREATE A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE OTHER THAN WATER AND ELECTRICITY TOPICS TO THIS CRISIS.
AS SOMEONE WHO'S LIVING OFF THE LAND, BUT IT SEEMS LIKE YOUR COMMUNITY REALLY CARES A LOT ABOUT LIVESTOCK, AND THEY'RE ALREADY TOUCHING ON A LOT OF THAT ALL OVER TEXAS, TO LEARN THAT FARMERS HAVE ONE CALF ON THE GROUND WHERE THEY SHOULD HAVE 12 BY SPRING, WHERE THE BEES HAVE LEFT SO THE CROPS HAVE PERISHED, AND I KNOW OF EIGHT HORSES NEXT TO THESE THINGS THAT HAVE DIED BEFORE REACHING 18.
THE HEAT THESE THINGS RADIATE ABOVE GROUND ALSO GOES UNDERGROUND AND PENETRATES THE SOIL, KILLING THE GRASS FARMERS USE TO FEED THEIR LIVESTOCK, COSTING THEM MORE MONEY TO FEED ANIMALS THAT ARE NOT PRODUCING AND NOT DEVELOPING FULLY NEXT TO DATA CENTERS.
AND THIS IS NOW THE THIRD SPRING WHERE WE ARE HAVING THESE SAME EFFECTS.
SO, IT IS PROVEN AND IT IS TRUE.
HAVE YOU EVER HAD A WATER LEAK IN YOUR HOUSE? I'M SURE YOU HAVE.
THESE THINGS DO LEAK DESPITE THE LIES.
AND IT RUNS OFF INTO YOUR CREEKS AND GOES INTO THEIR RETENTION PONDS AND WHATEVER NDA, NON-DISCLOSED
[00:50:02]
CHEMICALS THEY USE ENDS UP IN OUR PONDS AND STOCK TANKS BECAUSE BIRDS AND TURTLES AND ALL WILDLIFE TRANSPORT IT TO PONDS AND CREEKS THAT I SWIM IN THAT ARE OUR LIVESTOCK'S DRINKING SOURCE AND MAYBE IT'S EVEN SOME OF Y'ALL'S DRINKING SOURCE.WE ALL KNOW THEY ARE NOT MAKING MORE LAND, SO WE NEED TO STOP TAKING ADVANTAGE OF SOMETHING THAT IS A LIMITED RESOURCE.
WE ALL JUST STOOD HERE AND PLEDGED TO TEXAS.
I KNOW WE'VE ALL HEARD OUR STATE MOTTO, DON'T MESS WITH TEXAS, THAT WE ARE SUPPOSED TO RESPECT BUT INSTEAD, WE ARE NEGLECTING TEXAS.
DATA CENTERS GO AGAINST TEXAS.
THEY ARE REMINISCENT OF TREASON.
I ASSUME YOU'RE IN THOSE SEATS BECAUSE YOU LOVE THIS TOWN.
I'M HERE BECAUSE I LOVE TEXAS.
YOU OWE THIS TOWN AN ALLIANCE, AND YOU WOULD BE BETRAYING IT IF YOU DON'T TAKE THESE STEPS TO PROTECTING IT.
SELLING OUT TEXAS IS NOT AN ACCEPTABLE WAY OF LIFE FOR ME AND NOT AN EXAMPLE I WANT TO SET FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS.
AS OF THIS WEEK, I DON'T THINK THAT MAN IS GOING TO BUILD THAT DATA CENTER NEXT DOOR TO MY HOME.
IT IS NOT INEVITABLE, AND IT CAN BE STOPPED, AND IT STARTS HERE IN THIS ROOM.
I WOULD LOVE TO STAY AND SEE HOW THIS MEETING GOES.
I'M REALLY PROUD OF THESE PEOPLE, BUT I HAVE TO GO FIX FENCES BEFORE IT'S 95 DEGREES TODAY.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.
GOOD MORNING, JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS AND NEIGHBORS. I'M HERE TODAY TO URGE THIS COURT TO PROCEED WITH EXTREME CAUTION REGARDING THE PROPOSED CALDWELL VALLEY TECHNOLOGY PARK AND ANY RESOLUTION OR ACTION THAT WOULD SUPPORT OR ACCELERATE THIS MASSIVE DATA CENTER DEVELOPMENT NEAR LOCKHART.
THIS PROJECT REPRESENTS ONE OF THE LARGEST INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENTS EVER PROPOSED FOR OUR REGION, SCALING TO THOUSANDS OF ACRES AND FOUR GIGAWATTS OF ENERGY DEMAND.
JUST ONE CONCERN, AS PEOPLE HAVE EXPRESSED, BUT AN EXTREMELY VITAL ONE THE PUBLIC STILL DOES NOT HAVE CLEAR ANSWERS ABOUT IS THE WATER.
AS YOU KNOW, THE PROJECT SITS WITHIN THE JURISDICTION OF THE PLUM CREEK CONSERVATION WATER DISTRICT AND OVER THE CARRIZO-WILCOX GROUNDWATER SYSTEM.
IN THE CITY OF LOCKHART, WE ALREADY RELY HEAVILY ON THE CARRIZO-WILCOX GROUNDWATER SUPPLIES, AND LIKE MANY OTHERS, ARE FACING MOUNTING GROWTH AND PRESSURE AND FUTURE WATER SCARCITY.
WE SHOULD NOT BE RUSHING TO SUPPORT MASSIVE NEW INDUSTRIAL WATER AND ENERGY DEMAND WHILE OUR OWN GROUNDWATER AUTHORITIES ARE SIMULTANEOUSLY DISCUSSING HOW TO PRESERVE AQUIFER LEVELS FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS.
THIS IS ABOUT WHO CALDWELL COUNTY IS BECOMING. PARDON ME.
A HYPERSCALE DATA CENTER CAMPUS BRINGS A FUTURE THAT FAMILIES WHO ARE CURRENTLY MOVING HERE ARE NOT FORESEEING.
FAMILIES ARE MOVING HERE BECAUSE THEY BELIEVE CALDWELL COUNTY STILL OFFERS RURAL CHARACTER AND A BETTER QUALITY OF LIFE WITH OPEN SPACE AWAY FROM THE BUSYNESS OF BIG CITY.
THIS HYPERSCALE DATA CENTER WILL INTRODUCE THINGS LIKE INDUSTRIAL INFRASTRUCTURE, MASSIVE ELECTRICAL SUBSTATIONS, TRANSMISSION CORRIDORS, HEAVY TRUCK TRAFFIC, CONTINUOUS MECHANICAL NOISE, HEAT GENERATION, AND PERMANENT PRESSURE ON LOCAL INFRASTRUCTURE AND GROUNDWATER RESOURCES.
MEANWHILE, OUR AGRICULTURAL COMMUNITY, RANCHERS, FARMERS, AND DOMESTIC WELL OWNERS DEPEND ON THOSE SAME FINITE GROUNDWATER RESOURCES TO SURVIVE.
WATER USED FOR INDUSTRIAL COOLING IS WATER THAT CANNOT BE USED FOR CROPS, LIVESTOCK, HOMES, GARDENS, OR FUTURE DROUGHT RESILIENCE.
AND ONCE AQUIFERS ARE OVERDRAWN, RECOVERY CAN TAKE GENERATIONS.
I ALSO ASK THIS COURT TO CONSIDER CUMULATIVE IMPACTS.
NOT JUST THIS PROJECT ALONE, BUT WHAT HAPPENS WHEN ONE MEGA SITE OPENS THE DOOR TO ADDITIONAL INDUSTRIAL CAMPUSES ACROSS CALDWELL COUNTY.
JUST AS THE PARK SITE DATA CENTER LOOMS IN NEGOTIATIONS.
WHAT HAPPENS TO RURAL ROADS, FLOOD RUNOFF, WASTEWATER CAPACITY, EMERGENCY SERVICES, AIR QUALITY, PROPERTY VALUES, DOMESTIC WELLS, LONG-TERM WATER RELIABILITY, OUR JOBS? THOSE QUESTIONS DESERVE INDEPENDENT ANSWERS BEFORE THIS COUNTY SUPPORTS EXPANSION.
I RESPECTFULLY URGE THE COMMISSIONER'S COURT TO SEEK IN THE RESOLUTION OTHER SUPPORT
[00:55:03]
MEASURES FOR THIS PROJECT, SUCH AS FULL GROUNDWATER DEMAND DISCLOSURES, INDEPENDENT HYDROGEOLOGICAL STUDIES, CUMULATIVE IMPACT ANALYSIS, PUBLIC INFRASTRUCTURE COSTS THAT ARE EVALUATED, AND THAT RESIDENTS ARE GIVEN MEANINGFUL TRANSPARENCY REGARDING LONG-TERM WATER AND COMMUNITY IMPACTS.GROWTH WITHOUT RESOURCE PROTECTION IS NOT RESPONSIBLE PLANNING.
AS OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS, I KNOW THAT WHILE YOU DO NOT HAVE CARTE BLANCHE, POWER TO STOP DATA CENTERS AND SAY, WE DON'T WANT YOU, DON'T COME IN, I HOPE THAT YOU WILL USE YOUR GRANTED ROLES TO IMPLEMENT GUARDRAILS.
I TRUST YOU WANT TO DO WHAT IS BEST FOR US HERE IN THIS ROOM, OUR FAMILIES, OUR NEIGHBORS, AND OUR HOME.
HELLO EVERYONE, THANK YOU FOR GIVING ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TODAY.
APOLOGIES IF I'M NOT AS ELOQUENT AS MY PEERS.
I DON'T ACTUALLY HAVE A WRITTEN STATEMENT IN FRONT OF ME, BUT I WILL DO MY BEST.
I HAVE LIVED IN LOCKHART FOR NOW ABOUT THREE YEARS, AND IT'S BEEN VERY INTERESTING TO GET INVOLVED IN A COMMUNITY LIKE THIS THAT IS SO PASSIONATE, AND I'M VERY HAPPY TO BE AMONGST YOU.
IN CALIFORNIA, THERE IS A LAW THAT SAYS THAT IF YOU OPT OUT OF BEING TRACKED BY THESE DATA COMPANIES, MICROSOFT, AMAZON, ETC., THAT YOU HAVE TO COMPLETELY NOT BE TRACKED BY COOKIES.
THERE WAS RECENTLY AN AUDIT THAT WAS DONE THAT SHOWED THAT THAT IS NOT HAPPENING, AND WHAT THESE COMPANIES ARE DOING IS THEY'RE JUST PAYING THE FINE, BECAUSE THEY HAVE THE MONEY TO JUST PAY THE FINE.
AMOUNT OF AGREEMENT THAT WE CAN COME TO THAT THEY'RE NOT GOING TO JUST BE OKAY WITH PAYING THE FINE.
NOW YES, THAT GIVES MONEY BACK TO OUR COMMUNITY IF THEY KEEP PAYING FINES, BUT MONEY CAN ONLY BUY SO MUCH.
IF WE DON'T HAVE THE RESOURCES, WHAT ARE WE SUPPOSED TO DO WITH THE MONEY? WE CAN'T MAKE WATER SUDDENLY SPRING FROM THE GROUND AGAIN OR, YOU KNOW, OUR ELECTRICAL GRID WORK AS INTENDED.
WE CAN'T HELP THE CATTLE BE ABLE TO ACTUALLY LIVE THE WAY THAT THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO.
IT DOESN'T MATTER IF THEY'RE FOLLOWING IT OR NOT.
WE'RE JUST GETTING A STREAM OF MONEY, LIKE, HERE YOU GO.
AND I JUST DON'T THINK THAT'S RIGHT.
AND SO, I DO THINK THAT WE SHOULD REALLY CONSIDER JOINING IN A MORATORIUM OR PUTTING OUR OWN MORATORIUM INTO PLACE.
EVEN IF THERE ARE QUESTIONS ABOUT WHETHER THAT IS LEGAL OR NOT.
I WOULD RATHER US SPEND THE MONEY FIGHTING THAN GET THIS FINE MONEY LATER TO TRY TO PICK UP THE PIECES.
JACK HOPPER. GOOD MORNING, ALL.
THANK YOU FOR GIVING US THE OPPORTUNITY TO...SPEAK TO YOU.
MY WIFE AND I ARE NEWLY RELOCATED TO LOCKHART.
WE BOUGHT A HOUSE HERE A FEW YEARS BACK AND RENOVATED IT AND DECIDED TO LEAVE THE BIG CITY OF AUSTIN AND MOVE TO LOCKHART BECAUSE WE JUST LOVE IT HERE SO MUCH AND IT JUST DOES MY HEART GOOD TO LOOK AROUND AND SEE ALL OF THESE CITIZENS SHOWING UP TO TO TALK ABOUT SOMETHING WE'RE PASSIONATE ABOUT.
I KNOW YOU GENTLEMEN HAVE LIVED HERE A LOT LONGER THAN I, AND I KNOW THAT YOU'RE SITTING IN YOUR SEATS OF PUBLIC SERVICE BECAUSE YOU CARE SO MUCH ABOUT THIS COMMUNITY.
YOU'VE MADE DEEP FRIENDS AND RELATIONSHIPS, AND YOU KNOW THAT'S WHAT STRUCK ME SO MUCH ABOUT LOCKHART AND CALDWELL COUNTY IN GENERAL IS THAT I KNOW MY NEIGHBORS.
THIS IS JUST SUCH A LOVELY DIVERSE COMMUNITY, AND THESE DATA CENTERS BRING NOTHING BUT TROUBLE TO THE TABLE.
I MEAN HOW MANY HERE CAN SAY THAT ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE HAS BENEFITED YOUR LIFE? YOU KNOW THE RESULTS WILL REMAIN TO BE SEEN AS TO WHAT THAT WILL LOOK LIKE, BUT THERE'S NOTHING THAT IS HUMANIZING ABOUT ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE.
WHAT MAKES THIS COUNTY, THIS TOWN SPECIAL IS THE SENSE OF FELLOWSHIP AND HUMANITY.
SO, LIKE I'M NOT GOING TO HIT YOU
[01:00:01]
WITH A BUNCH OF DATA, BUT THE COMPANIES BEHIND THESE DATA CENTERS ARE PROFIT DRIVEN.BLACKSTONE, ONE OF THE LARGEST PRIVATE EQUITY FIRMS IN THE WORLD, JUST RECENTLY HAD A DATA CENTER IN FAYETTEVILLE, GEORGIA, THAT TAPPED INTO THEIR WATER SUPPLY AND SUCKED 30 MILLION GALLONS OF WATER IN 120 DAYS.
THAT'S 250,000 GALLONS A DAY. DID NOT PAY FOR IT BY THE WAY. YOU CAN'T CHALK THAT UP TO SOME OVERSIGHT, ADMINISTRATIVE OVERSIGHT, THAT'S JUST PURELY TAKING ADVANTAGE OF THE COMMUNITY. THAT'S WHAT THESE DATA CENTERS ARE GOING TO BE DOING HERE. THEY THEY BRING NOTHING BUT PROFIT DRIVEN MOTIVES TO THE TABLE.
YOU'VE HEARD A LOT OF INFORMATION, MUCH MORE THAN I'M GOING TO REGURGITATE, ABOUT THE OBVIOUS DRAWDOWN ON OUR WATER SUPPLY, BUT WE DON'T HAVE ANY IDEA, YET WHAT THE OTHER REPERCUSSIONS OF THESE DATA CENTERS WILL BE TOWARDS THE LAND, TOWARDS HEALTH.
JUST THE OVERALL RAMIFICATIONS ARE SUCH THAT I DON'T THINK THAT THE MONEY SHOULD BE THE BOTTOM LINE HERE.
I THINK THAT OUR SENSE OF COMMUNITY AND OUR LOVE FOR OUR CITY AND FOR OUR COUNTY SHOULD BE THE DRIVING MOTIVATION, AND I KNOW YOU ALL CARE DEEPLY ABOUT THAT.
WE APPRECIATE YOU ALL GIVING US THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK, AND WE HOPE THAT YOU ALL WILL WILL STEP UP AND PUT UP A ROADBLOCK AGAINST THESE DATA CENTERS IN CALDWELL COUNTY.
I CAN'T MATCH THE KNOWLEDGE THAT MOST OF THESE PEOPLE HAVE PRESENTED IN TERMS OF THEIR KNOWLEDGE WITH DATA CENTERS BUT I FEEL LIKE I HAVE A VESTED INTEREST...MR. VELA, I'M SORRY.
I FEEL LIKE I HAVE A VESTED INTEREST HERE, CAUSE I MEAN I'M A NATIVE TEXAN.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT MEANS TO MANY PEOPLE.
BACK IN THE DAY IT MEANT A LOT.
NOT JUST THAT, BUT MY NATIVE ANCESTORS OCCUPIED THIS LAND FOR THOUSANDS OF YEARS BEFORE.
YOU KNOW, PEOPLE OFTEN ASK, WHY HAVEN'T YOU MOVED ANYWHERE ELSE? AND I SAY, YOU KNOW, I THINK ABOUT THAT BECAUSE I'VE TRAVELED A LOT.
I'VE GONE TO MANY COUNTRIES AND STATES.
AND I, UM, BUT I ASK THEM, I SAY, WELL, WHY DID YOU MOVE HERE? WELL, BECAUSE IT'S BIG AND BEAUTIFUL.
AND I SAID, WELL, WHY WOULD I WANT TO LEAVE? RIGHT? SO, I MEAN, I DON'T KNOW MUCH, LIKE I SAID, ABOUT THE DATA CENTERS.
BUT WHAT I DO KNOW IS THAT OTHER COUNTIES ARE KIND OF PUMPING THE BRAKES A BIT.
NOW, YOU KNOW, WE DON'T REALLY HAVE TO RUSH AT THIS.
I'M BORN AND RAISED IN AUSTIN.
ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, MIDDLE SCHOOL, HIGH SCHOOL, COLLEGE, POST.
I WON'T GO BACK THERE BECAUSE IT'S A CLUSTER BLANK.
Y'ALL KNOW, AND I DON'T MEAN THAT IN A MEAN WAY, I JUST MEAN THAT IT'S JUST NOT A FUN PLACE TO GO.
AUSTIN DIDN'T ANTICIPATE THAT MUCH GROWTH IN SUCH A LIMITED SHORT TIME.
I REMEMBER WHEN I MOVED TO LOCKHART LESS THAN TEN YEARS AGO.
Y'ALL USED TO WEAR T-SHIRTS SAYING, DON'T AUSTIN MY LOCKHART.
REMEMBER THAT T-SHIRT? NO? I DON'T HEAR A...
Y'ALL USED TO WEAR THEM, AND I'M LIKE, Y'ALL ARE FREAKED OUT ABOUT ME? GUYS, Y'ALL GOT BIGGER FISH TO FRY.
AND IT'S KNOCKING ON THE DOOR NOW.
WE DON'T HAVE TO GO TO BED RIGHT NOW.
BUT MY ANCESTORS THAT LIVED HERE FOR THOUSANDS OF YEARS, THEY LEFT IT PURE, CLEAN, NATURAL FOR THE NEXT GENERATION AND THE NEXT GENERATION.
I'VE GOT A SON AND I'VE GOT A GRANDDAUGHTER.
I WANT THEM TO BE ABLE TO GO DOWN AND SEE SALAMANDERS AND...
[01:05:03]
YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN? NOW WE ARE THE ENDANGERED SPECIES.WHAT DOES THAT REALLY MEAN IN THE BIG SCHEME OF LIFE? NOTHING.
BECAUSE NOW, LIKE TRUMP'S GO-KART, IF YOU...
I WOULD OUGHT TO HAVE A GO-KART.
BECAUSE IF YOU COME HERE WITH A MILLION BUCKS, A BILLION BUCKS, YOU ARE THE FAVORITE TEXAN NOW.
NOT THE PEOPLE THAT GAVE THEIR...
MY FATHER, MY GRANDFATHER, AND THE LINEAGE WERE ALL CIVIL SERVANTS.
SPENT THEIR WHOLE LIFE SERVING THE COMMUNITY, HELPING PEOPLE.
BUT I COULD WALK DOWN ANY STREET IN AUSTIN, AND PEOPLE WOULD SHOW ME RESPECT BASED ON WHAT HE DID.
SIR, YOU'RE ALMOST OUT OF TIME.
BUT I JUST, HEY, HEY, COME OVER AND MEET MY PARENTS, MAN, AND LET'S HAVE LUNCH TOGETHER.
WE AIN'T GOT TO DO IT ALL IN ONE DAY.
GOOD MORNING, MY NAME IS TAYLOR BURGE, AND I SERVE ON LOCKHART CITY COUNCIL.
I'M HERE TODAY BECAUSE I'VE BEEN HEARING FROM RESIDENTS ACROSS THE COUNTY WHO ARE DEEPLY CONCERNED, NOT SIMPLY ABOUT GROWTH, BUT ABOUT THE PACE OF IRREVERSIBLE CHANGE HAPPENING AROUND US.
AND I WANT TO BEGIN BY SAYING THIS VERY CLEARLY, I BELIEVE THIS COURT WANTS TO DO THE RIGHT THING.
I BELIEVE THE PEOPLE SITTING HERE UNDERSTAND THAT YOUR RESPONSIBILITY IS NOT ONLY TO THE ECONOMY OF TODAY BUT TO THE LONG-TERM FUTURE OF THIS COUNTY AND THE PEOPLE WHO WILL INHERIT IT AFTER US.
BECAUSE CALDWELL COUNTY IS NOT AN EMPTY PIECE OF LAND WAITING TO BE OPTIMIZED.
IT IS FARMLAND, IT IS RANCH LAND, IT IS RIVERS AND CREEKS AND OPEN SKIES.
IT IS GENERATIONS OF FAMILIES WHO PROTECTED THESE RESOURCES LONG ENOUGH FOR US TO STILL HAVE THEM TODAY.
AND THE QUESTION I KEEP COMING BACK TO IS THIS, WOULD THE PEOPLE WHO CAME BEFORE US APPROVE TURNING LARGE PARTS OF THIS COUNTY INTO INDUSTRIAL CONCRETE CORRIDORS WITHOUT FULLY UNDERSTANDING THE LONG-TERM CONSEQUENCES FIRST? BECAUSE OUR NATURAL RESOURCES ARE FINITE.
OUR RURAL CHARACTER IS FINITE.
AND ONCE THESE SYSTEMS ARE STRAINED OR TRANSFORMED AT INDUSTRIAL SCALE, MANY OF THOSE CHANGES SIMPLY CANNOT BE UNDONE.
AND RIGHT NOW, MANY RESIDENTS FEEL LIKE WE ARE ENTERING A BATTLE AGAINST SOMETHING WE DO NOT FULLY UNDERSTAND YET.
AND IT IS THAT NOT KNOWING THAT CREATES THE FEAR.
PEOPLE HEAR TERMS LIKE AI INFRASTRUCTURE AND HYPERSCALE DATA CENTERS, BUT WHAT THEY REALLY WANT TO KNOW IS WHAT HAPPENS TO OUR WATER.
WHAT HAPPENS TO OUR ROADS, OUR ELECTRICAL GRID, OUR EMERGENCY SERVICES, AND OUR AGRICULTURAL LAND IF MULTIPLE LARGE-SCALE PROJECTS MOVE FORWARD FASTER THAN OUR INFRASTRUCTURE OR LAWS CAN KEEP UP WITH? AND WHO IS HELD ACCOUNTABLE IF LOCAL COMMUNITIES ARE LEFT CARRYING THESE COSTS? THAT'S WHY I SUPPORT THIS RESOLUTION, BUT I ALSO HOPE THIS COURT CONSIDERS USING EVERY TOOL LEGALLY AVAILABLE INCLUDING TEMPORARY DELAYS OR MORATORIUM MEASURES TO SLOW THIS PROCESS DOWN LONG ENOUGH FOR THE TEXAS LEGISLATURE TO FINALLY GIVE COUNTIES THE AUTHORITY AND PROTECTIONS THAT THEY NEED BECAUSE COUNTIES ARE CURRENTLY BEING ASKED TO ABSORB ENORMOUS RISK WHILE HAVING VERY LIMITED CONTROL OVER HOW THESE PROJECTS DEVELOP AND IF THAT MEANS INVITING PRESSURE AND CRITICISM AND EVEN LEGAL CHALLENGE IN ORDER TO PROTECT THE LONG-TERM INTERESTS OF THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE HERE, WHO HAVE LIVED HERE, AND WHO WILL LIVE HERE, THEN I BELIEVE THAT IT IS STILL A RESPONSIBILITY WORTH TAKING SERIOUSLY.
NO ONE IS ASKING TO STOP THE FUTURE.
THE PEOPLE OF CALDWELL COUNTY ARE SEEKING TO UNDERSTAND WHAT KIND OF FUTURE WE'RE ACTUALLY BUILDING.
BECAUSE IF WE DON'T SEE YOU ACT, IT'LL BE BUILT ALL AROUND US.
[01:10:03]
MY NAME IS AMANDA WHITE.I'M IN LOCKHART, TEXAS, OUT IN THE COUNTY.
AND I MAINLY WANT TO TALK TO ALL THE PEOPLE WHO ARE SITTING HERE, MY NEIGHBORS, AND THAT INCLUDES Y'ALL.
BECAUSE WE SEE Y'ALL SITTING UP THERE, BUT YOU ALSO ARE COMMUNITY, AND YOU'VE TAKEN IT UPON YOURSELF TO COME AND LEAD THIS COMMUNITY.
AND WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME OF SERVICE TO DO THAT.
BUT THE BIGGEST LIE THAT WE HAVE ALL BEEN SOLD AND WE'VE BOUGHT INTO IS THAT WE CAN'T DO ANYTHING.
NOT ONLY FROM THESE DATA CENTERS, BUT FROM EVERYTHING.
AS SOMEONE WHO LIVES RIGHT NEXT TO THE 130 ENVIRONMENTAL PARK RIGHT BY THAT WE DID FIGHT, THAT WAS A TEST TO TRY TO CONVINCE US, HEY, YOU CAN'T STOP US.
YOU CAN'T STOP WHAT WE'RE DOING.
THAT ENVIRONMENTAL PARK DESTROYED ACRES AND ACRES AND ACRES OF ENVIRONMENT.
BUT ONE THING THAT THIS WHOLE DATA CENTER THING HAS BROUGHT UP IS I LOOK AROUND AT ALL OF YOU MY NEIGHBORS, THEY HAVE COME TOGETHER FROM DIFFERENT WALKS OF LIFE TO SAY, NO WE ARE HERE IN THIS COMMUNITY AND WE LOVE IT, WE ARE THANKFUL THAT GOD HAS BLESSED US WITH THIS BEAUTIFUL LAND, THIS WATER, THIS ALL THE STUFF THAT WE'VE GIVEN AND IT IS NOT OUR PLACE TO TURN IT OVER TO CORPORATE FOR THEM TO TELL US, HEY WE MATTER MORE THAN YOU.
I TOLD SOMEONE, I CAN'T BELIEVE WE'RE FIGHTING ROBOTS OVER WATER IN MY LIFETIME.
I CANNOT BELIEVE THAT WE'RE DOING THAT.
THAT'S THE BATTLE WE'RE FIGHTING.
BUT WE'RE COMING TOGETHER BECAUSE TEXANS, AS A NATIVE-BORN TEXAN, I TRIED FLORIDA FOR A YEAR.
I WAS LIKE, NOPE, RIGHT BACK TO TEXAS.
IS THAT WE'RE VERY HARD-HEADED.
AND THAT'S WHY THEY'RE TARGETING US, TEXANS.
BECAUSE IF TEXAS FALLS, THE NATION FALLS RIGHT BEHIND IT.
I DON'T KNOW IF ANYBODY NOTICED THIS YEAR, BUT DID YOU NOTICE THERE WERE NO BLUE BONNETS THIS YEAR? SO, IF YOU ASK OUR AGRICULTURE, BUT WHY WERE THERE NO BLUE BONNETS? YOU KNOW WHAT THEY SAY? BECAUSE THERE WASN'T ENOUGH WATER.
BLUE BONNETS, CAN WE LIVE WITHOUT BLUE BONNETS? YES.
I REALLY MISSED MY BLUE BONNET PICTURES, MY ANNUAL BLUE BONNET PICTURES THIS YEAR.
BUT CAN WE LIVE WITHOUT CATTLE? AND YES, THE HIGHER-UPS ARE TRYING TO CONVINCE US WE CAN.
WE HAVE THESE DATA CENTERS COMING IN HERE, AND THEY'RE TRYING TO CONVINCE US IN THE NEXT TWO DAYS THAT WE'LL GO OUT ACROSS THIS NATION TO CONVINCE EVERYBODY.
IT'S NOT BY ACCIDENT THEY ARE PICKING THE RURAL COMMUNITIES, BUT THEY ALSO DON'T KNOW WHO THEY'RE MESSING WITH.
BUT WE HAVE THEM DOWN THERE AT THE PARK, AND THEY ARE PAYING OFF OUR CHILDREN.
$300 TO COME GET SOME LITTLE LEAGUE TEAMS SO THEY CAN PRETEND AND DO ALL THIS AND SHOW WHAT THEY'VE DONE TO OUR COMMUNITY.
BUT I DO RECALL RIGHT AROUND THIS COURTHOUSE, WE JUST HAD A WHOLE REVITALIZATION PROJECT THAT HAPPENED.
AND THEN I DON'T AGREE WITH ALL OF IT, LIKE TAKING AWAY PARKING SPACES WHEN WE HAVE A PARKING ISSUE.
BUT IT'S BEAUTIFUL, DID ITS THING, WITHOUT ANY DATA CENTER MONEY.
SO, WE DON'T NEED A DATA CENTER TO BETTER OUR BASEBALL FIELDS.
OUR CHILDREN ARE NOT FOR SALE.
MY NEIGHBORS ARE NOT FOR SALE.
AND I HOPE THAT EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU AND THESE LEADERS OF CHILDREN ARE NOT FOR SALE.
Y'ALL ALL STOOD HERE AT THE START OF THIS MEETING AND PRAYED, WHICH IS SUPER EXCITING.
I WALKED AROUND THE BUILDING BEFOREHAND AND PRAYED, BECAUSE ULTIMATELY THIS IS GOD'S COUNTRY.
I TOOK AN OATH AND SAID TO THE AMERICAN FLAG, TO THE TEXAS FLAG, UNDER GOD.
SO ULTIMATELY, EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU THAT HAVE BEEN APPOINTED TO THIS LEADERSHIP POSITION WILL ANSWER TO GOD.
SO, I DON'T KNOW WHAT BACKROOM DEALS HAVE HAPPENED.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT THREATS THESE PEOPLE HAVE DONE.
BUT ALL OF YOU CAN STAND UP WITH A BOLDNESS AND FOLLOW WHAT GOD IS WANTING AND LISTEN.
SO FAR, I HAVEN'T HEARD A SINGLE PERSON IN THIS COMMUNITY...
MA'AM YOU HAVE TO WRAP IT UP WE HAVE MORE PEOPLE.
AND COMMUNITIES SAYING HEY, YAY, GO DATA CENTERS.
SO, I HOPE THAT Y'ALL WILL LISTEN WITH YOUR HEARTS AND DO WHAT IS RIGHT.
THANK YOU FOR EVEN ADDRESSING AND TAKING THE TIME TO DO THIS RESOLUTION.
[01:15:02]
MY NAME IS MIGUEL GUERRA.AND LET'S SEE, WE ALL KNOW DATA CENTERS ARE BAD, AND WE KNOW WHY.
SO, I THINK SOME OF US ARE JUST HERE TO SEE IF AND WHO HAS BEEN COMPROMISED TO VOTE AGAINST THE BEST INTEREST OF THE COMMUNITY.
AND I GUESS WE'LL SEE, SO, WE CAN MOVE ACCORDINGLY FORWARD.
THERE ARE NO OTHER CITIZEN COMMENTS. THAT WAS IT? OKAY, RIGHT? WE WILL GO AHEAD AND GO TO OUR PRESENTATIONS ITEM G... OH SORRY GOT TO DO CONSENT.
[F. CONSENT AGENDA]
COMMISSIONERS IF THERE ARE NO QUESTIONS ON CONSENT LOOK FOR A MOTION TO APPROVE? MOVE TO APPROVE. MOVE APPROVAL BY COMMISSIONER WESTMORELAND, DO WE HAVE A SECOND? SECOND. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER HORNE. ANY DISCUSSION? NONE? ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE.AYE. OPPOSED? HEARING NONE MOTION CARRIES. OKAY NOW WE'LL GO TO OUR PRESENTATION, CALDWELL COUNTY COURTHOUSE PRESERVATION MASTER PLAN FOR POWELL AND CARSON INC. AND ANNA NEW.
IT SAYS IT'S, ACCORDING TO THIS, IT SHOULD BE WORKING.
(INAUDIBLE). I DON'T KNOW WHY IT'S NOT WORKING...
IS THE PRESENTATION THE SAME THING THAT WE HAVE HERE? IN PAPER FORM, IF YOU CAN'T GET IT WORKING.
I DON'T KNOW WHY IT'S NOT WORKING. I'VE TRIED EXTENDING IT.
(INAUDIBLE) IZZY, I'M GOING TO TRY TURNING THE SYSTEM OFF AND ON RIGHT QUICK.
[01:20:05]
OKAY.I DON'T KNOW WHY IT'S NOT PICKING UP.
EDZIE, WHILE YOU'RE DOING THAT, I'M GOING TO MOVE ON AND GO TO SOMETHING ELSE.
[G.2 Caldwell County Capital Improvements Plan & Program (CIPP): American Structurepoint, Inc. ]
WE'RE GOING TO NEED THE TABLE ITEM G2.THE PERSON THAT WAS GOING TO DO THE PRESENTATION WAS NOT ABLE TO BE HERE TODAY, SO, LOOK FOR A MOTION TO TABLE ITEM G2.
MOVED TABLE BY COMMISSIONER THERIOT.
SECOND, BY COMMISSIONER THOMAS.
ANY DISCUSSION? NONE. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE. AYE.
OPPOSED? HEARING NONE, MOTION CARRIES.
IZZY, I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO.
ALL RIGHT, WE'RE GOING TO KEEP GOING.
[I.1 To discuss and take possible action regarding the approval of the Minutes for the April 23, 2026, regular meeting]
DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS. DISCUSS AND TAKE POSSIBLE ACTION REGARDING APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES FOR APRIL 23, 2026.MOVE APPROVAL OF MINUTES BY COMMISSIONER HORNE.
WE HAVE A SECOND? SECOND. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER THERIOT. ANY DISCUSSION? NONE. ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE. AYE. OPPOSED? HEARING NONE MOTION CARRIES. ITEM I, TO
[I.2 To discuss and take possible action regarding a Proclamation recognizing May 2026 as ALS Awareness Month.]
DISCUSS AND TAKE POSSIBLE ACTION REGARDING PROCLAMATION RECOGNIZING MAY 26 AS ALS AWARENESS MONTH.I'LL GO AHEAD AND READ THE PROCLAMATION. WHEREAS ALS ALSO KNOWN AS LOU GEHRIG'S DISEASE, IS A PROGRESSIVE AND FATAL NEURODEGENERATIVE DISEASE THAT ATTACKS NERVE CELLS IN THE BRAIN AND THE SPINAL CORD, CAUSING MOTOR NEURONS TO DEGENERATE AND DIE, RESULTING IN MUSCLE WEAKNESS, PARALYSIS, AND MAKING EVERYDAY ACTIVITIES SUCH AS WALKING, SPEAKING, AND EVEN BREATHING INCREASINGLY DIFFICULT OVER TIME.
