Round Rock Edition | May 2025

The e-edition is an exact replica of the newspaper with interactive and searchable articles from all your favorite sections.

Round Rock Edition VOLUME 20, ISSUE 9 MAY 7JUNE 5, 2025

Expanded investment

Local semiconductor industry prepares for Samsung facility in Taylor

INSIDE

KoMiCo Technology Inc.

45 TOLL

Round Rock

JARRETT WAY

MICHAEL ANGELO WAY

Also in this issue

A KoMiCo Technology employee prepares equipment to be used in semiconductor manufacturing. COURTESY KOMICO TECHNOLOGYCOMMUNITY IMPACT

Learn about a new children’s gymnasium in Round Rock Impacts Page 7

Catch up on recent road construction in Round Rock Transportation

Page 18

You know what it means to have heart.

If you’ve been diagnosed with heart valve disease, we can help you navigate your journey with confidence.

Join our cardiologists from our medical staff at a free, virtual seminar to learn more about advances in treating heart valve disease.

HealthSpeak Education Series Thursday, May 22, 2025 12:00 – 1:00 PM

When registering online, please select Round Rock as the class seminar location.

To register, call 469.800.8850 or visit BSWHealth.com/Events

Photography may include models or actors and may not represent actual patients. Physicians provide clinical services as members of the medical staff at one of Baylor Scott & White Health’s subsidiary, community or affiliated medical centers and do not provide clinical services as employees or agents of those medical centers or Baylor Scott & White Health. ©2025 Baylor Scott & White Health. 13-ATX-1329654_CV_CTX GAR Valve Seminar Print Ad CP

COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM

ROUND ROCK EDITION

PAID ADVERTISEMENT

Round Rock Mayor Craig Morgan issues a proclamation of Texas Baptist Children’s Home Day. AzulOx Visuals

Aerial shot of TBCH in 2025 showing 17 cottages, the chapel (built in 1955), a rec center, counseling center and oces. TBCH plans to expand on the northeast quadrant of the campus o Bowman.

Rep. John Carter and wife, Erika Carter enjoyed honoring the legacy of TBCH at the 75 th Anniversary.

AzulOx Visuals

Bronze busts made in honor of Billie Sue and Louis Henna, Sr. unveiled at the 75 th Anniversary.

Aerial shot of TBCH in 1950. The original campus included 5 cottages on what used to be the edge of Round Rock, but is now the center of town.

Texas Baptist Children’s Home Celebrates 75 Years

A Legacy of Changed Lives Since that first act of faith, TBCH has walked alongside families, oering a path forward. The ministry has helped families experience the transformative power of God’s love and grace for generations. At the 75th Anniversary Celebration, alumni shared powerful testimonies of how their lives had been changed through the ministry. One mother spoke of how the Family Care program gave her the support to rebuild her family. TBCH is expanding capacity, ensuring greater safety and security for those served, and oering community services where new dreams can grow. With God’s guidance and the unwavering support of dedicated sta, donors, friends, and the community, the work Mr. and Mrs. Henna began will live on for generations to come.

Texas Baptist Children’s Home (TBCH) gathered with the Children At Heart family of ministries along with supporters, alumni, and community leaders to celebrate a remarkable milestone: 75 years of service to children and families in need. The anniversary dinner was more than just an event. It was a tribute to the countless lives transformed through decades of compassionate ministry. It all began in 1950 with the founding of Texas Baptist Children’s Home in Round Rock, Texas. Louis and Billie Sue Henna stepped out in faith, daring to dream of a refuge for children. From 112 acres and five buildings, a legacy was born. One that has brought home, hope, and healing to thousands. Their simple yes became a ripple of transformation that continues to grow today.

Billie Sue and Louis Henna, Sr. read books to children in a cottage at TBCH. To learn more about the legacy of the Henna Family and

transformational impact happening at TBCH, scan the QR code.

1101 N. Mays St., Round Rock, TX 78664 | 512-255-3682 | www.tbch.org

COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM

Owners John and Jennifer Garrett launched Community Impact in 2005, and the company is still locally owned today with editions across Texas. Our mission is to provide trusted news and local information that everyone gets. Our vision is to build communities of informed citizens and thriving businesses through the collaboration of a passionate team. Our purpose is to be a light for our readers, customers, partners and each other by living out our core values of Faith, Passion, Quality, Innovation and Integrity. About Community Impact

Market leaders & metro team

Reporters Brittany Anderson Jacquelyn Burrer Dacia Garcia Sarah Hernandez Elisabeth Jimenez Anna Maness Haley McLeod Jamie Moore Hannah Norton Brooke Sjoberg Ben Thompson Gracie Warhurst Chloe Young Graphic Designers Abbey Eckhardt Alissa Foss Abigail Hines Sabrina Musachia Karoline Pfeil Sam Schaer

