ESD No. 10 looks to expand

TAYLOR – Williamson County Emergency District No. 10 services rural Elgin and Coupland but could be extending into Taylor extraterritorial jurisdiction. 

Currently, the Avery-Pickett Volunteer Fire Department services a large portion of Taylor’s ETJ.  

A group of citizens who live in the Avery-Pickett Volunteer Fire Department service area have started a petition for Emergency Services District #10 to annex them. The ESD board of directors can either vote to accept or deny to have the request on the ballot for election. 

An ESD is a tax-supported entity created by a public vote to provide fire protection and emergency medical services in a designated area. Most volunteer fire departments, however, raise revenue through charitable donations and activities, such as Bingo, and do not have a full-time paid staff.  

Since 2017, the Thrall and Coupland volunteer fire departments have had a contract with ESD No. 10 to provide first response, fire and rescue inside the district’s jurisdiction.   

Thrall VFD Chief Mark Mollenburg said his Thrall and Coupland volunteer firefighters are transitioning to become members of ESD No. 10.  

"The membership of Thrall and Coupland volunteer fire departments all transferred their membership to ESD No. 10," he said. "We are operating now on what is generally referred to as a ESD direct service provider." 

The petition was submitted at the last board meeting and is currently in a 30-day waiting period. The leadership of ESD No. 10 are mulling whether to put the issue on the ballot in a few months and have voters decide.   

A decision is expected at the next meeting Feb. 14.