Members of the Karnes County Commissioners Court highlighted concerns about a proposed solar farm, illegal dumping and ongoing infrastructure projects during their reports at the Feb. 24 meeting.
Pct. 1 Commissioner David Wiatrek reported he and Pct. 4 Commissioners Wesley Gisler met with representatives of Heelstone, a renewable energy company regarding a proposed solar development near Choate. Wiatrek said Heelstone had leased 1,000 acres for the potential project.
“We advised Heelstone that while we have no authority over their use of private property, we feel that many residents are opposed to solar farm construction,” Wiatrek said. “We encouraged Heelstone to keep their plans transparent and recommend that they schedule public meetings to update the public of their plans.”
Gisler suggested the county hold a town hall for residents to learn more about the proposed project.
Illegal dumping and littering on county roads drew strong comments from multiple commissioners.
“I had a resident reach out about mattresses that were dumped into Panther Creek on County Road 163,” Wiatrek said. “I drug the mattresses out of the creek and hauled them to the county’s collection station.
“I volunteer every Wednesday at the Christian Thrift Center, and we’re also having problems with people dumping unwanted furniture, which we then have to haul away.”
Wiatrek reminded residents of disposal options.
“There’s a bulk collection site on Morning Street in Kenedy, and it is open from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Wednesdays and 8 a.m. to noon on Saturdays,” he said. “The Karnes County collection site is on Riddleville Road in Karnes  City. It is open from 8 to 4 on Fridays and 8 to noon on Saturdays.”
Wiatrek also said the San Antonio River Authority will hold a hazardous household waste collection on March 21 at the Karnes County Youth Showgrounds.
Two commissioners said they had received complaints regarding fiber internet installations.
Commissioners provided updates on numerous road projects across the county, including Hobson Township, County Road 240, County Road 196, County Road 200, County Road 208, County Road 217 and others.
“Hobson Township project is moving along, all concrete work is 50% complete,” Pct. 2 Commissioner Bernard Lyssy said.
“County Road 240 from Highway 181 to 123, drainage pipes are damaged, and they’re will replaced, possibly, hopefully, by the end of the week,” Lyssy added.
After attending the VG Young School for County Commissioners Conference, Lyssy said counties should adopt additional policies to prepare for growth.
“We were told that all counties should have these things in place and one is a tax abatement policy. Reinvesting zone,” Lyssy said. “We need to have a strategic role plan and a master role plan. We should have an economic development plan policy.”
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