Amy Leonard Bryant General Manager abryant@ communityimpact.com

Minh Nguyen Joseph Veloz Managing Editor Darcy Sprague Product Manager Gloria Amareth Quality Desk Editor Adrian Gandara Austin Market President Travis Baker

Grant Crawford Editor gcrawford@ communityimpact.com

Steanie Bartlett Account Executive sbartlett@ communityimpact.com

16225 Impact Way Pugerville, TX 78660 • 5129896808 CI Careers

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BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS | CREATING SMILES

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ROUND ROCK EDITION

Impacts Round Rock

wide variety of blended beverages, with the option to add nutritional enhancers like protein and collagen. • Opened March 31 • 7399 O’Connor Drive, Round Rock • www.smoothieking.com 5 Total Point Emergency Center The emergency center moved into the space previously occupied by Five Star ER. Individuals can nd 24/7 emergency care for trauma, injuries, COVID-19 rapid testing, imaging and lab services. Emergency care illnesses include appendicitis, chest pain, cellulitis, skin rashes, heat strokes and more. • Opened April 7 • 1700 Round Rock Ave., Round Rock • www.totalpointer.com/locations/round-rock

CARUSO LN.

620

GREAT OAKS DR.

1431

1460

DEER RIDGE DR.

A.W. GRIMES BLVD.

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Round Rock

ROUND ROCK AVE.

Coming soon

6 Cleanway Waste Management Owned by Suzette Reynoso-Bivens, Court Bivens and retired U.S. Army Colonel Greg Stoute, the family- owned business oers portable restroom rentals for events, construction sites and more. • Opened April 14 • 403 N. Mays St., Ste. 1, Round Rock • www.cleanwayrentals.com 7 HTeaO The beverage chain is coming to the Round Rock and Brushy Creek area, a company representative conrmed April 21 to Community Impact via email. HTeaO’s menu oers a variety of tea and coee options as well as a special menu of drinks named “cotton candy,” “pink amingo” and more. • Opening later this year • 16419 RM 620, Round Rock • www.hteao.com 8 Purely Provisions The coee bar and mercantile is set to bring craft coee by day and cocktails by night to downtown Round Rock. Co-owner Cory Shaw told Community Impact the shop will combine southern charm with “elevated ambiance,” with quality coee and curating a menu of light bites. • Opening late spring

AVERY RANCH BLVD.

620

O' CONNOR DR.

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MOPAC

MAP NOT TO SCALE

• Opened in March • 635 University Ave., Ste. 100, Round Rock • www.malonecoffee.com

Now open

1 Desi Brothers Farmers Market The Middle Eastern and Indian grocery store is close to 49,000 square feet and features traditional Indian groceries. The store oers unique brands, such as Nirav, Amul, Haldiram and Swagat. • Opened April 4 • 3203 S. I-35 Frontage Road, Ste. 500, Round Rock • www.desibrothers.com 2 Malone Specialty Coee The Austin-based roaster took over ownership of the Black Sugar Cae locations in Round Rock and Cedar Park in February, owners Paul and Donna Malone said.

3 Rita’s Italian Ice & Frozen Custard The Pennsylvania-based business oers a variety of sweet treats, including Italian ice, frozen custard and a combination of the two. • Opened in April • 3720 Gattis School Road, Ste. 200, Round Rock • www.ritasice.com 4 Smoothie King The international franchise has over 1,300 locations. The New Orleans-based chain of smoothie bars oers a

SUMMER PROGRAMS NOW OPEN

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COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM

BY BROOKE SJOBERG

• 212 W. Main St., Round Rock • Instagram: Purely Provisions

Now open

9 Stellar Enclosed Storage The storage facility locally owned by Eric and Michelle Klingemann is targeted to open later this year. Michelle said the facility will be fully enclosed and oer a high level of security for the 40-foot and 50-foot storage units to be located on the property. • Opening this fall • 2250 Caruso Lane, Round Rock

What’s next

10 Panda Express A new location of Panda Express is slated to be constructed, project lings from the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulations show. The American- style Chinese restaurant chain serves chow mein, rice, orange chicken, egg rolls and more. • Opening TBD • 105 Deer Ridge Dr., Round Rock • www.pandaexpress.com

13 The Cosmic Egg The business locally owned by Carolyn Lane oers sound baths, childbirth education, postpartum support, yoga classes and community events A grand opening for The Cosmic Egg will be held in June, Lane said. • Opened in early March • 106 Harris St., Ste. 100, Round Rock • www.cosmiceggwellness.com

16 Tumbles The children’s gymnasium opened for ages four months to 12 years old. The locally owned franchise, owned by Angelie Esquivel, oers curriculum-based classes including parent- participation classes and independent classes such as gymnastics and ninja warrior. • Opened April 12 • 4500 E. Palm Valley Blvd., Ste. 100, Round Rock • roundrock.tumbles.net

