KYLE — After an hour-long discussion with failed motions and circling banter, Kyle City Council members sent home four applicants seeking the city’s Municipal Judge position without interviewing them as scheduled at a special called meeting on Nov. 7. Current Municipal Judge Sundra Spears’ base salary is $24,000 a year plus city benefits, which […]
Local Government
Posted inLocal Government
Questions arise over legislative changes to state education standards
Concerns over the standards of the State of Texas’ public education system found their way to an Austin Chamber of Commerce event Tuesday. Questions arose in the wake of legislative action taken during this past session to change some graduation requirements. There, as part of a news conference held after the conclusion of the […]
Posted inLocal Government, Local Politics
Travis Commissioners add $1 million to child care program
Travis County Commissioners have approved investing an additional $1 million over the next two years to bolster early childhood programs, particularly those offering child care for low-income families. Commissioners approved a two-part plan that will change the procurement process for existing and expanded programs in Fiscal Year 2015, and will make a one-time $500,000 […]
Posted inDevelopment, Local Government, Local Politics, Public Safety
City, county to expand home buyouts for flooded areas
The City of Austin and Travis County are both preparing to expand their ongoing programs to buy and demolish the homes of residents who live in flood-prone areas. And with last week’s severe flooding in the Onion Creek 25-year flood plain, both the city and the county say they are stepping up their programs. […]
Posted inLocal Government, Resources
PUC staff urges dismissal of latest rate challenge
A document filed Tuesday by staff of the Texas Public Utility Commission hints strongly that the commission will reject an appeal by Homeowners United for Rate Fairness of Austin City Council members’ action to assess legal costs from the Austin Energy rate case to out-of-city ratepayers. In a 12-page filing, commission staff conclude that […]
Posted inDevelopment, Local Government, Transportation
Commissioners vote to move heritage tree for road expansion
After assurances that the state would pay for most of the cost, Travis County Commissioners voted Tuesday to remove and transplant a 30-inch Heritage Oak tree standing in the way of an expansion of Frate Barker Road in South Austin. Commissioners had postponed a vote last week on approving the $9 million contract to […]
Posted inLocal Government, Public Safety
Local leaders file disaster declarations in hope of federal assistance
Austin Mayor Lee Leffingwell, Travis County Judge Sam Biscoe, and Hays County Judge Bert Cobb have each filed local disaster declarations in the wake of massive flooding that struck Central Texas last week. The move could preface action by Texas Gov. Rick Perry that could also lead to a federal disaster declaration. In a […]
Posted inLocal Government, Public Safety, Uncategorized
City, county pour staff and materials into helping flood victims
On Sunday morning, In Fact Daily Editor Jo Clifton accompanied Council Member Laura Morrison on a drive to the flood-damaged Onion Creek Neighborhood. Residents of the hardest hit areas of this Southeast Austin neighborhood continue to sort ruined belongings from what may be salvageable after the devastating flood of Oct. 31. Meanwhile, 50 members […]
Posted inEnvironment, Local Government, Local Politics
Leffingwell votes against climate protection clause in CAMPO plan
Austin Mayor Lee Leffingwell found himself Wednesday defending a controversial vote to take references to climate protection and greenhouse gas emissions out of the Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization’s 2040 plan. Leffingwell told In Fact Daily that he cast his vote with an eye toward preserving regional harmony. An original supporter of Austin’s Climate […]
Posted inLocal Government, Local Politics, Transportation
County ponders how to deal with heritage tree in path of road extension
Travis County Commissioners will face a tough decision next week as they decide the fate of a 100-year-old oak tree that is in the way of an extension of Frate Barker Road in South Austin. The item came up on the court’s agenda on Tuesday, but after examining a complex array of solutions, Commissioners […]
Posted inDevelopment, Local Government
Austin may be competing with Phoenix for new Apple facility
Phoenix and Austin could be in competition again, this time in a race to lure Apple to manufacture computers in a local facility with the possibility of hundreds of jobs and millions in economic development to either region. An article in the Phoenix Business Journal Monday quoted unnamed sources in the commercial real estate […]
Posted inLocal Government
County developing five-year plan for social service contracts
Business in Austin and Travis County may be booming, but ironically, officials say as the economy expands, so does the need to provide social services for those whose boat does not rise with the tide. To meet that growing need, Travis County is planning to add up to $2 million in social services funding […]