Caldwell County Commissioners discussed the burn ban, welcomed a new employee and discussed multiple development agreements during their October 23 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)
Burn ban stays on, new deputy emergency management chief hired
The Caldwell County burn ban is here to stay for now, with dryness levels remaining well into the drought range ahead of anticipated chances for rainfall.
All outdoor burning is prohibited during a burn ban.
The average KBDI for the area sits at 728, well above 575, which is the threshold the Texas Forest Service associates with increased wildfire potential.
Chances of rainfall include this weekend (Oct. 24-25) with an additional chance in the next several days, depending on what Tropical Storm Melissa does. The storm’s current location as of Friday, Oct. 24 is over the Caribbean Sea.
Before the burn ban update, Emergency Management Chief Hector Rangel introduced Joann Garza-Mayberry, the office’s new deputy chief.
Garza-Mayberry is an Honorably Retired Texas Game Warden from the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, with a Bachelor’s degree from Texas State University and Master’s degree from the University of the Incarnate Word.
In 2020 during the COVID pandemic, she worked side by side with county officials in the Emergency Operation Center, serving as the county's Public Information Officer.
She is well trained in emergency management from her work as a game warden, during numerous disasters and catastrophes.
Earthship Corporation expands footprint in Caldwell County
Commissioners approved a trio of actions related to the Earthship Corporation, which is expanding its footprint of manufacturing and hardware cities in Caldwell County.
Earthship Corporation’s Proto-Town, a planned "Innovation Hub" for tech manufacturing and hardware startups located in the Lockhart area, is intended to be a place for founders to escape the “overregulated” environments of software-focused cities and build hardware, featuring events like rocket engine static fires and flight tests.
That concept is apparently expanding, with land being added to the original location south of Lockhart for future phases and two more parcels of land being acquired for facilities in Maxwell.
Commissioners approved an amendment to the development agreements for the company’s Project Proto-Town, and new development agreements for Project Irish North and Project Irish South in Maxwell.
Plans for the facilities include demonstration buildings, new technology research facilities, demonstration of advanced manufacturing prototypes in the areas of robotics, space, and energy, and temporary living quarters for individuals engaged in research.
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- Approved the first amendment to the 2025 development agreement between the county nand TXLCO for Technology Park at Caldwell Valley. The project includes a data center development as well as an innovation center. The original development was approximately 1,500 acres, but TXLCO is acquiring a parcel of land that will allow it to expand by an additional 1,500 acres. The development is located in the area of FM 2720 and Jolley Road.
- Approved the Caldwell County Employee Holiday Schedule.
- Appointed Omar Tariqe to the ESD #2 Board. Tariqe will replace Tony Collins.