Caldwell County Commissioners authorized acceptance in $250,000 to help veterans and their families as well as the burn ban and an IT staffing strategy contract at its July 8 regular meeting.

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

Next meeting

Tuesday, July 22

County awarded $250K in grants to help area veterans

Caldwell County Commissioners voted to accept grant awards totaling $250,000 from the Texas Veterans Commission (TVC) Fund that will provide veterans and their families with temporary financial assistance and money for critical home improvements.

The funding will be used to set up the Caldwell Vets First grant program, Veteran Services Coordinator Sara Love said. To apply for the funding, contact Caldwell County Veteran Services. The paperwork can be picked up with no appointment at the office located at 1403 Blackjack St. in Lockhart or by emailing sara.love@co.caldwell.tx.us.

The grant awards included:

• $150,000 from the TVC Fund for Veterans’ Assistance (FVA) Housing for Texas Heroes – Home Projects Grant. This grant provides funds for home modifications, repairs, and weatherization for veterans and surviving spouses. Eligible projects include accessibility modifications, critical repairs, and energy-efficient improvements to their homes. 
• $100,000 from the TVC FVA General Assistance – Financial Assistance Grant.  This grant provides veterans and their families with temporary, emergency expenses such as housing costs, utilities, transportation, and other essential expenses. 

Other Action

Commissioners:

• Voted to leave the burn ban off.
• Approved a proclamation recognizing July 21-27 as Pretrial, Probation and Parole Week in Caldwell County.
• Approved a development agreement for Eden Hills RV Park at 32 Serna Road off FM 672.
• Approved the preliminary plat for Southern Meadows subdivision, which includes 674 lots on approximately 121 acres at FM 1984 and William Pettus Road.
• Granted the county judge permission to enter into negotiations with Unified Strategic for IT staffing strategy and governance engagement. The county has been contracting with an IT services provider for its information technology needs since 2022, but Caldwell County Judge Hoppy Haden said the county’s staff and needs had grown to the point that the eventual return to an in-house IT department could be on the horizon. The judge said the county’s current contract with Unified Strategic had already helped save the county approximately $100,000 in costs that might have occurred had they not hired the company.
• Approved a hardware maintenance and software license/maintenance and support services agreement between Caldwell County and Elections Systems and Software.