Travis County Judge Sarah Eckhardt is brushing off concerns that a plan to reform outdoor concert regulations in the county could potentially violate state law. The Travis County Commissioners Court is currently weighing a decision that would streamline the permitting process for mass gatherings in a way that would include a tougher stance against loud […]
Caleb Pritchard
Posted inWhispers
Sheriff candidates fire first volley of fundraising totals
While the nation’s eyes seem to be turned toward next year’s presidential contest, here in Travis County, there’s another crowded field of candidates looking for your attention. Right now, there are four declared Democrats seeking their party’s nomination for sheriff: Lakeway Police Chief Todd Radford, Travis County Sgt. Don Rios, former Austin Police Lt. John […]
Posted inWhispers
TxDOT shows off new I-35 plans
The Texas Department of Transportation is now taking public comments on a freshly unveiled revamp of Interstate 35 from Holly Street to just south of Oltorf Street. TxDOT officials showed off the plans during a public meeting Tuesday night at Martin Middle School. The project’s top goal is to increase capacity. Highlights of the plan […]
Posted inPremium Types
TipSheet: Travis County Commissioners 7.21.15
The Travis County Commissioners Court meets at 9 a.m. Tuesday. Because only three members will be present, they put together an abbreviated agenda that sources say will be swiftly approved in a single vote at the beginning of the session. We’ve posted several of the agenda’s highlights below. The County Clerk’s office hosts a copy […]
Posted inLocal Government, Travis County
Lawyers boost courthouse campaign
Members of Austin’s legal community have given a six-figure jolt to the campaign for a new civil and family courts complex. According to campaign finance documents filed last week, the political action committee coordinating the effort says it raised $134,439 in the first half of 2015. The Community for Civil and Family Courthouse PAC’s disclosure […]
Posted inWhispers
Commissioners pick Rio to head PBO
Travis County Commissioners have named the new head of the Planning and Budget Office. County Judge Sarah Eckhardt confirmed on Tuesday that the court is giving the gig to current Budget Director Jessica Rio. Rio has served as interim county executive in charge of the PBO since March. She replaced Leroy Nellis, who himself was […]
Posted inWhispers
County takes courthouse proposal to the people
The brain trust behind the information blitz promoting Travis County’s proposed Civil & Family Courts Complex shed some light on the proposal’s progress on Tuesday. The project’s lead task manager, Matias Segura, told the Commissioners Court that his team has already had 37 public meetings with stakeholders and has plans for at least 80 more […]
Posted inPremium Types
TipSheet: Travis County Commissioners 7.14.15
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. Items of interest include: 18. Consider and take appropriate action on the following requests in Precinct One: a. A plat for […]
Posted inTravis County
County votes to extend Slaughter
A major arterial on the southeastern frontier of Austin will sprawl a little farther out thanks to the Travis County Commissioners Court. After an animated discussion on the role private developers should play in funding infrastructure that directly benefits them, the commissioners voted to move forward with the expansion and extension of Slaughter Lane east […]
Posted inTravis County
Commissioners weigh mass-gathering rules
Travis County Commissioners have once again delayed a decision on adding new restrictions for outdoor events, but not before more than a dozen speakers from the public weighed in on Tuesday. The commissioners appeared ready once more to take up the proposals to change the mass-gathering permit process after originally postponing a vote on them […]
Posted inPremium Types
TipSheet: Travis County, 7.07.15
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. Items of interest include: 4. Consider and take appropriate action regarding response to flooding in and around Travis County. (Judge Eckhardt) […]
Posted inUncategorized
County hopes to offset proposed courthouse’s cost
Efforts to offset a chunk of the cost of Travis County’s proposed $292 million Civil & Family Courts Complex could be worth nearly $80 million, according to county staff. Project manager Belinda Powell revealed her estimates to the Commissioners Court during its regular voting session on Tuesday. Powell told the commissioners that revenue from four […]