Stories by Michelle Jimenez
Commissioners hear first public briefing on Formula One
On Tuesday, the attorney representing promoters of the proposed Formula One racetrack in southeast Travis County unveiled a rough plan to county commissioners, the first such briefing to a public entity and one that left the court with a long…
Uncategorized • By Michelle Jimenez • Sep 8, 2010
Travis Commissioners debate how to manage Lavaca office project
County Commissioners haven’t forgotten the fiasco associated with the building of the Blackwell-Thurman Criminal Justice Center, which opened behind schedule 10 years ago. “It was an ever-living nightmare,” Commissioner Ron Davis recalled during last week’s commissioners court meeting. …
Uncategorized • By Michelle Jimenez • Sep 7, 2010
County eyes suspending new subdivisions to develop groundwater rules
Travis County officials, with an eye toward future population growth, are looking to address issues of groundwater availability, particularly in the western part of the county. Toward that end, commissioners are considering suspending, through Oct. 31, 2011, approval of…
Uncategorized • By Michelle Jimenez • Sep 3, 2010
Longtime county employee Joe Gieselman to retire
Joe Gieselman, executive manager of Travis County’s Transportation and Natural Resources Department, announced during Tuesday’s County Commissioners meeting that he plans to retire early next year, after nearly four decades with the county. “It’s time for me to move…
Uncategorized • By Michelle Jimenez • Sep 1, 2010
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Austin Energy gets ready to study rate increase
Austin Energy is preparing to kick off a two-year process that officials hope will culminate in a rate increase in 2012 and develop a framework for the “utility of the future.” The city-owned utility is scheduled to provide an…
Uncategorized • By Michelle Jimenez • Aug 19, 2010
AE advisors tell city to cut funds to economic growth office
The Electric Utility Commission, an advisory board to the City Council, rejected Austin Energy’s proposed 2011 budget during its meeting Monday night, setting the condition that millions in funding be shifted from economic development to programs directly related to the…
Uncategorized • By Michelle Jimenez • Aug 18, 2010
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Travis County to use pilot program to test employee parking plan
Travis County is on track to implement a pilot program for parking that county commissioners hope will provide some relief to the 650 employees waiting for a space. The court last week approved moving ahead with the plan, with…
Uncategorized • By Michelle Jimenez • Aug 17, 2010
New car policy could cost Travis County $5 million
Sometimes a single word can have a significant impact, and in Travis County’s case, the word “or” could set it back millions of dollars each year, if county commissioners decide to loosen the criteria for replacing old vehicles. The…
Uncategorized • By Michelle Jimenez • Aug 12, 2010
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Travis County OKs external audit for Austin crime lab
District Attorney Rosemary Lehmberg has turned to Travis County officials for help in conducting an independent audit of the Austin Police Department’s crime lab, in light of concerns raised by a former forensic scientist. On Tuesday, Travis County commissioners…
Uncategorized • By Michelle Jimenez • Aug 11, 2010
Travis County officials to begin planning for 2011 bond election
Travis County officials plan to appoint within the next several months a bond committee to review a list of potential transportation projects to be included in a 2011 referendum, County Judge Sam Biscoe said. However, the price tag isn’t…
Uncategorized • By Michelle Jimenez • Aug 10, 2010
Spelman does a double take on water plan at racetrack site
Sometimes things can go by pretty fast at City Council meetings, but one item last week seemed to go by at the speed of a Formula One racer, and Council Member Bill Spelman decided to slam on the brakes. …
Uncategorized • By Michelle Jimenez • Aug 9, 2010
Council approves major upgrade to video cameras in police units
Austin Police patrol units will soon be getting state-of-the-art digital video camera systems after Council members approved $15.5 million Thursday to upgrade the department’s antiquated VHS tape video cameras. The new technology has been on APD’s wish list for years,…
Uncategorized • By Michelle Jimenez • Aug 6, 2010
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