Relocations

11 Pilates by Nona The Pilates studio, locally owned by Nona Gardner, relocated from a location on Main Street to a new space. The studio specializes in custom private and duet sessions, and incorporates reformers and towers among other specialized equipment. • Relocated March 9 • 106 S. Harris St., Ste. 300, Round Rock • Facebook: Pilates by Nona

• 3912 Gattis School Rd., Ste. 103, Round Rock • www.silverspurhome.com

for lockouts, rekeying, duplication, replacement of lost keys, deadbolt installation, and other related services. • 1013 S. Mays St., Ste. C, Round Rock • www.acelocksmithtx.com

14 Thundercloud Subs The Austin-based chain known for its variety of sub sandwiches marked 50 years of operation March 23. The business was founded in 1975 by friends Andy Cotton and John Meddaugh, who opened the business with only $2,500 to their names and a dream to sell subs.

Closings

In the news

17 The Short Stop Deluxe Burgers A note posted to windows of the drive-thru and walk- up burger stand stated that the closure is due to the expiration of a lease on the space. Nine other locations remain open throughout the Austin area, with one in Round Rock at 303 Palm Valley Blvd. • Closed in February • 1205 Round Rock Ave. Ste. 141, Round Rock • www.shortstopburgers.com

• 1110 N. I-35, Round Rock • www.thundercloud.com

12 Silver Spur Air, Heating & Plumbing Emergency AC & Plumbing rebranded as Silver Spur Air, Heating & Plumbing in April. Silver Spur oers 24/7 service for cooling, heating and plumbing systems. Its technicians also specialize in integrating smart home systems like Nest, Ecobee and connected heating, ventilation and air conditioning technology to existing HVAC systems.

15 ACE Locksmith Services Founded in 1985 by John Carpenter, the family-owned company celebrated 40 years of operation in March, Margaret Carpenter said. The business oers services

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ROUND ROCK EDITION

Impacts

Pugerville

Now open

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1 Momentum Sports US The facility features indoor badminton, cricket and soccer amenities, with reservation options available. • Opened March 15

A.W. GRIMES BLVD.

RED BUD LN.

45 TOLL

• 21423 Martin Lane, Pflugerville • www.momentumsportsusa.com

GREENLAWN BLVD.

Coming soon

LIMESTONE COMMERCIAL DR.

2 The Bower The apartment complex will have 294 units available in a mix of one-to-three-bedroom options. • Opening May 15 (tentative) • 705 E. Olympic Drive, Pflugerville • www.wilson-capital.com/portfolio/the-bower

GRAND AVE. PKWY.

Pugerville

VISION DR.

1ST ST. N.

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What’s next

OLD AUSTIN HUTTO RD.

3 Metalplex Wall art company Metalplex recently leased space in Martin Lane Biz Park, according to Resolut RE. • 21415 Martin Lane, Pflugerville • www.metal-plex.com

MAP NOT TO SCALE

E. OLYMPIC DR.

COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM

BY GRANT CRAWFORD & GRACIE WARHURST

In the news

Coming soon

Relocations

4 Pugerville Animal Hospital The animal hospital, owned by Dr. Vijay Gudipally, plans to break ground on a new location, where it will provide vaccinations, dental services, and general surgery.

• 303 E. Pflugerville Parkway, Pflugerville • www.pflugervilleanimalhospital.com

5 Big T’s Screenprinting & Embroidery Jared and Ashley Bruno, owners of Beach Bum Custom Apparel, recently took over ownership of Big T’s and merged the two businesses. It oers screen printing, embroidery, signage and more. • 902 Old Austin Hutto Road, Ste. 200, Pflugerville • www.gobigts.com 6 Je Coleman State Farm Insurance Agent Je Coleman, an independent insurance contractor with State Farm, celebrated 25 years of serving the Pugerville community. He and his team help customers select insurance policies that t their needs, including auto, home, life and health insurance. • 306 N. 1st St., Pflugerville • www.jeffdcoleman.com/insurance

7 Taroko Sports The Taiwan-based baseball entertainment operator plans to open a location in Stone Hill Town Center. The facility will be the company’s rst new build in the U.S., according to real estate company NewQuest. The entertainment venue oers batting and pitching cages, simulated MLB play, 5D racing simulators, arcades, and food and drinks. The new location will have indoor and outdoor entertainment. • Opening TBD • 500 Limestone Commercial Drive, Pflugerville • www.tarokosports.com

8 Benchmark Self Defense Systems The business will open a new Pugerville location. Owner Tyrus Cox has 15 years of experience as a martial artist and over 12 years as a personal trainer. The studio oers classes for adults and teens, including striking, self-defense scenario training, edged or impact weapons training, and Brazilian jiujitsu. A special founder membership is available for those who sign up before the opening. • Opening in June • 15803 Windermere Drive, Ste. 302, Pflugerville • www.benchmarkselfdefense.com

