Leander - Liberty Hill Edition | October 2023

Government

County adds EMS sta in Liberty Hill, Round Rock Williamson County EMS is expanding in Round Rock and Liberty Hill to reduce response times and tackle increasing call volumes. The overview As a part of Williamson County’s scal year 2023- 24 budget, $828,000 was set aside to open a second EMS station in Liberty Hill by April 2025, adding an ambulance and seven sta members to the area. Additionally, a second 24-hour ambulance and six medics were added to the Round Rock EMS sta- tion at 1781 E. Old Settlers Blvd. as of Sept. 6. Round Rock’s Fire Station No. 6, near Dell Diamond, also received another 12-hour ambulance. Williamson County EMS Director Mike Knipstein said the new station will reduce response times in Liberty Hill by ve to 10 minutes, while additional ambulances and personnel in Round Rock will reduce response times by two to ve minutes.

Leander approves interim city manager Isaac Turner will serve as Leander’s interim city manager after Leander City Council approved his contract Sept. 21. What’s next Turner will start Oct. 16, contingent upon passing a background check and nalizing his contract with the city. He is lling in as ocials begin the search for a permanent replacement for Rick Beverlin, who accepted a city manager position with Nacogdoches.

“Over probably the next five to seven years, I would anticipate—with court approval—that we would be adding at least

one ambulance a year to keep up with the growth.” MIKE KNIPSTEIN, WILLIAMSON COUNTY EMS DIRECTOR

Looking ahead From March to August, Williamson County EMS participated in a third-party evaluation from consulting rm AP Triton. Project Manager Rich Buchanan commended the department for fast call response times but oered recommendations to reduce travel times. Liberty Hill was among the areas with the longest travel times, according to the study. Knipstein said the county would consider stationing “squad cars” in rural areas, which would allow paramedics to arrive at a scene quicker than ambulances.

Resume rundown

• City manager in Taylor • Interim city manager in Hutto and Bridgeport • President of consulting irm ID Turner Solutions SOURCE: CITY OF LEANDER COMMUNITY IMPACT Isaac Turner, Leander’s incoming interim city manager, has experience working in city government, including:

COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM