We understand that the recent contract work around the city, particularly the installation of high-speed internet conduits, has raised concerns among residents. We appreciate your patience and wish to provide you with detailed information to address any concerns or questions you may have.
The Seawillow Ranch project expanding the City’s ETJ, site selection for an aquatic center, a zoning change for future housing and Downtown Revitalization Project updates were all discussed at the July 16 City Council meeting.
Back row (L-R): Councilmember at-large Brad Westmoreland, District 1 Councilmember Juan Mendoza, District 4 Councilmember Jeffry Michelson, District 2 Councilmember John Castillo
Front row (L-R): Mayor Pro-Tem Angie Gonzales-Sanchez, Mayor Lew White, Councilmember District 3 John Lairsen
July 23 – Budget Workshop: Capital Improvement Projects
July 24 – Budget Workshop: ESD No. 5 Transition
CARTS Interlocal Agreement:
Council received a presentation from the Capital Area Rural Transportation System (CARTS) to continue transportation services in Lockhart and increase funding for FY 2024-2025. CARTS Now provides curb-to-curb, on-demand transit service within Lockhart city limits Monday – Friday, 7 a.m. – 7 p.m.
Comprehensive Plan UPDATE:
Freese and Nichols, the City’s Comprehensive Plan Consultant, presented an update to Council on the draft Economics, Transportation, Infrastructure, and Implementation chapters. The presentation of a final draft of the complete Comprehensive Plan to the Planning and Zoning Commission and City Council is anticipated in the Fall of 2024. For more information on the Comprehensive Plan, visit www.PlanLockharttx.com.
Budget for Caldwell County Appraisal District:
Council approved the FY 2025 proposed budget for the Caldwell County Appraisal District (CCAD).
Extraterritorial Jurisdiction (ETJ) Expansion:
Council approved a petition to expand the City's current extraterritorial jurisdiction (ETJ) by approximately 30 acres to add the remainder of the portion of the property that is the site of Seawillow Ranch development that had not previously been in the City’s ETJ. The new area added to the ETJ is located west of Seawillow Road approximately 6,000 feet east of FM 1322.
Council awarded a bid to S-Co Incorporated of Jewett, Texas to furnish and install residential water meters throughout Lockhart. The project is funded by a Community Development Block Grant (CDBG). Council previously awarded the bid to Hydropro Solution, however the company requested to withdraw that bid. S-Co Incorporated was the second lowest bidder.
Downtown Revitalization Project UPDATE:
Council voted to award the bid to DeNucci Construction LLC for the Downtown Revitalization Project. The approximately $10.2 million project focuses on the nine-block area centered around the Caldwell County Courthouse and will include improvements to water/wastewater/drainage infrastructure and resurface the downtown streets. The revised project scope also includes lighting and electric improvements, reconstruction of North and South Main Street, sidewalk improvements, all-way stop signs, pedestrian safety improvements, and landscaping irrigation and design.
Previously, City Council was presented a refined estimate of probable cost for the Downtown Revitalization Project in the amount of $9,586,616. After receiving bids for the project, the lowest price received was $10,829,910. The City Engineer was tasked with identifying potential savings to bring the overall costs closer to the estimated budget. Reductions to the project scope while maintaining the project's intended outcome included:
• Reducing utility replacements in alleyways.
• Modifying various landscaping elements and associated irrigation.
• Reduction in pedestrian lighting.
• Focusing on paving and curb bulb-out within the nine-block project perimeter.
• Removing pavers at crosswalks.
Council approved Change Order #1 to reduce the total contract amount by $651,735 bringing the total contract amount for the project to $10,178,175.
Aquatics Facility UPDATE:
Council approved a recommendation from the Lockhart Parks Advisory Board to select the site located at San Jacinto Boulevard and Center Street for a future municipal aquatics facility. The Parks Advisory Board recommended the property because of its street access, its placement among residential zones and its proximity to two elementary schools and Lockhart High School, which are all potential users. Council also authorized city staff to pursue a Texas Parks & Wildlife Grant for $750,000, the maximum grant award possible, that could provide partial funding for the construction of the project.