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ROUND ROCK EDITION

Impacts Hutto

Now open

Coming soon

Hutto

1 Cottonwood Creek Brewery & Smokehouse

105

3 Hooky Owned by Es Vedra Cinemas, Hooky will feature eight movie theaters, a game room, bowling alley, an event room and grab-and-go concession stations. Theater o erings will include one IMAX and two Dolby Atmos auditoriums. • Opening May 23 • 180 Alliance Blvd., Hutto • No website available

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The brewery, owned by Bobby Delmonico, o ers craft beer, a cocktail menu, wine and mocktails. Out of its kitchen, the business serves smoked meats, fresh salads, fried dishes, sandwiches and more. • Opened April 21 • 610 Hwy. 79, Hutto • www.cottonwoodcreekbrewery.com 2 Diamond Edge Construction The construction company opened a new space in downtown Hutto. The business provides commercial, multifamily and custom-home construction. The new space will also serve as a showroom for the company’s

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What’s next

LIMMER LOOP

EAST ST.

4 Swig The drive-thru drink shop recently signed a lease to take over 1,500 square feet of space at The Commons at Star Ranch, commercial real estate rm ARVO Ventures announced via social media. Swig o ers customizable soda drinks, non-soda beverages and energy drinks, allowing customers to select from a variety of avors and syrups. • 1101 Muirield Bend Drive, Hutto • www.swigdrinks.com

ALLIANCE BLVD.

custom cabinetry. • Opened April 15 • 115 East St., Hutto • www.daimondbuiltcabinetry.com

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MUIRFIELD BEND DR.

MAP NOT TO SCALE

COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM

BY GRANT CRAWFORD

Now open

Relocations

Expansions

5 Fairy Freeze The business, owned by Angie and Josh

6 Deirdre Dressage The equestrian center recently relocated to Hutto after previously operating in Salado. Owned by Deirdre Sabo, the business o ers boarding, equestrian training and personal training.

7 Baylor Scott & White Clinic — Hutto Baylor Scott & White Health unveiled its expanded Hutto clinic in April. The clinic’s expansion doubled its size and is meant to address a growth in demand, includes new exam rooms, a larger lobby size and more nurse

Skrobarczyk, o ers shaved ice served with a variety of syrup and toppings. Fairy Freeze’s new stand is located outside the facility it expanded to last year, where the business makes its own block ice to provide to other snowball stand owners. • Opened April 2 • 3333 CR 119, Ste. 18, Hutto • www.fairyfreeze.com

• Relocated Feb. 22 • 2195 CR 105, Hutto • www.ddressage.com

and lab stations. • Opened April 17 • 120 Ed Schmidt Blvd., Hutto • www.bswhealth.com

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ROUND ROCK EDITION

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EXPRESS BASEBALL HIGHLIGHTS

SMILE MAKEOVER 6 porcelain veneers for $ 3,990 ($6,000 value) DR. DAVID BAKER has been in practice since 1988, but has known that he wanted to be a dentist since he was seven years old. He attended the University of Texas in San Antonio and went to dental school at the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio where he received the General Practice Award as “Most Likely to Succeed.” DR. DAVID BAKER has been in practice since 1988, but has known that he wanted to be a dentist since he was seven years old. He attended the University of Texas in San Antonio and went to dental school at the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio where he received the General Practice Award as “Most Likely to Succeed.” 6 porcelain veneers for $5,280

FRIDAY, MAY 16

AFTER

BEFORE

DR. DAVID BAKER has been in practice since 1988, but has known that he wanted to be a dentist since he was seven years old. He attended the University of Texas in San Antonio and went to dental school at the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio where he received the General Practice Award as “Most Likely to Succeed.” AFTER ALFE ALFE DR. DAVID BAKER has been in practice since 1988, but has known that he wanted to be a dentist since he was seven years old. He attended the University of Texas in San Antonio and went to dental school at the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio where he received the General Practice Award as “Most Likely to Succeed.”

SATURDAY, MAY 17

ALFE

N WWW.HUTTOHIPPOFAMILYDENTAL.COM (512) 806-7740 401 EXCHANGE BLVD., BLDG. 2-A, HUTTO, TEXAS 78634 401 EXCHANGE BLVD., BLDG. 2-A, HUTTO, TEXAS 78634 401 EXCHANGE BLVD., BLDG. 2-A, HUTTO, TEXAS 78634 WWW.HUTTOHIPPOFAMILYDENTAL.COM

79 SMILE MAKEOVER 6 porcelain veneers for $ 3,990 ($6,000 value) WE ARE NOW OPEN TUESDAY-THURSDAY AT 7AM! WWW.HUTTOHIPPOFAMILYDENTAL.COM (512) 806-7740 401 EXCHANGE BLVD., BLDG. 2-A, HUTTO, TEXAS 78634 (512) 806-7740 N 79 N 79 79

.HUTTOHIPPOFAMILYDENTAL.COM 12) 806-7740 XCHANGE BLVD., BLDG. 2-A, O, TEXAS 78634 BEFORE

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WE ARE NOW OPEN TUESDAY-THURSDAY AT 7AM! WE ARE NOW OPEN TUESDAY-THURSDAY AT 7AM!

