The design changes for the proposed Hampton Inn & Suites that got the nod Tuesday will help speed up the project, according to Roshan Patel with Triangle Engineering, representing developer Taylor Star LLC.

The hotel development at 140 N.W. Carlos G. Parker Blvd. will join Home2 Suites and Holiday Inn Express & Suites in the growing area between the Taylor Regional Park and Sports Complex and H-E-B.

The 2.5-acre, four-story project will have 113 rooms and 113 parking spaces.

The site is zoned as P5, a designation which allows hotels but requires developments to have all parking in the rear of the building.

The board, however, approved parking on all sides of the site to accommodate the 113 spots.

Development Services Director Martin Griggs said the developer asked for a variance because the shape of the building along with a 26-foot-wide fire lane and access easement at the front would not allow the structure to sit far enough forward to allow parking in the rear.

The board also approved reducing the facade build-out from 80% of the lot frontage to 63%. Due to the lot’s configuration, the larger facade as required by local rules would have eliminated the drive aisles, access point and fire lane.

The board’s variance ruling does not have to go before City Council for approval, so Patel said Triangle Engineering will be able to move quickly to finalize plans.

Also during the Williamson County Commissioners Court meeting May 5, the leaders honored the Williamson County Tax Assessor-Collector’s Office; covered amendments to previously approved software licenses and updates; and heard from residents concerned about the proposed Justice Complex.

During the Tuesday session, the commissioners gave the green light to lodge a pair of formal complaints against the TCEQ regarding municipal utility districts 67 and 69.

“The reason why we’re protesting them (with TCEQ) is because the rest of the county could fill in as a MUD, which would then be under the county,” said Precinct 3 Commissioner Valerie Covey.

MUDs provide water, sewage, drainage and other services to areas outside of city boundaries and are often precursors to developments.

Covey noted issues with MUDs frequently come before the commissioners.

She added the protests do not signal the county wants to kill the MUDs under the oversight of TCEQ.

“We just want them to work with us,” she said.

County Judge Steven Snell added, “We definitely want to work together and make sure we’re moving forward in the best interest of the county.”

The commissioners also lauded the Tax Assessor-Collector’s Office after Williamson County was one of three in Texas to receive the Gold Level Recognition in the Performance Quality Recognition Program from the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles.

“The PQRP celebrates outstanding partnerships that result in better service for Texans,” said Annette Quintero, director of Vehicle Titles and Registration for TxDMV.

“Our team is honored to receive this Gold Level Recognition,” said Tax Assessor- Collector Larry Gaddes. “This award reflects the dedication and professionalism of every staff member across our offices, from our frontline customer service teams to our accounting and title specialists.”

According to officials, the county’s DMV has a 99% customer satisfaction rating.

Meanwhile, with no discussion, the court approved a program manager-level three contract position, in conjunction with GTS Technology Solutions Inc., for the county’s Information Systems Department for 1,300 hours with a salary not to exceed $201,500.

The court also approved the purchase of additional Microsoft Azure licenses for public-safety needs through SoftwareOne Inc. for county offices and buying 37 Panasonic FZ-55 Toughbooks at more than $170,000 for the Criminal Investigation Division of the William County Sheriff’s Office.

At both the beginning and the end of the session, several Georgetown residents spoke out against the site chosen for the county’s new Justice Complex, noting the location is one-third of a mile away from two schools and backs up against the Pinnacle neighborhood.

The planned center will include a new county jail.

In March, commissioners approved the purchase of 253 acres for nearly $76 million for the future complex in southeast Georgetown. The largest tract is a 134-acre triangular property at 1200 CR 110.

Covey asked residents to provide information to County Manager Rebecca Clemons for further review.

The court next meets at 9:30 a.m. May 12 at 710 S. Main St. Sessions can also be viewed online at wilcotx.gov/331/ Commissioners- Court.

Officers are seeking the public’s assistance to develop more leads in the case, according to a city news release.

Alfred Olguin Flores, 48, was found about 5 p.m. Sunday, May 3, in the 1000 block of Price Street.

Though authorities so far remain tight-lipped about the incident including how the victim died, additional information will be released to the public as it becomes available, officials said.

“The investigation is ongoing and is being investigated as a murder,” according to a release from the Police Department.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Detective Aaron Koch at aaron.koch@taylortx.gov or call 512-3525551 ext. 2228.

The Travis County Medical Examiner’s Office confirmed the victim’s identity, officials said.

Taylor officers are working on the case with cooperation from the Texas Rangers, the Williamson County Crime Scene Unit, the Williamson County District Attorney’s Office and a Williamson County death investigator.

Phillips Worm Farm was a family-owned business on Texas 95 just south of Taylor. Owned and operated by Henry and Olene Phillips and their daughters, Sue and Brenda, the worms lived in peat moss contained in raised beds in a building behind their house.

Keep in mind, we’re talking about hundreds of thousands of worms, and they required the same basic care you would give to any “livestock” raised on a farm.

“They had to be watered and fed every day,” Brenda recalled. “We sprinkled oats all over the top that had been ground into a very fine powder. With that many worms in one place, you could actually hear them smacking as they ate.”

When you have huge numbers of worms eating and drinking daily, you also end up with lots of manure, known officially as worm castings. Over a period of about six months, the level of peat moss would grow about six inches in height from all the poop added by the little wigglers.

“We would pile up the existing dirt in the middle of the bed,” Brenda explained. “Then we would spread fresh peat moss all around it. The worms would crawl out of the pile and into the fresh, clean bedding.”

The discarded worm castings proved to be a very nutrient-rich soil the family sold by the pickup load. Olene eventually opened a second business on the property, The Flower Barn, where she grew incredibly beautiful plants with the plentiful byproduct of worm farming. Totally unrelated to the worm business, she also opened a successful ceramics business on the property.

Henry’s other job involved working for the phone company for a number of years.

My family was friends with the Phillips, and we would visit them on occasion. I remember when Sue and Brenda were in high school, and Sue taught me how to swim in the pool at the old Carlow Motel on Second Street. If you remember the Carlow, then you know the sign for the motel was the inspiration for the sign that now welcomes visitors coming into Taylor from the west on U.S. 79.

