A plan by Dripping Springs officials to apply for a discharge permit from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality that could send treated wastewater into Onion Creek is meeting with some concern from at least two Austin-regional entities. Dripping Springs Deputy City Administrator Ginger Faught told the Austin Monitor that the city is at […]
Local Government
Posted inLocal Government, Transportation
Commissioners postpone resolution to support Project Connect
There was no resolution this week from Travis County Commissioners about supporting Project Connect, the high-capacity, cross-agency transit plan for the Austin metropolitan area. The court mainly heard from supporters of Project Connect Tuesday. “I have been in this community just over three years now,” said Linda Watson, President and CEO of Capital […]
Posted inLocal Government, Local Politics, Public Safety, Uncategorized
Sheriff’s office defends no in-person jail visitation policy
Officials with the Travis County Sheriff’s Department defended their policy Tuesday of limiting family visits with Travis County Jail inmates to a for-profit video visitation system, saying that the change in policy was for security reasons and that video visitation is a “best practice” in the criminal justice industry. The presentation was requested by […]
Posted inLocal Government
No contract between Travis County and Saxet Gun Show promoters
This weekend’s Saxet Gun Show at the Travis County Exposition Center will likely be the last one at that venue for the foreseeable future. For the second time in three weeks, the Travis County Commissioners Court heard public comment on the continuation of the Saxet Gun Show contract and declined to extend it. […]
Posted inElections, Local Government, Local Politics, Uncategorized
Still a horse race for Brown, Eckhardt in quest for County Judge spot
The two Democrats battling to replace long-time Travis County Judge Sam Biscoe have raised a combined $464,000 in campaign cash through Dec. 31. Andy Brown and Sarah Eckhardt are waging the first real battle for the top job in Travis County in 16 years. Brown, an attorney, long-time political activist and former chair of […]
Posted inDevelopment, Local Government, Local Politics, Uncategorized
Travis County approves economic development incentives rules
Finalizing an effort that has been months in the making, the Travis County Commissioners unanimously approved revised economic development incentives for the county Tuesday. “It’s been a struggle working on this and I think we’ve done a pretty good job by involving an array of collaborative efforts with many sources,” said Pct. 1 Commissioner […]
Posted inLocal Government
Health care collaborative to receive $29 million in federal funds
The Central Health Board of Managers gave a rare standing ovation Wednesday night after hearing that Travis County’s new healthcare delivery system for low-income residents is the recipient of $29 million in federal funding. With an additional $20.3 million in local matching funds, the Community Care Collaborative gets access to $49.3 million to tackle […]
Posted inLocal Government, Local Politics, Public Safety
Commissioners to investigate loss of in-person jail visitation
Several members of the Travis County Commissioners Court say they were caught off guard Tuesday when they were told that in-person family visits at the Travis County Jail have been replaced by a video system. And a majority of commissioners say they are planning to find out why. Representatives of the Texas Civil Rights […]
Posted inLocal Government, Local Politics, Uncategorized
Travis Commissioners approve fee increases for county parks
Travis County Commissioners voted Tuesday to raise fees for visitors to Travis County parks, but it is not clear exactly when that hike will happen. Commissioners approved the increase to close a potential budget gap. This is the first adjustment to any county parks’ fees since 2009 and officials say many of the affected […]
Posted inLocal Government, Public Safety, Uncategorized
Civil rights groups: Video jail visits too costly, may be violating civil rights
A two-way video conferencing system that has all but replaced in-person visits by friends and family members with those incarcerated at the Travis County Jail is coming under fire as being too expensive, too impersonal and possibly even dangerous to an inmate’s health. Critics are also concerned about the possibility that attorney-client conversations are being […]
Posted inDevelopment, Elections, Local Government, Local Politics
Eckhardt criticizes McCombs for seeking tax breaks, suing appraisal district
Travis County Judge candidate Sarah Eckhardt continued her verbal campaign against billionaire businessman Red McCombs Thursday, taking him to task for asking taxpayers to contribute millions of dollars to build the Circuit of the Americas race track but going to court to get his property tax bill on the facility lowered. Eckhardt, a former […]
Posted inDevelopment, Local Government
ZAP denies fill variance for property in city’s northwest ETJ
The Zoning and Platting Commission, following the Environmental Board‘s lead and staff’s counsel, denied a variance Tuesday for a north Austin property that has been in violation of city regulations for years. The site, at 15101 Debba Drive, is in the far northwest portion of the city‘s extraterritorial jurisdiction. Owner Marc Pate Construction was […]