Relay for Life to Move Back Downtown; New Railroad Crossing in Winchester

meeting: The Winchester community will get a new railroad crossing on Zilss Rd. thanks to the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT).

The new crossing will greatly improve stormwater drainage in the area. The County had planned to use $204,500 in grant funds from the Texas General Land Office (GLO) to pay for drainage improvements at the crossing.

“It has been identified as a rail crossing in need of repair and could be dangerous because of the elevation,” said Pct. 1 Commissioner Jason McBroom at last Thursday’s Commissioners Court meeting. “Basically, it’s going to upgrade the rail crossing, which is really expensive, and get the drainage completed at no cost to the County.”

Fayette County Emergency Management Coordinator Angela Hahn said the County will now be able to reallocate the GLO grant funds to another upcoming project, emergency radio communications upgrades.

“This is good news,” said County Judge Dan Mueller.

“This is going to be the first rail crossing project in (TxDOT’s) Yoakum district,” McBroom said. “That’s how new of a program this is.”

McBroom said TxDOT wants to complete a similar railroad crossing project on Whistleville Rd. in Pct. 3. Pct. 3 Commissioner Harvey Berckenhoff said the Whistleville Rd. crossing has been the scene of several accidents over the years, including a fatality.

In other business, Fayette County Republican Party Chairman-elect Michael Schlabach spoke during the meeting’s public comment period.

“I just wanted to introduce myself to all of y’all,” Schlabach said. “To any elected officials, in non-primary years, anything you need, I don’t care if you voted for me or not, I’m here to help you.”

Commissioners Court also approved a request from La Grange Relay for Life to use the grounds on the south side of the Courthouse, electricity and the Founders Park restrooms for the Relay for Life event, which takes place on Saturday, April 20. The event used to be held downtown before moving to La Grange Leopard Stadium.

“The reason we decided to change this year is because we only have about 25 participants,” said event chair Glenda Munch. “We felt like if we went down to Leopard Stadium, our 25 people would look a little lost down there. We’d like to have it on the Square if possible.” Commissioners unanimously approved the request.

Also on Thursday, Commissioners signed a voluntary annexation petition for the new Schulenburg EMS Station. The County built the station last year on property just outside the City Limits. The City of Schulenburg agreed to provide utilities to the property in exchange for voluntary annexation. Commissioners voted unanimously to sign the annexation petition.

Commissioners also voted unanimously to purchase a baling machine for plastic recyclables for $15,385. The baler will be paid for with grant funds awarded to the County by Keep Texas Beautiful through the HEB Community Recycling Grant Program. It will be installed at the County’s recycling center in Schulenburg.