Allen Fore, vice president of public relations for Kinder Morgan, and Greg Neal, a consultant for Kinder Morgan presented, a check for $172,000 to Blanco County Emergency Services District No. 2 on May 6.
The check was part of the Blanco County Investment Agreement negotiated by Judge Brett Bray in November 2019 for eight entities within Blanco County, which would be most impacted by the increased population from Kinder Morgan workers, increased utilization of schools, and increased use of community resources. Each of the eight entities will receive funds this year. The agreement was amended Tuesday.
The entities which will receive funds this year are: Blanco County Community Resource Center, Blanco County Wellness Program, Blanco County Sheriff’s Office, Blanco County Emergency Services District No. 1 (North), Blanco County Emergency Services District No. 2 (South), Blanco ISD Education Foundation, Johnson City Community Education Foundation and Blanco County Road and Bridge Improvement Fund.
Many families were displaced and homes were destroyed when the Blanco River flooded in May 2015. At that time there was no large generator within Blanco County for Emergency Operations, except at the Blanco County jail. Fortunately, power was not lost, and emergency operations were only hampered by water.
When the BCESD 2 Board of Commissioners designed the new station on Blanco Avenue, plans were made for a new generator. However, the generator was not purchased because of the cost. The generator required to power the station is a 100 Kw, 208/120 VAC, 60 Hz generator, and the cost is over $70,000, which includes installation.
After learning of the need for a generator, Kinder Morgan agreed to include the cost of the new generator in the investment agreement, because the pipeline under construction runs through the southern portion of Blanco County, which is served by BCESD 2 for Fire and EMS services.
In addition to the generator cost, Kinder Morgan is donating $100,000 to both BCESD 1 and BCESD 2. BCESD 1 and BCESD 2 share the same EMS chief, Ben Oakley. Oakley also serves as the Blanco County Infectious Disease Officer. BCESD 2 Fire Chief Matt McMain and Oakley will oversee the generator acquisition in the coming months.
