HUTTO — A Williamson County annex building vacant for more than four years is not for sale despite a $2.2 million offer by the
Hutto Economic Development Corp.
In addition, the structure at 321 Ed Schmidt Blvd. is not going to be turned into a halfway house, said Precinct 4 Commissioner Russ Boles.
Boles has given a resounding “no” to Hutto’s request to buy his former county headquarters.
News of the EDC’s overture to purchase the building to accommodate Hutto’s expanding functions surfaced last week.
“As one of the fastest growing counties in the state, Williamson County is looking ahead to plan for growth and the future needs of our growing population,” Boles said in an April 17 email to EDC Director Cheney Gamboa. “While we continuously explore the current and future needs of all county facilities, we do not sell a property until we are certain that we will not have a use for it in the future.”
In his letter, Boles specified the property is not listed for sale, but he would let the city know if that ever changed.
Last week, the EDC submitted a $2.2 million offer to buy the 9,000-square-foot facility to provide space for public meetings and a voting location. In addition, the facility could be used for emergency food distribution or as a shelter, according to an EDC press release.
Although Boles said the building was not available, in January County Elections Administrator Bridgette Escobedo told City Council the building’s potential sale was the reason it could not be used as a polling place for the March 3 primary elections.
Escobedo asked the council if City Hall could be a potential polling place since the annex building was no longer available.
The issue has been complicated since Mayor Mike Snyder posted on his socialmedia page the county was considering using the building as a halfway house.
Snyder said he heard the rumor from a county official, adding the idea was based on the county receiving a grant to fund such a facility.
A halfway house is often used to help people with criminal backgrounds or substance-abuse issues reintegrate into society.
According to Boles, since the building is inside city limits and zoned as general commercial under a city ordinance, the council would have to approve both rezoning and a special-use permit for the county to create a halfway house there.
“Williamson County does not own, operate or facilitate halfway houses,” Boles said. “Any suggestion that a halfway house could be established in Hutto without City Council approval is incorrect.”