AND WHEREAS APPROXIMATELY 30,000 AMERICANS ARE LIVING WITH ALS AT ANY GIVEN TIME, AND THE NUMBER OF CASES IN THE UNITED STATES IS PROJECTED TO INCREASE BY MORE THAN 10% BY 2030 DUE TO POPULATION GROWTH AND AGING.
AND WHEREAS ALS CAN BE DIFFICULT TO DIAGNOSE AND ITS PROGRESSION VARIES FROM PERSON TO PERSON, WITH MOST INDIVIDUALS FACING A LIFE EXPECTANCY OF TWO TO FIVE YEARS FOLLOWING DIAGNOSIS, AND ON AVERAGE SOMEONE IN THE UNITED STATES LOSES THEIR LIFE TO ALS APPROXIMATELY EVERY 90 MINUTES.
AND WHEREAS ALS AFFECTS INDIVIDUALS OF ALL RACES, ETHNICITIES, AGES, GENDERS, AND WITHOUT DISCRIMINATION, AND WHEREAS THE EXACT CAUSES OF ALS REMAINS UNKNOWN IN MOST CASES, AND WHILE TREATMENTS MAY HELP MANAGE SYMPTOMS, THERE IS CURRENTLY NO CURE, AND WHEREAS INCREASED PUBLIC AWARENESS AND EDUCATION ARE ESSENTIAL TO ADVANCING RESEARCH, IMPROVING CARE, AND SUPPORTING INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES AFFECTED BY ALS THROUGHOUT TEXAS AND BEYOND.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT PROCLAIMED BY THE COMMISSIONER'S COMMISSION COURT OF CALDWELL COUNTY TEXAS THAT THEY, THAT MAY 2026 IS HEREBY RECOGNIZED AS ALS AWARENESS MONTH AND ALL RESIDENTS ARE ENCOURAGED TO LEARN ABOUT ALS, SUPPORT INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES AFFECTED BY THE DISEASE AND PROMOTE EFFORTS TO ADVANCE RESEARCH AND FIND THE CURE PROCLAIM THIS 14TH DAY OF MAY 2026. GOOD MORNING. GOOD MORNING. SO, OKAY GOOD MORNING, JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS.
MY NAME IS AINSLEY BURNETT, AND I AM A FRESHMAN AT TEXAS STATE UNIVERSITY.
I WANT TO THANK YOU GUYS FOR PUTTING THIS ON THE AGENDA TODAY.
SO, I WOULD LIKE TO TALK ABOUT AN ISSUE VERY CLOSE TO MY HEART.
I HAVE BEEN TO COMMISSIONERS ' COURTS MULTIPLE OTHER TIMES GIVING THE SAME SPEECH.
SO HERE I AM AGAIN DOING MY BEST TO RAISE AWARENESS FOR A DISEASE CALLED ALS, OR LOU GEHRIG'S DISEASE.
WHEN I WAS FOUR AND MY BROTHER NINE, THIS DISEASE TOOK THE LIFE OF MY MOTHER AT AGE 39, AFTER BEING DIAGNOSED FOR LESS THAN TWO YEARS.
THIS WAS BACK IN 2011, AND NOW IN 2026, WE STILL KNOW VERY LITTLE ABOUT THIS DISEASE.
ALS, AS YOU SAID BEFORE, IS A NEURODEGENERATIVE DISEASE THAT DEPRIVES YOU OF YOUR ABILITY
[01:25:01]
TO WALK, SPEAK, OR MOVE AT ALL.IF YOU ARE DIAGNOSED, YOUR LIFE EXPECTANCY DECREASES TO TWO TO FIVE YEARS.
IF YOU ARE DIAGNOSED, THERE IS NO WINNING THE BATTLE AGAINST IT, BUT THERE IS HOPE IF WE BRING AWARENESS TO IT.
IT HAS NO KNOWN CAUSE, NO CURE, AND NOT NEARLY ENOUGH RECOGNITION AS IT NEEDS.
IT DOESN'T AFFECT AS MANY PEOPLE AS CANCER, BUT I BELIEVE IT DESERVES AS MUCH ATTENTION.
THIS DISEASE IS TOO SMALL TO MAKE PHARMACEUTICAL COMPANIES CARE, AND THAT'S EXACTLY THE PROBLEM.
THAT IS WHAT WE NEED FOR A CURE.
IT IS IMPORTANT THAT WE RECOGNIZE MAY AS ALS AWARENESS MONTH SO MORE PEOPLE CAN LEARN ABOUT THIS DISEASE.
ALS NEEDS AWARENESS, AND MORE IMPORTANTLY, ALS NEEDS A CURE.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR LISTENING.
AND WOULD YOU LIKE TO ADD ANYTHING? YOU NAILED IT.
YOU MAY NEED TO VOTE. PARDON? (INAUDIBLE) COMMISSIONERS LOOK FOR A MOTION ON THE PROCLAMATION.
MOVE APPROVAL BY COMMISSIONER HORNE.
SECOND BY COMMISSIONER THERIOT.
ANY DISCUSSION? NONE. ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE.
OPPOSED? HEARING NONE, MOTION CARRIES.
[G.1 Caldwell County Courthouse Preservation Masterplan: Ford, Powell & Carson, Inc.]
GOOD MORNING, JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS.I'M A PRESERVATION ARCHITECT WITH FORD, POWELL, AND CARSON ARCHITECTS FROM SAN ANTONIO.
WE'RE HERE TO PRESENT ON THE MASTER PLAN FOR HISTORIC PRESERVATION FOR THE LOVELY COURTHOUSE THAT WE'RE CURRENTLY IN.
UNFORTUNATELY, TECHNOLOGY IS WORKING AGAINST US, SO MAYBE THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDED TO THE MASTER PLAN AS SOMETHING TO FIX IN THE FUTURE.
BUT I WANTED TO START BY COMMENDING THE COUNTY OF CALDWELL FOR HAVING THE FORESIGHT 30 YEARS AGO TO HOLD ON TO THIS LANDMARK AND RESTORE IT.
OUR FIRM WAS INVOLVED IN THE EXTERIOR RESTORATION BACK THEN AND WE'RE VERY PROUD TO BE BACK TO HELP WRITE THIS MASTER PLAN SO THAT WE CAN APPLY FOR MORE FUNDING TO CONTINUE TO MAINTAIN AND STEWARD THIS BEAUTIFUL BUILDING FOR CALDWELL COUNTY.
SO I'M GOING TO TURN IT OVER TO ANNA NOW MY COLLEAGUE TO KIND OF VERBALLY GO THROUGH THE MASTER PLAN I KNOW IT'S THE NEXT AGENDA ITEM THAT Y'ALL ARE GOING TO VOTE ON SO WE THOUGHT WE JUST AT LEAST VERBALLY KIND OF WALK YOU THROUGH SOME OF THE FINDINGS FROM THAT AND THE PURPOSE AND WHAT WE CAN GET ALL GAIN FROM IT.
THANK YOU, YES, MY NAME IS ANNA NOW. I'M A SENIOR ASSOCIATE AND PRESERVATIONIST WITH FPC AND HAVE BEEN THE PROJECT MANAGER FOR THIS MASTER PLAN PROCESS AND SO THE PURPOSE OF THE MASTER PLAN JUST REALLY QUICKLY JUST TO ESTABLISH KIND OF ALL YOUR EXISTING CONDITIONS OF THE HISTORIC BUILDING SPACE USE, NEEDS AND IDENTIFY POTENTIAL CAUSES OF DEFICIENCIES AND THEN OUTLINE TREATMENT AND REPAIR RECOMMENDATIONS TO PRESERVE AND RESTORE THE BUILDING TO ITS HISTORIC PERIOD OF SIGNIFICANCE WHICH IS THE CONSTRUCTION DATE OF 1894 AND ULTIMATELY THE COUNTY NEEDS TO COMPLETE THIS PROCESS SO THAT YOU CAN BECOME ELIGIBLE FOR GRANT FUNDING FROM THE TEXAS HISTORICAL COMMISSION.
THE GOALS OF YOUR PARTICULAR MASTER PLAN FOR THIS COUNTY COURTHOUSE IS TO RESTORE AND MAKE REPAIRS AS NEEDED, MAINTAINING THOSE CHARACTER-DEFINING FEATURES, ALSO RESTORE ANY HISTORIC LAYOUTS THAT MAY HAVE BEEN PREVIOUSLY CHANGED TO THE BEST OF FUNCTIONAL ABILITIES TO MEET TODAY'S NEEDS, AND THEN DETERMINE ANY CURRENT AND FUTURE SPACE NEEDS.
AND THEN CREATE A SUSTAINABLE MAINTENANCE PROGRAM FOR THE COURTHOUSE BUILDING. TIMELINE WISE WE STARTED THIS PROCESS IN EARLY 2025 AND HAD SEVERAL MILESTONE REVIEW DATES WITH THE TEXAS HISTORICAL COMMISSION'S COURTHOUSE PRESERVATION PROGRAM.
UNFORTUNATELY, KIND OF HAD A LAPSE IN A FEW MONTHS WHEN THEY DID NOT RESPOND TO COMMENTS TO OUR 65 SET BUT FINALLY GOT THEM TO DO THAT FOR THE 95 AND HAD A COUPLE ROUNDS OF EDITS AND THEN THE GOAL WAS TO GET THAT IN JANUARY 2026
[01:30:01]
THIS YEAR WE DID WE MET THAT DEADLINE INITIALLY TO GET ELIGIBILITY FOR THE GRANT CYCLE WITH THE TEXAS HISTORICAL COMMISSION, AND WE JUST WERE ABLE TO COMPLETE THAT GRANT APPLICATION WITH AMBER WITH THE COUNTY LAST FRIDAY. SO EXISTING CONDITIONS REALLY QUICK OVERVIEW I'M SURE YOU'RE ALL AWARE OF THIS YOU USE THE BUILDING ON A REGULAR BASIS BUT IT KIND OF JUST IN THE MASTER PLAN IT DIVIDES UP BETWEEN THE SITE AND THE BUILDING AND THE BUILDING EXTERIOR AND INTERIOR AND THEN BUILDING SYSTEMS LIKE YOUR AIR CONDITIONING AND ELECTRICAL, SPECIAL CONDITIONS THAT HAS TO DO WITH HISTORIC FABRIC SUCH AS LIKE HISTORIC PAINT COLORS, THINGS LIKE THAT. FUNCTIONAL CONSIDERATIONS IS YOUR CODE AND ACCESSIBILITY ISSUES IT WAS A LOT OF THE FOCUS OF WHAT WE WERE LOOKING AT AND THEN A SPACE USE ANALYSIS THAT ACTUALLY HAD TO LOOK AT ALL OF YOUR COUNTY PROPERTIES AND KIND OF LOOK AT SQUARE FOOTAGES AND SITE AS YOU'RE PROBABLY AWARE THERE'S SOME DRAINAGE ISSUES AROUND THE BASE OF THE BUILDING.THERE ARE SOME THINGS TO BE DISCUSSED IN THE FUTURE WITH THE TEXAS HISTORICAL COMMISSION IN TERMS OF THEIR KIND OF PREFERENCES FOR HOW COURTHOUSE SQUARES ARE RESTORED, SO, THINGS TO DISCUSS IN THE FUTURE AND EXTERIOR WISE SOME KIND OF TYPICAL YOU KNOW THIS BUILDING WAS WAS RESTORED IN 1998 WAS THE THE LAST A BIG EXTERIOR RESTORATION TO 2000 AND IT'S JUST KIND OF TIME FOR A REFRESH, SYSTEM SOME MASONRY REPAIRS ROOF REPAIRS, WINDOW AND DOOR REPAIRS, REALLY A LOT OF THESE ARE JUST KIND OF NORMAL WEATHERING AND SOME DEFERRED MAINTENANCE ISSUES.
SIMILAR ON THE INTERIOR, YOU CAN SEE IT HERE, YOU'VE GOT SOME MOISTURE ISSUES WITH YOUR PLASTER, SOME POTENTIAL STRUCTURAL ISSUES THAT WE WANT TO TAKE A LOOK AT MORE IN DEPTH.
WE RECOMMEND YOU TAKE A LOOK MORE IN DEPTH IN A FUTURE DESIGN PHASE AND REALLY JUST KIND OF TAKING CARE OF THOSE HISTORIC FEATURES.
THAT MASTER PLAN INCLUDES ALL OF THESE THINGS ARE SPELLED OUT BOTH VERBALLY BUT IN A GRAPHIC FORM IN MARKED UP ELEVATIONS AND FLOOR PLANS.
AND THEN THE RECOMMENDATIONS ARE DIVIDED UP AND PRIORITIZED BETWEEN IMMEDIATE, HIGH, MODERATE, AND THEN MAINTENANCE GOALS.
SO, REALLY NOTHING THAT IS A MAJOR LIFE SAFETY CONCERN RIGHT NOW OR A MAJOR STRUCTURAL CONCERN.
IT'S AN OVERALL GOOD CONDITION.
BUT THERE ARE A HANDFUL OF KIND OF SHORT-TERM AND THEN MORE LONG-TERM PRIORITIES THAT WE RECOMMENDED BE TAKEN CARE OF ALL AS ONE PRESERVATION RESTORATION PROJECT.
THE ONE KIND OF DIFFERENCE IN TERMS OF CIRCULATION IS THAT WORKING WITH THE TEXAS HISTORICAL COMMISSION, THEY WOULD LIKE YOU TO KIND OF RESTORE THAT SOUTH HALLWAY ON THE FIRST LEVEL TO KIND OF RESTORE THE ORIGINAL CIRCULATION SPACE.
AND THEN OTHER THINGS THEY ALREADY TOUCHED ON, SO, REALLY FINISH UPGRADES, SOME HVAC IMPROVEMENTS, CODE AND ADA IMPROVEMENTS FOR YOUR RESTROOMS AND GENERAL KIND OF ELECTRICAL AND FIRE SUPPRESSION UPGRADES AS NEEDED AND SO KIND OF FURTHER ANALYSIS THAT WILL BE NEEDED IN A FUTURE DESIGN PROJECT INCLUDES KIND OF A FULL HAZARDOUS MATERIALS SURVEY, SOME ROOF MORE DETAILED ROOF INSPECTIONS, SECURITY ANALYSIS BY A QUALIFIED SECURITY CONSULTANT, SOME OF THOSE NEEDS THAT THAT WE WERE MADE AWARE OF. SO, WRAPPING THIS UP JUST OVERALL ROUGH KIND OF ORDER OF MAGNITUDE COST ESTIMATE THAT WAS INCLUDED IN THE MASTER PLAN PUTS YOU AT JUST OVER FOUR MILLION DOLLARS' WORTH OF REPAIR AND PRESERVATION AND RESTORATION NEEDS FOR THE BUILDING AND THE GROUNDS AND THIS INCLUDES SOME DESIGN AND CONTRACTOR CONTINGENCIES AND AN ESCALATION OF 10% ASSUMING THIS WOULDN'T HAPPEN FOR ANOTHER YEAR AND A HALF TO TWO YEARS.
SO, WE TOOK THAT NUMBER WORKING WITH THE COUNTY FOR THE GRANT APPLICATION. SOME OF THOSE SITES AND LANDSCAPE IMPROVEMENTS ARE NOT ELIGIBLE FOR GRANT MONEY, SO WE HAD TO PULL SOME OF THOSE NUMBERS BACK, BUT WE WERE ABLE TO ADD IN PROFESSIONAL FEES FOR YOUR ARCHITECTS' ENGINEERS AND THINGS LIKE THAT AND SO THE GRANT APPLICATION PROJECT COSTS THAT WERE SUBMITTED WAS 4.2 MILLION AND THE GRANT IS UP TO A 50% MATCH. SO, THAT'S WHAT WE THINK YOU WERE ASKING FOR FROM THE TEXAS HISTORICAL COMMISSION. SO NEXT STEPS IS YOU'LL KNOW IN JULY. THEY HAVE NOT ANNOUNCED A DATE WHEN THEY WILL ANNOUNCE THOSE GRANT AWARDS BUT WE'RE HOPEFUL THAT YOU WILL BE ONE OF THE COUNTIES SELECTED FOR THOSE GRANT AWARDS AND THEN YOUR NEXT STEP WILL BE TO GO UNDER CONTRACT WITH FOR THE DESIGN PHASE FOR THOSE CONSTRUCTION DOCUMENT. SO, THAT'S IT.
OKAY. THANK YOU. YOU'RE WELCOME. OKAY, COMMISSIONERS
[I.3 To discuss and take possible action regarding acceptance of the Caldwell County Courthouse Preservation Masterplan.]
WE'RE GONNA GO AHEAD AND GO TO I3, DISCUSS AND TAKE POSSIBLE ACTION REGARDING ACCEPTANCE OF CALDWELL COUNTY COURTHOUSE PRESERVATION MASTER PLAN.COMMISSIONERS? I MOVE TO ACCEPT. MOVE ACCEPTANCE BY COMMISSIONER WESTMORELAND. DO WE HAVE A SECOND? SECOND. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER THOMAS. ANY DISCUSSION? NONE? ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE, AYE.
OPPOSED? HEARING NONE, MOTION CARRIES. ITEM 4, DISCUSS AND
[I.4 To discuss and take possible action regarding an Order to Regulate Traffic on County Roads (County Line Road a/k/a County Road 172 from its intersection with FM 1854 to County Road 172A).]