SATURDAY, MAY 31

AFTER

ARE NOW OPEN TUESDAY-THURSDAY AT 7AM!

ALFE

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Events

BY GRANT CRAWFORD

7th Annual Donut Dash 5K The city of Round Rock will host its annual Donut Dash 5K, inviting runners and walkers to the downtown area where the race will start. At the midway point, participants will make a pit stop to enjoy Round Rock Donuts. Attendees can register for the challenger division, which gives runners an hour to run the 5K and eat a dozen donuts. • May 10, 7 a.m.-11 a.m. • $40 (ages 11 and under), $50 (ages 12 and up) • 221 E. Main St., Round Rock • www.roundrocktexas.gov/event/donut-dash-5k

Memorial Day: Remember and Honor event The Round Rock Veteran’s Coalition and city of Round Rock will host a Memorial Day ceremony to honor and remember fallen members of the military. The event will be held at Yonders Point Flag Plaza at Old Settlers Park.

• May 26, 10 a.m.-noon • Free • 3103 Aten Loop, Round Rock • www.roundrocktexas.gov/event

2025 HTown Throwdown Houston rappers Scarface, Devin the Dude, Z-Ro, Slim Thug, Paul Wall and Lil’ Flip will perform. • June 7, 6-11 p.m. • $37.50-plus (general admission)

• May 24, noon-7 p.m. • $15-plus (general admission), free (ages 12 and under)

May

• 3701 N. I-35, Round Rock • www.roundrockamp.com

Josh Turner - This County Music Thing Tour Country music artist Josh Turner will perform at the Round Rock Amp, along with musicians Will Jones and Grace Asbury. • May 16, 6-11 p.m. • $35-plus (general admission)

June

• 3701 N. I-35, Round Rock • www.roundrockamp.com

Jamey Johnson concert Jamey Johnson, Grammy-nominated country music singer and songwriter, will perform at the Round Rock Amp this June. • June 5, 6-11 p.m. • $41-plus (general admission)

Round Rock Pride Festival The annual Pride Festival at Centennial Plaza in Round Rock will feature live entertainment, food vendors and community booths showcasing the spirit of equality. • June 7, 2-7 p.m. • Free • 301 W. Bagdad Ave., Round Rock • www.facebook.com/roundrockpride

• 3701 N. I-35, Round Rock • www.roundrockamp.com

Austin Margarita Fest The event at the Round Rock Amp will include live music by The Spazmatics, a variety of margaritas and a slate of food trucks.

• 3701 N. I-35, Round Rock • www.roundrockamp.com

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ROUND ROCK EDITION

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COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM

Government

BY ANNA MANESS & GRACIE WARHURST

Round Rock awards development agreement for a ordable housing Round Rock will provide out-of-city water and wastewater services to property owner and future developer Frontera Hillside Land following City Council’s approval of the service and developer agreements at a March 27 meeting. The details Frontera Hillside Land owns about 10 acres on the corner of CR 172 and SH 45 in Round Rock’s extraterritorial jurisdiction. The site is surrounded by city limits on three sides. The developer pro- posed a hybrid of high-density and medium-den- sity multifamily developments, which would include 365 units. Because the proposed apartments are in the city’s ETJ, the developer requested an out-of- city agreement to receive water and wastewater services, which City Council approved. The breakdown The out-of-city agreement allows the develop- ment a maximum of 183 living unit equivalents for water and wastewater, plus eight additional LUEs Chamber identies potential for growth The Round Rock Chamber of Commerce worked with agency Solutions Focused to nd areas for potential economic growth. The results Round Rock ranks second for startup ecosystem health among areas within the Austin “cluster.” Round Rock’s strengths include a lower cost of living than Austin, a strong commu- nity and a growing support system, accord- ing to the agency. The city faces challenges like resource gaps, limited mentorship and missing infrastructure. Solutions Focused’s recommendations include partnering with accelerators, increasing coworking facilities and enhanc- ing community engagement.

Water line extension planned for church Round Rock City Council approved an out- of-city water service agreement for a property in its extraterritorial jurisdiction at its meeting April 10. The details Round Rock provides water to a nearby county park, and the property owner will extend the water line across the road for its use. The project will also require a 1.5-inch meter, a representation of the typical water demand produced by a residence. Because the property is not contiguous with city limits, the owner is not required to voluntarily annex into Round Rock. The site is planned to host the St. Alphonsa Syro-Mala- bar Catholic Church.

