Government
BY GRANT CRAWFORD & MANUEL HOLGUIN JR.
Hutto to issue bonds for utility, police projects The city of Hutto plans to issue roughly $77 million in bonds for upcoming utility projects and the design of a new justice center. Overview More than $72.5 million of the bond funding will help support capital improvement projects for the city’s utility system. Andre Ayala, HilltopSecurities nancial advisor, said in an Oct. 17 City Council meeting that these bonds would be supported by the city’s property taxes and its revenue collected from utility services. However, he added that the debt would likely be repaid using solely utility revenues. Hutto has been undergoing a series of water and wastewater infra- structure projects, including the South Wastewater Treatment Plant the city broke ground on last year. Another $5 million in general obligation bonds
Developer sought for Cottonwood project The Hutto Economic Development Cor- poration is looking for a new development partner for Cottonwood Properties after the HEDC board of directors voted Oct. 8 to end negotiations with Houston-based company Midway. Overview The Hutto EDC rst selected Midway as the master developer for the Cottonwood Properties in December 2023. The 240-acre property was expected to be the site of a mixed-use development similar to The Hutto Co-Op District. Following a review of the project’s progress, the HEDC board “determined that pursuing alternative development options would be in the best interests of the commu- nity,” according to a news release.
Bond funding for Hutto utility system projects Southeast Loop Wastewater Interceptor: $24.9 million Brushy Creek Interceptor Phase 4: $32.67 million Avery Lake Interceptor Phase 1: $8.94 million Avery lake Interceptor Phase 2: $6.03 million
CITY OF HUTTO COMMUNITY IMPACT
would go to the design of Hutto’s new justice cen- ter. In July, Hutto Police Chief Je rey Yarbrough told council members the Hutto Police Depart- ment’s facility is in need of an upgrade. Ayala said the average annual debt payment for the utility projects would come out to around $5.2 million, while the annual debt payments for the justice center design would be slightly over $400,000. These would be paid out over 25 years and 20 years, respectively. The bonds passed in the 2018 election, with three propositions totaling $125 million.
P ugerville appoints James Richards as police chief P ugerville City Council approved the appoint- ment of James "Willie" Richards as the city’s new police chief following a nationwide search for the position. The overview Safety Capitol Police and the Travis County Sheri ’s O ce.
“I want to work through the organization, nd out where we are structurally when it comes to response
to resistance or aggression, what our policies look like and how we do business and how we treat people.” JAMES RICHARDS, PFLUGERVILLE POLICE CHIEF
Richards said his top priorities include a 90-day observation period to assess the department’s structure, policies and community interactions. He also plans to review how the department handles and stores evidence, to ensure they meet best practices. Richards is expected to begin his new role in December.
Richards previously served as the assistant chief of police for Round Rock. A veteran, he’s also worked for the Texas Department of Public
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PFLUGERVILLE HUTTO EDITION
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