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Tag Archives: Travis County Commissioners Court
Thursday, January 14, 2021 by Seth Smalley
Housing
County endorses Decker Lake affordable housing project
The Travis County Commissioners Court held a public hearing Tuesday regarding a developer’s application for a Resolution of No Objection for the Decker Lake Apartments, which, if approved, will be located on Decker Lake Road, adjacent to the Travis County…
Tuesday, December 29, 2020 by Elizabeth Pagano
Travis County
Ann Howard: Creating a place of answers
Ann Howard is looking forward to using her voice to help others make good things happen. Howard, who was elected in November to represent Precinct 3 on the Travis County Commissioners Court, will soon start her term, amid a pandemic…
Tuesday, December 29, 2020 by Elizabeth Pagano
Travis County
Margaret Gómez: Whatever it takes to get things done
Travis County Commissioner Margaret Gómez describes this year as “tumultuous.” “It’s been really up and down and kind of a rough ride,” she told the Austin Monitor. Gómez knows it could have been much rougher if the county didn’t have…
Tuesday, December 29, 2020 by Elizabeth Pagano
Travis County
County Judge Andy Brown: Representing every voice
When asked about his new job, Travis County Judge Andy Brown doesn’t hesitate. “I love it so far,” he says. He summed up his first couple of weeks on the job as very busy and extremely interesting. So far, the…
Tuesday, December 29, 2020 by Jasmine Lopez
Travis County
County Judge Sam Biscoe: Pinch-hitting during an extraordinary year
County Judge Samuel Biscoe stepped out of retirement this year to reprise his role as Travis County Judge, a position he held from 1999 to 2014. Biscoe’s return to public service came after his successor, Sarah Eckhardt, ran to replace…
Monday, December 28, 2020 by Elizabeth Pagano
Travis County
Jeff Travillion: Working to improve opportunities
“It was a really busy year,” Travis County Commissioner Jeff Travillion says. Giving a quick overview of the past 12 months, he reminded the Austin Monitor that he had been running for office in addition to making sure clinics stayed…
Monday, December 28, 2020 by Alyssa Weinstein
Travis County
As Covid-19 and climate crisis continue, Brigid Shea persists
A tumultuous 2020 brought oceans of hardships for many, and Travis County Commissioner Brigid Shea said she still can’t quite believe everything that happened this year. “Covid-19 has been just surreal,” Shea said. “Are we really living through a global…
Monday, December 28, 2020 by Victoria May
Travis County
Gerald Daugherty looks back on years of service
After serving as a Travis County Commissioner for 14 years, Gerald Daugherty recently reflected on his final term as commissioner for Precinct 3. The pandemic gave rise to quite a few challenges during his final term, Daugherty said, but overcoming…
Wednesday, December 23, 2020 by Seth Smalley
Travis County
Travis County endorses new penalties for illegal massage parlors
The Travis County Commissioners Court has unanimously voted to adopt an ordinance authorizing injunctions and civil remedies against illicit massage parlors operating in the county. The proposed legislation targets the organizers, owners and operators of the illegal commercial operations, whereas…
Tuesday, December 22, 2020 by Seth Smalley
Texas State Legislature
Travis County prepares for 87th Texas Legislature
Last Tuesday, Dec. 15, Travis County Intergovernmental Relations Officer Julie Wheeler presented the draft agenda items for the upcoming Texas legislative session to the Travis County Commissioners Court. The 87th Texas Legislature will convene on Jan. 12, and the legislative…
Monday, December 21, 2020 by Seth Smalley
Travis County
Travis County jail looks toward a more sustainable future
The Travis County Correctional Complex intends to implement a number of sustainability initiatives to reduce waste, save money and shrink the facility’s net energy use to zero by 2040, according to a presentation to the Travis County Commissioners Court last Tuesday.…
Wednesday, November 18, 2020 by Andrew Weber
Travis County
Newly sworn in, Travis County Judge Andy Brown says he’ll shift focus from jails to mental health
Andy Brown is now Travis County’s top official. Brown was sworn in at Tuesday’s meeting of the Travis County Commissioners Court by interim County Judge Sam Biscoe, who served in the same capacity for over 15 years before retiring. He…
Wednesday, November 18, 2020 by Jo Clifton
Travis County
Commissioners take next step toward permanent telework
The Travis County Commissioners Court voted unanimously Tuesday to move forward with a scope of services for a consultant to advise them on a plan to have 75 percent of eligible employees to do their jobs by teleworking on a…
Wednesday, November 11, 2020 by Ryan Thornton
Travis County
School lands generate $3.4 million for county schools
For the first time since 2014, the Travis County Commissioners Court has voted to distribute revenues from its 18,820-acre property in Throckmorton County among 14 school districts across the county. Melissa Velasquez, executive assistant for Commissioner Brigid Shea, brought the…
Tuesday, November 10, 2020 by Jo Clifton
Elections
After big win, Travillion ready for next four years
Although Travis County Commissioner-elect Jeff Travillion won reelection with nearly 76 percent of the vote, he doesn’t dwell on that, saying simply, “It is gratifying to be invited back.” Then he’s off, talking about his plans for the next four…
Monday, November 9, 2020 by Jo Clifton
Elections
County Judge-elect Andy Brown eager to start new job
Travis County Judge-elect Andy Brown is getting ready to start his new job. The most likely date for his first day on the job is Nov. 17, since commissioners will be canvassing the vote this week. Democrat Brown, who will…
Friday, November 6, 2020 by Jo Clifton
Elections
Ann Howard getting ready for new job
Ann Howard, Travis County Commissioner-elect for Precinct 3, was getting to work Thursday, learning more about the job she will officially begin in January. Howard said commissioners will canvass the vote from Tuesday’s election in the next week to 10…
Wednesday, October 28, 2020 by Ryan Thornton
Travis County
County extends small cities relief deadline
Millions of dollars in pandemic relief funds may shortly be returned to the U.S. Treasury Department due to the failure of small cities in Travis County to provide documentation for the county’s $7.3 million small cities relief program. The Commissioners…
Friday, October 16, 2020 by Savana Dunning
Travis County
Travis County reallocates CARES Act housing assistance funding to meet deadlines, talks Covid-19 plasma funding effort
The Travis County Commissioners Court voted unanimously to reallocate Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act funding in order to spend all of its funding before the Dec. 30 deadline. Travis County received $61,147,507.20 from the federal CARES Act.…
Wednesday, October 14, 2020 by Savana Dunning
Travis County
Travis County to create cohesive homelessness outreach plan
The Travis County Commissioners Court has created a new temporary project worker position tasked with developing a cohesive homeless outreach plan for the county, following a separate request by a county constable. In March, the Commissioners Court approved a census…