Stories by Jack Craver
Thursday, December 5, 2019 by Jack Craver
Development
Residents near Hamilton Pool up in arms about proposed RV park
The Travis County Commissioners Court spent all morning Tuesday discussing a proposed RV park on Stagecoach Ranch Road in Southwest Travis County, near Hamilton Pool. The court still hasn’t come to a decision on the matter and will take it…
Monday, December 2, 2019 by Jack Craver
Development
Commissioners approve exemptions for RV development
The Travis County Commissioners Court said yes last week to a proposed RV park that was facilitated by an exemption to certain development regulations county staffers believe are not necessary for homes on wheels.“What we’re trying to recognize is that…
Friday, November 22, 2019 by Jack Craver
Uncategorized
County hopes to block new waste facility in Northeast Austin
County leaders are unanimous in their hope that the Austin Community Landfill closes as soon as possible. They are united in their opposition to the landfill operator, Waste Management, adding a transfer station to the existing facility.It’s not clear whether…
Wednesday, November 20, 2019 by Jack Craver
Travis County
Eckhardt offers the city Palm School in exchange for expo center, hotel tax
Travis County Judge Sarah Eckhardt says that she and her colleagues on the Commissioners Court are willing to give away the Palm School to the city of Austin. But they want a couple of big things in return.In a letter…
Monday, November 18, 2019 by Jack Craver
Travis County
Exit Eckstein: Travis County’s retiring lobbyist reflects on his battles at the Legislature
After 11 years, Deece Eckstein is calling it quits as Travis County’s top lobbyist. He recently told members of the Commissioners Court that he will retire from his position as the intergovernmental relations officer at the end of the year.Eckstein,…
Friday, November 15, 2019 by Jack Craver
Elections
Eckhardt hopes city will pare down convention center plans for sake of Expo Center
Travis County voters gave county government the go-ahead last week to rebuild the aging exposition center on Decker Lane, but it could be a decade before the project breaks ground.County Proposition A, which passed with 63 percent of the vote,…
Wednesday, November 6, 2019 by Jack Craver
Bonds & Propositions
Travis County opts to ‘Energize the Expo,’ but it could be years away
Updated: 10:48 p.m.: Travis County voters have decided to energize the expo.More specifically, residents voted in favor of County Proposition A, which authorizes the county to levy up to a 2 percent tax on hotel guests to fund a renovation…
Friday, November 1, 2019 by Jack Craver
Public Safety
Travis County leaders defend bail practices
For years, Travis County leaders have touted the county’s progressive bail policies, which allow a large percentage of the accused to get out of jail without posting a cash bond.Each person who is booked into jail on a charge is…
Wednesday, October 30, 2019 by Jack Craver
Preservation
Court approves Palm School protections but future of property uncertain
The Travis County Commissioners Court easily approved a set of restrictive covenants aimed at preserving the Palm School building if the county sells the property that is home to the historic structure.The court voted 4-1 in favor of a set…
Wednesday, October 23, 2019 by Jack Craver
Preservation
County hears pleas to preserve all of Palm School property
The future of the Palm School property remains unclear after a public hearing where activists implored the Travis County Commissioners Court not to sell any part of the land to a private developer.While the court voted unanimously in June to…
Thursday, October 17, 2019 by Jack Craver
Bonds & Propositions
Expo center supporters hope voters don’t confuse the two different Prop A’s
Ballot propositions can often be confusing – especially when there are multiple propositions with the same name.This is exactly what concerns those campaigning for Travis County Proposition A. The measure they support would authorize the county to levy a 2…
Friday, October 11, 2019 by Jack Craver
Planning
Zyle Road residents still have doubts about development
Residents of rural southwest Travis County have succeeded in getting a neighboring landowner to significantly reduce a proposed development they feared would cause safety issues in their isolated community. However, they continue to worry that a major development with inadequate…
Wednesday, October 9, 2019 by Jack Craver
Travis County
Commissioners debate future of Palm School property
Four months after voting to put in place restrictions on the Palm School property that would prevent the main building from being redeveloped, members of the Travis County Commissioners Court continue to display differences of opinion about the property’s future.On…
Thursday, October 3, 2019 by Jack Craver
Travis County
Commissioners approve landfill changes over TDS objections
On Tuesday the Travis County Commissioners Court opted to readopt changes to a county ordinance regulating landfills despite pushback from an influential local waste management company.Representatives of Texas Disposal Systems told commissioners that ordinance changes the commissioners approved last month…
Thursday, September 26, 2019 by Jack Craver
Budget
County commissioners approve Central Health budget
Shortly after approving the county budget, the Travis County Commissioners Court OK’ed the $291 million fiscal year budget for Central Health, the county’s public hospital district.Central Health is a public authority funded by local property taxes that is charged with…
Wednesday, September 25, 2019 by Jack Craver
Budget
Travis County Commissioners Court approves $1.2 billion budget
The Travis County Commissioners Court voted unanimously Tuesday to approve a $1.2 billion budget for Fiscal Year 2019-20 and a corresponding tax increase.The average Travis County homeowner will pay $126 more in county taxes this year as a result of…
Wednesday, September 18, 2019 by Jack Craver
Budget
Commissioners Court dismisses pay pleas from disgruntled employees
On Tuesday, members of the Travis County Commissioners Court responded to claims from two groups of public safety workers who feel unappreciated due to the amount of pay they receive. In both cases, commissioners made it clear that they didn’t…
Monday, September 9, 2019 by Jack Craver
Budget
Commissioners Court OKs small pay hikes for law enforcement
After approving raises for the county’s civilian workforce, the Travis County Commissioners Court wants to boost pay for the region’s 1,300 sheriff’s deputies, park rangers, jail guards and constable officers. However, members of the court are opting for a more…
Wednesday, September 4, 2019 by Jack Craver
Courts
Commissioners must find replacement to head family violence court
It’s probably not a position most voters spend time thinking about, but members of the Travis County Commissioners Court stressed the importance of County Court #4 as they discussed appointing somebody to fill the vacancy created by departing incumbent Judge…
Thursday, August 29, 2019 by Jack Craver
Travis County
Despite high arrest rate, county leaders give high marks to jail diversion program
A majority of criminal defendants who participated in a county pilot program aimed at getting people with mental illness out of jail and into treatment were rearrested within a year of their release. Yet, many involved in the criminal justice…