While I’ve known for quite some time our two families have been acquainted for at least a couple of generations, I just recently discovered that we are also related. Brenda and Sue’s greatgrandmother and my great-grandfather were brother and sister.

As a young boy, I found the worm business fascinating. I still remember going into the building out back and seeing all those raised beds lined up in rows. At the time, I never thought about having to give all those worms food and water, or fresh bedding, or that lights stayed on around the clock.

“We raised two kinds of worms to sell, the smaller red wigglers and African night crawlers, which were larger,” Brenda said. “The lights were kept on around the clock to keep the night crawlers in their place. If they ever sensed it was dark, they would become more active and leave.”

Phillips Worm Farm began in 1952 and served the needs of area fishing enthusiasts for several decades. They started out raising rabbits with a few worms added to the soil under the cages to help manage the waste. When people started asking to buy the worms to go fishing, and the rabbits failed to show a profit, the family redirected their attention to the worm business instead. The worms reproduced with such frequency the family never needed to restock from outside sources. As demand grew, the business expanded beyond the capacity of the building that had previously been a portable classroom purchased from the Granger Independent School District.

They built a large brush arbor for the red wigglers since those worms didn’t have to have the lights on 24/7.

Henry and Olene often hired high school boys to help with handling the huge bales of peat moss and large quantities of ground oats as well as counting worms and other duties. One of those students was Gerald Welch, Brenda’s future husband.

Brenda recalled how she and Sue separated the big worms from the little ones and counted them out one by one to package for sale. They sold 30 worms for $1 to drive-up customers, and wholesale at $20 for a thousand.

Years later, Brenda and Gerald’s son, Clint, helped care for the worms. At age 6, he planned to take over the family business someday so his grandparents wouldn’t have to work so hard.

On more than one occasion, the family was awakened by a predawn honk from an eager fisherman.

“We’ve had them come too early,” Olene said in a 1990 interview with the Austin American-Statesman.

“We don’t really get mad, but we don’t really appreciate getting up at four or five in the morning.”

Looking back, Brenda said all the responsibilities of working in the family business taught her a good work ethic. She recalls getting paid 10 cents an hour to work with the worms while her friends laboring at local dime stores earned 35 cents an hour. Later, she began working for C. R. Anthony on Main Street for 75 cents an hour.

When asked how she felt about working with worms, Brenda said, “I liked the rabbits better. As a teenage girl, there were times when it was kind of embarrassing. But we had done this since we were little so they weren’t creepy to us.”

Phillips Worm Farm is long gone but continues to be a pleasant memory for their many customers through the years. One of those loyal customers asked to have the sign that stood at the end of their driveway by the highway, and placed it on the side of his barn to remember this part of Taylor’s history.

Join me here in a couple of weeks as we explore another tale from Taylor. Until then, be proud of where you’re from.

Crow is a longtime Taylor resident and retired from the Taylor Independent School District after 40 years of service. For a topic or suggestion, reach out to Crow via jason.chlapek@granite mediapartners.com.

A charter amendment that would have given Taylor residents the ability to recall a City Council member was voted down 5-4 at Monday’s Charter Review Commission meeting.

According to Vice-chairman Gary Gola, Taylor is one of few area towns that does not have the power to remove an elected official once he or she has taken office.

“A recall is just another tool citizens can utilize if they find out someone they elected isn’t who they thought they would be,” Gola said May 4.

Mayor-elect Jim Buzan, who is on the commission, did not support giving recall powers to the public. The new mayor, who won his bid May 2, expressed concerns about the effect on economic development if the city was in the middle of a recall.

Buzan said Monday’s meeting would be his last, since he is being sworn in as mayor May 12.

After discussions, a majority of the commission members decided against including the recall measure.

The commission has two more meetings to finalize recommended amendments to the charter, which will then go before the council for a vote.

The approved amendments will then be decided by voters during the Nov. 3 general election.

Council members can also vote to add their own amendments to the charter.

Gola led a successful petition drive in 2024 to amend the charter to set council compensation.

This time, the recall amendment he proposed would have required signatures from 25% of registered voters on a petition to place the measure on a ballot. Next, for the recall to be successful, 60% of people voting would have to agree to the recall.

Attorney Charles Zech, who is providing legal counsel to the commission, said the recall provision would be one of the most restrictive he has seen.

Zech said Texas does not have a state law regarding recall of city officials, though the state does limit any recall petition effort to 180 days before signatures become invalid.

The attorney voiced agreement with board members concerned that a recall petition would be troublesome for the city.

“It’s always a disruption in the community. It always creates a bad taste and bad feelings. It just always does,” Zech said.

The two members of the public who spoke during the public comment session were also divided.

Pam Harper worried about who would run for office if they knew the public could recall them, a sentiment echoed by some on the board.

“Allowing recall is dangerous,” she said. “It will be a recipe for disaster. We will be a laughingstock.”

Laura Baker spoke in support of the recall power, saying it was a tool for accountability. She added she believed it would only be used in extreme conditions.

“Just because we elect someone doesn’t mean they’re going to be accountable,” Baker said.

Commission member Christine Lopez was against adding a recall provision to the City Charter, saying it would lead to people trying to remove elected officials due to political differences and could be abused.

She, too, feared that knowing they could be recalled would make some potential candidates decide not to run for office.

“Instead of bringing out the pitchforks...if they are not happy with their representatives, you vote them out,” Lopez said.

Commission Chairman John McDonald agreed the ability to vote out a representative should be the public’s only solution for dissatisfaction with an elected official.

“Elections have ramifications. If somebody elected the wrong person, then shame on them. The whole city shouldn’t have to pay that price,” McDonald said.

Commission members were also concerned about the public successfully petitioning to remove several council members at once, a situation that happened in Copperas Cove and left the city unable to function for a time because the council did not have a quorum.

Other issues cited included the cost of elections and the potential for opposing political parties to “weaponize” the recall process.

In addition, Taylor does not have an ethics ordinance allowing the council to vote out a sitting member for bad behavior. Without the ethics ordinance or a recall petition, Gola likened winning a seat on the dais to getting a three-year contract and being untouchable.

On a local level, calls for supporting a recall have quietly picked up speed.

