Lockhart council approves economic-development incentives, airport lease and visitor-center LOI; voters’ logistics set

The Lockhart City Council approved a slate of economic-development agreements, facility matters and administrative items during Monday’s meeting.

Key votes and outcomes

Votes at a glance

- Resolution 2025-28 (Balcones Lockhart 2023 LP / Project Rocksteady): Council approved economic incentives tied to infrastructure upgrades for a new industrial shell building that will house Hill Country Foodworks; improvements to the building are valued at roughly $2 million and will remain with the building. EDC recommended approval; the council vote passed 7–0.

- Resolution 2025-29 (Hill Country Foodworks LLC): Council approved a performance agreement providing up to $1,230,000 in incentives to support building improvements, equipment purchases and utility upgrades tied to a project expected to add 23 jobs; EDC recommended approval; vote passed 7–0.

- Resolution 2025-30 (Spare Change Restaurant LLC): Council approved incentives for a downtown entertainment/food business featuring arcade, pinball, duckpin bowling and food service; EDC recommended approval; vote passed 7–0. The owners plan a personal-pan pizza and sandwich concept and aim for an early October opening.

- Lease renewal for Stenger Air Services (airport hangar): Council approved a five-year renewal for the ground lease covering a 6,250-square-foot hangar at Lockhart Municipal Airport. Terms would continue the 1995 lease responsibilities (tenant maintains building, insurance, utilities); the annual rent for the next five-year option was stated as $658.54. The airport board unanimously recommended approval; council vote passed 7–0.

- Resolution 2025-31 (visitor center letter of intent): After executive session, council approved a letter of intent to secure a downtown visitor-center location (the former clock-and-watch museum building). Staff reported monthly rent of $3,500, which includes utilities, alarm and taxes; the letter of intent would start a 45-day due-diligence period. Council approved in open session following executive-session consideration, vote 7–0.

Other administrative items

- Appraisal district nominations: Council nominated Sally Daniels and Alfredo Munoz as the city’s representatives to the Caldwell County Appraisal District board for the 2026–27 term; approved 7–0.

- Citizen planning committee: Council appointed Diane Delgado to the citizen planning committee for Lockhart’s 250th-Anniversary celebration and scheduled the committee’s first meeting for Sept. 22 at 6:30 p.m.; approved 7–0.

What council heard

Economic-development director Holly Malish described each project’s scope. Balcones is building a shell building in Industrial Park No. 3 and Hill Country Foodworks will occupy about 48,000 square feet; improvements will increase the building’s value and remain with the property. Hill Country Foodworks described plans for two production lines, building customizations and utility upgrades. Spare Change will convert a downtown building to an entertainment and food venue; the owners plan a ribbon-cutting and inaugural duckpin bowling on Oct. 3.

Airport director Sean Kelly reviewed the 1995 ground lease for the Stenger Air hangar and said the airport board recommended renewal. Hangar owner Joe Stenger said his flight school trains roughly 50 pilots a year and the hangar supports a Lockhart flying club with about 50 members.

Council members repeatedly thanked staff and EDC for recruitment work. The visitor-center LOI was taken up in executive session to permit negotiation of terms; the council approved moving forward with a 45-day due-diligence LOI in open session thereafter.

Next steps

City staff will finalize agreements, execute lease documents as required, and move forward with the visitor-center due diligence and negotiations. EDC and staff will continue marketing the vacated properties and supporting tenant transitions.