Stories by Seth Smalley
Travis Club paused, pending a traffic analysis
On July 12, the Travis County Commissioners Court voted to deny developers of Travis Club, a subdivision plan at Bee Creek Road and Thurman Bend Drive with a golf course and marina, the ability to move ahead with phase one…
Development • By Seth Smalley • Jul 21, 2022
County moves ahead with plan to expand community access to naloxone
Travis County Health and Human Services has identified a vendor to implement its plan to increase access to the opioid overdose-reversing drug naloxone in the community. The plan, which will cost approximately $350,000, is part of HHS’ response to the…
Public Health • By Seth Smalley • Jul 13, 2022
Survey: Dependable water and access to food top of mind in Travis County
A record high number of respondents answered the 2022 Travis County community issues survey, according to a county public information officer. Just under 2,500 people responded to the survey, ranking their preferences on a wide range of important issues in…
Travis County • By Seth Smalley • Jun 14, 2022
Travis County opens applications to very low-income residents for housing voucher waitlist
Next month, on the first of July at 8 a.m., a relatively small number of low-income residents will get the opportunity to settle or continue to stay in Travis County. That’s because the Housing Authority of Travis County is opening…
Housing • By Seth Smalley • Jun 6, 2022
Procedural change sparks disagreement at Commissioners Court
Travis County commissioners approved a revision last week to the Commissioners Court agenda setting procedure. Now, any agenda item that will have a budgetary impact must first go through the Planning and Budget Office for analysis before a vote. While…
Travis County • By Seth Smalley • May 24, 2022
County, nonprofits prepare to administer supportive housing resolution
The Travis County Commissioners Court met for a work session Thursday to review the ongoing, federally funded affordable housing initiatives in the Austin area. Multiple nonprofits are preparing to build supportive housing in Travis County using federal American Rescue Plan…
Housing • By Seth Smalley • May 17, 2022
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Growing jail populace in Travis County, review finds
The Travis County jail population is increasing, according to a recent report from Justice Planning. The uptick is largely due to increases in the number of first- and second-degree felony charges and the average length of stay for those bookings. The jail…
Public Safety • By Seth Smalley • May 9, 2022
County to add paid parental leave for employees, but will it be enough?
Tomorrow, the Travis County Commissioners Court will take action on a paid parental leave policy for all county workers, but with multiple policies still to choose from, the magnitude and impact of how they decide remains uncertain. While county staff…
Travis County • By Seth Smalley • May 2, 2022
Early April is for respecting public health, county decrees
In a retroactive move that was unanimously approved last Tuesday, the Travis County Commissioners Court proclaimed the week of April 4 Public Health Week. According to the American Public Health Association, the first week of April each year is National…
Public Health • By Seth Smalley • Apr 26, 2022
Travis County to make improvements to substandard county roads
There are about 108 miles of substandard, unmaintained and “often unpaved” roads in Travis County, according to a recently circulated county document. The Travis County Commissioners Court passed a resolution Tuesday to improve these roads, specifically by increasing funding for…
Roads • By Seth Smalley • Apr 18, 2022
As housing protections expire, Travis County observes bump in evictions
Travis County is seeing a wave, not a tsunami of evictions, according to Precinct 5 Judge Nick Chu. A more substantial increase in evictions had been forecast as federal and local eviction protections wore off. But last Tuesday, the judge…
Housing • By Seth Smalley • Apr 12, 2022
Travis County explores impact of legal representation during intake process
Travis County and Texas A&M are teaming up to administer a pilot study that will examine the effects of providing arrestees with legal counsel at first appearance. On Tuesday, the Travis County Commissioners Court received an update on the upcoming…
