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.

The Caldwell County Homeless Coalition is celebrating the grand opening of its new physical office from 6-8 p.m. Friday, July 11.

The office is located at 1205 Blackjack Street in Lockhart. Ice Cream and Light Refreshments will be available. Donations will go toward helping people experiencing homelessness.

The Caldwell County Homeless Coalition works with groups, individuals and organizations with the goal of ensuring no people in the county are without a home. Its activities include counting people experiencing homeless in Caldwell County on a quarterly schedule and providing them with assistance.

The new physical, public-facing office will help the CCHC serve more people and provide them with resources, Caldwell County Victim Service Coordinator Cindy Gonzales said.

"We are also partnering with Delivering Hope in Lockhart, who will also office with us and have a thrift store to help with clothing and household items," she added.

The CCHC holds monthly meetings. Visit the website at homelessincaldwell.com, email them at help@homelessincaldwell.com or call 830-351-4421.

Caldwell County has begun accepting donations to help Kerr County and Hill Country victims of the disaster wrought by deadly flooding that began July 3. 

Volunteers who have directly communicated with the county have said that Gift Cards for use at grocery, gas and hardware stores are the most in-demand items at this point as item donation bins continue to fill. Small amounts such as $20-25 per card can help ensure a wider distribution of cards.

A box for gift card donations has been placed on the front desk in the County Judge's Office at the Caldwell County Courthouse.

A bin for larger item donations is located in the front hallway of the courthouse.

In addition to gift cards, donation items can also include:

• Non Perishable Food
• Fresh Water
• Baby Formula and Food
• Pet Food
• Bleach
• Heavy Duty Trash Bags
• 5 gallon Buckets
• Mops
• Brooms
• Gloves
• Paper Towels
• Toilet Paper
• Disinfectant Sprays and Wipes
• Batteries
• Flash lights
• Personal Hygiene items
• Deodorant
• Shampoo/Conditioner
• Soap
• Dish soap
• Toothpaste
• Tooth brush
• Feminine Hygiene products
• Socks
• Underwear
• Basic clothing- Shirts, shorts
• Sunscreen
• Bug Spray
• Diapers, baby wipes
• Blankets and Towels
• Tools
• Shovels
• Rakes
• Screwdrivers
• Saws
• Wood chippers
• Tarps

In the meantime, there are various businesses and organizations that are collecting monetary donations and items to help people and pets in need.

Other locations collecting items include:

• Treaty Oak Distilling, 16604 Fitzhugh Road, Dripping Springs. Donation hours are from 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Wednesday-Sunday. NOTE: This is the official donation hub for the Hill Country, and it is where the county plans to take any donations it accepts. See above list for items needed!
• Mill Scale Metalworks, 800 N. Commerce Street, Lockhart. See above list for items needed!
• Hill Country Flood Supplies Drive. Cheatham Street Warehouse, 119 Cheatham Street, San Marcos. 11 a.m.-4 p.m. July 9. Needs include toiletries, baby essentials, pet supplies, first-aid items, sunscreen, bug spray and feminine hygiene products.
• Lockhart Evening Lions Club. 220 Bufkin Lane, Lockhart. 5:30-6:30 p.m. July 7-21. Cleaning supplies such as mops, brooms, shovels, clean-up buckets, long non-latex kitchen gloves, face masks, bleach, cleaners with bleach, garbage bags.
• Noble Joe Coffee Co., 1620 E. Riverside Dr., Austin. At this location, CENTX Mutual Aid will accept donations through Monday, July 7. See a donation list here. 

Financial donations are being accepted safely and securely at these locations:

• Hands Off Central TX is raising funds for mutual aid rapid response for housing, food and medical supplies. 
• Austin Mutual Aid needs food trucks, AirBnB and home rentals to accommodate families and donations to fund food trucks and provide meals and shelter. 
• Mindful Rescue is working to provide rescue operations for both people and animals, hot food, hot showers and clean drinking water. Donations will directly fund search and rescue operations, food and water, fuel and supplies.
• The Community Foundation of the Texas Hill Country has set up the Kerr County Relief Fund. It will direct funds to vetted organizations providing rescue, relief, and recovery efforts as well as flood assistance. The Fund will support the communities of Hunt, Ingram, Kerrville, Center Point, and Comfort.
• The Kerrville Area Chamber of Commerce is accepting donations to the Kerrville Area Rebuilding and Recovery Fund. You will need to register on the website to make an online donation, or you can call them to mail a check. 

Bookmark this post. It will be updated throughout the day.

July 7

The Flood Watch is back on through 7 p.m. Monday, July 7.

