By Michael Robinson | Uvalde Hesperian

Thursday, March 12th, 2026

    On December 7th, a $756,348.69  Uvalde County awarded to DKM Enterprises LLC a contract to build seven low-water crossings on tributaries of the Leona River.

CR 428 is one of the seven low water crossings that is included. In order to construct the low water crossing, it was stated by Uvalde County Appraisal District Grant Writer Carl Esser that temporary access to adjacent private property be acquired.

  At the Monday, March 9th, Uvalde County Commissioners Court meeting, agenda item #13 was approved by Uvalde County which is a contractual agreement for temporary access of a strip of privately owned land referred to as Williams Ranch (5W), a Series of J & C Williams Investments LLC.

   County Road 428 located in the Deer Valley area north of Uvalde, CR 428 is one of the Leona low water crossings awarded to DKM Enterprises in December 2025. DKM will begin work within the next few months. According to County Commissioner Ronald “Ronnie” Garza, there are a number of residents who use that road as well as school buses.

  The County approved the terms of the contract for temporary access which will cost the county $500 a week for a maximum of five weeks. 

  According to Uvalde County Grant Writer Carl Esser, who presented the agenda item to the Court he said, “It will require a temporary bypass road (484 linear feet in length) to allow both incoming and outgoing traffic.” 

  Other considerations include a strand fence and a 14-foot gate on the north side of the bypass road to be installed by a private contractor. Esser stated a quote from Kimball fabricating to build the fence is estimated at $3,800.  According to Esser, the fencing is needed to keep livestock from venturing onto the Wright County Road.

  He went on to say limestone base will be laid down for the bypass road and at the end of the day, the limestone base material will be retained by the private property owner.

 Carl Esser responded to a public records request submitted to Uvalde County by the Uvalde Hesperian with additional details bypass roadway including the width of the road as well as the amount of Limestone base to be used and its cost:

Breakdown of Costs for Temporary Access Agreement

1. $500/week for maximum of 5 weeks                       $2,500.00
2. Fence and Gate Cost estimate:                                    $3,500.00
3. Temporary bypass road cost of materials:
4. Total estimated cost of materials                               $1,834.00

       Total costs for Temporary Access Agreement           $7,834.00

01-28-28

Michael Robinson |Uvalde Hesperian

Top Photo by Robinson

At the Monday, January 27th Uvalde County Commissioners Court meeting, Uvalde County Road Administrator Dee Kirkpatrick stated in his report to Commissioners a large pile of construction debris was found dumped near the Frio River Crossing on County Road 101 just north of Knippa.

It was suggested the area be patrolled by the Uvalde County Sheriff’s Department deputies on a regular basis.

When Kirkpatrick was asked by the Uvalde Hesperian for more details after the court adjourned, he said the construction debris dumped consisted of scrap wood and interior construction materials and had already been cleaned up. The Uvalde Hesperian visited the location earlier today and found a few scraps of wood where the illegally dumped material may have been.

 Article by Michael Robinson ; Picture Credit: Robinson ; Maps: Uvalde County Judge’s Office

At Monday’s June 12th Uvalde County Commissioner’s Court meeting, three citizens spoke about concerns of various Uvalde County roadways. One citizen who spoke mentioned she had looked for a Uvalde County road map and counld not find one. Uvalde County Judge Bill Mitchell said the map she was looking for would be made available. The Uvalde Hesperian reached out to the UC Judge’s Office shortly after the meeting requesting a copy of the map.

The following maps were recieved by the Uvalde Hesperian:

 Uvalde County Maps showing County Roads

 Uvalde County Redistricting Maps