Comal County · issues
Civic issues
Topics getting the most attention in Comal County public meetings, ranked by how frequently they come up.
High-Water Warning System Power Upgrades
Comal County and New Braunfels are pooling $1.25 million in state flood money to add sirens and unify the warning network from Canyon Lake through New Braunfels, Seguin, and Guadalupe County. The county takes over maintaining the city's high-water warning system and gains a city-funded technician plus 50% cost-share on equipment.
Canyon Lake Water Quality Protection
The county is preparing to spend $30 million in Texas Water Development Board financing (including $4.4 million in principal forgiveness) to buy land over the Edwards and Trinity aquifer recharge and contributing zones. A tiered scoring system and technical advisory committee will rank applications; the public can comment online through November 9 before adoption on November 19.
Meyer Ranch Unit 13 Road Acceptance
The county accepted roads and drainage in the Preserve at Elm Creek Unit 2 into its maintenance system, with a two-year maintenance bond from New Braunfels covering construction damage while homes are built.
IT cloud backup migration
The county is consolidating its Microsoft 365 and local data backups onto Dell Apex cloud services, bundling contracts and saving about $95,000 versus buying hard drives.
Krueger Canyon Road Development Agreement & Safety Improvements
A development agreement with CEMEX will replace a dangerous stretch of Krueger Canyon Road — 50-foot right of way, heavy truck traffic, two 90-degree turns, and low-water crossings — with a modern 80-foot right-of-way, 24-foot pavement road built to the county's new subdivision standards. The county pays up to 30% of construction cost and vacates the old segment.
Engineer-in-Training position for Road Department
The county created an entry-level civil engineer position to bolster subdivision review, drainage, and inspection capacity, aiming to hire December graduates and fund it from road and bridge reserves.
Road Infrastructure
The Court accepted Simmons Valley roads into county maintenance (meaning taxpayers now maintain them) and abandoned a remnant of the historic New Braunfels-Blanco Road that hasn't been maintained in decades.
Johnson Way Road Dedication and Assessment
The county initiated statutory procedures to take over maintenance of a portion of Johnson Way in Bulverde after a $175,000 developer contribution.
Outdoor Burn Ban
Due to drying conditions and low fuel moisture, the court implemented a burn ban across unincorporated areas of Comal County starting the following morning.
Mental Health Facility Construction Acceleration
The county approved an $88,040 change order using federal ARPA funds to speed up drywall installation at the new mental health facility, aiming for an April completion date.
Mental Health Facility Project Change Order
The court approved a $52,261.64 change order for the Comal County Mental Health Extended Observation Unit and Crisis Residential Unit. The project has encountered plumbing and foundation adjustments due to expansive soils.
Election Turnout
Comal County just smashed early voting records on day one with nearly 6,000 residents turning out. If you're heading to the polls soon, brace for long lines and check wait times before leaving the house.
Early Voting
Early voting for the upcoming midterm elections starts this Monday in Comal County, giving everyone a chance to beat the lines. Make sure to check out local polling places and look over your sample ballot before you head out.
Subdivision Regulation Updates
Comal County is proposing major updates to its subdivision regulations, including increasing lot frontages from 40 to 60 feet, requiring traffic impact analyses, and strengthening road construction base requirements to handle heavy construction traffic.
Subdivision Plat Corrections and Cancellations
The court reviewed and approved multiple subdivision plat amendments, replats, and construction bonds for roads and drainage across Precincts 1 and 4.
Emergency Services District Board Nomination Policy
The court will address leadership changes on local Emergency Services Districts #1 and #3 by accepting resignations and appointing new commissioners to unexpired terms.
Grant Applications for Specialty Courts and Juvenile Programs
Comal County accepted over $231,000 in state grants from the Governor's Office to support accountability, mental health, and felony drug court programs without drawing from the general fund.
Domestic violence services in Comal County
The Crisis Center of Comal County served more than 1,500 clients last year — over half children — and now has a new building offering safety and healing. Its 24/7 hotline is 830-620-7520.
Constable Pct. 3 community engagement and breast cancer awareness
Precinct 3 deputies will wear pink breast cancer awareness patches through October and launched a 'Green Ninjas' token program to build relationships with young residents.
Executive Recruitment for County Administrator
The court met in executive session to discuss the duties, responsibilities, and hiring process for a new county administrator.
Conservation Land Acquisition
The county is moving toward issuing up to $25.575 million in certificates of obligation, mostly to buy property rights that protect creeks, rivers, and springs through the Water Quality Protection Lands Program with the Texas Water Development Board — including about $4.5 million in loan forgiveness. The public gets a workshop and comment period in late October and mid-November before final action.
Sheriff's Office Vehicle Fleet Expansion
The Sheriff's Office secured discounted 2026 Tahoes, allowing them to purchase extra patrol vehicles using forfeiture and personnel funds.
Youth Sports Park Improvements & Funding Swaps
The county reallocated funds to partner with youth sports groups for field lighting, bleachers, and shade structures.