Council approved a zoning change from Agricultural Open Space to Residential Medium Density (RMD) on an 8.6-acre tract at 351 City Line Road. The applicant, Cerulean Dog Investments, initially requested RHD Residential High Density zoning for the property, however, the Planning and Zoning Commission recommended RMD as it was more consistent with the property’s designation on the Future Land Use Map, with City Council affirming the recommendation. The applicant intended to develop an apartment community on the site, but with RMD zoning, only lower-density housing types such as single-family, duplex, townhouse, combined family, and lower-density condominiums are possible.
County Capital Improvement Plan: The county previously held two open houses on its Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) in addition to an ongoing online open house. More than 2,000 online surveys have been completed. Several potential projects are located in and near Lockhart, with one serving the new elementary school. Early estimates anticipate a total bond issue ranging between $60 million-100 million to provide funding for all approved countywide projects. The county will hold a special commissioner’s court meeting at 9 a.m. Thursday, July 18 to discuss which projects in the CIP it wants to advance. Commissioners have until Aug. 19 to order the bond issue for the November 2024 ballot.
RISE Broadband Update: RISE Broadband began installation of its citywide fiber internet conduit, starting in an area bordered by North Media Street to the west, North Main Street to the East, the railroad tracks to the north, and West San Antonio Street to the south. Contractors have been placing door hangers on residences 72-hours in advance before working on adjacent rights-of-way. Subscription to RISE’s services is voluntary. City staff is working on a comprehensive FAQ to provide on the city’s website and will include information regarding work in the city rights-of-way, turf restoration, irrigation systems and existing underground conduits.
Courthouse Nights Concert Series: The next installment of the free Courthouse Nights concert series is from 7-10 p.m. Friday night on the Caldwell County Courthouse lawn. The headliner is Rattlesnake Milk, who will take the stage at 8:30 p.m.
Update regarding the US 183 Overpass Landscaping Project: A Keep Lockhart Beautiful project that involves grant funding to make landscaping improvements below the US 183 Overpass near Kreuz Market is underway. Improvements will include seating, native planting, irrigation, lighting improvements, electrical outlets and sidewalk connections to the City’s park system, creating an aesthetic gateway into City Park. Encino Park LLC will complete the project, which is expected to take approximately 102 working days. Traffic control measures have been placed at the park's entrance. No disruptions to traffic and park use are expected as the work will take place entirely in the parking area under the overpass.
New Public Information Officer: Ms. Tatiana Salazar will join the Lockhart staff as its new Public Information Officer on July 24. Ms. Salazar has more than 10 years of experience in the field as a television news producer. She most recently served as City of San Marcos bilingual communications specialist, where she assisted the San Marcos Police Department and the city’s community services departments.
Budget Workshops: The Lockhart City Council will hold two budget workshops next week. A workshop to discuss capital improvement projects is set for 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, July 23 in council chambers on the third floor of the Dr. Eugene Clark Public Library. A workshop to discuss the Emergency Services District No. 5 Transition will be held at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, July 24.
ATTENTION: This is a recap of the highlights of action taken at the July 16, 2024, Council meeting. The complete agenda can be found by visiting: City of Lockhart, TX (lockhart-tx.org).
Starting Tuesday, June 25, the Guadalupe-Blanco River Authority (GBRA) will start converting the disinfectant used in the Luling Water Treatment Plant—which supplies Lockhart—from chloramine to free chlorine. The annual temporary disinfectant conversion, which is required by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ), takes 30 days. Then, the disinfectant will be switched back to chloramine. The GBRA says the process burns off excess ammonia build-up and oxidizes bio-film build-up that might be forming in distribution systems.
During the conversion, you may notice a change in taste or appearance of your tap water. The water is constantly tested and remains SAFE TO DRINK.
For questions, call the Water/Wastewater Department at (512)398-3615.
UPDATE: Water service has been restored. If you are still experiencing an outage, contact Public Works.
A crew is working to repair a water main at Trinity and Blackjack Street. Water in the area has been shut off until the fix is made. The service interruption will affect customers on Trinity Street from Blackjack to Pin Oak Street. Stay tuned for updates.
The Farmers’ Market, funding for nonprofits, a potential new housing development and homelessness were all discussed at Tuesday night’s regular meeting of the Lockhart City Council.