Critics of the council’s actions to allow Blueprint Data Centers to operate in Taylor have floated socialmedia posts about other cities where council members were recalled for approving such projects.

The next Charter Review Commission meeting is 6 p.m. May 20 in the Taylor Public Library meeting room, 801 Vance St.

“It’s always a disruption in the community.”

— Attorney Charles Zech

The body of Alfred Olguin Flores, 48, was discovered about 5 p.m. Sunday, May 3, in the 1000 block of Price Street. No other details have been released by the authorities.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Detective Aaron Koch at aaron.koch@taylortx.gov or call 512-3525551 ext. 2228.

According to a city news release, detectives are probing the circumstances surrounding the incident, and additional information will be released as it becomes available.

The Travis County Medical Examiner’s Office confirmed the man’s identity, officials said.

Taylor officers are working on the case with cooperation from the Texas Rangers, the Williamson County Crime Scene Unit, the Williamson County District Attorney’s Office and a Williamson County death investigator.

Hutto will see a runoff in June

JASON CHLAPEK

jason.chlapek@granitemediapartners.com

Elections May 2 returned several incumbents, set the stage for a runoff in Hutto and sent voters to the polls to select Taylor’s first mayor by popular vote.

Here is a quick breakdown of the results: 

TAYLOR

Jim Buzan will be sworn in as the new mayor of Taylor May 12.

Buzan earned 72.51% of the vote. Taylor Stubbs (22.64%) and Sandra Wolff (4.85%) also ran in the mayoral contest.

This marks the first time Taylor residents voted for the city’s chief executive. The position was previously appointed to someone on the City Council dais, but that was changed by a public referendum in May 2024.

Current Mayor Dwayne Ariola decided not to run again. Ariola, a Navy veteran and businessman, was first elected to the council in 2017 and was appointed mayor in 2024.

HUTTO

There will be a runoff June 13 in Hutto for City Council Place 1 since neither candidate got more than 50 percent of the vote. Jerrel W. Reynolds (41.97%) and Brandy McCool (24.19%) will face each other again at the ballot box. Sarosh Jafri (23.07%) and Luiz Dunham (10.77%) also ran for Place 1.

Place 4 will not need a runoff, with Corine Zepeda at 54.85% of ballots cast pulling ahead of challenger Brandon DeLeon (45.15%).

GRANGER

Two out of three Granger City Council incumbents – Mark Matoska and Ron Marx – kept their spots on the dais. Matoska and Marx earned 26.40% and 20.40% of the ballots cast, respectively, while challenger Denise Stefek will join them after earning the most votes at 33.60%.

Incumbent Lori Gick (19.60%) was not reelected.

THRALL

Proposition A on the city ballot passed with flying colors, earning 84.75% approval by the electorate. The measure called for the reauthorization of a 0.25% sales-and-use tax rate to maintain and repair city streets.

HUTTO ISD

Incumbent Felix Chavez will remain on the Hutto Independent School District’s school board after earning 28.21% of the vote in a five-person race for two seats. April Adams (28.11%) takes the other spot, fending off fellow candidates Lynn Green (19.82%), Taylor Lopez (13.93%) and Samantha Martinez (9.93%).

GRANGER ISD

The Granger Independent School District will have a new president soon. Current trustee and board president Daryl Stefek was not one of the top three vote earners in the sixperson race for three trustee seats.

Ricky Luna (22.24%) and Jen David (21.46%) were the top vote earners and will join Jason Huf (20.22%) on the school board.

In addition to Stefek (13.53%), David Tucker (17.88%) and Rosangel Rodriguez (4.68%) also ran for the seats.

THRALL ISD

Incumbent Bryan Holubec and challenger Jason Seaton were elected to the Thrall Independent School District board. Seaton earned 36.80% of the vote, while Holubec garnered 30.40%.

Other candidates included Ashley Harper (24.53%) and Joshua Seagroves (8.27%). Incumbent Wesley Grisham decided not to seek office again.

LOWER BRUSHY CREEK WCID

Two incumbents and one challenger earned spots on the Lower Brushy Creek Water Control and Improvement District during a three-seat, four-person race.

Incumbents Allen Ray David (27.86%) and Laine Holman (27.29%) earned the most ballots, while challenger Mitch Drummond garnered 24.26% of the vote.

Drummond is a former Taylor councilman. Mark Baudek (20.59%) also ran for a seat.

(RIGHT) Taylor Public Library Director Amy Keyes reads stories to children from the Heritage Square stage at the third annual Taylor Fest May 2.

After a week of rain and dark clouds, the sun broke free and shined down on the third annual Taylor Fest May 2.

The Heritage Square park event, 400 N. Main St., featured vendors selling food and crafts; activities for kids of all ages including a bounce house, a climbing wall and a petting zoo; ballet folklorico dancers; and a Lucha Libre wrestling match.

The free event downtown celebrated “the tapestry of cultures” that make up Taylor, according to organizers.

At a celebratory luncheon held Friday, May 1, the six teachers were honored alongside their principals, school board trustees and other district leaders for their leadership, dedication and commitment to excellence.

“Taylor ISD is proud to recognize the outstanding educators who to continue to shape the future of students across the district,” said Taylor ISD spokesman Christian Aleman.

According to school officials, the campus winners inspire learning, go above and beyond each day to support their students and make a lasting impact in their classrooms and school communities.

A centralized municipal complex — City Hall, Police Department and Municipal Court — approved by the City Council in 2023 is finally being realized.

Current and former Taylor officials broke ground on the new City Hall and Justice Center Complex Wednesday morning at 300 E. Second St., next door to Fire Station No. 1.

The building, which has a $52.155 million price tag, is projected for completion in November 2027.

“The city of Taylor hasn’t built a new City Hall in more than 100 years,” said former Councilman Robert Garcia. “To see this come to fruition is great not just for the previous council who did a lot to get this through, but for futures to come. I can’t wait for it to be erected

FOR MORE

See related opinion column on page 5.

and to walk through it.”

Dignitaries at the ceremony April 29 in addition to Garcia included former council members Gerald Anderson and then-Mayor Brandt Rydell, as well as Mayor Dwayne Ariola and current council members Greg Redden and Heather Long.