TAKE POSSIBLE ACTION REGARDING AN ORDER TO REGULATE TRAFFIC ON COUNTY ROADS, COUNTY LINE ROAD AKA ROGUE 172 FROM ITS INTERSECTION WITH[01:35:01]
FM 1854 TO COUNTY ROAD 172A. COMMISSIONER THOMAS, DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING YOU WANT TO ADD TO THAT? YES, SIR, COMMISSIONER.WE WENT THROUGH THE PROCESS OF COORDINATING THAT ROAD TO MAKE IT A COMMERCIAL LANE.
RICHARD AND I OURSELVES DON'T, SO, EVERYTHING IS COMPLETED.
AND ALSO, COMMISSIONER, I'D LIKE TO STATE THAT THERE'S OTHER ROADS THAT WE'RE IN THE PROCESS AND THEN SPRINGS FOR THE GENTLEMEN THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT RIGHT NOW.
WE'RE MAKING A COMPREHENSIVE REPORT.
WE'LL BE ABLE TO GIVE IT TO YOU ALONG WITH THE CONSTABLES.
I MEAN, WE ASKED EVERYBODY FOR THE LIST OF ROADS A WHILE BACK SO WE CAN INCLUDE IT ON THIS ONE, SO THAT WOULD BE GOOD.
SO, I JUST WANT TO MAKE THAT KNOWN AND WE'LL GET EVERYTHING TOGETHER, GIVE YOU A REPORT AND GET EVERYTHING TO THE COMMISSIONERS.
SO, I WOULD LIKE TO MOVE TO APPROVE. OKAY.
THANK YOU. WE GET MOVE APPROVAL.
SECOND, BY COMMISSIONER HORNE.
APPROVAL BY COMMISSIONER THOMAS, ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? NONE? ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE. AYE. OPPOSED? HEARING NONE, MOTION CARRIES. OKAY, ITEM
[I.5 To discuss and take possible action regarding Resolution 29-2026 concerning the establishment of additional data centers in the State of Texas. ]
I5, DISCUSS AND TAKE POSSIBLE ACTION REGARDING RESOLUTION 29-2026 CONCERNING ESTABLISHMENT OF ADDITIONAL DATA CENTERS IN THE STATE OF TEXAS.I THINK WE ALL HEARD CONCERNS OF CITIZENS IN OUR COUNTY THIS MORNING, SO I'M GOING TO GO AHEAD AND READ THIS RESOLUTION THAT'S KIND OF LONG SO BEAR WITH ME.
RESOLUTION OF THE CALDWELL COUNTY COMMISSIONER'S COURT REGARDING THE ESTABLISHMENT OF ADDITIONAL DATA CENTERS IN THE STATE OF TEXAS. WHEREAS, THE PACE OF DATA CENTER CONSTRUCTION IS EXPONENTIALLY INCREASED ACROSS THE UNITED STATES AND WITHIN THE STATE OF TEXAS, DRIVEN BY INCREASED DEMAND FOR DIGITAL INFRASTRUCTURE, DATA AGGREGATION, ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE, CRYPTOCURRENCY MINING, AND RELATED TRANSACTION SETTLEMENT PROCESS, THE CLOUD COMPUTING SERVICES; AND CLOUD COMPUTING SERVICES.
WHEREAS, DATA CENTERS CONSTITUTE CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE UNDERPINNING MODERN COMMERCE, HEALTHCARE, EDUCATION, COMMUNITIES, FINANCIAL SYSTEMS, ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE DEVELOPMENT, CLOUD COMPUTING, CYBERSECURITY SECURITY OPERATIONS AND NATIONAL DEFENSE CAPABILITIES, AND WHEREAS, THE CONTINUED DEVELOPMENT OF THE ADVANCED DATA INFRASTRUCTURE IS AN ESSENTIAL COMPONENT OF TEXAS' AND UNITED STATES' ECONOMIC COMPETITIVENESS AND NATIONAL SECURITY POSTURE AND AN INCREASINGLY GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY COMPETITION IN THE STATE OF TEXAS HAS EMERGED AS A NATIONAL LEADER IN ATTRACTING DATA CENTER INVESTMENT DUE TO ITS BUSINESS-FRIENDLY CLIMATE AND RESOURCES; WHEREAS, RESPONSIBLE LONG-TERM PLANNING IS NECESSARY TO ENSURE THAT CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE GROWTH OCCURS IN A MANNER THAT PROTECTS THE GRID RELIABILITY, WATER SUSTAINABILITY, FISCAL INTEGRITY AND QUALITY OF LIFE OF EXISTING RESIDENTS AND WHEREAS, LOCAL CONCERNS HAVE EMERGED ACROSS TEXAS REGARDING THE POTENTIAL ADVERSE IMPACT OF LARGE-SCALE DATA CENTER DEVELOPMENTS ON SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES, THE ENVIRONMENT PUBLIC HEALTH CONSUMER UTILITY COSTS, LAND USE COMPATIBILITY, AND STRAIN ON LOCAL INFRASTRUCTURE AND RESOURCES.
AND WHEREAS, LARGE-SCALE DATA CENTER DEVELOPMENTS MAY REQUIRE SUBSTANTIAL LAND CONVERSION, INCLUDING THE CLEARING OR REPURPOSING OF AGRICULTURAL LANDS, RANGELAND, OPEN SPACE THAT SUPPORT LOCAL FOOD PRODUCTION, RURAL ECONOMIES, WILDLIFE HABITAT, AND NATURAL DRAINAGE PATTERNS, AND WITHOUT APPROPRIATE SITING, MITIGATION AND CONSERVATION PLANNING, SUCH DEVELOPMENT COULD RESULT IN FRAGMENTATION OF HABITAT, LOSS OF PRIME FARMLAND, INCREASED STORMWATER RUNOFF AND LONG-TERM IMPACTS ON NATIVE SPECIES AND ECOLOGICAL SYSTEMS. AND WHEREAS, THE STATE OF TEXAS ELECTRICAL GRID, MANAGED BY THE ELECTRICAL RELIABILITY COUNCIL OF TEXAS, ERCOT, IS EXPERIENCING RAPIDLY INCREASING DEMAND FOR ELECTRICITY; AND WHEREAS, PROJECTIONS INDICATE THAT WITHOUT EXPANDING GENERATION CAPACITY, TRANSMISSION INFRASTRUCTURE, AND RELIABILITY SAFEGUARDS, TEXAS COULD FACE SUBSTANTIAL SHORTFALLS IN ELECTRICAL GENERATION AND GRID RELIABILITY OVER THE COMING DECADE, INCREASING THE RISK OF SERVICE INTERRUPTION AND HIGHER ENERGY COSTS FOR RESIDENTIAL, AGRICULTURE, AND COMMERCIAL CONSUMERS; AND WHEREAS, RAPID INCREASES IN LARGE, CONTINUOUS LOAD ELECTRICITY DEMAND ATTRIBUTABLE TO HYPERSCALE AND SIMILAR DATA CENTER FACILITIES RAISE IMPORTANT RELIABILITY PLANNING CONSIDERATIONS, PARTICULARLY DURING PEAK SUMMER DEMAND AND EXTREME WEATHER EVENTS, AND WHEREAS, CALDWELL COUNTY FACES RECURRING DROUGHT CONDITIONS AND ONGOING WATER SUPPLY CHALLENGES, IMPACTING MUNICIPAL, AGRICULTURAL, AND INDUSTRIAL WATERS AND WHEREAS, CERTAIN DATA CENTER COOLING TECHNOLOGIES, INCLUDE OPEN-LOOP EVAPORATIVE SYSTEM,
[01:40:02]
MAY REQUIRE SUBSTANTIAL VOLUMES OF POTABLE WATER, AND CUMULATIVE REGIONAL DEMAND ASSOCIATED WITH MULTIPLE FACILITIES COULD MATERIALLY AFFECT LOCAL WATER AVAILABILITY, PARTICULARLY IN DROUGHT-PRONE AREAS AND WHEREAS, CURRENT STATE-LEVEL REGULATORY FRAMEWORK PROVIDES LIMITED UNIFORM REQUIREMENTS FOR TRANSPARENCY, REPORTING OF PROJECTED ELECTRICITY DEMANDS AND WATER CONSUMPTION ASSOCIATED WITH PROPOSED DATA CENTER FACILITIES.WHEREAS, COUNTIES BEAR PRIMARY FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE MAINTENANCE AND REPAIR OF COUNTY ROADS, DRAINAGE SYSTEMS, AND CERTAIN EMERGENCY RESPONSE INFRASTRUCTURE, YET POSSESS LITTLE STATUTORY AUTHORITY TO REQUIRE PROPORTIONATE COST PARTICIPATION FROM CERTAIN LARGE-SCALE DEVELOPMENTS IMPACTING SUCH INFRASTRUCTURE.
AND WHEREAS, COUNTIES HAVE LIMITED STATUTORY AUTHORITY OVER ELECTRIC GENERATION REGULATION AND GRID OVERSIGHT, YET BEAR RESPONSIBILITY FOR PROTECTING PUBLIC HEALTH, SAFETY, INFRASTRUCTURE INTEGRITY, AND NATURAL RESOURCES WITHIN THEIR JURISDICTION.
AND WHEREAS, UNDER CURRENT TEXAS LAW, COUNTIES DO NOT POSSESS GENERAL ZONING AUTHORITY AND ARE NOT GRANTED BROAD LAND-USE REGULATORY POWERS COMPARABLE TO THOSE OF MUNICIPALITIES, THEREBY LIMITING THE ABILITY OF COUNTIES TO REGULATE THE LOCATION, DENSITY, AND OPERATIONAL CHARACTERISTICS OF LARGE-SCALE DEVELOPMENTS, SUCH AS DATA CENTERS WITHIN UNINCORPORATED AREAS.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CALDWELL COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT THAT: 1. POSITION OF THE COURT.
CALDWELL COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT SUPPORTS REASONABLE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, INCLUDING APPROPRIATELY DESIGNED AND SITED DATA CENTER FACILITIES.
HOWEVER, THE COURT FORMALLY EXPRESSES OPPOSITION TO THE USE OF OPEN LOOP EVAPORATIVE COOLING SYSTEMS OR OTHER HIGH VOLUME POTABLE WATER CONSUMPTION TECHNOLOGIES IN LARGE SCALE, HIGH CONTINUOUS LOAD DATA CENTER FACILITIES WITHIN WATER CONSTRAINED REGIONS, ABSENT DEMONSTRATED SUSTAINABLE SUPPLY AND MITIGATION SAFEGUARDS.
THE COURT FURTHER OPPOSES ANY DATA CENTER DEVELOPMENT THAT FAILS TO INCORPORATE ADEQUATE SAFEGUARDS TO PROTECT COUNTY RESOURCES AND RESIDENTS.
THE COURT FURTHER STATES THAT SUPPORT FOR ADDITIONAL DATA CENTER DEVELOPMENT IN THE STATE OF TEXAS SHOULD BE CONSIDERED UPON THE IMPLEMENTATION OF A COMPREHENSIVE AND FOR ENFORCEABLE SAFEGUARDS TO PROTECT ELECTRICAL GRID RELIABILITY AND PREVENT COST BURDENS ON RESIDENTIAL, AGRICULTURAL, AND SMALL-BUSINESS RATE PLAYERS, PAYERS.
ENSURE RESPONSIBLE, SUSTAINABLE, AND TRANSPARENT WATER USE PRACTICES; PROTECT AGRICULTURAL LANDS, RANGELANDS, WILDLIFE HABITAT, NATURAL DRAINAGE SYSTEMS BY REQUIRING CAREFUL SITE SELECTION, AVOIDANCE OF PRIME FARMLAND AND ECOLOGICALLY SENSITIVE AREAS WHERE PRACTICAL, AND APPROPRIATE MITIGATION OF HABITAT FRAGMENTATION AND STORMWATER IMPACTS; PREVENT DEGRADATION COUNTY ROADS, DRAINAGE SYSTEMS, AND OTHER PUBLIC INFRASTRUCTURE; AND SAFEGUARD COMMUNITY WELFARE, PUBLIC HEALTH, AND ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY. SECTION 02: TRANSPARENCY AND REPORTING.
THE COURT URGES THE STATE OF TEXAS AND RELEVANT REGULATORY AGENCIES TO REQUIRE FULL AND TRANSPARENT PUBLIC REPORTING OF ANTICIPATED ELECTRICITY LOAD, WATER USAGE, INFRASTRUCTURE IMPACTS FOR ALL PROPOSED DATA CENTER DEVELOPMENTS PRIOR TO APPROVAL.
NO FUTURE DATA CENTER PROJECT SHOULD PROCEED WITHOUT RIGOROUS, INDEPENDENT ASSESSMENT OF: IMPACTS ON ERCOT GRID RELIABILITY AND TRANSMISSION CAPACITY; IMPACTS ON REGIONAL WATER AVAILABILITY AND DROUGHT CONTINGENCY PLANNING, IMPACTS ON AGRICULTURAL LANDS, RANGELAND, WILDLIFE HABITATS, NATURAL DRAINAGE PATTERNS, AND POTENTIAL HABITAT FRAGMENTATION, INCLUDING EFFECTS ON PRIME FARMLAND, SOIL INTEGRITY, AND STORMWATER RUNOFF; LONG-TERM INFRASTRUCTURE COSTS BORNE BY TAXPAYERS; AND EFFECTS ON SURROUNDING RESIDENTIAL, AGRICULTURAL, AND COMMERCIAL LAND USES.
04: RESOURCE SUSTAINABILITY STANDARDS.
THE COURT ENCOURAGES ADOPTION OF STATEWIDE PLANNING AND REGULATORY STANDARDS PRIORITIZING SUSTAINABILITY, INCLUDING: INTEGRATION OF WATER-EFFICIENT OR CLOSED-LOOP COOLING TECHNOLOGY.
UTILIZATION OF RECLAIMED, RECYCLED, OR NON-POTABLE WATER SOURCES WHERE FEASIBLE.
DEMAND RESPONSE PARTICIPATION AND LOAD MANAGEMENT REQUIREMENTS TO PROTECT GRID SUSTAINABILITY.
05: LEGISLATION ACTION REQUESTED.
CALDWELL COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT RESPECTFULLY REQUESTS THE GOVERNOR AND THE TEXAS LEGISLATURE TO ONE, DESIGNATE THIS MATTER AS INTERIM STUDY PRIORITY FOR APPROPRIATE LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEES TO EVALUATE GRID RELIABILITY, WATER CONSUMPTION.
LOCAL AUTHORITY, INFRASTRUCTURE IMPACTS, FISCAL IMPLICATIONS; AND CONSIDER, IF CIRCUMSTANCES WARRANT TIMELY ACTION, INCLUSION OF THIS ISSUE
[01:45:01]
ON THE CALL OF A SPECIAL SESSION SPECIAL SESSION OF THE TEXAS LEGISLATURE TO ADDRESS URGENT RELIABILITY, WATER SUPPLY, AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT CONCERNS; 3.ENACT LEGISLATION PROVIDING COUNTIES AND MUNICIPALITIES MEANINGFUL PARTICIPATION AND AUTHORITY IN LAND USE, THE INFRASTRUCTURE PLANNING, AND RESOURCE IMPACT REVIEW RELATED TO LARGE-SCALE DATA CENTERS AND DEVELOPMENTS.
PASSED, APPROVED, AND RESOLVED THIS 14TH DAY OF MAY 2026.
COMMISSIONERS? I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE, JUDGE.
MOVE APPROVAL BY COMMISSIONER THERIOT.
SECOND, BY COMMISSIONER WESTMORELAND.
ANY DISCUSSION? I HAVE A DISCUSSION.
YOU KNOW CURRENTLY THE COUNTY UNDER STATE LAW HAS NO...
HAS NO LAND USE REGULATORY AUTHORITY, THERE'S NO NO ZONING....
COMMISSIONER, THEY CAN'T HEAR YOU.
THERE'S NO ZONING DECISIONS TO MAKE THAT ARE AVAILABLE.
CURRENTLY, COUNTY HAS BASICALLY TWO PERMITS ASSOCIATED WITH DEVELOPMENT THAT THE STATE WILL ALLOW US TO UNDERTAKE. ONE IS A PLAT, AND THE OTHER IS A SITE DEVELOPMENT PERMIT, WHICH IS BASICALLY LOOKING AT DRAINAGE.
THE STATE ALSO REQUIRES THAT THEY MEET THE STATE REQUIREMENT ASSOCIATED WITH BOTH THOSE APPLICATIONS THAT WE HAVE TO APPROVE THEM WITHIN A SPECIFIED TIME LIMIT.
THE LEGISLATURE, THE BIGGEST THING OF THIS RESOLUTION THAT I BELIEVE CAN HELP THE COUNTY IS TO SHOW OUR SUPPORT AND CITIZENS OF COLWELL COUNTY SUPPORT FOR CHANGES TO STATE LEGISLATION THAT WOULD ALLOW COUNTY ADDITIONAL AUTHORITY TO REGULATE THESE TYPES OF ACTIVITIES.THE LEGISLATURE AND THE STATE STATUTES ALSO PROHIBIT COUNTIES FROM REQUIRING ANY ADDITIONAL STUDIES.
I HEARD TODAY, LIKE A GEOLOGIC STUDY OR THOSE THINGS. AND WE'RE SPECIFICLY PROHIBITED FROM, REQUIRING THOSE, UNLESS OTHEREWISE AUTHORIZED BY STATE LAW. SO, THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS THAT CAN BE DONE AT THE STATE LEVEL THAT WE WOULD HAVE IMMEDIATELY JUMP ON IF THEY WERE AVAILABLE TO US. SO, I'M VERY HAPPY TO SUPPORT THIS.