Back row (L-R): Councilmember at-large Brad Westmoreland, District 1 Councilmember Juan Mendoza, District 4 Councilmember Jeffry Michelson, District 2 Councilmember John Castillo
Front row (L-R): Mayor Pro-Tem Angie Gonzales-Sanchez, Mayor Lew White, Councilmember District 3 John Lairsen
July 16 – Regular Session
Aug. 20 – Regular Session
Council approved a Professional Services Agreement between the City and Masonwood Development Group. The Agreement provides that the City’s costs for professional engineering and legal expenses to review the technical aspects of the proposed development will be paid by the developer.
The proposed residential housing development is located on 156 acres west of the city limits, south of Borchert Loop and north of Maple Street/Boggy Creek. The project would potentially involve building more than 500 single-family homes and provide for voluntary annexation into the Lockhart city limits.
The Lockhart City Council approved a total of $49,000 in funding for seven nonprofits for FY 2024-2025:
• Caldwell County Food Bank - $5,000
• Ascension Seton Hays Foundation Care-A-Van - $5,000
• CASA of Central Texas - $12,000
• Combined Community Action - Meals on Wheels - $8,000
• Hays-Caldwell Women's Center - $10,000
• Lockhart Area Senior Citizen Center - $4,000
• Take Me Home - Advocates for Transport - $5,000
An eighth applicant, the Capital Area Rural Transit System (CARTS), asked for $40,000. CARTS will make its presentation at a future meeting.
Council approved amendments to the zoning chapter of Lockhart’s code of ordinances following a public hearing. The amendments to the zoning code clarify definitions for numerous land uses and other terms. The amendment also includes new important land uses that were not included in the zoning ordinance.
Council directed the Lockhart Police Department to prepare a budgeting and operational plan to create a homelessness outreach team. This police department-led team will require a partnership with community-based organizations, behavioral health providers and Workforce Solutions. LPD Chief Gary Williamson said Lockhart police officers have encountered about 20 unhoused people in Lockhart but acknowledged that the actual number is likely higher. The council’s direction followed a presentation by Chief Williamson, who shared insight from the department and feedback obtained at community focus groups held in December 2023 and January 2024.
Caldwell County Capital Improvement Plan Update: Open houses to discuss the county’s capital improvement plan were held in Luling and Lockhart over the past week. The plan includes road improvements and expansions throughout the county – including in Lockhart – and public safety projects that include bridges and low water crossings. The county has until Aug. 19 to decide whether to ask voters to approve a bond issue to pay for some or all of the projects. Citizens can visit www.caldwellcountycip.com to learn more.
Independence Day Extravaganza: The Lockhart Chamber of Commerce is presenting their Independence Day celebration Wednesday, July 3 at Lockhart City Park. People were encouraged to bring picnic blankets and lawn chairs and brace themselves for a hot, dry evening, with the show set to start at 9:15 p.m.
Monthly First Friday in Downtown Lockhart: Lockhart’s July First Friday celebration backs up to a national holiday this month. Residents are encouraged to partake in the festivities and support local businesses from 4-8 p.m.
FM 2720 Update: TxDOT’s 30% design plan has been completed. The project will involve expansions to lanes and the projected timeline targets bidding for 2030, although this could be fast-tracked.
Rise Broadband Update: The private company installing broadband fiber throughout Lockhart should get work underway soon, with installation beginning in an area bounded by the Union Pacific Railroad, Blanco St., San Antonio Street, and Medina Street. Right of way permits have been approved and city utility crews have been marking locations in the field.
Lockhart Municipal Airport Update: TxDOT opened bids on June 13 for the project to resurface the 4,000-foot taxiway and runway at the Lockhart Municipal Airport. TxDOT received just one bid for $2.44 million. Lockhart's portion of the project would be approximately $244,000. The amount is higher than projected by about $56,000 due cost of materials being higher than anticipated. If council votes to proceed, completion of the project is anticipated to take place this year.
Movies in the Park: Lockhart’s July film is Wish. Showtime is 8:30 p.m. Saturday, July 13 at Lockhart City Park.
ATTENTION: This is a recap of the highlights of action taken at the July 2, 2024, Council meeting. The complete agenda can be found by visiting: City of Lockhart, TX (lockhart-tx.org). You can download a copy of this report here.