There remains a threat of flash flooding from slow moving heavy rains overnight and through the day on Monday somewhere over the watch area, which includes Caldwell County and much of Central Texas. 

Two to four inches of additional rainfall, with isolated amounts up to 10 inches, could fall anywhere over the watch area. Rainfall rates will be very intense in the heaviest showers and storms. 

Any additional heavy rainfall over hardest hit areas of the past few days will lead to rapid runoff and flash flooding. The public is advised to stay weather aware and to look out for potential flash flood warnings.

If you encounter high water while driving today, remember: Turn around, don't drown.

 July 6

10 p.m.: The Flood Watch has expired.

7:55: The Flood Watch has been extended through 10 p.m. tonight. 

The messaging from the US National Weather Service Austin-San Antonio Texas remains the same as it has all day. The watch is in place because there is a risk of flooding should excessive rainfall occur tonight. Rainfall amounts of 2 to 4 inches with an isolated 10 inches across the central Texas region are possible tonight.

Remember, if you encounter high water while driving, turn around, don't drown!

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The flood watch for Caldwell County has been extended until 7 p.m. There is a 30% chance of thunderstorms after 4 p.m.  Flooding caused by excessive rainfall is possible. Rainfall amounts of 2 to 4 inches with isolated 10 inches possible, the US National Weather Service Austin-San Antonio Texas says.

Multiple low water crossings throughout the county remain closed. Please do not drive through barricades. See the full list here: https://www.co.caldwell.tx.us/page/article/1165

July 5

10:30 p.m.: The flood watch has been extended until 1 p.m. Sunday, July 6.

3 p.m.: The flood watch has been extended until 10 p.m. for Caldwell County. 

A Flood Watch is issued when conditions are favorable for a specific hazardous weather event to occur ...  when conditions are favorable for flooding. It does not mean flooding will occur, but it is possible.

Please exercise caution if you must drive. On average, flooding claims nearly 90 lives each year, according to national statistics.  More than half of these deaths occur in motor vehicles when people attempt to drive through flooded roadways. 

It is never safe to drive or walk through flood waters. Any time you come to a flooded road, walkway, or path, follow this simple rule: Turn Around Don’t Drown.

July 5

12:05 p.m.: The flash flood warning has been extended until 3 p.m. for southwestern Caldwell County.

9:30 AM: 

The National Weather Service has issued a Flash Flood Warning for Caldwell County that is in effect through noon today.

Here is the full report:

At 8:56 a.m., Doppler radar and automated rain gauges indicated  thunderstorms producing heavy rain across the warned area. Between 1 and 3 inches of rain have fallen. Additional rainfall amounts of 1 to 3 inches are possible in the warned area. Flash flooding is ongoing or expected to begin shortly.

HAZARD...Life threatening flash flooding. Thunderstorms producing flash flooding.

SOURCE...Radar and automated gauges.

IMPACT...Life threatening flash flooding of creeks and streams, urban areas, highways, streets and underpasses.

Some locations that will experience flash flooding include...San Marcos, Lockhart, Martindale, Uhland, Mustang Ridge, Niederwald, Brownsboro, Dale, McMahan, Lytton Springs, St. John's Colony, Tilmon, Taylorsville, Mendoza, Maxwell, Delhi, Reedville and San Marcos Regional Airport.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Turn around, don`t drown when encountering flooded roads. Most flood deaths occur in vehicles.

Be aware of your surroundings and do not drive on flooded roads.

Stay away or be swept away. River banks and culverts can become unstable and unsafe.

7:30 AM: The National Weather Service has issued a Flood Watch and a Flood Advisory for Caldwell County as well as much of central Texas.

Please stay off the roads as much as possible today and keep an eye on local forecasts. Make sure you are signed up to receive emergency alerts at www.warncentraltexas.org.

At 640 a.m., Doppler radar indicated heavy rain due to thunderstorms. This will cause small stream flooding. Between 1 and 3 inches of rain have fallen. Flooding caused by excessive rainfall is possible, with rainfall amounts of 2 to 4 inches with isolated totals up to 10 inches also possible.

Excessive runoff may result in flooding of rivers, creeks, streams, and other low-lying and flood-prone locations. Creeks and streams may rise out of their banks.

Small stream flooding caused by excessive rainfall is expected.

All county roads have reopened following the heavy rainfall and resulting flooding risk from the previous weekend. There are no county road closures at this time.

Caldwell County administrative offices will close at noon Thursday, July 3 and reopen Monday, July 7 in observance of the Independence Day Holiday. Wishing everyone in Caldwell County a safe and happy July 4!