Caldwell County

March 26, 2026

Executive Summary

The Caldwell County Commissioners Court will consider a significant tax abatement and development agreement with EDC Austin, LLC for a data center campus with an estimated $7.3 billion in improvements, alongside routine budget and payroll approvals. Other key items include plat approvals for subdivisions, updates on several economic development projects, and IT service agreements.

Key Topics

Constituent Highlights

Consideration of a major tax abatement agreement for a large data center project ($7.3 billion).
Review of plat approvals for new subdivisions (Juniper Springs, ARWA Booster Pump Station).
Discussion on the county burn ban status.
Information on collaborative efforts in child welfare.

Official Highlights

Review and approval of substantial county invoices and payroll payments totaling over $2.5 million.
Deliberation and potential action on multiple large-scale economic development projects (Summit Ridge, Direct Forge, Mount Fuji, IIJA Grant).
Approval of significant IT service agreements with Blue Layer for co-managed services and cybersecurity.
Consideration of a tax abatement agreement and development agreement for EDC Austin, LLC, involving extensive negotiation and detailed property descriptions.

Resumen Ejecutivo

El Tribunal de Comisionados del Condado de Caldwell considerará un importante acuerdo de desgravación fiscal y desarrollo con EDC Austin, LLC para un campus de centros de datos con mejoras estimadas en $7.3 mil millones, además de aprobaciones rutinarias de presupuesto y nómina. Otros puntos clave incluyen aprobaciones de planos para subdivisiones, actualizaciones sobre varios proyectos de desarrollo económico y acuerdos de servicios de TI.

Temas Clave

Puntos Destacados

Consideración de un importante acuerdo de desgravación fiscal para un gran proyecto de centro de datos ($7.3 mil millones).
Revisión de aprobaciones de planos para nuevas subdivisiones (Juniper Springs, ARWA Booster Pump Station).
Discusión sobre el estado de la prohibición de quemas en el condado.
Información sobre esfuerzos de colaboración en bienestar infantil.

Key Items

Items with direct public relevance

ID	Description	Cost	Impact	Tags
G.1	▶ Hays County Child Protective Board Presentation		notable	health public-safety
	Hays County Child Protective Board presentation on child welfare data and collaborative efforts between Hays and Caldwell Counties. Speaker: Dr. Karen Brown, Mary Cauble
H.1	▶ Tax Abatement Agreement with EDC Austin, LLC		significant	budget economic-development land-use
	Consider the approval of a tax abatement agreement with EDC Austin, LLC.
I.3	▶ Tax Abatement Agreement for EDC Austin LLC		significant	budget economic-development technology land-use
	Approve a tax abatement agreement with EDC Austin LLC for the construction and maintenance of a turn-key data center campus within the Caldwell 142 Reinvestment Zone #1. Speaker: Judge Haden/Richard Sitton
I.4	▶ Development Agreement for EDC Austin, LLC		significant	economic-development technology land-use
	Discuss and take possible action regarding the Development Agreement for EDC Austin, LLC pertaining to 329.893 acres. Speaker: Commissioner Theriot/Kasi Miles/Tracy Bratton/Bill Greenwood
I.5	▶ Final Plat for Juniper Springs, Section 8		notable	land-use housing
	Approve the Final Plat for Juniper Springs, Section 8, a single-lot subdivision on approximately 22.415 acres. Speaker: Commissioner Westmoreland/Kasi Miles 📍 Borchert Loop
I.6	▶ Short Form Plat for ARWA Booster Pump Station		notable	land-use infrastructure utilities
	Approve the Short Form Plat for ARWA Booster Pump Station, a single-lot commercial subdivision on approximately 49.242 acres. Speaker: Commissioner Theriot/Kasi Miles 📍 State Highway 142 and Church Street
I.7	▶ Resolution for NFA Financing for PPDC (Lockhart ISD)		notable	budget economic-development education
	Approve Resolution 23-2026 relating to financing by the National Finance Authority for the benefit of Public-Private Development Corporation (PPDC), related to Lockhart ISD. Speaker: Judge Haden/Richard Sitton
I.8	▶ Roadway Access to Caldwell County Evacuation Center		notable	public-safety transportation infrastructure
	Authorize the County Judge to initiate discussions and negotiate potential roadway access along the existing route that leads to the Caldwell County Evacuation Center. Speaker: Judge Haden
I.9	▶ Caldwell County Burn Ban		notable	public-safety environment
	Discuss and take possible action regarding a Caldwell County Burn Ban. Speaker: Judge Haden/Hector Rangel
I.10	▶ Budget Amendment for District Attorney Legal Services	$30,000.00	notable	budget personnel legal
	Approve Budget Amendment 06-2026, moving $30,000.00 from Contingency to Trial Expense for outside legal services for the District Attorney's Office. Speaker: Judge Haden/Danie Teltow
I.11	▶ Professional Service Agreement for DA Outside Services	$30,000.00	notable	personnel legal
	Approve Professional Service Agreement with Attorney Richard Wetzel for outside services to the District Attorney Office. Speaker: Danie Teltow/Fred Weber
I.13	▶ Agreement with Blue Layer for Co-Managed Services	$176,529.00	notable	budget technology
	Approve an agreement between Caldwell County and Blue Layer for Co-Managed Services. Speaker: Judge Haden/Danie Teltow/Chris Cunningham
I.14	▶ Agreement with Blue Layer for Software/Cybersecurity	$69,406.08	notable	budget technology public-safety
	Approve an agreement between Caldwell County and Blue Layer for Co-Managed Software and Cybersecurity Bundle. Speaker: Judge Haden/Danie Teltow/Chris Cunningham
I.15	▶ Project Summit Ridge Economic Development Update		notable	economic-development negotiation
	Discuss and take possible action regarding updates on Project Summit Ridge economic development negotiations. Commissioners Court may provide further instruction or take necessary action as appropriate. Speaker: Judge Haden/Commissioner Westmoreland
I.16	▶ Project Direct Forge Economic Development Update		notable	economic-development negotiation
	Discuss and take possible action regarding updates on Project Direct Forge economic development negotiations. Commissioners Court may provide further instruction or take necessary action as appropriate. Speaker: Judge Haden/Commissioner Westmoreland
I.17	▶ Project Mount Fuji Economic Development Update		notable	economic-development negotiation
	Discuss and take possible action regarding updates on Project Mount Fuji economic development negotiations. Commissioners Court may provide further instruction or take necessary action as appropriate. Speaker: Judge Haden/Commissioner Theriot
I.18	▶ 2021 IIJA Grant Funding Project Update		notable	economic-development infrastructure negotiation
	Discuss and take possible action regarding updates on 2021 Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act Grant funding Project economic development negotiations. Commissioners Court may provide further instruction or take necessary action as appropriate. Speaker: Judge Haden/Commissioner Theriot
J.1	▶ Executive Session: Project Summit Ridge Negotiations		notable	economic-development negotiation
	Discussion of deliberation regarding economic development negotiations associated with Project Summit Ridge.
J.2	▶ Executive Session: Project Direct Forge Negotiations		notable	economic-development negotiation
	Discussion of deliberation regarding economic development negotiations associated with Project Direct Forge.
J.3	▶ Executive Session: Project Mount Fuji Negotiations		notable	economic-development negotiation
	Discussion of deliberation regarding economic development negotiations associated with Project Mount Fuji.
J.4	▶ Executive Session: 2021 IIJA Grant Funding Project Negotiations		notable	economic-development infrastructure negotiation
	Discussion of deliberation regarding economic development negotiations with respect to 2021 Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act Grant funding Project.