Rydell, Garcia, Anderson, Ariola and Mitch Drummond were on the council when the complex was approved.

Bartlett Cocke General Contractors, HDR Engineering and Randall Scott Architects are teaming up on the project, which will take 18 months to complete.

“This is going to be the gem of downtown,” said Daniel Seguin, interim executive director of community services. “This is going to be something the community will be proud of and it’ll revitalize this part of our downtown area that hasn’t seen a lot of investment.”

Though some on social media have opined the money is better spent elsewhere, municipal officials argue the complex is needed because current facilities are aging, need constant repair and are running out of room.

For the moment, City Hall is in a former Safeway Inc. grocery store at 400 Porter St., the police station sits inside a one-time beer distributor at 500 S. Main St. and the Municipal Court operates in what used to be a bank at 109 W. Fifth St.

Once the new center is complete, those entities will share a building, increasing convenience for city operations and residents. “This will benefit people in the city because it’s going to be a one-stop shop for everything. They can stop at City Hall, the police station or Municipal Court,” Garcia said. “Everything will be within walking distance, so it makes it more feasible for the entire community.”

According to Seguin, the buildings that currently house city government offices will be available for repurposing. He added the new building is the right fit for the time.

“The first priority in designing this building was a solid foundation,” Seguin said. “The Police Department has been in that (older) building since 1999. City Hall has been in the current building since 1983. We’re out of room and having maintenance problems.”

Design aesthetics of the new complex are also better.

“This new building will give us more space and windows,” Seguin said. “We need to bring more light into the building. … We can combine and have many of our services in one building.”

Garcia echoed Seguin’s sentiments about the new building being a bastion of community pride.

“It’ll be at the epicenter of future events. It’ll be something for the community to be proud of,” Garcia said. “We had a bunch of places where it could’ve been placed, but we wanted to be where people could see it when they drive through town. It’s easily seen. It’ll shine and let people know this is what Taylor is.”

According to a press release from city spokesman Jerrod Kingery, a “Citizen Advisory Panel was established to work alongside the design team and city staff to help shape the project. Members toured public buildings in the region, evaluated design ideas and helped ensure the project reflected Taylor’s history and community identity.”

The city celebrates its 150th anniversary this year, and the $17 billion Samsung Austin Semiconductor foundry is coming online. Both are examples of how the city is growing and why municipal facilities need to keep up in Taylor, a town of 18,000 located northeast of Austin, officials said.

The city’s past will be reflected in the new building, too, said Kingery.

“The final design of the City Hall and Justice Center incorporates classic civic architecture inspired by Taylor’s historic downtown and the city’s former City Hall, which served the community from 1905 to 1935,” he said in the prepared release. “That building featured a dome and cupola over the main entrance surrounded by pillars — design elements echoed in the new City Hall and Justice Center to create a landmark building intended to serve the community for generations.”

The ceremony Wednesday was postponed from April 10 due to inclement weather, he added.

When it comes to making a difference, Leslie Hill has a saying passed down from one of her grandparents.

“If you can light just one little candle, what a brighter world it will be,” she said.

That “one little candle” was lit last month at Taylor High School. Hill, president of the Welfare Workers Club, some of her fellow club members and Taylor businessman Rick Von Pfeil handed out snacks to students the morning of the State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness test.

The Welfare Workers Club, the oldest Black female organization in Williamson County, was organized in 1935 by the late Magnolia P. Dickey, the wife of the late Dr. James Lee Dickey, a pioneering African American physician.

The STAAR snacks started in 2023 with plenty of motivation behind the effort, according to Hill.

“There was a group of kids a few years ago who did not pass the STAAR test,” she said. “They couldn’t graduate unless they passed the STAAR test.”

Hill took action. She visited Principal Matt Wamble, who invited the Welfare Workers Club to help get the kids in a good state of mind for the test.

“Mrs. Hill came up with this amazing idea as a way to help make a difference in the lives of Taylor High School students,” Wamble said. “Mrs. Hill is the driving force behind this effort and she always provides a positive pep talk on the inaugural first day of STAAR testing.”

Hill said volunteers set up a table with snacks including chips, Pop Tarts, Nutri-grain Soft Baked Breakfast Bars and Cheez-It crackers, to name a few.

“They (students) select what they want to take with them to the test room,” Hill said.

Wamble said the arrangement has been a hit with pupils.

“The students really enjoy seeing the group of volunteers on testing day,” Wamble said. “It provides them extra motivation and lets them know that their community is behind them.”

Von Pfeil, who was approached by Hill to help sponsor the project, loves being a part of the program.

“My favorite part, actually, is working with Mrs. Hill and how much she cares about our Taylor students,” Von Pfeil said. “She has an energy and genuine passion to help these kids do the best they can on these tests.”

One of Von Pfeil’s fondest memories took place two years ago.

“Mrs. Hill gave quite a pep rally speech to the students the morning of the tests,” he said. “It was funny because their faces went from a sleepy gloom to a caffeinated focus in about three minutes.”

As for Hill, her motivation for the program is simple.

“I love children and I feel like I’m doing something for them,” she said.

In addition to the Welfare Workers Club, Brown Distributing and Helping Hands Ministries have assisted with providing snacks.

The state is fading out the STAAR, an annual mandatory exam given to public school students. Under a new law, state House Bill 8, the one-day, high-stakes STAAR test will be replaced by three smaller exams starting in the 2027-28 academic year.

That was apparent Thursday morning when the Texas Department of Public Safety unveiled its new mounted patrol unit facility at 12708 Pfluger Berkman Road, evoking memories of the Old West for some guests.

The event at the Mounted Patrol Unit Equine Facility also welcomed the horses and their human partners, including three DPS training academy graduates entering the Texas Highway Patrol MPU.

“Horses have long been woven into the fabric of Texas law enforcement,” said DPS state equine coordinator Maj. Tony Rodriguez. “Their partnership with riders dates back to the Texas Rangers who relied on this patrol as early as 1823. That spirit of mobility, visibility and trust lives on in our land unit today.”

The mounted units are used by the highway patrol for specific law-enforcement tasks around the Capitol and along the Texas-Mexico border, law officers said.