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HESTERS CROSSING RD.

for irrigation. A LUE estimates the average ow for a standard residence each day for service demands. The customer will pay twice the in-city retail rates for water and wastewater, a wastewater and water connection fee, roadway improvement fee and parkland fee, which mirror fees for in-city developments. What else? Frontera Hillside Land partnered with the Texas Housing Foundation to obtain nancing in exchange for oering aordable units. This agreement exempts the developer from property taxes, as long as it reserves at least 50% of the available units to those making 80% or less of the area median income. Animal shelter proposal adds Georgetown The Georgetown Animal Shelter is on track to merge with the Williamson County Regional Animal Shelter this summer. The setup At an April 8 Georgetown City Council meeting, ocials approved an interlocal agreement with Round Rock, Cedar Park, Leander and Hutto—the WCRAS’ current member cities—as its rst step in the merger. The four cities were expected to take action on the agreement by late April, and Williamson County Commissioners were to take action May 6. If all required parties approve the agreement through the proposed timeline, the merger would take eect July 5. How we got here The Georgetown Animal Shelter originally

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PERRY MAYFIELD BLVD.

Projected WilCo Regional Animal Shelter capacity needs 202345

Current cat capacity Current dog capacity

Projected cat capacity Projected dog capacity

196

159

229

195

282

240

338

298

SOURCE: CITY OF GEORGETOWNCOMMUNITY IMPACT

opened in 2005 and consistently holds more animals than it was intended to. Georgetown voters approved a $15 million bond proposition in November 2023, and funding will be used for a WCRAS expansion, pending the merger approval. The bond is written in a way that would allow Georgetown ocials to expand its existing shelter if the merger is not approved.

ROUND ROCK EDITION

Community First: Fire Safety & Home Protection with ESD9

Stay Safe This Wildfire Season – Follow These Tips: Create Defensible Space: Clear flammable materials like dead leaves, branches, and debris around your home.

Fire-Resistant Landscaping: Use drought-tolerant, non-flammable plants and keep trees trimmed.

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COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM

Government

BY ANNA MANESS

Meet Steven Snell, Williamson County’s new judge On March 27, Williamson County commissioners selected Steven Snell to serve as the next county judge following Bill Gravell’s March 11 resignation.

money to build them is one thing, but having a site in an appropriate place—it’s also a challenge. I feel that that experience can help me on a larger scale with Williamson County. Williamson County is undergoing a lot of changes, from leadership changes to the new administration building opening soon. What do you anticipate being the biggest challenge you face during this season of transitioning? I’ll have some small challenges, obviously, in just adjusting to life in the government world, the political world. When I look at Williamson County, you’ve got growth and you’ve got water, and all that growth requires county services. I want us to have the best sheri’s department in the state. I want us to be quick with emergency services and eective, and both of those two departments need resources, so we need to make sure they’re taken care of as much as possible. [We] need to explore as many grants that are out there ... to see what we can get above and beyond tax revenue to take care of the county needs. And then just working with the com- missioners on the water and roads and getting up to speed on that and trying to stay ahead. Government just works slower than the developing world, so planning and conversations to keep us in line and lead through that growth as much as possible. Now that you’re serving Williamson County, what kind of lasting impact do you hope to make during your time here? You always want to leave a place better than you found it. I think I’ve done a really good job leading Liberty Hill through the growth. We’ve gone from 4,000 students to 10,000, and they’re going to dou- ble again in the next 10 years. ... Williamson County

Snell has spent over 30 years in education and served as the Liberty Hill ISD superintendent for over six years. Snell resigned as Liberty Hill ISD superintendent at an April 7 board of trustees meeting and will be sworn in as the next Williamson County judge April 21. Community Impact sat down with Snell to discuss his plans as the next county judge. What made you apply for the vacant Williamson County judge position? I’ve got 31 years in education, and I’m to the point in my life where I was asking ‘What’s next?’ When you live a purpose-driven life, it’s hard just to step away. I was looking for something where I could continue to serve and grow and help people. When this door opened, I explored the opportunity, talked to some people and talked to the family, prayed over it, and thought it would be a good t for the job description versus my skill set that I’ve developed. [I’m] honored to have the chance to serve the community. While you’ve been LHISD superintendent, you’ve led the district through two bond elections with over $1 billion in construction projects. How do you think your experience serving as superintendent has prepared you to be county judge? School districts don’t move as fast as developers, so we really have to stay on top. We get demo- graphic reports quarterly [and] talk to developers almost every day just to see where the houses are going and where we need the schools. Getting the

ANNA MANESSCOMMUNITY IMPACT

has a great reputation and is a leader economically in the state. As the torch gets passed to me, I just want to keep that going. Williamson County has a strategic plan. One of the pillars of that plan is high-functioning government, and so I really think that’s a role I can dig into and help the county be as high functioning as possible so all the other people who make the system work can have a clear lane to do their business.

