When Travis County Precinct 1 Commissioner Jeff Travillion looks at the county’s accomplishments in the year past, he sees lessons learned in the pandemic – and in his childhood – put into practice. “It was really no one thing. We pulled together a large group of resources to address complicated problems,” he said. Since the […]
Ken Chambers
Posted inTravis County
Experience, communication help Margaret Gómez tackle difficult issues
With more time logged in office than the other commissioners on the court, Travis County Precinct 4 Commissioner Margaret Gómez is able to bring a long-term perspective to county government. Gómez took office in 1995, making her the longest-tenured commissioner currently in office. But her career with the county began long before that. A graduate […]
Posted inPolice
Renewed cooperation eliminates backlog of sexual assault evidence kits
After years of discord, the team created to improve Travis County’s response to sexual assault is back to collaborating, team members told the Commissioners Court Tuesday, and a backlog of untested evidence kits has been processed. Spurred by state law enacted in 2021, the members of SARRT, or the Austin/Travis County Sexual Assault Response and […]
Posted inTravis County
Program supporting underutilized businesses shows progress
Travis County’s Historically Underutilized Business (HUB) program made remarkable progress in the last few years despite a few setbacks and political challenges, county officials say. The annual report for the program, which promotes equal procurement opportunities for minority- and women-owned businesses, showed increases in the percentage of county contracts awarded since 2018. Of the categories […]
Posted inWhispers
Hazard mitigation plan could lead to more federal funds
An updated hazard mitigation plan approved Tuesday by the Travis County Commissioners Court could help the county win federal funds for disaster preparation. As Blake Clampffer, chief deputy emergency management coordinator, told county commissioners, adoption of the Texas Multi-Jurisdiction Hazard Mitigation Plan is a step toward eligibility for federal Unified Hazard Mitigation Grant funding. These funds […]
Posted inPublic Safety
County emphasizes winter safety awareness
As Travis County officials detailed plans and preparations for the next big winter storm, some said that the public might not be taking the threat seriously enough. On Tuesday, leaders from the Office of Emergency Management, Transportation and Natural Resources, Health and Human Services, EMS and other departments briefed the Travis County Commissioners Court. Commissioners […]
Posted inTravis County
Total eclipse could bring massive crowds in 2024
Parts of Travis County could double or even triple in population in April 2024 as visitors come here to see the total eclipse of the sun, county officials said Tuesday. Travis County sits on the eastern edge of the 115-mile-wide viewing path of the eclipse, which will begin just after noon April 8. Western Travis […]
Posted inPublic Safety
Data collection issues threaten initiative to prevent gun violence
A disconnect between the Austin Police Department and a criminal justice reform organization could delay a new violence reduction initiative, Travis County officials said Tuesday. The glitch came to light Tuesday during a progress report to the Travis County Commissioners Court. Last November, commissioners dedicated federal funds from the American Rescue Plan to create two […]
Posted inPublic Health
Need for county mental health diversion center grows
Travis County’s mental and behavioral health diversion center is more than five years from opening and needed more every day, the Commissioners Court learned Tuesday. With an epidemic of mental illness and an overcrowded Travis County Jail, commissioners said the county must build the center as quickly as possible while involving relevant community groups. The […]
Posted inTravis County
At the county, mentoring and advocacy service comes back to life
After a rocky start, two local nonprofits reunited this year to create a program that supports Black and Latina girls. Nonprofit groups Measure and Hearts2Heal first met with the Travis County Commissioners Court in July 2021. They proposed using American Rescue Plan Act funding for a “proactive, evidence-based service on behalf of black girls in […]
Posted inEMS
County funds ambulance alternatives as call volumes remain high
With 911 call volumes still near pandemic records and EMS staff shortages limiting ambulance availability, the Travis County Commissioners Court agreed to spend more for ambulance alternatives. Commissioners voted Tuesday to increase the county’s share in the 2024 interlocal agreement with Austin by roughly 11 percent to reach $17.6 million. The additional funds will be […]
Posted inTravis County
County public defender office takes shape
The long process of unifying Travis County’s three separate public defender offices took another step forward last week. The Commissioners Court reviewed draft bylaws for the oversight board the first time Nov. 2 and agreed to another voting session to work through details. The unification of the separate offices for adult, juvenile and mental health […]