Photo by Emily Treadway The equine patrols use quarter horses for specialized border patrol duty because the mounts can travel difficult terrain while helping with tracking, surveillance and apprehensions.

The Capitol unit uses larger horses, such as Clydesdales, to patrol the Austin complex, providing security for about 60 state buildings and managing crowd control.

The horses are also used in ceremonies for fallen officers and on visits to schools, officials said.

The Austin Police Department also has a mounted patrol unit in Coupland but separate from DPS.

The new mounted patrol facility straddles Williamson and Travis counties and will also be used for training.

DPS Lt. Dustin Gilmore, also a stateequine coordinator, said the complex underwent a complete transformation from an older stable.

“This facility represents more than just buildings and improvements; it represents our future. It positions us to continue to grow and move forward as a more professional and capable mounted unit,” Gilmore said. He also shared his congratulations with the graduating troopers.

“You are stepping into a program that is stronger than ever and we are proud to have you carry it forward,” the lieutenant said.

According to a release, the $3 million Coupland facility occupies 18 acres. The expenditure covers “the land, barn and renovations to the already existing stables.”

The facility includes:

• 20,000 square-footcovered riding arenas, along with stables, offices, a tack room and wash racks

• 48,600 square-foot outdoor riding and skills arena with steel and cedar fencing

• 148,715 square feet of secured paddock area, divided into 18 paddocks

• 165,500 square feet of open pasture Troopers said 21 horses are housed at the Coupland facility. Eight are assigned to the training unit, “while the remaining 13 horses are assigned to the Capitol mounted team,” the release stated.

In addition, seven horses are tasked for border operations in Brackettville, Eagle Pass and Dilley.

HUTTO — A former editor and publisher of the Taylor Press now teaching media skills at Hutto High School is a nominee for a top state education award. Jason Hennington, a Taylor native, is the Career and Technical Association of Texas Area IV nominee for “New Teacher of the Year.”

He is a career and technical education teacher at the campus. “I was surprised because I didn’t expect it,” Hennington said. “I’m blessed to have students who are engaged and want to learn.”

There are 12 areas in the CTAT, each having a nominee for the state award.

To be eligible, educators must have five years or less in the classroom. After working 11 years at the Press, Hennington began his teaching career in the fall of 2024.

Campus colleagues had high praise for the newly minted educator, according to a prepared release.

“Jason has made an immediate impact on our students and program,” said Travis Clark, Hutto Independent School District director of career and technical education. “His ability to connect classroom learning to real-world application is exactly what high-quality CTE programs strive to achieve.”

Hennington’s students serve as the media team for community events, working with real clients, managing projects and producing professional quality content, educators said.

His journalism experience helped create a program that includes photography, graphic design and principles of digital media, said Hennington, a graduate of Sul Ross University.

“I want to help students realize and reach their highest potential,” he added.

Next up is an interview for the state award. If he advances, regional and national recognition could follow.

Similar to athletic signings, the TSTC event celebrates the students officially committing to attend the school and further their technical education and future careers.

A Taylor Housing Authority complex is undergoing two phases of extensive renovations to meet Section 8 guidelines under the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, officials said.

Olson Village, 311 E. Seventh St., is currently renovating unoccupied units, with residents moving in afterwards, THA officials said.

The authority has partnered with Atrium Housing and Knight Development in a group called Taylor RAD Family to transition the units from public housing to Section 8.

“In public housing, the housing authority and the government are the landlords,” said Shea Goltzman, THA executive director/CEO. “In Section 8, the housing authority will be like any other landlord in town where they offer their properties to somebody.”

Rent is income based, officials said.

The director added, “You still have to meet certain income standards. … Some (tenants) pay 25% of the rent, others pay 75% and the landlord (THA) covers the rest.”

HUD is asking housing authorities in many cities to convert units to Section 8, she said.

“We utilize Section 8 through HUD,” Goltzman said. “We no longer have public housing and we partnered with two great private entities.”

According to Goltzman, some of the properties have units that were built in the 1970s and these are the first to be redeveloped during the two-phase process.

“We’re redoing the foundations,” Goltzman said. “Some of them we’re having to go 40 feet underground to make them structurally sound and the rest are 20 feet deep.”

The units will also undergo interior makeovers.

“We’re also gutting the interior down to the studs. These units will have new electrical, new plumbing and new sewer lines. All of the old clay pipes are going away, too,” she said. “They’re also getting new counters, new flooring and everything will be energy efficient. There will also be new landscaping and lighting.”

Goltzman said THA will receive more funding through Section 8 than it did via public housing.

“With public housing, we only received pennies on the dollar to keep the buildings up. This is why they look the way they do,” she said. “We were not getting enough funding through public housing. This infusion of private funds helps tremendously.”

According to Goltzman, the private funding is coming through the partnership with Atrium and Knight.

Goltzman noted residents could face less of a financial burden once the properties make the full conversion from public housing to Section 8.

“The rent will be in line with other properties, but the residents will actually pay less,” Goltzman said. “This allows them to budget the money for other necessities.”

“

“The rent will be in line with other properties, but the residents will actually pay less.”

— Shea Goltzman, Taylor Housing Authority

County Manager Rebecca Clemons returned to the dais April 28 with an update on the situation.

Officials also grappled with rising costs for maintenance services.

Meanwhile, the change in reservation policies was prompted by county facilities with rooms open for public use often ending up with trash left behind and doors left unlocked, commissioners heard.

There also was no designated administrator over rooms and rental agreements.

“The court…asked me to get together with a committee and bring back a draft policy (for the multi-use room policy),” Clemons said.

Approved by the commissioners, the policy changes from a rental to a reservation system, and with a few exceptions, the community is not allowed to reserve the rooms.

The measure does not apply to all county- owned facilities and is mainly targeted at office spaces.

Clemons noted that much of the committee also wanted an administrator assigned to review the reservations and maintain the rooms.

“I think it’s very wise to have somebody in the building be in charge of the room,” said Precinct 3 Commissioner Valerie Covey.

In other court business, two items commissioners approved in April 2024 reappeared on the agenda due to price increases in the last two years.

The cost for heating, ventilation and air conditioning maintenance and repair services through JM Engineering LLC and 5-F Mechanical Group rose by 5% and 3%, consecutively.

“It’s labor-pricing increases based on market values,” County Judge Steven Snell said.

Meanwhile, as the county continues to revamp its online systems, commissioners approved the purchase of an annual subscription with CrowdStrike monitoring services, which prevents breaches and malware attacks, and an addendum with Mythics for Oracle E-business Suite for expansion licenses and support services.

“We’re syncing our software licenses,” Precinct 1 Commissioner Terry Cook said.

With no discussion, commissioners also approved the $4 million purchase of new mobile and handheld radios through Motorola Solutions Inc. for the Williamson County Sheriff’s Office.

Commissioners court will next meet at 9:30 a.m. May 5 at 710 S. Main St. Sessions can also be viewed online at wilcotx.gov/331/ Commissioners- Court.

The federal funding in part will add 1.65 miles of new roads and bridges to East Wilco Highway between FM 1660 and FM 3349 east of Hutto, according to a prepared release.

The East Wilco Highway Southeast Loop Connection project is estimated to cost $7 million and will be funded by the 2023 voter-approved Williamson County Road Bond in addition to the HUD money, officials said.

“Williamson County has significant health and safety needs as our community continues to grow, and we’re grateful for partners Congressman Pete Sessions and HUD Secretary Scott Turner, who recognize those needs,” said Williamson County Precinct 4 Commissioner Russ Boles.

“What’s important to us is not just receiving transportation funding — but putting it to work quickly and effectively. This project is a great example of that commitment,” the commissioner added.

Announcement of the grant came April 24.

JMT is the design engineer for the project. A contractor has not been selected.

Construction on the project should begin in May and finish by the end of the year.

The East Wilco Highway Southeast Loop Connection project is part of the construction of East Wilco Highway Segment 2, which is creating a new roadway with one lane in each direction and a centerturn lane between CR 137 and CR 404.

“The Williamson County Highway Southeast Loop Connection project will link residents to new job opportunities and support economic growth,” said Ronnie Kurtz, assistant secretary of community planning and development for HUD.

The city is hosting a full day of free, family-friendly entertainment and cultural celebration from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. May 2 at Heritage Square Park, 400 N. Main St.

The event features a plethora of activities from dance and musical performances to Lucha Libre wrestling.

The main stage itinerary starts with story time from the Taylor Public Library at 10:30 a.m., followed by the Lion Dance from the Texas Dragon/Lion Dance Team.

At 11:15 a.m., students from McCallum High School in Austin will perform Ballet Folklorico, and the Off the Grid Band strikes up some polka music at noon.

The Moving Moccasins from the Native American Cultural Center will perform at 1:15 p.m. and the Matthew Robinson Band will strum soul and blues at 2:15 p.m.

The Lucha Libre wrestling matches take place in the pavilion 11:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. with a new round every 30 minutes.

In addition to live entertainment, Taylor Fest will include a wide selection of local vendors offering food, crafts and unique goods, organizers said.

Visitors can also enjoy a petting zoo, a climbing wall and a dedicated Kids Corral with activities for younger guests.

In his last full City Council meeting as mayor, Dwayne Ariola oversaw an agenda that approved a Chick-fil-A restaurant, outlined upgrades to Murphy Park mini-golf and featured rebranding Taylor as the “Front Porch of Texas.”

The restaurant will take over the space that was previously Applebee’s Neighborhood Grill & Bar in the Walmart Supercenter parking lot, 103 N.W. Carlos G. Parker Blvd. The old restaurant will be demolished, but a specialuse permit is required for a drivethru service.

Ariola said in his nine years on the dais both as a councilman and mayor, community members repeatedly said they wanted him

“

There’s no politics here. We just want to get stuff done.”

— Jesse Ancira to bring a Chick-fil-A to town.

He playfully thanked Martin Griggs, director of development services, for making it happen.

“These companies like this have a metric and they have metrics on metrics and unless you have the foot traffic and the car traffic and the cellphone traffic, they’re not coming. We finally satisfied that for them,” Ariola said.

More details on the eatery’s arrival will be released soon, officials said. A new Panda Express is also being finished on North Main Street.

The mayor’s seat is up for grabs in the May 2 election. Ariola chose not to run again.

Mini-golf scores new funding

Members of the Ancira family have taken on the task of raising funds to upgrade and improve the miniature golf course at Murphy Park. The council approved a memorandum of understanding between the city and a foundation created by Jesse Ancira, which will raise money for improvements to the 18-hole course.

The mini-golf facility dates to the 1970s. The course fell into disrepair and for many years it had been deemed unsafe and fenced off.

In May 2025, the city put some effort into restoring it and made it free to play. While it is now open to the public, it still needs updating and repairs, officials heard.

“It’s a beloved portion of the park. People were excited. They wanted improvements in that area,” said interim Parks and Recreation Director Betsy Schultz. “It’s a great free amenity.”

Ariola recalled playing there often as a child, as did Ancira.

Ancira established the Friends of the Park Foundation after the mini-putt was reopened when he saw the need for new turf, lighting, shade structures and other improvements.

Partnering with a fundraising foundation will allow the city to make necessary updates and keep the facility open as a free amenity for the community.

“There’s no politics here. We just want to get stuff done,” Ancira said. “This is about raising money to provide an amenity and quality of life to your kids in the community.”

Ancira is the former mayor of Taylor and former chief of staff to Joe Straus, R-Alamo Heights, the ex-speaker of the Texas House of Representatives. Ancira’s family produces the popular line of Ancira salsa.

Initiative gets downtown rocking The council also learned details about three new initiatives rebranding Taylor as the “Front Porch of Texas,” adding features to make tourists feel more welcome and encourage them to visit downtown.

Initiatives include adding rocking chairs in front of businesses, more bike racks, more landscaping, signs and other updates.

The budget to kick off the program this year includes $1.2 million from tax increment financing No. 1, which covers downtown, and $363,682 from hotel occupancy tax funds.

Next year’s proposed budget is $2.2 million from TIF No. 1 and $450,000 from the HOT funds.

“It’s meant to make our downtown feel inviting and comfortable, and increase the walkability and safety,” said Downtown Director Niecy Baum. “We really wanted something warm and inviting and we were thinking about when you walk up to the front porch of someone’s home.”

