RSS
Home
Large crowd attends county meeting
Print
Email
RSS
Subscribe
.jpg)
I speak to the crowd as Comm. Covey looks on. (photo by T. Smith)
Williamson County Commissioner Valerie Covey and I hosted a County Update Meeting Monday night at the Brushy Creek Community Center. A larger than expected crowd attended the event with at least 75 people in attendance. Topics covered at the meeting included transportation projects in the area, including the widening of Wyoming Springs Blvd. from RM 620 to Brightwater Blvd. This project is jointly funded by Williamson County and the City of Round Rock, with the city serving as the project manager since 70% of the project is in their city limits. Bill Stablien of the city gave a brief explanation of the project which is projected to begin soon and be completed sometime next summer. Two additional lanes will be added to the existing road. Richard Ridings, of HNTB Engineering, who serves as the lead consultant for the county, gave a presentation on several other projects, including safety improvements on RM 620 between Wyoming Springs and Cornerwood. Additionally, Mr. Ridings discussed the O’Connor Dr. project. He explained that TXDoT recently voted to fund the interchange with SH 45 and we hope to be under construction next summer. He also explained that based upon citizen input, the county will also partially fund a free access road from the O’Connor/SH 45 interchange to McNeil Road, as many folks in the area wanted a way to get from the Brushy Creek area to McNeil Road without taking Parmer Lane, which is very crowded during peak hours.
Other speakers covered topics of interest. For example, Jim Rodgers, county parks and recreation director, spoke of a proposed trail to be built on the perimeter of the Beck Preserve, located on Great Oaks Drive and RM 620, just south of Cedar Valley Middle School. He also explained that the county is building a large water playscape in the Southwest Williamson County Regional Park, located on County Road 175 just a few blocks north of FM 1431. Additionally, Annie Burwell, director of the county’s Mental Outreach Team, spoke of the services offered by the county for those having a mental health crisis and also the new county mental health website, http://www.wilcomentalhealth.org
Commissioner Covey and I also spoke. Commissioner Covey mentioned several upcoming events, including an Open House this Thursday from 4-6 p.m. at the Williamson County Regional Animal Shelter, located on the Inner Loop in Georgetown. Additionally, she invited folks to the annual lighting of the courthouse square at dusk on the Friday after Thanksgiving, Nov. 27th. Plus, she mentioned that she is heading up the Adopt-a-Unit program for the county and as a way to thank those that serve, she is collecting homemade cookies and thank you notes for soldiers at Ft. Hood for Veteran’s Day. The cookies are needed by next Monday, Nov. 9th and should be delivered to her office. For more details, contact her assistant Rachel Rull, rrull@wilco.org or 512-943-3370. I also made comments about several things, including the fact that the county is looking for qualified folks to serve on the boards of several emergency service districts (ESDs). ESDs are taxing entities, mainly in the unincorporated areas, that use the funds generated to provide fire and rescue services. The commissioner’s court appoints citizens to serve on these boards.
Elected officials in attendance included Cris Yackle and Bob Grahl from the Brushy Creek Municipal Utility District board of directors. Larry Gonzales, Republican candidate for State Representative, District 52 and Stephen Thomas, Republican candidate for State Representative, District 20, also attended.
Related Articles:
Comments
