A memorandum prepared by City of Austin staff reveals that a potential plan to expand health insurance coverage to temporary and contract employees could cost close to $13 million. Human Resources and Civil Service Director Mark Washington sent the memo to Mayor Steve Adler and City Council members May 6 in response to a resolution passed […]
Caleb Pritchard
Posted inWhispers
Travis organizational review inches forward
Travis County Commissioners Court took a tentative first step Tuesday in a process that could transform a large section of county bureaucracy. At their regular voting session, commissioners approved a resolution that directs County Purchasing Agent Cyd Grimes to start shopping for consultants to “conduct an organizational review” of the departments that answer to the […]
Posted inWhispers
STAR Flight back in limited service
As of 7 a.m. today, Travis County’s STAR Flight will resume emergency medical flights. STAR Flight Program Director Casey Ping said Tuesday that the limited return to the air will not include firefighting, law enforcement assistance or search and rescue missions. The division’s four helicopters were grounded after flight nurse Kristin McLain’s fatal fall during […]
Posted inTravis County
Travis Commissioners ponder drunk-tank proposal
The Travis County Commissioners Court took another tentative step toward establishing a sobriety center in partnership with the City of Austin at its regular voting session. Perhaps better known colloquially as a drunk tank, the proposed sobriety center would serve as an alternative to Travis County Jail or local emergency rooms as destinations for people detained […]
Posted inCourts, Housing
Casar helps trailer park residents sue new owners
City Council Member Greg Casar has added his political support to a legal fight between a low-income mobile home community and the corporation that recently took control of the property. On Monday evening, dozens of North Lamar Community Mobile Home Park residents flanked Casar outside of their homes as he and Austin Independent School District Board […]
Posted inPremium Types
TipSheet: Travis County Commissioners 5.5.2015
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: 5. Consider and take appropriate action regarding: a. Revisions to the Mass Gathering Permit application process including […]
Posted inWhispers
Commissioners delay vote on operations audit
Travis County Commissioners on Tuesday put off for another week a vote to initiate the county’s first “large-scale organizational assessment since the 1990s.” The notion came up two weeks ago during a discussion about hiring a new county executive for administrative operations. Judge Sarah Eckhardt told her colleagues that she wanted to move very cautiously on […]
Posted inCity Council, Police, Public Safety
Body cameras roll through Public Safety Committee
The long march to add body cameras to Austin Police Department’s official toolkit took a symbolic step forward Monday night when members of the City Council’s Public Safety Committee heard unanimous support from a diverse group of stakeholders. It was a rare moment of harmonic accord for APD, the Office of the Police Monitor, the […]
Posted inPremium Types
TipSheet: Travis County 4.28.15
TipSheet: Travis County Commissioners, April 28. 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: 10. Consider and take appropriate action regarding the issuance of a […]
Posted inPolice, Travis County
Hamilton upset over county’s handling of report
Tuesday’s Travis County Commissioners Court voting session turned from sanguine to nearly sour when a stern Sheriff Greg Hamilton showed up to speak on the day’s final item, a report that would steer more money into an ongoing re-examination of the county’s adult correctional system. The first phase of the two-part analysis cost $461,310 and […]
Posted inPremium Types
TipSheet: Travis County Commissioners 4.07
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: 1. Receive comments regarding the issuance of a Mass Gathering Permit for Untapped Festival to be held […]
Posted inCourts, Travis County
Activist opposes Travis courthouse bond proposal
A prominent local advocate for low taxes and fiscal responsibility has declared his opposition to Travis County’s proposed $292 million Civil and Family Courthouse bond. Retired accountant Bill Oakey announced Thursday that he has resigned from the Community Focus Committee, an advisory group tasked with helping the county and its consultant, URS Corporation, develop plans […]