Stories by Jack Craver
Friday, January 17, 2020 by Jack Craver
Budget
Travis County confronts tricky process in reforming pay for law enforcement
Travis County leaders are determined to reform the pay scale for the county’s 1,450 public safety employees, but they’re not quite sure how to do it.The county has long had separate pay scales for civilian employees and law enforcement workers,…
Wednesday, January 15, 2020 by Jack Craver
Transit
County puts more money into Manor ride-hailing program
In response to higher-than-expected ridership, Travis County is putting more money into a six-month-old ride-hailing program in Manor.The Commissioners Court voted Tuesday to authorize up to $25,000 to help purchase a third bus for the Manor Pickup service, which is…
Monday, January 13, 2020 by Jack Craver
Travis County
Travis County takes action to eliminate ‘water colonias’
While it’s accurately referred to as an urban county, roughly half of Travis County does not fall within the limits of any municipality. The population in these rural, unincorporated areas is growing rapidly, driven in part by a lack of…
Wednesday, January 8, 2020 by Jack Craver
Austin
County sets up new committee to put pressure on city leaders over Expo Center
Travis County leaders want to put pressure on the city of Austin to help them rebuild the aging exposition center.On Tuesday the Commissioners Court voted unanimously to set up a nine-member committee tasked with “engaging and educating Travis County residents…
Friday, January 3, 2020 by Jack Craver
Travis County
County Judge Sarah Eckhardt sees a future of tough decisions and tax referendums for Travis County
Travis County Judge Sarah Eckhardt has plenty of good news to report as she looks back on 2019.Her greatest achievement is the county’s new public defender’s office, for which she was the lead champion on the Commissioners Court. While her…
Thursday, January 2, 2020 by Jack Craver
Travis County
After quarter-century on court, Gómez sees pros and cons in change
Margaret Gómez has served on the Travis County Commissioners Court for 24 years, representing a precinct whose boundaries roughly correspond with the southeastern quadrant of the county, including nearly all of South Austin east of South Lamar Boulevard.Her career in…
Thursday, January 2, 2020 by Jack Craver
Travis County
Gerald Daugherty, Travis County’s last Republican, fears for county’s fiscal future
Gerald Daugherty has long said that this would probably be his last term in office. However, for a couple of days at the beginning of December, there were whispers that the Commissioners Court’s lone Republican might try for another four-year…
Friday, December 27, 2019 by Jack Craver
Travis County
Jeff Travillion says it’s time to pay attention to eastern Travis County
Jeff Travillion believes it’s time for the east side to get some love from local leaders. While private dollars are transforming the look and feel of much of East Austin and making it increasingly hard for many longtime residents to…
Friday, December 27, 2019 by Jack Craver
Travis County
As the planet warms, Brigid Shea is planning Travis County’s response
Commissioner Brigid Shea may have been elected to handle issues at the county level, but her focus is global.“My major focus in running for reelection, I believe very strongly as community leaders that we have to do more to prepare…
Wednesday, December 18, 2019 by Jack Craver
Planning
On third try, Commissioners Court approves controversial RV park near Hamilton Pool
For the third time, about two dozen residents who live on or near Stagecoach Ranch Road came to plead with the Travis County Commissioners Court to block plans to build an RV park that would accommodate up to 80 vehicles.After…
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…