ONE THING I WOULD LIKE TO POINT OUT WITH REGARDS TO WHAT HILL COUNTY HAS DONE APART ASIDE FROM THEM BEING SUED IS IN LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE 232.025 IF WE PASS A MORATORIUM ON THOSE AND THEY COME TO OUR DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT, AND THEY DO EVERYTHING THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO DO AND THAT FACILITY IS IS PLATTED THE SHOT CLOCK STARTS. IF WE DO NOT WEIGH IN BY THE TIME THAT SHOT CLOCK STOPS IN 30 DAYS THEY ARE APPROVED DE FACTO AND THAT IS VERY IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND. I MEAN WE CAN SIT UP HERE AND PASS A MORATORIUM AND GET SUED AND THAT'S FINE AND THAT'S IF THAT'S THE SUPPORT YOU WANT, BUT IT WILL NOT STOP THIS.
THEY WILL DE FACTO GET APPROVED.
IF WE DON'T DO THE TAX ABATEMENTS AND DO THESE DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENTS, AND BY THE WAY, WE'VE ONLY DONE TWO, NOT NINE, WE ASK FOR MANY THINGS.
WE ASK FOR WATER CONSUMPTION CONTROL.
WE ASK FOR NON-POTABLE WATER TO BE USED IN THE FILLING OF THEIR CLOSE-LOOP.
WE ASK FOR THEIR STORMWATER TO HAVE 80% OF THE SUSPENDED SOLIDS USED.
SKY LIGHTING, WE ASK FOR MANY THINGS THAT WE CAN ASK FOR ONCE WE GET INTO A DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT.
WITHOUT DOING THOSE THINGS THEY WILL COME IN HERE, THEY WILL PLAT THEIR SUBDIVISION OR SHOP AND THEY WILL GET A DE FACTO APPROVAL WITH NONE OF THAT AND UNTIL WE GO THROUGH THE LEGISLATIVE PROCESS AND GET SOME OF THESE CHANGED.
WHICH WE'RE DOING, WE'RE HAVING A BILL DRAFTED RIGHT NOW TO TRY TO GET SOME OF THIS STUFF DONE THAT CALDWELL COUNTY IS GOING TO SPONSOR.
HOPEFULLY THROUGH REPRESENTATIVE GERDES AND SENETOR ZAFFARINI'S OFFICE.
REPRESENTATIVES ERIN ZWIENER FROM HAYS COUNTY HAS EXPRESSED SUPPORT.
I MET WITH HER EARLIER THIS WEEK.
WE CAN DO WHAT WE CAN DO, AND I KNOW THAT IS NOT A POPULAR MESSAGE YOU KNOW, AND I GET THREATENED EVERY DAY THAT SOMEBODY'S NOT GOING TO VOTE FOR ME.
AND THAT IS YOUR RIGHT, NOT TO VOTE FOR ME.
WE WILL CONTINUE TO DO WHAT WE DO.
[01:50:01]
WE WILL CONTINUE TO FIGHT AS MUCH AS WE CAN, BUT IT DOESN'T, QUITE FRANKLY, UNTIL SOMETHING CHANGES AT THE LEGISLATIVE LEVEL, IT HONESTLY DOESN'T MATTER WHO'S SITTING IN THIS CHAIR RIGHT HERE.BECAUSE THEY WILL NOT BE ABLE TO DO ANYTHING THAT WE'RE NOT DOING RIGHT NOW, AND IF THEY TELL YOU OTHERWISE, IT'S JUST FRANKLY NOT TRUE.
I HAVE NO REASON TO LIE, I'VE LIVED HERE FOR 32 YEARS, I LIVE ON A RANCH.
THE WATER THAT YOU DRINK IN LOCKHART GETS PUMPED RIGHT OUT FROM UNDER MY RANCH EVERY SINGLE DAY.
IT GOES THROUGH A 32-INCH PIPELINE TO LOCKHART, BUDA, AND KYLE.
KENDRA MORGAN PIPELINE CAME RIGHT THROUGH THE MIDDLE OF MY RANCH IN EXERCISE IMMINENT DOMAIN.
I PROMISE YOU, I'M AWARE OF THE ISSUE, AND SO ARE THESE GUYS.
SO, I'M SURE YOU CAN HEAR THE FRUSTRATION IN MY VOICE.
BUT WE'RE DOING EVERYTHING THAT WE LEGALLY CAN, TO TRY TO REGULATE THESE.
ANYTHING ELSE, COMMISSIONERS ? I'M SORRY, I DIDN'T MEAN TO GET ON A SOAPBOX.
I'LL JUST ADD THAT I SUPPORT THIS AS WELL.
I WOULD ALSO JUST ENCOURAGE THOSE WHO SPOKE TODAY TO REALLY LOOK AT THE PAST THREE LEGISLATIVE SESSIONS AND LOOK AT WHAT THE LEGISLATURE HAS DONE TO BOTH CITIES AND COUNTIES IN THE STATE.
STATE AS FAR AS THE REMOVAL OF REGULATORY CONTROL AND AND UNDERSTAND WHERE THIS HAS, WHERE THIS HAS REALLY DEVELOPED FROM AND THE FIGHT THAT WE'RE IN TO GAIN THAT BACK IS NOT A NEW FIGHT IT IS A LONG-STANDING FIGHT HERE OVER THE LAST MULTIPLE SESSIONS. IT'S NOT ANYTHING THAT THIS COURT HAS EVER WANTED, WE DON'T LIKE TO LOSE THE AUTHORITY OVER OUR ABILITY TO PLAN FOR OUR OWN COUNTY YOU KNOW, WE DON'T WANT THAT TO ANY DEGREE.
CONTINUE TO EXPRESS THAT ALL ALL PARTIES INTERESTED MOSTLY THIS ONE INCLUDED NEED TO CONTINUE TO PRESSURE THE LEGISLATURE TO ACT RESPONSIBLY AND ADDRESS THESE CONCERNS BECAUSE THEY ARE VERY SIGNIFICANT AT THIS POINT.
YOU KNOW, I WILL TELL YOU I'M SUPER FRUSTRATED THAT THERE HASN'T BEEN A SPECIAL SESSION CALLED. GOVERNOR ABBOTT COULD CALL ONE TOMORROW, HE HAS CHOSEN NOT TO.
I MEAN FOR GOD THINKS WE'VE HAD...
SPECIAL SESSIONS OVER WHO CAN USE WHICH RESTROOM, BUT WE DON'T HAVE A SPECIAL SESSION FOR THIS.
YOU KNOW, I GET SCOLDED ALL THE TIME BY MY REPUBLICAN BRETHREN FOR SAYING THIS, BUT THIS WATER IS THE MOST IMPORTANT ISSUE IN THE STATE OF TEXAS TODAY.
THERE ISN'T A MORE IMPORTANT ISSUE IN THIS STATE THAN WATER RIGHT NOW.
AND I HEAR PEOPLE TALK ABOUT...
DATA CENTERS TAKING UP AGRICULTURAL LAND, BUT LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, WE HAVE 50,000 PLATTED LOTS RIGHT HERE IN THIS COUNTY TODAY THAT WILL USE 100 TIMES MORE WATER THAN 20 DATA CENTERS, 100-MEGAWATT DATA CENTERS.
IT'S NOT JUST DATA CENTERS, IT'S A WATER CRISIS PERIOD.
WITHIN THE LAST SIX YEARS AND BOUGHT A NEW HOUSE, YOUR BRAND-NEW HOUSE IS SITTING ON BLACKLAND PRAIRIE AND YOU'RE LIVING RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF IT.
AND IT USED TO BE A FARMER'S PLACE 30 YEARS AGO WHEN I MOVED HERE.
SO, YOU KNOW, LET'S BE A LITTLE CAREFUL ABOUT CRITICIZING OUR RURAL NEIGHBORS WHO SELL THEIR LAND FOR 85 THOUSAND DOLLARS AN ACRE BECAUSE THEY ARE TIRED OF FARMING AND ARE LOSING MONEY.
THEY OWE MORE MONEY. SORRY, THEY OWE MORE MONEY AT THE BANK THAN THEY MAKE.
SO, JUDGE, THIS RESOLUTION THAT WE GOT RIGHT HERE, IT'S A STRONG ENOUGH RESOLUTION FOR THE COUNTY THAT WILL...
IT'S AS STRONG AS WE MAKE IT, COMMISSIONER.
I MEAN, IT'S GOT EVERYTHING IN IT THAT WE COULD POSSIBLY ASK FOR.
ANY OTHER COMMENTS? NO, WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.
OPPOSED? HEARING NONE, MOTION CARRIES.
[I.6 To discuss and take possible action regarding Resolution 30-2026 relating to approving financing by the National Finance Authority for the benefit of Public-Private Development Corporation (PPDC), and related matters (Lockhart ISD).]
DISCUSS AND TAKE POSSIBLE ACTION REGARDING RESOLUTION 30-2026 RELATING TO APPROVING FINANCING BY THE NATIONAL FINANCE AUTHORITY FOR THE BENEFIT OF PUBLIC-PRIVATE DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION, PPDC, AND RELATED MATTERS, LOCKHART ISD.IS THIS THE JUNIPER SPRINGS ONE?
[01:55:01]
I HAVE A COPY OF THIS ONE.THIS, COMMISSIONERS , THIS IS JUNIPER SPRINGS' RESOLUTION.
I'M NOT GOING TO READ ALL THE RESOLUTIONS.
I WAS GOING TO ASK HIM TO MAKE SURE HE WASN'T GOING TO READ IT.
MOTION TO APPROVE BY COMMISSIONER WESTMORELAND.
SECOND, BY COMMISSIONER HORNE.
ANY DISCUSSION? NONE. ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
ITEM I-7, DISCUSS AND TAKE POSSIBLE
[I.7 To discuss and take possible action regarding the Advance Funding Commitment Agreement between Caldwell County and PHAU-Lockhart 450, LLC, a Texas limited liability company.]
ACTION REGARDING THE ADVANCED FUNDING COMMITMENT AGREEMENT BETWEEN CALDWELL COUNTY AND PHAU LOCKHART 450 LLC, THE TEXAS LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY.I DIDN'T KNOW WHO WANTED TO TAKE THAT ONE, RICHARD, IF YOU WANTED TO ADD ANYTHING TO IT FIRST, OR IS THIS THE AFA? YEAH, THIS IS IN AGREEMENT TO PROVIDE FUNDING FOR NECESSARY ROAD IMPROVEMENTS. TO ALLOW THE DEVELOPMENT FOR THIS INDIVIDUAL.
THIS IS RELATED TO THE ORIGINAL TIA THAT WAS IN PLACE FOR JUNIPER SPRINGS WITH THE COUNTY'S BOND PROGRAM ALSO COVERING FUNDING OF IMPROVEMENTS TO BORCHARDT LOOP.
IT BECAME NECESSARY FOR THIS DISCUSSION AND EVENTUAL DOCUMENT TO BE PRODUCED IN ORDER TO STILL RETAIN THE FUNDS THAT WERE DUE THROUGH THE TIA IN ADDITION TO THE BOND REVENUE THAT WILL BE SPENT AT THAT POINT.
DANNY, DID YOU NEED CLARIFICATION ON HOW YOU WANTED...
THE MONEY ALLOCATED... I THINK AFTER I MEAN THIS CAN BE DONE OUTSIDE OF COURT JUST WE NEED TO COME TOGETHER SO THAT WE KNOW WHAT POT OF MONEY WE'RE SPENDING ON WHAT AND WHAT'S BEING SPENT FIRST AND YOU KNOW JUST KIND OF GET A GET SOME CLARIFICATION ON THAT BEFORE I START WRITING CHECKS AND SENDING OUT DIFFERENT POTS OF MONEY. OKAY. OKAY WITH THAT I'LL MOVE TO APPROVE ITEM I-7. OKAY. MOVE APPROVAL OF ITEM I-7 BY COMMISSIONER WESTMORELAND. DO WE HAVE A SECOND? SECOND. SECOND, BY COMMISSIONER HORNE, ANY DISCUSSION? NONE. ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE. AYE. OPPOSED? HEARING NONE, MOTION CARRIES.
[I.8 To discuss and take possible action regarding public improvements in Hartland Ranch Phase 2 Subdivision for permanent county maintenance and release the two-year maintenance bond in the amount of $109,435.60 back to JL Gray Construction, Inc.]
POSSIBLE ACTION REGARDING PUBLIC IMPROVEMENTS IN HARTLAND RANCH PHASE 2 SUBDIVISION FOR PERMANENT COUNTY MAINTENANCE AND RELEASE OF TWO-YEAR MAINTENANCE BOND IN THE AMOUNT OF ONE HUNDRED NINE THOUSAND FOUR HUNDRED THIRTY-FIVE DOLLARS AND SIXTY CENTS BACK TO JL GRAY.PUNCH LIST ITEMS HAVE ALL BEEN ADDRESSED AND READY TO RELEASE THE TWO-YEAR BOND. OKAY.
I'LL MOVE TO APPROVE ITEM I8 WITH THE RELEASE OF THE TWO-YEAR BOND. MOVE APPROVAL BY COMMISSIONER WESTMORELAND. DO WE HAVE A SECOND? SECOND.
SECOND, BY COMMISSIONER THERIOT. ANY DISCUSSION? IF NOT? ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE. AYE.
OPPOSED? HEARING NONE MOTION CARRIES.
EXCUSE ME. ITEM I9, DISCUSS AND
[I.9 To discuss and take possible action regarding a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU-Airport) between the City of San Marcos and Caldwell County.]
TAKE POSSIBLE ACTION REGARDING A MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING (MOU) AIRPORT BETWEEN CITY OF SAN MARCOS AND CALDWELL COUNTY.RECENTLY SAN MARCOS ADOPTED A AIRPORT ZONING ORDINANCE AND SINCE SOME OF THE SAN MARCOS AIRPORT IS ACTUALLY LOCATED IN CALDWELL COUNTY, THEY'VE ASKED US TO CONSIDER FOR APPROVAL THIS ORDINANCE.
I GUESS SO WE CAN START TO HELP ENFORCE SOME OF THE REGULATIONS IN ANY OF THE DEVELOPMENT AROUND THAT AREA.
THIS HAS BEEN REVIEWED BY OUR CIVIL ATTORNEY AND BY OUR CONSULTING ENGINEER, AND WE'RE READY FOR APPROVAL.
OKAY, COMMISSIONERS? I'LL MOVE TO APPROVE. MOVE APPROVAL BY COMMISSIONER THERIOT. DO WE HAVE A SECOND? SECOND.
SECOND, BY COMMISSIONER THOMAS.
ANY DISCUSSION? THIS THIS MOU JUST MEMORIALIZES AND KINDA CODIFIES THE PROCEDURES INVOLVED WHICH ARN'T ALWAYS CLEAR WHENEVER YOU ARE DEALING WITH 2 ENTITIES LIKE THAT. SO, IT WILL RESULT IN A BETTER PROCESS.
OKAY. OKAY. WE HAVE MOTION IN, A SECOND, ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION IF NOT, ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
AYE. OPPOSED? HEARING NONE, MOTION CARRIES. ITEM I-10, DISCUSS AND
[I.10 To discuss and take possible action regarding the Short Form Plat for Bluebonnet Hills consisting of two lots on approximately 9.999 acres located on Old Lockhart Road. ]
TAKE POSSIBLE ACTION REGARDING THE SHORT FORM PLAT FOR BLUEBONNET HILLS CONSISTING OF TWO LOTS ON APPROXIMATELY NINE POINT NINE NINE NINE ACRES APPROXIMATELY LOCATED ON OLD LOCKHART ROAD.OKAY, THIS IS JUST A VERY SIMPLE TWO-LOT SUBDIVISION.
ALL COMMENTS HAVE BEEN CLEARED, FEES HAVE BEEN PAID, AND WE'RE READY FOR APPROVAL.
MOVE APPROVAL BY COMMISSIONER THERIOT.
SECOND, BY COMMISSIONER HORNE.
ANY DISCUSSION? NOT, ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
OPPOSED, HEARING NONE, MOTION CARRIES.
[02:00:02]
ITEM I-11,[I.11 To discuss and take possible action regarding a License to Encroach Agreement for Dale Community Center.]
DISCUSS AND TAKE POSSIBLE ACTION REGARDING A LICENSE TO ENCROACH AGREEMENT FOR DALE COMMUNITY CENTER.SOME TIME AGO, THE DALE COMMUNITY CENTER RECEIVED A GRANT.
I THINK IT WAS FROM T-MOBILE, BUT IT WAS FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF A PAVILION TO PROVIDE PUBLIC INTERNET ACCESS TO THE DALE COMMUNITY AND SURROUNDING FOLKS IN THE COUNTY.
THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE FACILITY IS A CONCRETE SLAB WITH A ROOF, NO WALLS.
THERE WAS NO DEVELOPMENT PERMIT REQUIRED AS PART OF THAT CONSTRUCTION, BUT ONCE THE FORM WAS PREPARED FOR POURING, IT WAS REALIZED THAT THERE IS A 50-FOOT EASEMENT ADJACENT TO THE DALE COMMUNITY SCHOOL THAT PROVIDES ACCESS BACK TO THE COUNTY YARD.
COMMISSIONER THOMAS AND I HAVE COORDINATED TOGETHER LOOKING AT THAT THE LOCATION OF THAT OF THAT SLAB AND THE CONTINUED ACCESS TO THAT YARD. WE BELIEVE THEY BOTH THEY BOTH CAN BE MAINTAINED THUS, WE'RE RECOMMENDING APPROVAL OF A LICENSE TO ENCROACH EASEMENT INTO THE EASEMENT AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE COUNTY AND THE DALE COMMUNITY CENTER.
THAT WILL PROVIDE FOR THAT CONSTRUCTION TO CONTINUE, THE THE LICENSE AGREEMENT HAS APPROPRIATE SAFEGUARDS TOWARDS COUNTY RELATING TO INDEMNIFICATION THOSE KIND OF THINGS THAT THAT ADDRESS THINGS THAT COULD OCCUR BUT I MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE. OKAY WE HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE ITEM I-11. DO WE HAVE A SECOND? SECOND.
