Ann Howard is looking forward to using her voice to help others make good things happen. Howard, who was elected in November to represent Precinct 3 on the Travis County Commissioners Court, will soon start her term, amid a pandemic and after almost two years of campaigning. “You get elected in November, and you’ve got […]
Travis County
Posted inTravis County
Margaret Gómez: Whatever it takes to get things done
Travis County Commissioner Margaret Gómez describes this year as “tumultuous.” “It’s been really up and down and kind of a rough ride,” she told the Austin Monitor. Gómez knows it could have been much rougher if the county didn’t have financial policies in place that allowed it to react quickly and distribute the $61 million […]
Posted inTravis County
County Judge Andy Brown: Representing every voice
When asked about his new job, Travis County Judge Andy Brown doesn’t hesitate. “I love it so far,” he says. He summed up his first couple of weeks on the job as very busy and extremely interesting. So far, the bulk of his time has been spent on the Covid-19 pandemic in one fashion or […]
Posted inTravis County
County Judge Sam Biscoe: Pinch-hitting during an extraordinary year
County Judge Samuel Biscoe stepped out of retirement this year to reprise his role as Travis County Judge, a position he held from 1999 to 2014. Biscoe’s return to public service came after his successor, Sarah Eckhardt, ran to replace Sen. Kirk Watson at the Texas Capitol. Biscoe’s colleagues asked him if he would be […]
Posted inTravis County
Jeff Travillion: Working to improve opportunities
“It was a really busy year,” Travis County Commissioner Jeff Travillion says. Giving a quick overview of the past 12 months, he reminded the Austin Monitor that he had been running for office in addition to making sure clinics stayed open and employees were able to work from home safely and serving vulnerable populations in […]
Posted inTravis County
As Covid-19 and climate crisis continue, Brigid Shea persists
A tumultuous 2020 brought oceans of hardships for many, and Travis County Commissioner Brigid Shea said she still can’t quite believe everything that happened this year. “Covid-19 has been just surreal,” Shea said. “Are we really living through a global pandemic that has altered everyone’s lives and killed millions of people? The answer is yes, […]
Posted inTravis County
Gerald Daugherty looks back on years of service
After serving as a Travis County Commissioner for 14 years, Gerald Daugherty recently reflected on his final term as commissioner for Precinct 3. The pandemic gave rise to quite a few challenges during his final term, Daugherty said, but overcoming these challenges also gave way to some of his greatest achievements during his last term. […]
Posted inTravis County
Travis County endorses new penalties for illegal massage parlors
The Travis County Commissioners Court has unanimously voted to adopt an ordinance authorizing injunctions and civil remedies against illicit massage parlors operating in the county. The proposed legislation targets the organizers, owners and operators of the illegal commercial operations, whereas previously the county code made it easier to enforce against individuals directly involved in the […]
Posted inTravis County
Travis County jail looks toward a more sustainable future
The Travis County Correctional Complex intends to implement a number of sustainability initiatives to reduce waste, save money and shrink the facility’s net energy use to zero by 2040, according to a presentation to the Travis County Commissioners Court last Tuesday. Shaun Auckland, a sustainability coordinator with Transportation and Natural Resources, told the commissioners about the […]
Posted inTravis County
Newly sworn in, Travis County Judge Andy Brown says he’ll shift focus from jails to mental health
Andy Brown is now Travis County’s top official. Brown was sworn in at Tuesday’s meeting of the Travis County Commissioners Court by interim County Judge Sam Biscoe, who served in the same capacity for over 15 years before retiring. He was brought out of retirement earlier this year when then-County Judge Sarah Eckhardt made a […]
Posted inTravis County
Commissioners take next step toward permanent telework
The Travis County Commissioners Court voted unanimously Tuesday to move forward with a scope of services for a consultant to advise them on a plan to have 75 percent of eligible employees to do their jobs by teleworking on a permanent basis. As a result of the coronavirus, commissioners directed staffers to create the framework […]
Posted inTravis County
School lands generate $3.4 million for county schools
For the first time since 2014, the Travis County Commissioners Court has voted to distribute revenues from its 18,820-acre property in Throckmorton County among 14 school districts across the county. Melissa Velasquez, executive assistant for Commissioner Brigid Shea, brought the fund to the commissioner’s attention recently after discovering that more than $3.7 million had accumulated […]