Routine Items (9 items — click to expand)

ID	Description	Cost	Tags
F.1	▶ Approve County Invoices and Purchase Orders	$1,835,908.13	budget
	Approve County Invoices and Purchase Orders in the amount of $1,835,908.13.
F.2	▶ Approve County Payroll Payment	$553,784.18	budget personnel
	Approve County Payroll payment in the amount of $553,784.18 for the period of 02/22/2026 through 03/07/2026.
F.3	▶ Approve County Payroll Tax Payment	$161,548.26	budget
	Approve County Payroll Tax payment in the amount of $161,548.26 for the period of 02/22/2026 through 03/07/2026.
F.4	▶ Accept Treasurer's Office Cash Handling Audit		budget transparency
	Accept the Treasurer's Office Cash Handling Audit.
F.5	▶ Accept February 2026 Tax Collection Report		budget transparency
	Accept the February 2026 Tax Collection Report from the Caldwell County Appraisal District.
F.6	▶ Accept DSHS Tobacco Settlement Distribution Program Report		budget health
	Accept the DSHS Tobacco Settlement Distribution Program 2026 Expenditure Statement for Counties.
I.1	▶ Approve Minutes (March 12, 2026 Regular Meeting)		transparency
	Discuss and take possible action regarding the approval of the Minutes for the March 12, 2026, regular meeting. Speaker: Judge Haden/Teresa Rodriguez
I.2	▶ Approve Minutes (March 12, 2026 Workshop Meeting)		transparency
	Discuss and take possible action regarding the approval of the Minutes for the March 12, 2026, Workshop meeting. Speaker: Judge Haden/Teresa Rodriguez
I.12	▶ Agreement for New Work Order System	$4,248.00	technology infrastructure
	Approve an agreement with Coast/Torger Philosophos for a new work order system for the Caldwell County Maintenance Department. Speaker: Judge Haden/Dominique Esquivel/Curtis Weber

Major Expenditures

Item	Amount	Description
F.1	$1,835,908.13	County Invoices and Purchase Orders
F.2	$553,784.18	County Payroll Payment
F.3	$161,548.26	County Payroll Tax Payment
I.13	$176,529.00	Blue Layer Co-Managed Services Agreement
I.14	$69,406.08	Blue Layer Software and Cybersecurity Bundle Agreement
I.10	$30,000.00	Budget Amendment for District Attorney Legal Services
I.11	$30,000.00	Professional Service Agreement for DA Outside Services
I.12	$4,248.00	Agreement for New Work Order System

Total: $2,777,611.47

Glossary

DSHS: Department of State Health Services
TIRZ: Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone — a designated area where property tax revenue increases are used to fund improvements within that zone
PPDC: Public-Private Development Corporation
IIJA: Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act
EDC: Economic Development Corporation