SECOND, BY COMMISSIONER THOMAS.
ANY DISCUSSION? NOT, ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE. AYE. OPPOSED? HEARING NONE, MOTION CARRIES. ITEM I-12 DISCUSS AND TAKE POSSIBLE
[I.12 To discuss and take possible action regarding an Agreement Concerning Donation of Labor or Services for Construction and Improvement of a Public Roadway between Caldwell County and TXLCO Caldwell County, LLC.]
ACTION REGARDING AN AGREEMENT CONCERNING DONATION OF LABOR OR SERVICES FOR CONSTRUCTION AND IMPROVEMENT A PUBLIC ROADWAY BETWEEN CALDWELL COUNTY AND TXLCO CALDWELL COUNTY, LLC.ANYBODY WANT TO TAKE THIS ONE? THIS IS THE DONATION BY I THINK IS THIS THE ONE BY A TRACK FOR THE ROAD. YEAH.
AND SO THIS THIS IS A DONATION BY TRACK FOR ROAD IMPROVEMENTS, PUBLIC ROADWAY BETWEEN CALDWELL COUNTY AND TXLCO CALDWELL COUNTY. WE HAVE A MOTION? I'LL MOVE TO APPROVE.
MOVE APPROVAL BY COMMISSIONER WESTMORELAND. DO WE HAVE A SECOND? SECOND. SECOND, BY COMMISSIONER THERIOT. THIS IS RATHER LARGE ROAD CONTRIBUTION 15 MILLION DOLLARS TO IMPROVE, HELP WITH IMPROVEMENTS ON 2720. ALL RIGHT WE HAVE MOTION, A SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
AYE. OPPOSED? HEARING NONE, MOTION CARRIES.
[I.13 To discuss and take possible action regarding the Final Plat for Ranch 672 Development, consisting of two lots on approximately 6.46 acres, located at FM 672. ]
TAKE POSSIBLE ACTION REGARDING FINAL PLAT FOR RANCH 672 DEVELOPMENT CONSISTING OF TWO LOTS ON APPROXIMATELY 6.46 ACRES LOCATED AT FM 672.THIS IS JUST A TWO-LOT SUBDIVISION LOOKING FOR REVIEW AND APPROVAL.
ALL FEES HAVE BEEN PAID, AND ALL COMMENTS HAVE BEEN CLEARED.
COMMISSIONERS? SO, MOVED TO APPROVE.
MOVED APPROVAL BY COMMISSIONER THOMAS.
ANY DISCUSSION? IF NOT, ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
OPPOSED? HEARING NONE, MOTION CARRIES.
[I.14 To discuss and take possible action regarding the release of the Flood Damage Prevention Ordinance to be sent to FEMA for approval by the June 10, 2026, deadline. ]
DISCUSS AND TAKE POSSIBLE ACTION REGARDING THE RELEASE OF THE FLOOD DAMAGE PREVENTION ORDINANCE TO BE SENT TO FEMA FOR APPROVAL BY JUNE 10, 2026 DEADLINE.OKAY, EVERY FEW YEARS FEMA CONTACTS US THAT WE HAVE TO UPDATE OUR FLOOD DAMAGE PREVENTION ORDINANCE AND OUR TIME IS NOW. WE'VE ACTUALLY GONE IN EVERYTHING NO CHANGES HAVE BEEN MADE TO WHAT'S BEING SUBMITTED, IT'S EXACTLY THE SAME, WE'VE JUST UPDATED ALL OF THE CURRENT TO CURRENT DATES. SO, AT THIS TIME I'M JUST LOOKING FOR A MOTION TO BE ABLE TO RELEASE TO THIS TO THEM BY THEIR JUNE 10TH DEADLINE. OKAY, COMMISSIONERS ? MOVE TO APPROVAL.
MOVE APPROVAL BY COMMISSIONER HORNE. DO WE HAVE A SECOND? SECOND. SECOND, BY COMMISSIONER THERIOT. ANY DISCUSSION? NOT, ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
[02:05:01]
HEARING NONE, MOTION CARRIES.[I.15 To discuss and take possible action regarding a Memorandum of Understanding between Caldwell County and Southwestern Bell Telephone Company, LLC, d/b/a AT&T Texas.]
DISCUSS AND TAKE POSSIBLE ACTION REGARDING A MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING BETWEEN CALDWELL COUNTY AND SOUTHWESTERN BELL TELEPHONE COMPANY, LLC, DBA, AT&T.RICHARD, DO YOU WANT TO TAKE THIS ONE OR DO YOU WANT ME TO TAKE IT? I'M HAPPY TO JUDGE.
THIS IS BASICALLY AN AGREEMENT TO HELP US IDENTIFY AND THEM TO KEEP US INFORMED ON WHERE THEY'RE GOING TO BE USING OUR RIGHTS OF WAY TO PLACE THEIR LINES SO THAT IN THE FUTURE I MEAN IF WE ARE PLANNING TO DO SOMETHING IN THE FUTURE WE CAN INFORM THEM NOW AND WE DON'T HAVE TO DIGG IT UP LATER. THOSE KINDS OF THINGS.IT'S AN AGREEMENT TO AGREE AND I THINK IN SPEAKING WITH TRACY, EVEN BEFORE WE GOT THIS IN PLACE THEY STARTED KEEPING US BETTER INFOMED ON WHAT THEIR PLANS ARE. OKAY. IF YOU'LL RECALL, LAST SESSION WE HAD A BILL THAT WE WERE TRYING TO PUSH THROUGH TO FORCE THIS AGREEMENT AND WHICH RESULTED IN THIS MOU AND US BACKING OFF A BILL AND MAKING IT STATE LAW. WE'RE JUST TRYING TO GET THEM TO BE GOOD CORPORATE CITIZENS IN OUR COUNTY AND WORK WITH US AND THAT SEEMS TO HAVE WORKED. SO, THIS IS THE MOU AS A RESULT OF THAT. COMMISSIONERS? SO MOVE TO APPROVE, JUDGE. MOVE APPROVAL BY COMMISSIONER THOMAS. DO WE HAVE A SECOND? SECOND. SECOND, BY COMMISSIONER HORNE. ANY DISCUSSION? NOT, ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE. AYE.
OPPOSED? HEARING NONE, MOTION CARRIES. ITEM I-16, DISCUSS AND
[I.16 To discuss and take possible action regarding the appointment of Jon Mitchell to the Plum Creek Conservation District Board of Directors.]
TAKE POSSIBLE ACTION REGARDING THE APPOINTMENT OF JOHN MITCHELL THE PLUM CREEK CONSERVATION DISTRICT BOARD OF DIRECTORS. COMMISSIONER HORNE.UH YES, JUDGE, THEY HAD AN OPENING ON THE PLUM CREEK CONSERVATION. JOHN MITCHELL, REACHED OUT TO JOHN MITCHELL, HIS HOME'S 10 MILES OF PLUM CREEK AND HAS THREE REGISTERED PLUM CREEK WELLS ON HIS PROPERTY, SO, I FIGURED HE WOULD BE A GOOD FIT FOR THIS BOARD.
SO, WITH THAT, I RECOMMEND JOHN MITCHELL.
MOTION FOR RECOMMENDATION OF JOHN MITCHELL BY COMMISSIONER HORNE.
SECOND, BY COMMISSIONER WESTMORELAND.
ANY DISCUSSION? NOT ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
OPPOSED? HEARING NONE, MOTION CARRIES.
[I.17 To discuss and take possible action regarding the acceptance of the Caldwell County Local Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC) Bylaws and Operating Rules, including appointment of the Caldwell County Emergency Management Deputy as Chairperson; LEPC to operate as a function of county government under the Emergency Management budget appropriation.]
ITEM I-17, DISCUSS AND TAKE POSSIBLE ACTION REGARDING THE ACCEPTANCE OF THE CALDWELL COUNTY LOCAL EMERGENCY PLANNING COMMITTEE (LEPC) BYLAW AND OPERATING RULES INCLUDING APPOINTMENT OF THE CALDWELL COUNTY EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT DEPUTY AS CHAIRPERSON; LEPC TO OPERATE AS FUNCTION FUNCTION OF COUNTY GOVERNMENT UNDER THE EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT BUDGET APPROPRIATE APPROPRIATION. GO AHEAD.HI JUDGE, WE'RE JUST FORMALIZING THE BYLAWS FOR THE LEPC. WE WERE ESTABLISHED EARLIER THIS YEAR AND AND WE JUST NEED TO GET THOSE APPROVED.
COMMISSIONERS ? MOVE TO APPROVE. MOVE APPROVAL BY COMMISSIONER WESTMORELAND. DO WE HAVE A SECOND? SECOND.
SECOND, BY COMMISSIONER THOMAS.
ANY DISCUSSION? NOT, ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
AYE. OPPOSED? HEARING NONE MOTION CARRIES. ITEM I-18,
[I.18 To discuss and take possible action regarding a Caldwell County Burn Ban. ]
DISCUSS AND TAKE POSSIBLE ACTION REGARDING THE COLWELL COUNTY BURN BAN. HECTOR. GOOD MORNING, JUDGE. COMMISSIONERS, STAFF AND GALLERY. NO MAJOR INCIDENTS TO REPORT THIS PAST TWO WEEKS IT'S BEEN VERY VERY INTERESTING WE'VE GOT MORE RAIN PREDICTED NEXT WEEK, POSSIBLE UP TO TWO INCHES OF RAIN.CURRENTLY OUR KBDI NUMBER IS MINIMUM 66, MAX 262, AVERAGE 161 WITH A CHANGE OF PLUS 10.
I'M RECOMMENDING THE COMMISSIONER'S COURT THAT WE KEEP THE BURN BAN OFF.
MOVE APPROVAL TO KEEP BURN BAN OFF BY COMMISSIONER THERIOT.
SECOND BY COMMISSIONER WESTMORELAND. I'LL GIVE YOU THE TIE THIS TIME COMMISSIONER.
AYE. OPPOSED? HEARING NONE, MOTION CARRIES.
[I.19 To discuss and take possible action regarding Order 06-2026 authorizing the sale of fireworks for Juneteenth]
POSSIBLE ACTION REGARDING OCTOBER 26, OCTOBER ORDER 06-2026 AUTHORIZING THE SALE OF FIREWORKS FOR JUNETEENTH. THE ORDER READS AS FOLLOWS, WHEREAS COMMISSIONERS COURT OF CALDWELL COUNTY AUTHORIZED UNDER THE OCCUPATIONS CODE SECTION 2154.202(H), TO ISSUE AN ORDER ALLOWING RETAIL FIREWORKS PERMIT HOLDERS TO SELL FIREWORKS TO THE PUBLIC IN CELEBRATION OF JUNETEENTH; AND WHEREAS, ON THE 14TH DAY OF MAY 2026, COMMISSIONERS COURT OF CALDWELL COUNTY HAS DETERMINED THAT CONDITIONS ARE FAVORABLE TO ISSUE SUCH AN ORDER.NOW, THEREFORE, THE COMMISSIONERS COURT OF CALDWELL COUNTY ADOPTS THIS ORDER AUTHORIZING THE SALE OF FIREWORKS TO THE PUBLIC BY RETAIL FIRE
[02:10:01]
FIREWORKS PERMIT HOLDERS DURING THE JUNETEENTH PERIOD BEGINNING JUNE 14, 2026 AND ENDING AT MIDNIGHT JUNE 19, 2026, SUBJECT TO THE FOLLOWING RESTRICTIONS: THIS ORDER EXPIRES ON THE DATE THE TEXAS A&M FOREST SERVICE DETERMINES DROUGHT CONDITIONS EXIST IN THE COUNTY OR MIDNIGHT JUNE 19, 2026, WHICHEVER IS EARLIER.THE SALE OF RESTRICTED FIREWORKS IS DEFINED BY SECTION 352.051, TEXAS LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE INCLUDING SKYROCKETS WITH STICKS AND MISSILES WITH IS PROHIBITED. APPROVE THIS 14TH DAY OF MAY 2026 BY CALDWELL COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT. COMMISSIONERS. SO APPROVE OH.MOVE APPROVAL BY COMMISSIONER THOMAS. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER WESTMORELAND. ANY DISCUSSION? NOT, ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE OPPOSED HEARING THAT MOTION CARRIES. ITEM I-20 DISCUSS AND TAKE POSSIBLE
[I.20 To discuss and take possible action on the acceptance of the Caldwell County budget calendar for FY 2027.]
ACTION ON ACCEPTANCE OF CALDWELL COUNTY BUDGET CALENDAR FOR FY 2027. COMMISSIONERS YOU HAVE THAT IN YOUR BACKUP OFF WE GO FOR ANOTHER FUN-FILLED FOUR OR FIVE MONTHS OF BUDGET DISCUSSIONS. THE ONLY ONE THING I WANT TO ADD IS VERBALLY IN THE MINUTES IS THAT TODAY THERE WAS SUPPOSED TO BE A SCHEDULED BUDGET WORKSHOP BUT JUST WITH THE TIME FRAME AND THINGS GOING ON RIGHT NOW WE DON'T NEED IT. SO, I JUST WANTED TO MAKE A RECORD OF THAT.OKAY, COMMISSIONERS. MOVE FOR APPROVAL. MOVE FOR APPROVAL BY COMMISSIONER HORNE.
SECOND, BY COMMISSIONER THERIOT.
ANY DISCUSSION? NOT, ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE. AYE. OPPOSED? HEARING NONE, MOTION CARRIES.
I-21, DISCUSS AND TAKE POSSIBLE
[I.21 To discuss and take possible action regarding the Caldwell County Fraud Detection and Prevention Policy.]
ACTION REGARDING THE CALDWELL COUNTY FRAUD DETECTION AND PREVENTION POLICY.YES, THIS IS NEW JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS WE HAVE A SMALL PORTION OF IT IN OUR EMPLOYEE HADBOOK BUT TO HELP WITH FINANCIAL TRANSPARENCY AND HOPEFULLY, POTENTIALLY GETTINGH THE COMPTROLLER AWARD, IT WOULD BE NICE TO HAVE THIS AS A SEPARATE POLICY FOR THE COUNTY.
OKAY, COMMISSIONERS? AND IT'S NOT VERY LONG, YOU CAN READ IT'S ONLY TWO PAGES. OKAY, I'M ASSUMING WE READ IT.
COMMISSIONERS, SOMEBODY CARE TO MAKE A MOTION? I'LL MOVE TO APPROVE. MOVE APPROVAL BY COMMISSIONER WESTMORELAND. DO WE HAVE A SECOND? I'LL SECOND.
SECOND BY COMMISSIONER THOMAS.
ANY DISCUSSION? NOT, ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
OPPOSED? HEARING NONE, MOTION CARRIES.
[I.22 To discuss and take possible action regarding Budget Transfer 05-2026 moving $1,100.00 from Dues & Subscriptions and Office Supplies (001-6630-3050, 001-6630-3110) into Transportation and Training (001-6630-4260, 001-6630-4810).]
POSSIBLE ACTION REGARDING BUDGET TRANSFER 05-2026 MOVING $1,100.00 FROM DUES AND SUBSCRIPTIONS AND 0FFICE SUPPLIES TO 001-6630-3050 AND 001-6630-3110 INTO TRANSPORTATION AND TRAINING 001-6630-4260-001-6630-4810.WE CAN PROBABLY TAKE THOSE NUMBERS OUT. YEAH. THIS IS JUST A SMALL IN DEPARTMENTAL TRANSFER FOR THE GRANTS DEPARTMENT. SHE WENT A LITTLE OVER IN HER TRAINING THIS YEAR. SO, WE ARE JUST MOVING SOME STUFF AROUND.
OKAY, COMMISSIONERS? MOVE FOR APPROVAL. MOVE APPROVAL BY COMMISSIONER HORNE. DO WE HAVE A SECOND? SECOND. SECOND, BY COMMISSIONER WESTMORELAND. ANY DISCUSSION? NOT, ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE. AYE.
OPPOSED? HEARING NONE, MOTION CARRIES.
[I.23 To discuss and take possible action on Budget Transfer 06-2026 moving $10,000.00 from 001- 3230-4180 (Juvenile CPS Fees) to Adult Investigations to cover invoice #2025CC-DR and any further invoices.]
DISCUSS AND TAKE POSSIBLE ACTION ON BUDGET TRANSFER 06-2026, MOVING $10,000 FROM 001-3230-4180, JUVENILE CPS FEES TO ADULT INVESTIGATION TO COVER INVOICE NUMBER 2025-CCDR AND ANY FURTHER INVOICE. YES, FOR THIS THE DISTRICT JUDGE'S DEPARTMENT, HER ADULT INVESTIGATION GL IS BEEN SPENT PRETTY RAPIDLY SO, JUVENILE CPS FEES, THEY HAVE QUITE A BIT BUDGETED THERE AND NOT MUCH ACTIVITY, SO WE ARE JUST DOING A TRANSFER.OKAY. COMMISSIONERS? I'LL MOVE TO APPROVE. MOVE APPROVAL BY COMMISSIONER WESTMORELAND. DO WE HAVE A SECOND? SECOND. SECOND, BY COMMISSIONER THOMAS. ANY DISCUSSION? NOT, ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE. AYE. OPPOSED? HEARING NONE, MOTION CARRIES.
I-24, DISCUSS AND TAKE POSSIBLE
[I.24 To discuss and take possible action regarding payment of Invoice #2025CC-DR. ]
ACTION REGARDING PAYMENT OF INVOICE NUMBER 2025CC-DR.THIS IS FOR THE DISTRICT JUDGE'S INVOICE. IT'S A PHYSICIAN EVALUATION ON A DEFENDANT JUST FOR THE PREVIOUS LINE ITEM.
OKAY. COMMISSIONERS? MOVE APPROVAL.
