Development
BY GRANT CRAWFORD, MANUEL HOLGUIN JR. & GRACIE WARHURST
County narrows search for justice center site Williamson County commissioners discussed next steps for the planned Justice Center complex, including selecting a site, at their meeting Dec. 16. The details Cameron Glass, a representative with project manager Kitchell, presented an overview of Phase 1 and discussed next steps at the meeting. After evaluating current conditions and assessing long-term Justice Center needs, Kitchell con rmed the county will need to construct a new facility. “We found that in a lot of cases, you are out of space,” Glass said. “The facility’s been kept up, ... but it does start to show its age inside.” As part of Phase 1, Kitchell looked at future jail capacity needs, projected number of courts and caseloads, and o ce space requirements to build 25-year and 50-year forecasts.
P ugerville reopens improved park Murchison-Mallard Pond Park reopened Dec. 4, after the city completed an improve- ment project to bring more amenities. The overview The park project, which began in May, includes a new half-mile concrete trail, playground, shaded pavilion, more picnic stations, benches, drinking fountains, a butter y garden and additional trees. The $1.2-million project stems from a 2020 bond to fund improvements to P ugerville parks.
$80M in water projects planned in P ugerville P ugerville is preparing to issue nearly $80 million in low-interest debt to complete two major water system projects. The planned nancing is included in the city’s long-term utility budget and will not change current water or wastewater rates, according to city sta . Two-minute impact The measures authorize up to $52.99 million for the city’s Secondary Colorado River Raw Water Line and $27.18 million for the expansion of the water treatment plant and related system upgrades. During the meeting, council members received an update on construction progress from City Engineer Je Dunsworth, who said work is well underway across several contracts. The raw water pump station is roughly 24% complete, with three pumps expected to begin operating by
Hutto establishes reinvestment zone Hutto City Council approved a new development zone along SH 130 on Dec. 5, establishing a dedicated funding tool to support long-term infrastructure needs. The overview The tax increment reinvestment zone, or TIRZ 4, covers about 1,970 acres along the SH 130 corridor. As new development increases property values in that area, part of the new tax revenue generated will be set aside to pay for roads, utilities and other public improvements. The city will next begin conversations with Williamson County, which has not yet committed to participating in the TIRZ. Sta said county o cials typically wait for cities to formally adopt a zone before considering their own contribution levels.
“One thing that’s going to be very important during this whole process, as everyone knows, is the communication
“This is probably the biggest water project in the history of P ugerville.”
to our citizens in Williamson County. Once we get through all the Phase 2 and move on, and if the public sees that price tag, there’s going to be some sticker shock.” STEVE SNELL, WILLIAMSON COUNTY JUDGE
DAVID ROGERS, PLACE 6 CITY COUNCIL MEMBER
March—enough for the system to function while the fourth pump is installed. Dunsworth said both the pipeline and the plant expansion remain on track for completion by late 2026, and while change orders and cost adjust- ments are anticipated, the projects are expected to stay close to their budgeted totals. What residents should know City o cials emphasized that issuing the new debt will not result in higher water or wastewater rates because the nancing was built into previous budgets as part of the long-term capital planning for the utility system.
What’s next The planning rm looked at 37 potential sites for the complex in Phase 1 and narrowed down a “short list” for further consideration in Phase 2, Glass said. Phase 2 will also include programming con- cepts and will wrap up in mid-2026, Glass said. The county hopes to open the new Justice Center complex by 2030, according to a tentative project schedule.
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Murchison-Mallard Pond Park
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ROUND ROCK 201 University Oaks Blvd (512) 341-9066 ARBORETUM 10515 N Mopac Expy (512) 342-6893
GEORGETOWN 1013 W University Ave (512) 868-6696
PFLUGERVILLE 19000 Limestone Commercial Dr (512) 953-4070
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