Jail and Tax Office Capital Projects
To address near-capacity jail populations and costly out-of-county inmate transfers, the county authorized issuing up to $180 million ($155 million budgeted) in certificates of obligation to fund a major jail expansion.
2027 County Budget Planning
The county adopted a $214 million budget and set the tax rate at roughly 30.5 cents per $100. While officials emphasized staff retention, COLAs, and a flat tax rate, some residents expressed frustration over property tax burdens.
Property Exchange for Sattler Road Annex
The county is swapping property at 1345 Sattler Road for land at 1398 FM 2673 to clear the way for a new county annex facility in the area.
Public Park Access
Recent storm damage has shut down a few Canyon Lake boat ramps, so make sure to check conditions before heading out this weekend. It's a frustrating hiccup if you were planning on hitting the water for some recreation.
Comal Elementary #22 Plat and Infrastructure
The county approved final platting and road and drainage bonds for Comal Elementary #22 in Meyer Ranch, accommodating new school construction.
2026 Comal County Budget and 2025 Property Tax Rate Adoption
Comal County is proposing to keep its tax rate steady at $0.305015 per $100 valuation for the 2027 fiscal year budget. A public hearing was held, and final adoption is scheduled for September 17.
Truancy Prevention and SAFE Program Grant
The county accepted a $30,000 state grant to continue counseling and support services for families and students.
Library Expansion
The Tye Preston Memorial Library is breaking ground on a brand-new expansion next Tuesday, which means we're getting way more space and better programs right in our neighborhood. It's a huge win for anyone who loves hanging out at our local community hub.
Public Improvement District Assessments
The county approved annual updates and assessment rolls for The Grove and The Crossings public improvement districts, ensuring sufficient funds are collected to service district debt.
School Bond Election
Comal ISD is putting a massive $567 million bond on the November ballot to build new schools, upgrade safety features, and buy buses to handle our area's crazy population boom. If it passes, expect your tax dollars to fund these growing pains.
Road Improvement Program
HNTB Corporation was selected as the engineering consultant to develop the county's upcoming road improvement program.
Park Reopening
Nichol's Landing is officially back open after getting cleaned up from the recent storm damage. You can finally make your weekend water plans, just watch out for any leftover debris floating around.
Employee Benefits Renewal
The county approved its annual health insurance and supplemental benefit packages for employees, including a 5.53% rate tier increase for health coverage and renewals for dental, vision, life, and disability plans.
County Administrator Reorganization
Comal County is restructuring the county administrator position, raising its grade, adding budget officer duties, and placing multiple key departments under its direct supervision ahead of the current administrator's retirement.
Wastewater Permit Concerns
Residents raised concerns about the proposed Canyon Juniper Ranch wastewater permit renewal, warning that effluent could impact local aquifers and private water wells.
Canyon Juniper Ranch Wastewater Permit and Water Quality
A local resident raised concerns about wastewater effluent discharge from the Canyon Juniper Ranch development potentially impacting private wells and the Cow Creek aquifer.
County Fuel Purchasing and Cost Management
The county purchasing office reviewed fuel expenditures and savings achieved by encouraging fleet vehicles to fill up at county yards rather than retail pumps, while considering a fixed-rate TASB fuel agreement.
Water Levels and Park Access
Canyon Lake is filling up fast, so expect some boat ramps and park areas to close soon because of high water. Take a minute to check the latest park status online before you head out this week.
Virtual Court Program
The 466th District Court highlighted savings of over $167,000 by utilizing TDCJ virtual court proceedings instead of transporting incarcerated defendants across the state.
Park Closures Due to Flooding
Planning a lake day? Several Canyon Lake parks are suddenly shutting down because floodwaters are rising fast, so double-check conditions before you pack up the car.
Boil Water Notice
Heavy flooding in Comal County has triggered a boil water notice for Canyon Lake and Bulverde residents. You'll need to boil your tap water before drinking or using it for cooking to avoid getting sick.
Flood Damage Prevention Violation at 29905 Bulverde Lane
Heavy rainfall caused significant flooding across Comal County, leading to approximately 15 road closures and continuous monitoring by the Emergency Operations Center. County officials urged residents to monitor real-time road conditions and river flow data online before traveling.
Water Availability
Representatives from GBRA, CTGCD, TWC, and NBU warned that Comal County is facing intense drought conditions and explosive population growth, requiring aggressive conservation and large regional water projects.
Justice of the Peace Precinct 3 Facility Renovation
The county hired Triton Design and Construction for $120,000 to design upgrades for Justice of the Peace Precinct 3.
Cypress Valley Drive Road Naming
The county approved naming a private road Cypress Valley Drive to ensure emergency services can properly locate addresses in the area.
Independence Day Road Closures and Public Safety
Sattler Road will be temporarily closed on July 4 for the VFW's annual celebration and parade.
Public Health Surveillance
The public health director updated the commissioners on ongoing monitoring for diseases like rabies and measles, and the court ratified an Ebola grant funding request to prepare for potential federal funds.