MOVE APPROVAL BY COMMISSION COMMISSIONER THERIOT. DO WE HAVE A SECOND? SECOND.
ANY DISCUSSION? NOT, ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
[02:15:01]
OPPOSED? HEARING NONE, MOTION CARRIES. ITEM I-25,[I.25 To discuss and take possible action regarding Budget Amendment 10-2026 moving monies from various Grant line items into multiple Grant line items and Contingency.]
DISCUSS AND TAKE POSSIBLE ACTION REGARDING BUDGET AMENDMENT 10-2026 MOVING MONIES FROM VARIOUS GRANT LINE ITEMS INTO MULTIPLE GRANT LINE ITEMS AND CONTINGENCY. YES, WE WILL BE THIS IS JUST TRYING TO CLEAN UP FUND FOR THE GRANTS DEPARTMENT THERE'S QUITE A BIT OF ACTIVITY GOING ON BUT THIS IS JUST TO GET DGL TO SHOW THE COUNTY MATCHES. ALSO REIMBURSEMENTS FROM THE EVAC SHELTER JUST MULTIPLE DIFFERENT FUNDS AND BUT OR MULTIPLE DIFFERENT LINE ITEMS AND FUND. YEAH, AND THIS THIS IS THE TOTAL AMOUNT IS $4,172,764.78.YES, THEN THAT'S NOT MONEY THAT'S GIVEN TO US. THAT'S JUST REIMBURSEMENT FROM THE EVAC SHELTER. I GOT ALL EXCITED...ALREADY ALLOCATED.
I WAS READY TO BUILD A RODEO ARENA WITH THAT, BUT ALAS IT'S NOT TO BE. ALL RIGHT, COMMISSIONERS? MOVE FOR APPROVAL.
MOVE APPROVAL BY COMMISSIONER HORNE.
SECOND, BY COMMISSIONER THERIOT.
ANY DISCUSSION? NOT, ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
OPPOSED? HEARING NONE, MOTION CARRIES.
[I.26 To discuss and take possible action to approve Budget Amendment 11-2026 re-payment to Texas State Comptroller in the amount of $110,709.63.]
POSSIBLE ACTION TO APPROVE BUDGET AMENDMENT 11-2026 REPAYMENT TO TEXAS STATE COMPTROLLER IN THE AMOUNT OF $110,709.63.YES, FOR THIS JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS OUR FIRST YEAR WE RECEIVED PROBABLY, NOW WHAT? WE ARE GOING ON THE THIRD YEAR, BUT OUR FIRST YEAR OF SENATE BILL 202 THAT WAS THE MONEY THAT WE RECEIVED FOR THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE AND THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE.
THEY GAVE US 350,000 BUT THEY DIDN'T GIVE IT TO US UNTIL ABOUT THE MIDDLE OF THE BUDGET CYCLE.
SO, WE WEREN'T ABLE TO SPEND IT ALL AND WITH THAT THE RULES ON THAT MONEY IS, IF WE DON'T SPEND IT BY CERTAIN TIME, WE HAVE TO SEND IT BACK. SO, IT'S NOT MONEY THAT WE OWE BACK TO THEM BECAUSE WE EARNED OR ANYTHING NEGATIVE, IT IS JUST MONEY GIVEN AND WE HAVEN'T SPENT IT SO...
OKAY. COMMISSIONERS? MOVE TO APPROVE. MOVE APPROVAL BY COMMISSIONER THOMAS. DO WE HAVE A SECOND? SECOND. SECOND, BY COMMISSIONER HORNE. ANY DISCUSSION? OH. SORRY THIS ONE IS SPECIFICALLY JUST FOR THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE. SO, LATER DOWN THE ROAD THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY MIGHT COME UP, WE JUST HAVEN'T RECEIVED ANY INFORMATION ON THAT YET. OKAY. ALL RIGHT. HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE. AYE. OPPOSED? HEARING NONE, MOTION CARRIES.
[I.27 To discuss and take possible action on payment to the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts with the approval of Budget Amendment 11-2026 in the amount of $110,709.63.]
DISCUSS AND TAKE POSSIBLE ACTION ON PAYMENT TO THE TEXAS COMPTROLLER OF PUBLIC ACCOUNTS WITH THE APPROVAL OF BUDGET AMENDMENT 11-2026 IN THE AMOUNT OF $110,709.63.COMMISSIONERS? MOVE FOR APPROVAL.
MOVE APPROVAL BY COMMISSIONER HORNE.
SECOND, BY COMMISSIONER THERIOT.
ANY DISCUSSION? IF NOT, ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
OPPOSED? HEARING NONE, MOTION CARRIES.
[I.28 To discuss and take possible action regarding Budget Amendment 12-2026 moving $10,800.00 from Contingency (001-6510-4860) to Dues & Subscriptions in the amount of $2,700.00 for each JP office to (001-3251-3050), (001-3252-3050), (001-3253-3050), and (001-3254-3050) to cover Kologik invoice. ]
DISCUSS AND TAKE POSSIBLE ACTION REGARDING BUDGET AMENDMENT 12-2026, MOVING $10,800.00 FROM CONTINGENCY 00165104860 TO DUES AND SUBSCRIPTIONS IN THE AMOUNT OF $2,700 FOR EACH JP OFFICE TO 00132513050, 00132523050, 00132533050 AND 001 3254 3050 TO COVER KOLOGIK INVOICE. SORRY ABOUT THAT, WE WILL FIX THAT, BUT THIS A COUPLE COURTS AGO THE COURT APPROVED THAT THE JPS RECEIVED THE KOLOGIK SERVICE AND THIS IS JUST A BUDGET AMENDMENT TO MOVE THAT MONEY AROUND AND THEN YOU'LL SEE THE NEXT ONE AS WELL AS FOR THE INVOICE TO BE PAID.OKAY. COMMISSIONERS? MOVE TO... GO AHEAD REST I MOVE TO APPROVE. SECOND.
I'M GOING TO APPROVE BY COMMISSIONER WESTMORELAND SECOND BY COMMISSIONER HORNE.
ANY DISCUSSION? NOT, ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE. AYE. OPPOSED? HEARING NONE, MOTION CARRIES. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU. ITEM I-29, DISCUSS TO
[I.29 To discuss and take possible action regarding payment of Invoice #KOL-18150. ]
TAKE POSSIBLE ACTION REGARDING PAYMENT OF INVOICE NUMBER KOL-18150 FOR THIRTEEN THOUSAND FIVE HUNDRED.COMMISSIONERS ? MOVE FOR APPROVAL. MOVE APPROVAL BY COMMISSIONER HORNE. DO WE HAVE A SECOND? SECOND. SECOND, BY COMMISSION WESTMORELAND. ANY DISCUSSION? NOT, ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE. AYE.
OPPOSED? HEARING NONE, MOTION CARRIES. ITEM I-30, DISCUSSIONS
[I.30 To accept Caldwell County's 2026 pro rata share of the DSHS Tobacco Settlement Distribution Program proceeds in the amount of $36,847.97.]
AND POSSIBLE ACTION TO ACCEPT CALDWELL COUNTY'S 2026 PRO RATA SHARE OF DSHS TOBACCO SETTLEMENT DISTRIBUTION PROGRAM PROCEEDS IN THE AMOUNT OF THIRTY-SIX THOUSAND EIGHT HUNDRED FORTY-SEVEN DOLLARS AND NINETY SEVEN CENTS. AMBER? SO, FOR THIS ITEM WE ARE JUST[02:20:01]
ACCEPTING THIS PAYMENT, WE GET THESE ABOUT ONCE A YEAR SO THIS ONE WAS A PRETTY PRETTY GOOD AMOUNT ON THIS ONE THIS TIME WE DON'T HAVE TO DO ANY REPORTING FOR THE TOBACCO SETTLEMENT AND IT'S JUST REVENUE THAT WE GET TO USE IN OUR GENERAL FUND. OKAY THANK YOU. COMMISSIONERS? MOVE TO APPROVE. MOVE APPROVAL BY COMMISSIONER THOMAS, WE HAVE A SECOND? SECOND. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER THERIOT. ANY DISCUSSION? NOT, ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE. AYE.OPPOSED? HEARING NONE, MOTION CARRIES.
[I.31 To discuss and take possible action on the approval of Resolution 26-2026 authorizing a budget modification request with the Texas General Land Office (TxGLO) for the Community Development Block Grant Mitigation Program (CDBG-MIT) Caldwell County Emergency Shelter Grant Contract No. 22-085-024-D265. ]
DISCUSS AND TAKE POSSIBLE ACTION ON THE APPROVAL OF RESOLUTION 26-2026, AUTHORIZING A BUDGET MODIFICATION REQUEST WITH THE TEXAS GENERAL LAND OFFICE (TXGLO) FOR THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT MITIGATION PROGRAM CDBGMIT CALDWELL COUNTY EMERGENCY SHELTER GRANT CONTRACT NO.OKAY, SO, THIS IS FOR OUR EVACUATION SHELTER.
AS YOU ALL KNOW, WE HAVE THREE DIFFERENT FUNDING SOURCES FOR THAT PROJECT.
THIS IS THE BIGGEST FUNDING SOURCE, AND WE JUST NEED TO FINALIZE ALL THE FINAL DOCUMENTS.
THIS IS A BUDGET AMENDMENT JUST SHOWING THE ADDITIONAL MATCH DOLLARS THAT WE'RE CONTRIBUTING SINCE IT DID GO OVER THE GRANT FUNDS, THERE WERE FEW BUDGET AMENDMENTS THAT WE RECEIVED FROM CENTURY AND SO THIS IS JUST WORKING THAT ALL INTO THOSE FINAL DOCUMENTS AND SIGNING OFF. OKAY.
COMMISSIONERS? MOVE FOR APPROVAL. MOVE APPROVAL BY COMMISSIONER HORNE. DO WE HAVE A SECOND? SECOND. SECOND, BY COMMISSIONER THERIOT. ANY DISCUSSION? NOT, ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
AYE. OPPOSED? HEARING NONE, MOTION CARRIES. ITEM I-32,
[I.32 To discuss and take possible action on the approval of Resolution 27-2026 accepting financial assistance from the Texas Water Development Board (TWDB) and authorizing the execution of a grant agreement for the Outdoor Warning Siren Grant. ]
DISCUSS TO TAKE POSSIBLE ACTION ON THE APPROVAL OF RESOLUTION 27-2026 ACCEPTING FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FROM THE TEXAS WATER DEVELOPMENT BOARD TWDB AND AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTION OF THE GRANT AGREEMENT FOR THE OUTDOOR WARNING SIREN GRANT. WE HAVE ALREADY ACCEPTED THIS GRANT AND SIGNED THE AGREEMENT A COUPLE MONTHS BACK THIS IS JUST A FORMALITY THAT THEY REQUIRE THAT WE DO HAVE A RESOLUTION IN PLACE TO GO ALONG WITH THAT. OKAY, COMMISSIONERS? MOVE APPROVAL.MOVE APPROVAL BY COMMISSIONER THERIOT FOR RESOLUTION 27-2026. WE HAVE A SECOND? SECOND.
SECOND, BY COMMISSIONER THOMAS.
ANY DISCUSSION? NOT, ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
OPPOSED? HEARING NONE, MOTION CARRIES.
[I.33 To discuss and take possible action on the recommendation of the selection committee for the preprocured engineering firm for engineering services and grant-related support on the Texas Water Development Board (TWDB) Outdoor Warning Siren Grant.]
DISCUSS AND TAKE POSSIBLE ACTION ON RECOMMENDATION OF THE SELECTION COMMITTEE FOR PRE-PROCURED ENGINEERING FIRM FOR ENGINEERING SERVICES AND GRANT-RELATED SUPPORT ON THE TEXAS...WATER DEVELOPMENT BOARD (TWDB) OUTDOOR WARNING SIREN GRANT.
GOOD MORNING, JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS.
BACK IN APRIL, THE COURT SELECTED A COMMITTEE FOR THE TEXAS WATER DEVELOPMENT BOARD OUTDOOR WARNING SIREN GRANT.
THAT COMMITTEE INCLUDED JUDGE HADEN, DANNY TELTO, AMBER QUINLEY, HECTOR RANGEL, AND MYSELF.
USING OUR PRE-PROCURED ENGINEER LIST, EACH COMMITTEE MEMBER SELECTED A FIRM FOR CONSIDERATION.
AFTER THE SELECTIONS WERE MADE, WE CONTACTED EACH FIRM.
PROVIDED THE PROJECT DETAILS AND ASKED WHETHER THEY WOULD BE ABLE TO MEET THE PROJECT DEADLINE? AFTER REVIEWING THOSE RESPONSES QUIDDITY ENGINEERING WAS IDENTIFIED AS NOT ONLY A STRONG FIT FOR THE PROJECT BUT ALSO FULLY CAPABLE OF COMPLETING THE WORK WITHIN THE REQUIRED TIMELINE. AT THIS TIME YOU'RE REQUESTING THE COURT'S PERMISSION TO OFFICIALLY AWARD THE PROJECT TO QUIDDITY ENGINEERING. OKAY.
COMMISSIONERS? I'LL SO MOVE APPROVAL.
APPROVAL BY COMMISSIONER THERIOT. DO WE HAVE A SECOND? SECOND. SECOND, BY COMMISSIONER HORNE. ANY DISCUSSION? NOT, ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE. AYE. OPPOSED? HEARING NONE, MOTION CARRIES.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU. ITEM I-34,
[I.34 To ratify Resolution 28-2026 Authorizing Caldwell County to apply for the Motor Vehicle Crime Prevention Authority (MVCPA) FY 2027 Taskforce Grant.]
RATIFY RESOLUTION 28-2026 AUTHORIZING CALDWELL COUNTY TO APPLY FOR THE MOTOR VEHICLE CRIME PREVENTION AUTHORITY (MVCPA) FY-2027 TASKFORCE GRANT.ALL RIGHT SO THIS IS A RATIFICATION THE DEADLINE GOT TO US BEFORE WE COULD GET IT ON THE AGENDA. SO, CHANGES CAN BE MADE, IT'S ALREADY BEEN APPLIED FOR THIS LAST WEEK. SO, IF WE NEED TO PULL OR MAKE ANY CHANGES, WE CAN. THIS IS ANOTHER GRANT THAT PRECINCT 2 CONSTABLE EASTERLING WOULD LIKE TO GO AFTER. THIS WILL HELP HIM CREATE A TASK TASK FORCE.
AND IT WILL ALLOW HIM TO HIRE FOR TWO POSITIONS THAT WILL BE 100% DEDICATED TO
[02:25:01]
THAT TASKFORCE AND PROJECT AND THAT WILL INCLUDE ALL OF THAT POSITION BUT BOTH OF THOSE POSITIONS ASSOCIATED COSTS SUCH AS SALARY, FRINGE, ANYTHING THEY NEED LIKE A LAPTOP, A VEST, A WEAPON, AS WELL AS A VEHICLE. SO IT INCORPORATES ALL OF THAT AND THEN ALSO IT WILL INCLUDE FIVE MORE OF THE LICENSE PLATE READERS.IF YOU DO AT LEAST FIVE, YOU CAN GET A PACKAGE WITH THEM TO WHERE IT HAS THE SOLAR REEDS ON IT.
RIGHT NOW, THE ONES THAT THEY'RE USING, THEY DO HAVE TO GO OUT, DOWNLOAD THE INFORMATION, CHANGE THE BATTERIES, ALL THE THINGS.
SO, THESE, IF YOU DO AT LEAST FIVE, IT DOES END UP HELPING OUT IN THE LONG RUN.
THIS PROJECT TOTALS AT $340,000.
SO, IF WE IF Y'ALL DO ELECT TO DO THIS THAT WOULD BE FIFTY-SIX THOUSAND DOLLARS THAT WE DO HAVE TO MATCH FOR THIS PROJECT.
IF I WOULD SUGGEST IF Y'ALL DO WANT TO MAKE ANY CHANGES TO HIS PROPOSAL BRINGING IT DOWN TO ONE POSITION INSTEAD OF TWO AND THEN MAYBE INCREASING THAT LATER ON DOWN THE ROAD WOULD BE AN OPTION THAT WOULD BRING THE MATCH DOWN TO THIRTY THOUSAND SO.
OKAY, I HAVE A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS BEFORE WE GO MUCH FURTHER.
HOW LONG IS THE GRANT FOR? ONE YEAR.
SO, AT THE END OF ONE YEAR, WHAT HAPPENS TO THOSE TWO POSITIONS? WE HOPE THAT HE GETS APPLIED, THAT HE CAN APPLY AND GET AWARDED AGAIN, BUT THERE'S NO GUARANTEE.
AND HE AND WHOEVER GETS HIRED WILL BE CLEAR THAT IT'S A ONE-YEAR POSITION? THEY ARE AWARE OF THAT.
(INAUDIBLE) OKAY, COMMISSIONERS? I WOULD SUGGEST MAYBE ONE YEAR I DID TALK TO CONSTABLE EASTERLING AND HE IS AWARE AND MADE IT CLEAR TO, MADE IT CLEAR THAT THERE IS NO GUARANTEE FOR US TO TAKES THESE POSITIONS ON AFTER THESE GRANT...
I'M JUST GOING TO THROW THIS OUT THERE TOO, IF ONE IS GOING TO DO IT ARE THEY ALL GOING TO APPLY? HE'S THE ONLY ONE WHO CONTACTED ME AND THE APPLICATION...
TYPICALLY, WHAT HAPPENS, THE OTHER 3 CONSTABLE OFFICES WILL ALSO APPLY FOR THIS GANT AND THEN OUR $56,000 MATCH WILL TURN INTO A $224,000 MATCH RIGHT QUICK. SO, SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT.
I THINK FOR ME, I UNDERSTAND THE PREMISE OF THE PROGRAM AND WHATNOT.
