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Commissioners debate Comfort park plan; county staff told to explore grants and procurement options
Summary
Kendall County commissioners on Tuesday discussed creating a master plan for a 48-acre Comfort property purchased with Proposition A funds, but did not authorize county spending; staff were directed to explore grants, procurement options and coordination with city and community stakeholders.
Kendall County Commissioners heard a lengthy presentation and debate Tuesday about possible uses for a 48-acre Comfort property the county purchased with Prop A funds. The discussion centered on whether the county should fund a consultant to produce a master plan for ballfields, courts and waterfront access, and whether the park should be developed now or considered as part of a countywide parks master plan.
Commissioner Chad Carpenter and local youth-sports representatives urged the court to allow the parks advisory board and county staff to hire an outside firm to create a master development plan for the Comfort property, noting shortages of youth-sports fields in Boerne and Comfort and citing the potential to raise outside funding from sponsors and grants. Carpenter proposed authorizing up to $100,000 to contract for a master plan; he said the county would not necessarily cover construction costs, but that a clear design is needed to support fundraising.
Other commissioners expressed caution. Several said the county should not begin large development while other Prop A obligations and county renovation projects remain unfinished, and suggested a countywide prioritization exercise. Commissioner Chapman urged engineering and floodplain staff to be fully involved because the property borders the Guadalupe River and is within a floodplain; he flagged costs for treated irrigation water and long-term maintenance. Commissioner McCall suggested staff explore grants through Texas Parks and Wildlife and other programs before committing county funds. Several commissioners asked whether county development staff could produce a plan in-house to save money; engineers said staffing limits and competing priorities mean outsourcing or external funding is likely.
Speakers from Comfort Youth Baseball Association described space constraints for junior fields and reliance on the high school to host games. Parks volunteers said the county’s purchase was meant to address recreational needs and suggested the county pursue grant opportunities now; county staff said they had scheduled a Texas Parks and Wildlife meeting to discuss potential funding.
No authorization to spend county funds was approved at the meeting. Commissioners asked the parks advisory board and county staff to return with a plan: explore grant opportunities (including Texas Parks and Wildlife programs), determine whether in-house planning capacity could be used, and coordinate with the City of Boerne and other stakeholders. County staff said they will pursue grant and procurement clarifications, and that the parks board should meet and advise before the court commits public dollars.
