Northwest Austin Edition | March 2022

CITY& COUNTY

News from Austin & Travis & Williamson counties

HIGHLIGHTS TRAVIS &WILLIAMSON COUNTIES In the March 1

Travis Co. closes rental, mortgage relief requests

primary election, just over 18% of Travis County voters cast a ballot, while voter turnout in Williamson County topped 18.5%. Travis and Williamson counties have 859,400 and 399,608 registered voters, respectively. Election results are available at www.communityimpact. com/voter-guide. WILLIAMSON COUNTY The rst point-in-time count of people experiencing homelessness in Williamson County since 2011 took place the evening of Feb. 24. Led by San Antonio-based Endeavors, an organization that serves vulnerable populations, the data is necessary to apply for federal funding and is used for planning and policy- making. Results are expected to be published in April. AUSTIN City Council members unanimously voted to approve a mandate to designate Austin a Bee City. Austin Parks and Recreation Department sta initiated the application more than two years ago. The goal of the program is to protect native habitats for pollinators. The city will host activities focused on habitat installations for pollinators. Austin City Council meets April 7 and April 21 at 10 a.m. at Austin City Hall, 301 W. Second St., Austin. 512-974-2250. www.austintexas.gov/ department/city-council Travis County Commissioners Court meets March 29, April 5, 12 and 19 at 9 a.m. at the Travis County Administration Building, 700 Lavaca St., Austin. 512-854-9020. www.traviscountytx.gov Williamson County Commissioners Court meets March 29, April 5, 12 and 19 at 9:30 a.m. at the Williamson County Courthouse, 710 Main St., Georgetown. 512-943-1100. www.wilco.org MEETINGSWE COVER

TRAVIS COUNTY The Travis County Health & Human Services Department closed applications for its latest housing assistance program March 16—about two weeks after it opened—due to high demand. The county opened applications March 1 for the $9.2 million rent and mortgage assistance program, which is funded through the county’s gen- eral fund and the American Rescue Plan Act. During a March 8 Travis County Commissioners Court meeting, sta said they expect to have more appli- cations than could be funded shortly BY CLAIRE SHOOP & DARCY SPRAGUE

and asked commissioners to deter- mine a date to close applications. “It is likely we will have more applications that we can fund within weeks, if not days,” said Kirsten Siegfried, the Travis County director of family support services. Commissioners approved a plan to close applications once about 4,500 have been received—more than the county is expected to be able to fund. As of March 16, the county had received more than 4,700 applica- tions, according to a press release. Sta is estimating the county can fund about 3,400 requests, based on the requests it previously funded.

ALLOCATING ASSISTANCE

Travis County opened applications to its latest rental and mortgage assistance program March 1.

$9.2million set aside for the program through the county’s general fund and the American Rescue Plan Act 3,400 applications are expected to be funded with the money available 4,700 total applications received March 1-16

SOURCE: TRAVIS COUNTY COMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER

Round Rock community begins tornado recovery efforts

BY BRIAN RASH & CLAIRE SHOOP

WILLIAMSON COUNTY After surveying the Round Rock and Granger areas most heavily aected by the March 21 tornadoes, Williamson County Judge Bill Gravell said he believes there are about 1,000 homes that have been damaged or completely destroyed. Two conrmed tornadoes ripped through Williamson County causing severe property damage. One traveled 24.62 miles from Round Rock to Granger but is not thought to have been on ground the entire time, Gravell said. The other went 11.81 miles near Jarrell. No deaths or serious injuries have been reported as a result of the storm. By the morning of March 22, residents of the South Creek neighborhood in Round Rock, including Lindsey Topolski, were working to gure out the extent of damage done to their homes and yards. Topolski’s house took a massive amount of damage— the tornado crushed her garage with her car still in it, and the top of her house was severely damaged.

Eli's Roadside Produce Market in Round Rock was one of the areas destroyed by a tornado March 21. (Joe Warner/Community Impact Newspaper) “When [the tornado] hit, I mean, we didn’t have time. It was just, it was so quick,” she said. “And then, when I came out, I mean, neighbors just all came out providing water, turning o gas ... calling the re department.” In a news conference, U.S. Rep. John Carter, RRound Rock, said he is working to draft a letter that every member of the Texas delegation will sign asking for federal assistance. Residents are encouraged to document any and all damage sustained to their homes and businesses at https://damage.tdem.texas.gov, which begins the process of bringing in aid. “The more damage dollars that are compiled together, it helps us to potentially qualify for federal funds and resources,” Gravell said.

ZILKER PARK | APRIL 3 RD

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NORTHWEST AUSTIN EDITION • MARCH 2022