The complete program also creates new city positions, including a dedicated Main Street manager, a marketing media specialist and an events/tourism specialist.

It also introduces grants and protocols to help attract and retain downtown businesses.

The plan highlights ideas for increasing tourism, including removing the asphalt on a portion of First Street to expose the historic wooden-brick road that was originally built in the early 1900s.

Concerns were raised about using the HOT funds for downtown rather than much-needed repairs at the Taylor Regional Park and Sports Complex.

“TRP is actually on our radar. We are partnered with everybody in the city, we don’t just represent downtown,” Baum said. “We are looking at TRP for the future. TRP is part of our tourism plan.”

New Sweden Lutheran looks forward to 150

New Sweden Lutheran Church will ring in 150 years with a daylong celebration April 26 for its sesquicentennial anniversary.

Founded in 1876 by Swedish immigrants, the church traces its roots to settlers who came to Central Texas seeking opportunity, officials said. The congregation built its first church in 1879, and the current structure is considered a historic landmark in Travis County, completed in 1922.

“It’s honoring the past, challenged by the future,” said the Rev. Hans Lillejord, who has served the church for 23 years.

The surrounding area has grown to become one of the largest Swedish settlements in Texas, according to the church.

While Lillejord said the event highlights their deep Swedish roots, the day will also focus on inclusivity as the church moves forward.

“The future will be all-inclusive, and we are much more interested in being open to all,” he said.

The anniversary event will include a memorial stone commemorating the landmark date, along with performances from artists connected to the church. Among the acts are Stephanie Johnson Eukel and Linus Eukel, who have performed at venues across the country, including Carnegie Hall.

The event begins with a 10:30 a.m. worship service at the church, 12809 New Sweden Church Road, followed by a catered lunch, monument dedication and anniversary program. All events are open to the public, and a coffee and cookie social will conclude the day at 3:30 p.m.

Lunch tickets, priced at $15 per plate, have already sold out, though those interested in attending can contact the church for more information at 512-2810056.

Samsung Austin Semiconductor and other high-tech industries locating to the region are helping fuel the rise in autos traveling the roadway, organizers said.

The Texas Department of Transportation and Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization officials co-hosted the April 22 event at Manor Elementary School to discuss the possibility of expanding 973 between 290 in Manor and Samsung Highway in Taylor.

The agencies met last summer in Taylor to present similar plans for 973 from Samsung Highway to U.S. 79.

“

The region as a whole is expecting to see the population double.”

— Doise Miers, CAMPO community outreach manager “We wanted to update potential improvements on FM 973 and get the public’s feedback on driving that section of the corridor,” said Doise Miers, CAMPO community outreach manager. “We also wanted to complete a survey so we could be better informed on experiences.”

According to Miers, CAMPO and TxDOT want to see more lanes added to 973 and additional shared-use paths along the road for walkers and bikers.

“With Samsung coming in, the section between 79 and 290 traffic has increased.

There’s also more development in the area,” Miers said. “It’s continuing to grow and we want 973 to keep up with and accommodate the growth.”

According to traffic data, 20,750 vehicles traveled 973 in 2024, but that figure could jump 324% to 84,700 vehicles in 2050, officials said.

The updated proposal calls for four main lanes – two northbound, two southbound – and two lanes of frontage roads in each direction along with sidewalks on both sides between Samsung Highway and 290.

“The region as a whole is expecting to see the population double in the six-county CAMPO area by 2050,” Miers said. “The population in Williamson County is expected to grow by almost 200% by 2050.”

CAMPO’s region covers Bastrop, Burnet, Caldwell, Hays, Travis and Williamson counties.

More information is available online until May 26 at www.campotexas. org/get-involved. Public comments are encouraged, officials said.

Most of the inquiries flooding the county department originate with the same small group of people, said Precinct 3 Commissioner Valerie Covey.

Two outstanding Public Information Act requests contain almost 700,000 records that need to be viewed for possible redactions, officials added.

“It frustrates me that we’re here talking about this today,” Covey said April 21, noting the position is a mid-year, midbudget request.

The position comes with

“

It’s just reaching an impasse with the volume (of requests) that we have.”

— County Attorney Dee Hobbs a $55,000 salary. County Attorney Dee Hobbs agreed with Covey, noting he and Elections Administrator Bridgette Escobedo had already looked to no avail for alternative solutions.

“I would not be here if the repercussions of not being able to find a resolution were not urgent,” he said.

Commissioners unanimously voted for the new public information act coordinator.

“The position will handle intake, tracking, redacting, response coordination and reporting for (Public Information Act) requests, with emphasis on elections-related data and records,” County Judge Steven Snell said.

Prior to the vote, Hobbs recommended the hiring of a full-time employee to handle the requests in a timely manner.

“Our office is really behind on the public information requests. We work really hard to address these issues, however, during election period we’re kind of overrun and we get behind,” Escobedo added.

In general, government agencies in Texas by law have 10 business days to respond to the requests and can charge nominal fees for processing.

Hobbs said the main job of the Elections Office is to hold elections, but the secondary goal is to get information out to the public.

Hobbs said the elections department cannot get the requests processed at a speed that residents have come to expect.

“It’s just reaching an impasse with the volume (of requests) that we have,” Hobbs said.

Hobbs noted a 2024 state law requires more redactions to public information requests to protect legal information.

“Everything is getting more complicated and the requests are getting more voluminous,” Hobbs said.

Commissioners next meet at 9:30 a.m. April 28 at 710 S. Main St.

Sessions can also be viewed online at wilcotx.gov/331/ Commissioners- Court.

A new cell tower approved by the school board near Taylor High School should help clear up spotty communications, officials said Monday.

After months of discussion, Taylor Independent School District trustees OK’d the agreement with Diamond Communications for the tower to be placed on land near the campus, 355 FM 973.

Also during the session April 20, directors learned about a new program for the district’s instructional assistants that could help the aides earn a college degree and a teaching certificate.

Meanwhile, board members voted to approve the cell-tower placement without comments or questions.

Ron Verano, executive director of maintenance and operations, said the agreement with Diamond Communications will “address campus connectivity gaps.”