This interview has been edited for length and clarity. For a longer version, visit communityimpact.com .

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ROUND ROCK EDITION

Transportation

BY ANNA MANESS & GRACIE WARHURST

Heritage Crossing in Old Settlers Park opens Heritage Crossing, a connection between Kenney Fort Boulevard and Harrell Parkway, opened in Round Rock April 11. What residents should know The connection allows drivers to enter Harrell Parkway and access the Rock ‘N River Water Park and soccer elds more easily. Some roads near Old Settlers Park will remain closed during construction, including part of Harrell Parkway.

CHISHOLM TRL. RD.

UNIVERSITY BLVD.

KENNEY FORT BLVD.

N. SHEPPARD ST.

CHANDLER RD.

HAIRY MAN RD.

VIA SONOMA TRL.

BRUSHY CREEK

118

DOUBLE CREEK DR.

E. AUSTIN AVE.

ROUND ROCK AVE.

130 TOLL

GATTIS SCHOOL RD.

GREENLAWN BLVD.

118

45 TOLL

MEISTER LN.

45 TOLL

Round Rock furthers transportation improvement City Council amended Round Rock’s Transpor- tation Capital Improvement Program on March 27 to include $20 million for two new projects and adjust four existing projects. A closer look amount to a $1.5 million increase to the TCIP. Another project under design is to improve infrastructure on Sheppard Street from Austin Avenue to Brushy Creek, with engineering costs at $2.5 million.

Road Closure

Southbound only

No entry

SPORTS CAPITAL CROSSING

ATEN LOOP

The city allocated $16 million for projects under design on County Road 118, Gattis School Road segments 4 and 5, Greenlawn Boulevard, and the Sam Bass and Hairy Man roads intersection.

NEW HERITAGE CROSSING

HARRELL PKWY.

On Chisholm Trail Road at Brushy Creek, the city will add a sidewalk on the west side, with construction starting in 2026. Engineering services

OLD SETTLERS PARK

183A Toll 5.3-mile extension to bring congestion relief A new 5.3-mile stretch of the 183A Toll from Hero Way in Leander to Hwy. 29 in Liberty Hill opened April 9. What you need to know Liberty Hill

Residential Street Maintenance to begin soon in Round Rock Round Rock City Council awarded a $5 million contract for its 2024 Residential Street Maintenance Program March 27. The details Lone Star Paving received the $5.16 million contract for construction work. The annual program includes milling the existing asphalt and replacing it with a new surface, and patching the asphalt in failed pavement areas. The city selects projects based on the structural condition of the pavement, or the pavement condition index. This year’s program will address streets in the Kensing- ton Place, Southern Terrace and Round Rock Ranch subdivisions.

The road is part of the Central Texas Regional Mobility Authority’s 183A Phase 3 project, which extends the existing 10-mile 183A Toll northward. The project adds two tolled lanes in each direc- tion within the median of the US 183 corridor and introduces a shared-use path spanning from Hero Way to Seward Junction Loop. The extended 183A Toll will provide drivers with nearly 16 miles of travel between Liberty Hill and Northwest Austin by bypassing trac signals at: • Hero Way • San Gabriel Parkway • Bryson Ridge Trail • Whitewing Drive The overall project totals 6.6 miles in length.

183A TOLL

Leander

183

Keep in mind The toll rate for a trip on the roughly 5-mile extension is $2.83 for drivers with electronic tags, like a TollTag or EZ Tag. Drivers wishing to avoid a toll charge can use the nontolled general purpose lanes of US 183, per the release.

COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM

Transportation

BY GRANT CRAWFORD

Ongoing projects

Round Rock

1431

N. KENNEY FORT BLVD.

WYOMING SPRINGS DR.

110

CREEK BEND BLVD.

A.W. GRIMES BLVD.

130 TOLL

• Funding source: Developer contributions, Type B sales tax revenue, road CO bonds 6 Wyoming Springs Segment 1 Project: The project will construct a new four-lane divided roadway with shared used paths, extending over Brushy Creek from Creek Bend Boulevard to Old Settlers Boulevard. Update: Construction began in December 2024 • Timeline: 2024-2026 • Cost: $25.9 million • Funding source: Type B sales tax revenue 5 Gattis School Road Segment 3 Project: The project includes expanding the existing four-lane roadway to a six-lane divided road with updated pedestrian and bicycle facilities, turn lanes and other features. Update: Construction work began Aug. 28, 2024 • Timeline: 2024-2026 • Cost: $33 million • Funding source: Type B sales tax revenue, Road CO bonds, Texas Department of Transportation loan

