Dan Troxell

Bond Advisory Committee
presents to LISD Board

By DAN TROXELL
LISD Superintendent

During the June 15 board meeting, the co-chairs of the Bond Advisory Committee presented its recommendations to the Leander ISD Board of Trustees. Their presentation was the culmination of five months and many, many hours of meetings, research, facility tours, conversations and deliberation on the parts of the steering committee and subcommittees. After carefully weighing the long list of identified needs, the BAC ultimately identified $453,860,841 in new facilities, campus additions and land purchases to meet increasing student enrollment; campus safety upgrades; and maintenance upgrades to older buildings.

Co-chairs Victor Villarreal and Shaun Cranston have done an outstanding job leading the BAC through this lengthy and challenging process. Last month, the steering committee was tasked with prioritizing and narrowing the scope of the proposed project lists submitted by the five subcommittees, totaling nearly $1.2 billion. As Villarreal and Cranston reported to the board, while there were a number of worthwhile projects on the list, they agreed to prioritize items that support growth, student safety and maintenance/operations.

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River Place and Steiner Ranch hosted their annual parades on Independence Day last week.

Residents show their patriotism and decorated bikes, wagons, strollers, golf carts and the family pet for the two events held July 4.

Steiner’s parade started at 9 a.m. at Towne Square Community Center and River Place’s started at 9:30 a.m. at Sun Tree Park. The River Place MUD and River Place Country Club also hosted the community’s annual Independence Day Barbecue.

Sienna Ceder, Elle Cummings, and Berit Cummings having fun in their decorated golf cart.

The Taylor Family enjoying the Fourth of July after the parade.

The River Place community marching for the Fourth of July.

River Place residents walk as they celebrate the Fourth of July.

Decorated bikes for the festivities at River Place.

Rock climbing, Trampoline Bungee jumping and a soccer dart board to enjoy the day with some outdoor activities.

Serving burgers and water to the people of Steiner.

Evelyn Hinz and her dog enjoy watching the parade.

The community
following the fire truck.

The Steiner Ranch Mountain Bike Team leading the parade.

Steiner residents getting ready to
march in the parade.

The band gets ready to play the National Anthem to start the parade off.

Evi Machnic gets ready for the parade in her festive wagon.

The proposed 400-foot right turn lane at Bullick Hollow and RM 2769 is considered a “top priority” and is estimated to cost $1.1 million.

By KIM ESTES
Four Points News

Proposed projects in Travis County — including ball fields in Steiner Ranch, sidewalks in Westminster Glen and a turn lane at the intersection of Bullick Hollow and RM 2769 — were discussed at last week’s Travis County Citizens Bond Advisory Committee held at Vandegrift High School.

About 25 people attended the session, one of six held in June throughout the county to gather public input on a potential referendum.

Ron Wattinger’s remarks opened a public outreach meeting on June 27 and the CBAC chairman says they will most likely recommend that Commissioners adopt a bond package totaling $145 to $195 million because anything smaller is “not realistic.”

The county Planning and Budget Office estimates that the impact per $100 million in long-term debt on the average taxable homestead of $285,152 is $13 a year. The anticipated bond is expected to be for a span of two or three years, depending on the total value of it, said Travis Gatlin, Travis County budget director.

Initially, commissioners gave the CBAC a range of $50 to $150 million for a small, medium or large bond package to fund projects for parks and land conservation and transportation, such as roadway capacity and safety, bridge improvement and pedestrian access.

Meeting since March, the CBAC has reviewed the proposed county “Consolidated 2017 Bond Project List” and participated in on-site tours to observe the context, challenges and scope of many of the possible projects. They have prioritized the currently recommended list, but Wattinger said priorities are flexible based on public input.

At last week’s meeting, there were several Four Points residents with specific requests for ball field space at Steiner Ranch and a sidewalk in Westminster Glen.

Bullick Hollow turn lane
However, as currently drafted, the most direct impact that passage of the bond would have locally is the construction of a 400-foot right turn lane at Bullick Hollow and RM 2769.

The project is considered a top priority. “It was ranked first by (county) staff for transportation projects,” said Brian Thompto, the only Four Points resident on the 15-member CBAC.

Thompto said traffic at Bullick Hollow and FM 2769 backs up during peak afternoon travel time, and adding a turn lane will improve access for vehicles turning right, subsequently decreasing congestion. Estimated cost of the Bullick Hollow project is $1.1 million.

Westminster Glen sidewalks
Sidewalks for Westminster Glen are also now on the potential projects list under the pedestrian category. “Residents have spoken at more than one meeting and expressed interest in a sidewalk along Westminster Glen Avenue where through traffic comes from City Park Road to River Place and beyond. Their request was added to the project list for consideration,” Thompto said. The estimated cost is $1.7 million, but it is considered a lower priority.

Westminster Glen resident, Erin Burgess, addressed CBAC members saying, “We know this is ‘small potatoes’ in the scheme of things, but for our neighborhood, it would be a very big improvement.”

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