Hutto looking into costs, equipment for proposed fire station Charter review, new councilman on tap for sessions
HUTTO — The city is digging deeper into the cost of running its own Fire Department, asking the Economic Development Council to hire a consultant to determine the financial and operational costs.
That was the word during the council meeting July 2 in which city representatives also discussed revisions to the City Charter and installed a new councilman.
Regarding the proposed fire station near the Hutto Megasite, the council previously told staffers to take steps to hire a consultant who would advise the city about the equipment needed for Hutto’s first fire station.
Hutto currently sees first-responder services from Williamson County Emergency Services District 3. In Texas, ESDs are political entities separate from a municipality and can levy property taxes and collect sales-tax revenue, which some city leaders take issue with.
Councilwoman Corina Zepeda added the request to the agenda, classifying the Fire Department as an economic development project requiring analysis about the costs and where the money is coming from.
The council also directed city employees to prepare an interlocal agreement between the city and ESD 3.
City leaders and ESD 3 spent over two hours July 3 discussing the next steps in their relationship.
The initiative for a cityowned fire department has drawn heat for several reasons, with some community members questioning the need, the cost and the logistics of the project.
Mayor Mike Snyder has said the switch from countyowned ESD 3 to a city-owned Fire Department would allow the city to collect a higher percentage of sales-tax revenue, a significant benefit considering new commercial projects being planned.
Sales taxes are a significant revenue source for Hutto, and the mayor says reaping a greater percentage can offset property taxes.
“I don’t know how we can run the city with property taxes being the main source of income and not taxing people out of their homes. It’s not a matter of can we afford it, it’s a matter of we can’t afford it, in my mind,” Snyder said.
Charter review yields few big changes
The Charter Review Commission presented its recommendations for amendments at the council meeting, but they numbered less than in previous overhauls, said Chairman Perry Savard.
In addition to a handful of clerical changes, the commission suggested only two protocol amendments to the council.
The City Charter is the governing document that outlines policies and procedures.
One amendment would have council members who step down with a year left on their term to continue serving until a replacement is named, unless the removal is for cause.
Two years ago, a council member moved to another city but still came back to town to serve, a situation that raised objections from Snyder.
Savard said the amendment would give the council an incentive to quickly hold a special election to replace the outgoing member.
The second proposition changes the number of a quorum on the council from five members to four.
The council will review the recommendations over the next few weeks before deciding if any are placed on the Nov. 3 general election ballot for voter approval.
New councilman
Jerrel Reynolds took his seat on the dais on July 2 after being sworn in as the new Place 1 councilman by Municipal Judge Lucas Wilson.
Reynolds won the June 13 runoff against Brandy McCool with 55.5% of the votes. Reynolds replaces Councilman Charles Warner, who chose not to run for reelection.
Warner was appointed in January to fill the few months remaining on the term of Place 1 Councilman Brian Thompson, who stepped down in December.
Council members voted to name Place 5 representative Evan Porterfield as mayor pro tem, replacing Dan Thornton.
Hutto generally changes its mayor pro tem — who fills in when the mayor is unavailable — each year.
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“I don’t know how we can run the city with property taxes being the main source of income and not taxing people out of their homes.”
— Mayor Mike Snyder