THE 20% MATCH NUMBER FOR TWO POSITIONS ON A ONE-YEAR CYCLE IS PROBABLY MORE THAN I WOULD BE COMFORTABLE WITH.
I THINK WE GO THROUGH THIS EVERY TIME ON THESE GRANT POSITIONS THAT ARE FUNDING EITHER FULL OR PARTIAL SALARIES, AND THOSE ALWAYS HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO...
LEAD TO PERMANENT BUDGET INCREASES IF WE EVEN ENTERTAIN THE IDEA OF PICKING THEM UP WHEN THE GRANTS TERMINATE AT THAT POINT.
AND I WILL TELL YOU RIGHT NOW, WE DON'T HAVE FUNDING TO PICK THEM UP.
SO, IT'S THE SAME WITH, YOU KNOW, SB3.
WHEN WE'RE DOING ALL THESE SALARIES, MY BIGGEST FEAR, AND I'M GOING TO GO ON RECORD EVERY TIME THESE COME UP, SAYING THIS, IS THAT IF THOSE GRANTS RUN OUT, WE WILL NOT HAVE THE MONEY TO SUPPORT THE POSITIONS, OR THE SALARIES THAT THOSE GRANTS ARE SUPPORTING.
I MEAN, I CAN'T SAY IT ENOUGH BECAUSE I KNOW THE DAY IS GOING TO COME WHEN THIS HAPPENS AND EVERYBODY'S GOING TO BE LOOKING STRAIGHT AT ME SAYING, FIND THE MONEY, AND I'M TELLING YOU ALL RIGHT NOW, IT DOESN'T EXIST.
SO, THAT SHOULDN'T COME AS A SURPRISE TO ANYONE IF THIS HAPPENS.
SO JUST PUTTING THAT OUT THERE.
CAN THIS GRANT BE UTILIZED TO PURCHASE THE EQUIPMENT AND UTILIZED ON A COUNTYWIDE BASIS WITHOUT ADDITIONAL EMPLOYEES? NO, SO, THIS PARTICULAR GRANT IS VERY SPECIFIC TO FORMING A TASK FORCE.
SO, ANYTHING THAT WE PAY FOR PERSONNEL OR ANY OF THE EQUIPMENT THAT WE PURCHASE FOR THEM HAS TO BE TIED TO THAT TASK FORCE.
[02:30:01]
THOSE HAVE TO BE, THAT'S ALL THAT EMPLOYEE DOES? YES.YOU KNOW, EIGHT HOURS A DAY? THEY ARE 100% DEDICATED TO THAT PROJECT.
AND HOW DO WE TRACK THAT? BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, WE SET UP OUR ENVIRONMENTAL ENFORCEMENT POSITIONS, AND, YOU KNOW, I'M HEARING THAT THAT'S NOT ALL THEY'RE DOING.
OTHER THINGS AT THE EXPENSE OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL ENFORCEMENT.
SO, IS THERE A TRACKING MECHANISM TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT HAPPENS? ARE YOU AWARE? NOT THAT I'M AWARE OF.
THAT WOULD BE SOMETHING THAT CONSTABLE EASTERLING WOULD NEED TO MANAGE.
WELL, UNFORTUNATELY, HE ISN'T.
HIS DAUGHTER IS GRADUATING TODAY AND THAT IS WHY HE COULDN'T BE HERE TODAY.
WE HAVE TO MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE OR DENY, COMMISSIONER.
WE DON'T HAVE A MOTION YET, SO, I'LL YIELD TO PRECINCT 2.
YES, AND I, AND CONSTABLE EASTERLING HAS DONE VERY WELL, AS ALL THE REST OF THE CONSTABLES.
SOME BIG IMPROVEMENTS IN, IN OUR PRECINCT FOR SURE.
THE WAY I WAS EXPLAINED I WAS THING MORE ON THE LICENSE.
THE WAY THIS GRANT, HE DID EXPLAIN THE TASKFORCE.
WE'RE ABLE TO GET THE LICENSE PLATE READERS WITH THE TASK FORCE, BUT IF WE WERE TO PULL THE POSITIONS, WE WOULDN'T JUST BE ABLE TO DO THE LICENSE PLATE READERS THAT'S A TOTALLY DIFFERENT GRANT AND THAT'S NOT THE GRANT HE ELECTED TO GO WITH.
SO... IS THERE A GRANT AVAILABLE FOR THAT? THERE WAS IT'S A IT'S PASSED NOW. THIS GRANT COMES OUT EVERY YEAR SO IF Y'ALL AREN'T COMFORTABLE WITH THIS RIGHT NOW THIS IS SOMETHING WE CAN ALWAYS LOOK INTO MORE AND KIND OF COME UP DEVISE A BETTER PLAN MAYBE AND LOOK AT IT AGAIN NEXT YEAR.
THIS WAS A VERY QUICK, YOU KNOW, HERE'S WHAT I WANT TO DO AND HERE'S WHEN THE DEADLINE IS KIND OF THING.
SO, THERE WASN'T A WHOLE LOT OF TIME TO DEVISE, YOU KNOW, A PLAN OF ACTION AS FAR AS THE TRACKING MECHANISMS AND THINGS LIKE THAT, LIKE YOU MENTIONED, JUDGE.
I'M TYPICALLY NOT IN FAVOR OF GRANTS FUNDING POSITIONS.
I THINK THAT IS A TERRIBLE IDEA.
I THINK THERE'S A LOT HERE AS FAR AS THAT'S CONCERNED.
I THINK THERE'S ALSO THE EXPECTATION THAT THE OTHER THREE CONSTABLE OFFICES WERE MORE THAN LIKELY APPLY AS WELL IN THE NEXT CYCLE.
I'D LIKE TO HAVE A LITTLE BIT MORE OF A CLEAR GAME PLAN GIVEN ALL THOSE UNCERTAINTIES BEFORE A GRANT OF THIS MAGNITUDE WAS APPLIED FOR. OKAY, (INAUDIBLE) WE DO NEED A MOTION THOUGH.
YOU FEEL LIKE AN EGG RIGHT NOW? I DO. YEAH.
I WOULD BE ONBOARD WITH JUST ONE EMPLOYEE BUT THE MONEY WILL NOT LAST THAT LONG.
IS THAT A MOTION? SO WHERE WOULD... WHERE WOULD WE IF IT GOT APPROVED, THE CAMERAS AND IF WE GOT THE GRANT, THE CAMERAS WOULD STAY STILL? OR WOULD IT GO? WE LEASED THE CAMERAS SO THE GRANT WOULD COVER THE FIRST YEAR, BUT THAT TOO IF WE DON'T RETURN THEM WOULD BE A RECURRING COST.
I GUESS I'M A LITTLE FRUSTRATED THAT WE HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO GET FIVE MORE CAMERAS WITHOUT TWO EMPLOYEES.
DOES THAT GRANT COME UP AGAIN NEXT YEAR WITH JUST THE FIVE CAMERAS? IT DOES. OKAY.
AND WE DID APPLY FOR A COUPLE OF OTHER FUNDING SOURCES THAT COVER THOSE AS WELL A COUPLE MONTHS BACK.
BUT OF COURSE, WE'RE JUST WAITING TO HEAR FROM.
SO HOPEFULLY THERE WILL BE MORE CAMERAS COMING SOON REGARDLESS OF THIS GRANT.
AND THAT WOULDN'T HAVE A TASKFORCE REQUIREMENT? NO.
[02:35:01]
OKAY.SO I MAKE THE MOTION TO DENY THIS GRANT APPLICATION.
OKAY. MOTION TO DENY THE GRANT APPLICATION BY COMMISSIONER HORNE. DO WE HAVE A SECOND? I'LL SECOND. SECOND, BY COMMISSIONER WESTMORELAND, ANY DISCUSSION? IF NOT, ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE. AYE. OPPOSED? HEARING NONE, MOTION CARRIES. THANK YOU.
[I.35 To accept Caldwell County's 2026 Opioid Abatement Settlement Fund disbursement in the amount of $6,674.81. ]
COUNTY 2026 OPIOID ABATEMENT SETTLEMENT FUND DISBURSEMENT IN THE AMOUNT OF $6,674.81. SO, THIS IS VERY SIMILAR TO THE TOBACCO SETTLEMENT.THIS IS JUST FOR THE OPIOIDS, AND WE JUST NEED TO ACCEPT THE FUNDING AND TYPICALLY AGAIN THIS IS ONE THAT WE GET ONCE A YEAR.
OUR LAST DISBURSEMENT THAT WE GOT FROM THEM WAS MUCH BIGGER THAN THIS ONE, SO ONE OF THOSE THINGS THAT WE DON'T REALLY KNOW HOW MUCH WE'RE GONNA GET UNTIL WE GET THAT LETTER. OKAY.
COMMISSIONERS? I'LL MOVE TO ACCEPT. MOVE TO ACCEPT BY COMMISSIONER WESTMORELAND. DO WE HAVE A SECOND? SECOND. SECOND, BY COMMISSIONER THOMAS. ANY DISCUSSION? NOT, ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
AYE. OPPOSED? HEARING NONE, MOTION CARRIES.
I-36, DISCUSS AND TAKE POSSIBLE
[I.36 To discuss and take possible action on the purchase of Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) for county vehicles paid for by Caldwell County's 2026 Opioid Abatement Settlement Fund Distribution.]
ACTION ON THE PURCHASE OF THE AUTOMATED EXTERNAL DEFIBRILLATORS (ADES) FOR COUNTY VEHICLES PAID BY CALDWELL COUNTY 2026 OPIOID ABATEMENT SETTLEMENT FUND DISTRIBUTION. COST, SIX THOUSAND SEVEN HUNDRED... SIX THOUSAND SIX HUNDRED SEVENTY-FOUR DOLLARS AND EIGHTY-ONE CENTS.SO, THIS IS FOR THE OPIOID FUNDING THAT WE JUST ACCEPTED ON THE AGENDA ITEM RIGHT BEFORE THIS. LAST YEAR THE COURT ELECTED TO SPEND THE FUND, THOSE FUNDS ON ADES TO PUT IN ALL OF OUR FACILITIES AND GET STARTED ON PUTTING THEM IN OUR VEHICLES.
THIS YEAR, I'D LIKE TO ASK TO DO THE SAME.
WE DO HAVE TO REPORT ON THIS FUNDING.
WE CAN'T JUST LEAVE IT UNSPENT.
WE DO HAVE TO FOLLOW THEIR RULES ON HOW WE CAN SPEND IT, AND THIS LAST YEAR WAS THE BEST IDEA THAT WE COULD COME UP WITH AS TO HOW TO SPEND IT ON EQUIPMENT THAT WAS NEEDED.
NOW THAT WE HAVE THE EVACUATION SHELTER, WE DO NEED TO EQUIP IT WITH AEDS.
SO, I WOULD LIKE TO PROPOSE THAT WE USE THE FUNDS TO EQUIP IT WITH THREE AEDS.
THAT'S WHAT WE WOULD BE ABLE TO AFFORD WITH THIS AMOUNT.
OR WE COULD ELECT TO EQUIP THREE MORE VEHICLES.
SO, EITHER WAY, THEY'RE COMING OUT TO ABOUT THE SAME AMOUNT AND WE WOULD ONLY BE ABLE TO GET THREE NO MATTER WHICH DIRECTION Y'ALL CHOOSE TO GO.
OKAY, COMMISSIONERS? I WOULD MOVE TO APPROVE THE PURCHASE OF THE AEDS FOR THE EVACUATION SHELTER. OKAY. WE HAVE A MOTION BY COMMISSIONER WESTMORELAND TO USE THE AEDS FOR EVACUATION SHELTER. DO WE HAVE A SECOND? SECOND. SECOND, BY COMMISSIONER HORNE. ANY DISCUSSION? NOT, ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE. AYE.
OPPOSED? HEARING NONE, MOTION CARRIES.
[I.37 To ratify project selection for the USDOT FY26 Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) grant application. ]
RATIFY PROJECT SELECTION FOR USDOT FY26 SAFE STREETS AND ROADS FOR ALL SS4A GRANT APPLICATION.OKAY, SO, JUDGE, YOU MIGHT WANT TO ELABORATE ON THIS IF YOU WANT TO.
WE REQUESTED PERMISSION LAST COURT TO APPLY FOR THIS GRANT, AND WE QUICKLY HAD TO DECIDE ON A PROJECT BECAUSE HNTB IS ASSISTING US IN ALL OF THE PLANNING AND DATA OF THESE PROJECTS.
THERE WAS NOT GOING TO BE ENOUGH TURNAROUND TIME IF WE WAITED UNTIL TODAY TO SELECT A PROJECT.
SO, WE TOSSED ALL THE IDEAS THAT THEY PROPOSED TO US AS THE BEST PROJECTS TO FIT THE CRITERIA OF THE GRANT, AND WE ARE PROPOSING THAT WE APPLY FOR PROJECT NUMBER THREE AND FOUR ON THEIR LIST WHICH IS, PROJECT NUMBER THREE IS SH80 AT SAN MARCOS HIGHWAY INTERSECTION.
THIS IS FOR IT SAYS AT FM 20 STATE PARK ROAD.
THAT IS A $768,000 PROJECT AND NUMBER FOUR IS SH-80 CORRIDOR, THE HAYS COUNTY LINE TO FM-1979.
THAT IS A $3.5 MILLION PROJECT.
AND BECAUSE THOSE ARE BOTH SH-80, THEY ARE ABLE TO GROUP THAT TOGETHER
[02:40:01]
AS ONE PROJECT FOR THE SAFE STREETS APPLICATION. SO, WE ARE JUST RAT... HOPING TO RATIFY THAT.WE MADE THAT DECISION AND Y'ALL ARE OKAY WITH US MOVING FORWARD WITH THAT APPLICATION. COMMISSIONERS REASON WE KIND OF DID THAT IS IT WAS THE MOST BANG FOR THE BUCK. OTHERWISE, THERE WAS NOT GOING TO BE AS MUCH GRANT APPLICATION TO GET. IT'S A VERY IMPORTANT CORRIDOR THAT IMPACTS TWO OF OUR PRECINCTS AND SO THAT THAT'S KIND OF WHY WE SELECTED THAT PARTICULAR PROJECT OR THE BOTH OF THOSE THAT'LL GO AS ONE. SO, JUST A LITTLE BACKGROUND, OKAY. AMBER, THERE'S A 20% MATCH ASSOCIATED WITH THESE.
WHAT WAS THE TOTAL? IT COMES TO... SORRY, FOUR MILLION THREE HUNDRED THOUSAND $322,259. AND THEN 20% OF THAT.
WHAT WAS IT AGAIN, AMBER, THE TOTAL, $4 MILLION? $4,322,259.
SO, WE HAVE ABOUT $3 MILLION AS PART OF THE BOND PROGRAMS SCHEDULED FOR HIGHWAY 80, IMPROVE...WELL HIGHWAY 80 STUDY. I KNOW PART OF THESE PROJECTS ALSO INCLUDE STUDY OF THAT.
DO WE HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO UTILIZE SOME OF THAT MONEY FOR THE MATCH? YES, BOND MONEY CAN BE USED AS MATCH.
THAT'S WHY HNTB IS ASSISTING US WITH THIS, BECAUSE THEN ANYTHING THAT DOESN'T HAVE TO GET USED THROUGH THE BOND THAT CAN BE STRETCHED TO OTHER PROJECTS.
YOU GOOD WITH THAT? A HUNDRED PERCENT, YEAH.
I THINK IT TURNS LESS THAN A MILLION INTO FOUR MILLION, SO, IT'S A LOT.
IF THERE'S NO OTHER DISCUSSION, I'D LIKE TO RECOMMEND APPROVAL FOR THE SUBMITTAL OF AN APPLICATION UNDER THE SAFE STREET PROGRAM. FOR THE RECOMMENDED IMPROVEMENTS.
AND THANK YOU TO NICHOL AND AMBER AND HNTB FOR HUSTLING AND PUTTING THIS TOGETHER. NO DOUBT. OKAY. WE HAVE A MOTION COMMISIONERS. DO WE HAVE A SECOND? SECOND. SECOND, BY COMMISSIONER HORNE. ANY DISCUSSION? NOT, ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
AYE. OPPOSED? HEARING NONE, MOTION CARRIES. ALL RIGHT WE'RE GOING TO GO INTO EXECUTIVE
[J. EXECUTIVE SESSION]
SESSION. PURSUANT TO TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 551.087, THE DISCUSSION DELIBERATION REGARDING ECONOMIC OF DEVELOPMENT NEGOTIATIONS ASSOCIATED WITH WITH HILLWOOD WE ARE IN EXECUTIVE SESSION AT 11:43.OKAY, WE'RE GOING TO EXIT EXECUTIVE SESSION AT 12:14.
PURSUIT TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 551087.
DISCUSSION OF DELIBERATION REGARDING ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT NEGOTIATIONS ASSOCIATED WITH HILLWOOD.
NO VOTE WILL TAKE PLACE IN OPEN COURT.
AND WITH THAT, COMMISSIONERS, I NEED A MOTION
[I.38 To discuss and take possible action regarding updates on Hillwood economic development negotiations. Commissioners Court may provide further instruction or take necessary action as appropriate. ]
TO TABLE I-38.SECOND? SECOND. SECOND, BY COMMISSIONER THOMAS. ANY DISCUSSION? IF NOT ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE. AYE. MOTION CARRIES AND WE WILL GO TO ADJOURNMENT. WE HAVE MOTION TO ADJOURN? MOVE TO ADJOURN.
MOTION TO ADJOURN BY COMMISSIONER WESTMORELAND, DO WE HAVE A SECOND? SECOND. SECOND, BY COMMISSIONER HORNE. ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE. MOTION CARRIES, WE'RE ADJOURNED AT 12:15
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.