Amended ordinance to allow for new Bastrop wireless transmission facility
Bastrop City Council unanimously approved an ordinance amendment Aug. 5 that will allow wireless transmission facilities to be built in the "Employment Center."
What we know
The Employment Center, or P-EC, is a zoning district for a mix of development types that accommodate commercial, retail and office uses, according to the city of Bastrop.
“We’ve been working over the past year-plus on this,” said James Cowey, Bastrop’s director of development services, during a special Bastrop City Council meeting Aug. 5. “There’s an issue with proper cell communications, mobile communications—not just for day-to-day operations but for emergency situations.”
The details
There are several common forms of wireless transmission facilities, including:
- Attached wireless transmission facility
- Stealth wireless transmission facility
- Monopole
- Self-enclosed monopole
What the experts say
Officials discussed how a new wireless transmission facility, which would be located just south of Hwy. 71 near Lovers Lane, would relieve existing sites from a lot of existing traffic.
“It’s not going to be a really tall site,” said Vincent Huebinger of Vincent Gerard & Associates, the consultant for the landowner, tower owner and AT&T. “We have photo simulations made for it. You can barely see it from Hwy. 71, but it’s going to be adequate for coverage.”
Bastrop City Council’s vote comes after the Planning and Zoning Commission approved an ordinance amendment in a 5-1 vote during a meeting July 1.
What's next?
A second reading of the amended ordinance will be held during the next regular Bastrop City Council meeting Aug. 12.
Bastrop County OKs mental health program
Bastrop County Commissioners Court authorized a licensing agreement with the CredibleMind platform for its Behavioral Health 360 program during a meeting July 28.
The tool will allow the public free access to the following:
- Expert-reviewed resources to improve mental health and well-being
- Interactive assessments
- A blog on mental health and well-being
“As all of you know, this country has experienced a mental health crisis,” said Donna Nichols, Bastrop Public Health Department director, during the meeting. “We’re no different here in Bastrop County. We can’t treat ourselves out of this particular condition.”
She highlighted that Bastrop County officials held 10 community discussion groups in 2024, which represented feedback from about 112 residents.
“What came out of those discussions was the need for mental health support and approaches that could take care of those individuals who are not in that treatment phase,” Nichols said.
The Behavioral Health 360 program—expected to be available to Bastrop County residents by October—will be available 24/7 in English and Spanish.
The Behavioral Health 360 Program will cost Bastrop County $17,700—$13,200 for an annual license fee, $2,500 for an annual Spanish language translation fee and $2,000 for implementation. It will be paid for with the remaining funds from a National Association of County and City Health Officials grant.
“It is not the ultimate solution,” Nichols said. “It is one step for self-care and assessment.”
Bastrop County names committee for jail expansion
A steering committee will help guide officials in designing a jail expansion project after Bastrop County Commissioners Court authorized the panel during a meeting Aug. 11.
“The current Bastrop County jail will continue to outgrow its current state as the population grows,” according to a Capital Improvement Plan. “The growth in population unfortunately includes the growth in Bastrop County’s crime rate.”
Some context
The jail—located in the Bastrop County Sheriff’s Office at 200 Jackson St. in Bastrop—was originally built in 1990 and operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
“Presently these facilities accommodate a sheriff's office staff that exceeds 200 personnel and an average daily inmate population of 300,” according to the Capital Improvement Plan.
The facility, which can absorb inmate overflow from neighboring counties, had an addition in 2008.
“The addition ... not only increased the capacity for the jail population, but addressed the deficiencies in the kitchen, medical and laundry facilities,” according to the Capital Improvement Plan.