620

MAP NOT TO SCALE N

Upcoming projects

Ongoing projects

1 Kenney Fort Boulevard Segment 5 & 6 Project: The road will be extended from Old Settler Boulevard to University Boulevard. Update: The project is in the design phase, which is expected to last through 2025. • Timeline: Construction to begin in 2026 • Cost: $94 million • Funding source: Williamson County 2 Hwy. 79 Project: The project will create a six-lane divided roadway with a raised median and shared-used paths, from I-35 to just past A.W. Grimes Boulevard. Update: Council approved a $1.3 million contract for preliminary engineering work in February. • Timeline: Not yet determined • Cost: Not yet determined • Funding source: Texas Department of Transportation

3 Old Settlers Boulevard extension Project: Old Settlers Boulevard will connect Red Bud Lane to CR 110, creating a new four-lane roadway with a center median and twin bridges over McNutt Creek. Update: Construction began in December 2024. • Timeline: Completion in early 2026. • Cost: $23.4 million • Funding source: Type B sales tax, certiicate of obligation bonds, Williamson County Road Bond Program 4 Red Bud Lane North Project: The project will expand the existing two-lane roadway to a four-lane divided road with intersection and pedestrian improvements. Update: Construction began March 6 • Timeline: 2024-2026 • Cost: $34.7 million

ROUND ROCK EDITION

Education

SCHEDULE TODAY 512-866-3800

RRISD receives ‘B’ in newly released 2022 23 TEA accountability ratings

Round Rock ISD received a “B” for the 2022-23 school year in the Texas Education Agency’s school accountability ratings. The ratings are based on factors such as academic performance and how prepared students are for college and careers after high school. The overview Ratings for the 2022-23 school year were delayed by lawsuits, and released April 24 following

an April 3 ruling in which Texas’ 15th Court of Appeals overturned a 2023 injunction that prevented the release for over a year. According to the district, about 70% of schools in the RRISD that were rated received an A or B, and no RRISD schools received an F. TEA data shows 23 RRISD schools earned an “A”; 13 earned a “B”; 11 earned a “C”; and ve earned a “D.”

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8-period school day gains ground in RRISD to serve dyslexic students

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Some Round Rock ISD middle school campuses will move to an eight-period school day in the 2025-26 school year, administra- tors shared in March. This comes as a pilot program at C.D. Fulkes and Hernandez mid- dle schools in the 2024-25 school year showed the shift allowed the campuses to better address the needs of dyslexic students. The details The two test schools were able to accommodate an eighth class period by shaving ve minutes o of the original seven periods, administrators said. This additional class period allows the schools to meet legislative

requirements for accelerated instruction as directed by House Bill 1416, and provide support to dyslexic students. What’s next C.D. Fulkes and Hernandez middle schools will continue to utilize the eight-period schedule in the 2025-26 school year, admin- istrators said. Current candidates for cam- puses that could also utilize this schedule include: • Grisham Middle School • Chisholm Trail Middle School

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COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM

BY ANNA MANESS & BROOKE SJOBERG

Round Rock ISD to distribute $800K in Teacher Incentive Allotment funds

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Round Rock ISD teachers included in the rst Teacher Incentive Allotment cohort prior to and during the 2024-25 school year will receive an incentive payment this summer. Eddie Curran, the district’s chief of human resources, said these educators’ student perfor- mance data earned them a desig- nation tied to incentive funding from the state, under the Texas Education Agency program. What you need to know In the 2023-24 school year, kindergarten, rst and second grade teachers at nine Title I schools in the district had their performance data analyzed and were awarded designations under the TIA system. RRISD expanded its TIA program to include the ve remaining Title I elementary schools, as well as three Title I middle schools as a whole in the 2024-25 school year, according to RRISD, and other grade levels. The district anticipates it

Incentive amounts Under the district’s local designation system, educators can receive varying amounts tied to their performance level based on job performance and academic growth of students: Recognized: $3,000-$9,000 Exemplary: $6,000-$18,000 Master: $12,000-$32,000

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will receive about $800,000 in funds for these incentives, with 90% going directly to teachers, according to RRISD. The 10% will pay for eligibility costs, payroll taxes and program growth. Teachers who will receive the incentive this summer earned their designation prior to and during the 2024-25 school year. What’s next Curran said the district will soon submit an application to further expand the program.

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RRISD board approve academic calendar for 2026 27 school year

Challenger School offers uniquely fun and academic programs for preschool to eighth-grade students. Our students learn to think for themselves and to value independence.

The Round Rock ISD board of trustees approved the academic calendar for the 2026-27 school year and shared an update on development of the 2027-28 academic calendar in March.

Important dates to know include: • The rst student and sta holiday will be Sept. 4 . • Fall break will be Nov. 23-27 . • Winter break will be Dec. 18 and end Jan. 5 . • Spring break will be March 15-19 . • The last day of school will be May 27 .

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