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Kendall County Commissioners on Feb. 24 approved the next wave of conservation easements through Proposition A funds.
Some context
Two properties were brought forward by the Cibolo Center for Conservation, totaling 32.7 acres and 27 acres, respectively.
The 32.7-acre property, known as Sisterdale Sanctuary, was acquired by The Cibolo in 2023 and protects a stretch of East Sister Creek.
The 27-acre property, known as Cibolo Bluffs, sits atop the Edwards Plateau, where shallow soils, fractured limestone and steep slopes support rapid infiltration and natural recharge of the Edwards and Trinity aquifers, according to the meeting agendas.
The third property is 1,556 acres brought forward by Rebecca Canary, with the goals of preserving the property from development or mismanagement.
For the 1,556-acre property, $1.5 million was approved alongside the transaction costs. Proposition A Committee Chair Rusty Busby said the purpose of the additional funds is to create an endowment for the property, which will be used for maintenance and stewardship of the easement in perpetuity.
According to the agenda, “nonprofits will not accept a donated property unless they can sell it and/or the cost of maintaining and stewarding the property is endowed by the donor.”
The funding source
Upon approval in 2022, Proposition A gave Kendall County $20 million in interest-bearing bonds with a requirement to spend 80%, or $17 million, by this June.
Since the inception of Proposition A, the funds have been used for the purchase of conservation easements and limited parkland throughout the county. All payments toward the conservation easements will be covered through Proposition A funding.
