Government
BY ANNA MANESS & GRACIE WARHURST
Travis County launches text-based wildfire alert system Beginning June 1, the Travis County Fire Marshal’s Office moved local burn ban noti- fications to a new system, enabling residents to opt-in by texting TCBURNBAN to 888777. The details The new system will transition from the county’s internal alert platform to Warn Central Texas—a free, opt-in service—that will provide notifications when a burn ban is issued, is lifted or when a Red Flag Warning is declared. A Red Flag Warning is issued by the National Weather Service to alert the public and fire management agencies that con- ditions are ideal for wildfires to ignite and spread rapidly. As of May, 21 wildfires have burned over 11,000 acres across Central Texas.
Pflugerville’s Gilleland Creek Park to get nearly $500K in ADA upgrades Pflugerville City Council approved almost $500,000 in improvements for Gilleland Creek Park at its May 13 meeting. The improvements will add features in compliance with the Ameri- cans with Disabilities Act. Diving deeper The contract with Cunningham Recreation includes the installation of over 8,800 square feet of concrete trail. In addition, contractors will install 600 square feet of composite boardwalk to protect the tree roots of the largest pecan tree in Travis County, located at the park. Other features include drainage improve- ments, concrete curbing and grading enhance- ments, as well as accessible picnic tables, benches and trash cans. The context The trail and accessibility upgrades connect
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to the ongoing renovation of the Gilleland Creek Park playground. City Council approved the play- ground improvements in December 2023, with the playground replacement already completed. The project has an overall goal to increase walkability, ensure ADA compliance and create a safe park environment for all residents while increasing connectivity between parks and trails, according to city documents. A part of the annual trail improvements, the project is funded by capital improvement program general funds.
WilCo OKs issues $274M in bonds
Hutto weighs water plan for 94-acre development Hutto City Council voted May 1 to continue working with the developers behind Legacy Park Hutto, a proposed 94-acre mixed-use development in the city’s extraterritorial jurisdiction. The gist Council approved a motion directing city staff to assist ATX Capital in voluntarily annexation. The motion also called for Hutto to provide wastewater services to the development and work with Jonah Water Special Utility District, which the property is located within, to develop a water solution by the end of 2026. The project would bring retail, multifamily units and light industrial space. The site plan, if annexed into Hutto, would include, 50,000 square feet of general retail, 15,000 square feet of neighborhood retail, and multifamily and light industrial space. The update At the May 1 meeting, Amanda Brown with HD Brown consulting presented an update on behalf of
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Williamson County Commissioners Court approved issuing of up to $180 million in bonds and $94 million in tax anticipation notes during a May 13 meeting. In a nutshell The bonds stems from a 2023 voter-ap- proved package worth $825 million and $59 million for road and park projects, respec- tively. This is the first time the county issued any money from the park bond proposal.
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ATX Capital. “We’re currently in the ETJ and want to annex into the city of Hutto and city of Hutto’s CCN as well,” Brown said. “If we’re unable to do that, we do have a Plan B.” The team’s “Plan B” includes obtaining water service through Jonah Water, and utilizing a package plant for wastewater services. If the developers obtain water from Jonah Water instead, the site will forgo the residential component to conserve water and instead focus on developing as a light industrial site. “It will be developed one way or another,” Brown said.
Williamson County bonds issued
Road bonds: $150M Tax anticipation notes: $94M Park bonds: $30M
$274M total
SOURCE: WILLIAMSON COUNTY/ COMMUNITY IMPACT
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