Atascosa County voters deciding on new emergency services district to improve response times.
POTEET, Texas — Big changes could be coming to parts of Atascosa County, and voters now hold the decision in their hands.
On Feb. 10, 2025, the Atascosa County Commissioners Court approved a special election to decide on the creation of Emergency Services District #2 (ESD 2). The proposition is now on the ballot and early voting is underway. Supporters say it’s a critical step toward improving response times and saving lives in the Poteet, Ata-Bexar, and Leming response areas.
Currently, only one part of Atascosa County—Lytle and Rossville—is covered by a paid emergency services district. The rest rely on volunteer firefighters. With the county’s population growing and emergency calls increasing, some say that’s no longer enough.
“Probably the past five years we’ve been talking about this,” said Devon Wilborn, a firefighter with the Poteet Volunteer Fire Department. “To now see it come to fruition and actually be placed on the ballot is a huge milestone and a huge step in the right direction to continue to move the county forward.”
If approved, the new ESD would provide funding to hire full-time personnel, improve equipment and ultimately speed up emergency responses.
“This emergency services district #2 will encompass the areas of the Poteet, Ata-Bexar and Leming area,” Wilborn said.
“Eventually hire paid personnel firemen, better equipment, better response times.”
Wilborn warns that without the proposition passing, the county risks not being able to keep up with emergency calls.
“If we’re unable to establish an ESD, we run the risk of not being able to sustain the call volume… and eventually risk a fire department being dissolved,” he explained.
One of the leading voices advocating for the ESD is Esmeralda Zapata. In February 2023, she lost her daughter and two grandchildren in a house fire near Von Ormy. While the Atascosa County Fire Marshal says it took 13 minutes for the first fire truck to arrive, neighbors disputed the timeline saying crews arrived within 30 minutes.
“It’s about safety, making sure the residents have safety in the community,” said Zapata. “Now I’m fighting for [my family]. If I don’t fight, I feel like I didn’t do anything for them.”
Although she isn’t eligible to vote in the Atascosa County Election, Zapata has been creating flyers and posters to help educate residents about the proposition.
For residents with questions or concerns, a community town hall is set for Saturday at 10 a.m. at Resurrected Life Church in Poteet.
Voting Details
Early voting is underway in Atascosa County through April 25, and will resume April 28–29 at the Atascosa County Elections Office in Jourdanton (914 Main St).
On Election Day, Friday, May 3, voters in the response area can cast their ballots at the Poteet EMS building or the Atascosa County Elections Office.
Poteet residents will need to vote twice—once for city elections and again for the county ESD proposition.