For the first time in a generation, the Travis County Commissioners Court Precinct 1 chair is up for grabs, and a crowded field has emerged with five candidates squaring off for their chance to grab it. With early voting set to begin in less than a week, it’s crunch time for Richard Franklin III, Marc […]
Caleb Pritchard
Posted inTravis County
Travis County ponders public information office
Travis County Commissioners Court on Tuesday came close to derailing a months-in-the-making proposal to establish an official county officer to deal with media relations. At the regular voting session of the commissioners court, members of the Public Information Subcommittee – a group of county staff members – unveiled five recommendations they had been developing since […]
Posted inRoads
CAMPO board approves sizable cost increase for 183
The cost of a large expansion of U.S. Highway 183 in Northwest Austin officially nearly tripled on Monday night. At its monthly meeting, the Transportation Policy Board of the Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization voted to amend its long-range plan to increase the price of the 183 North Mobility Project from $225.7 million to $650 […]
Posted inPremium Types
TipSheet: Travis County, 2.09.16
The Travis County Commissioners Court meets at 9 a.m. Tuesday. In the interest of space, we’ve decided not to post the entire agenda here. The County Clerk’s office hosts a copy at its website. 2. Consider and take appropriate action regarding an order to prohibit outdoor burning in unincorporated Travis County. (Judge Eckhardt) Monitor’s Take: […]
Posted inAustin
Updated: Ethics complaints filed against petition PAC
While the city clerk still has not received a promised petition seeking the recall of Council Member Ann Kitchen, the Texas Ethics Commission has received four complaints filed against the group behind the alleged effort. Austin attorney Fred Lewis filed the four complaints on Friday morning. They name Austin4All PAC, Rachel Kania, Tori Moreland, and […]
Posted inWhispers
Kitchen recall petition still a no-show
It has now been four days since a mysterious group announced it had gathered enough signatures to trigger the recall of City Council Member Ann Kitchen, but the Office of the City Clerk says it still hasn’t received the petition. On Monday, the Austin4All political action committee sent an email blast to local media outlets declaring […]
Posted inWhispers
Commissioners Court limits scope of Palm School Committee
A committee to explore options for a high-dollar corner of downtown Austin has received its marching orders. On Tuesday, the Travis County Commissioners Court agreed to formally create and deputize the Palm School Committee to take a solid look at the Palm School property at East Cesar Chavez Street and I-35. The court had before […]
Posted inWhispers
The courthouse committee is dead; long live the courthouse committee
The Travis County Commissioners Court has given the green light to a new committee to help guide staff in a renewed quest to build a modern civil courthouse. On Tuesday, the court unanimously voted to create the committee with charges almost identical to the Community Focus Committee that served a similar role during the buildup […]
Posted inWhispers
Commissioners Court creates PID task force
The Travis County Commissioners Court approved on Tuesday the creation of a task force to explore the expansion of benefits freshly extended to construction workers working in public improvement districts, or PIDs. Dubbed, rather unlyrically, the Task Force on PID-Related Construction Wages, Training and Working Conditions, the body will explore ways to encourage private builders […]
Posted inTravis County
Travis County courts controversy with CTRMA appointment
Sparks flew at Travis County Commissioners Court on Tuesday over the reappointment of Charles Heimsath to serve on the board that supervises regional toll road projects. The 3-2 decision poured cold water on a late-hour effort that bubbled up last week to sink Heimsath’s quest for a new term at the Central Texas Regional Mobility […]
Posted inCity Council
Kitchen rallies support as recall effort remains in holding pattern
A group shrouded in mystery failed to deliver on its promise of a political blockbuster on Monday, in the process digging up new questions to pile upon a tall stack of older unanswered ones. After teasing a big announcement late last week, the group – known as Austin4All – declared that it had gathered enough […]
Posted inPremium Types
TipSheet: Travis County, 2.01.16
The Travis County Commissioners Court meets at 9 a.m. Tuesday. In the interest of space, we’ve decided not to post the entire agenda here. The County Clerk’s office hosts a copy at its website. 10. Consider and take appropriate action on a task force on Public Improvement District (PID)-related construction wages, training and working conditions […]