In previous meetings, Verano noted potential safety issues caused by spotty communication at the district’s only high school, which the cell tower should alleviate.

Trustees also learned from Jennifer Patschke, assistant superintendent of human resources and federal programs, about the Teacher Registered Apprentice Program at the meeting this week.

“This is an opportunity for our instructional assistants to earn a college degree and a teacher certification,” Patschke said.

Patschke highlighted the benefits of the program, which essentially creates “a pipeline of teachers from within our own staff,” Patschke said.

The district already has 27 employees interested in the program, which has state support,

“

“This is an opportunity for our instructional assistants to earn a college degree and a teacher certification.”

— Jennifer Patschke

Patschke added The state will provide educational funding of $4,000 per participant paid to the school district in September.

In other business, trustees approved the purchase of new computers.

Technology Director Jamie Sellers said the price tag for almost 4,000 MacBook Neos for teachers and students would tally over $2 million. However, the district could see some financial breaks on that figure.

“With four-year Apple financing, that brings (the annual cost) to $595,024 a year,” Sellers said.

A company will also buy back Taylor ISD’s older devices, bringing in about $300,000 to $500,000.

“We’ll land somewhere in the middle of that number at $390,000 to $400,000,” Sellers said.

The next school board meeting is 7 p.m. May 18 in the Taylor ISD boardroom at 3101 N. Main St.

The developer earlier submitted an application to rezone a 41-acre parcel at 450 Ed Schmidt Blvd. from multifamily residential to heavy industrial to build a mid-sized data center. The Hutto Planning & Zoning Commission held a crowded public hearing on April 7 and after two hours of testimony from residents, decided to continue the meeting on April 20.

However, on April 17, the city announced Zydeco had formally withdrawn its application, so the meeting was canceled.

“I think it’s great they listened to the people and took appropriate action,” said Mayor Mike Snyder. “While I may have thought it could have been a good project, I don’t think I was going to vote for it because I was going to follow the will of the people. I think we have to be happy to let the process work and in this case the process worked.”

“In this case the process worked.”

— Mayor Mike Snyder

Various reports indicate the data center could have pumped millions into the city’s tax base. It’s just the latest data center in the area that faced opposition, including facilities in neighboring Taylor.

The site chosen by Zydeco would have become a 225,000-square-foot, 70-megawatt data center surrounded by single-family homes. The developer had also submitted an application for a public utility district to support the data center, which has likewise been withdrawn.

Christine Benson and Katie Martin, two nearby homeowners, had started a petition drive against the data center, which could have forced the City Council to require a super-majority vote to approve the zoning change.

“I’m really excited and still in a little bit of shock that it feels like we maybe won this round,” Benson said. “We’re keeping an eye out to see if they decide to resubmit their amendment to rezone and also the PUD amendment. If that does happen, then we’ll be right back where we were on the Facebook group and getting petition signatures.”

Benson said the group’s next step is getting a city ordinance on the ballot that would restrict or regulate data centers from being built in residential areas. A similar initiative is in the works in Taylor by another grassroots organization.

Critics of data centers cite concerns about pollution, noise, drains on the electric grid and maintaining adequate water resources.

The withdrawal of Zydeco comes at a cost, supporters said.

Data centers are high-value projects that add to the tax base, making them attractive to city leaders. In the initial phase, they also create construction jobs. Afterwards, it takes a relatively small number of employees to operate a center, which is used for better connectivity, data storage and artificial intelligence, officials said.

“This is an opportunity for the city of Hutto to unlock hundreds of millions of dollars in taxable value by taking the existing infrastructure on an otherwise very constrained and restricted site,” Wes Gilmer, principal with Zydeco Development, told the P&Z board.

Zydeco Development was responsible for the MetCenter, Austin’s largest master-planned business park.

Gilmer described the proposed data center as being a preferable option for the community because the land was previously approved for a 173-unit multifamily development with retail, office and restaurant space, which could have affected traffic in the area.

“Not all data centers are created equal. What we’re proposing … is designed to be a low-impact, thoughtful neighbor with minimal burden on city utilities,” he said.

Residents received some support from the city during the April 7 meeting.

Howard Koontz, director of Development Services, told the P&Z board he did not believe the data center plan reflected the community’s vision for how Hutto should grow.

“As submitted, this proposal was not consistent with that vision. Thoughtful planning is a priority for the city, and we remain open to continued dialogue,” Koontz said.

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.”

The ninth annual Food Dudes dished out more fun, food and prizes with proceeds benefiting the Taylor Educational Enrichment Foundation.

The nonprofit foundation supports the Taylor Independent School District by providing classroom grants to teachers and funding district technology upgrades and new educational programs.

Food Dudes shook the rafters April 18 at the Williamson County Expo Center, 5350 Bill Pickett Trail.

The name originally derived from male volunteers doing the cooking for the crowd, though today various organizations take part.

Three positions on the five-person board are on the May 2 ballot.

Four candidates have filed to run: incumbents Allen Ray David and Laine Holman, as well as Mitchell Drummond and Mark Baudek.

“This is a good thing,” said board President Ed Komandosky. “We’ve never had this kind of interest in our mission.”

David, of Thrall, has served on the board since May 2022. He also has been a Thrall Independent School District trustee and is in the farm-equipment business.

Holman, of Taylor, has served with the improvement district since February 2022. 

He has worked in public accounting and real estate. 

Drummond, of Taylor, served two terms on the Taylor City Council and helped launch the Boys and Girls Club of East Williamson
County.

Baudek manages a farm near Thrall and is a graduate of Texas State University. He served in the Army as a military policeman and works in the service business. 

Scott Ging, a Coupland resident and a board member since February 2015, chose not to seek reelection. 

The top three vote-earners from the four candidates will serve four-year terms beginning in May. 

Early voting lasts through April 28. 

According to its website, “The Lower Brushy Creek WCID operates and maintains 23 flood-control structures in eastern Williamson
and western Milam counties.

These earthen dams were designed and constructed in the early 1960s by the (U.S. Department of Agriculture) Natural Resources
Conservation Service.”

For more including meeting times, visit lowerbrushycreekwcid.org.