Term to know
An Emergency Services District, or ESD, is a local political subdivision established by voters within a specific geographic area to provide emergency services such as fire protection, ambulance and rescue services. ESDs are typically funded through property taxes or sales taxes.
What happened
During a Feb. 27 meeting, commissioners unanimously approved the appointment of Stephen Balderas, a born and raised resident of Hutto, as the new president of WilCo ESD No. 3 Board of Commissioners. Board members serve two-year terms.
Prior to the approval, commissioners addressed concerns from local fire department staff. During public comment, two members of the Hutto Fire Rescue expressed a desire to postpone the appointment until further discussions could take place regarding the necessity of prior emergency responder experience in an appointee.
“We're concerned that the [potential] president does not have any skills or experience that are applicable to the position of the president or on the board. We would like someone who we feel can make educated decisions regarding the future of our department,” Jason Oltman said.
The previous president governed the board for nearly 15 years, according to County Judge Bill Gravell.
During the interview process, Precinct 4 County Commissioner Russ Boles said he looked for qualifications outlined by the fire chief, which included questions about budget management, tax rates and administration, but there was no mention of the need for a president with extensive firefighting experience. He said the fire department needs a strong financial leader, especially in light of recent budget expenditures for fire station remodels and construction. The department spent roughly $16 million on four buildings since 2019, according to ESD documents.
In response to the requests to postpone the appointment, Gravell said: “We all have lanes that we have to live in. You may not be pleased with yours, but it's not your decision."
