Tag Archives: Travis County Commissioners Court
Thursday, February 27, 2014 by Mark Richardson
Elections
As county grows so does campaign spending
As Travis County grows, so apparently does the amount of money required to run a campaign for County Judge. According to campaign finance reports filed this week, candidates Andy Brown and Sarah Eckhardt raised a combined $1.1 million since mid-2013…
Wednesday, February 19, 2014 by Mark Richardson
The Region
Travis employees sound off over plans to change parking rules
Travis County Commissioners recently found out that the quickest way to rile Texans is to mess with their ability to buy or sell a gun. Court members may have found out Tuesday that the second quickest way to upset them…
Wednesday, February 12, 2014 by Jimmy Maas
Resources
Travis County Commissioners back LCRA emergency drought order
Travis County Commissioners voted Tuesday to back the Lower Colorado River Authority’s 2014 emergency drought order that would again limit the release of Highland Lakes water to agriculture interests downstream. The three-member Texas Commission on Environmental Quality are expected…
Wednesday, February 12, 2014 by Jimmy Maas
Development
Travis Commissioners approve plans for new office building
The Travis County Commissioners Court approved design plans Tuesday for the county’s planned office building at corner of 11th and San Antonio streets. The plans for the building, which will house the District Attorney’s Office, were approved by unanimous vote.…
Wednesday, February 5, 2014 by Jimmy Maas
Politics
Gun show a no go with background checks in contract
Travis County Commissioners voted Tuesday to offer the promoters of the Saxet Gun Show a new contract containing language requiring background checks on all gun sales, even private transactions. However, show promoter Todd Beiter said late Tuesday that he will…
Wednesday, January 29, 2014 by Jimmy Maas
The Region
Travis County ponders paying employees to leave car at home
Travis County employees, Pct. 2 Commissioner Bruce Todd wants you to leave your car at home. And if the plan goes through, the county will pay you to do so. In what turned into a long and wide-ranging discussion…
Wednesday, January 29, 2014 by Michael Kanin
Politics
Rapidly developing winter storm catches city officials off guard
A relatively quick and unexpected change in weather conditions early Tuesday morning resulted in a considerable scheduling confusion in the Central Texas region. Among other changes, Austin City Council members found themselves suddenly without a work session Tuesday morning. Travis…
Thursday, January 23, 2014 by Jimmy Maas
The Region
Commissioners postpone resolution to support Project Connect
There was no resolution this week from Travis County Commissioners about supporting Project Connect, the high-capacity, cross-agency transit plan for the Austin metropolitan area. The court mainly heard from supporters of Project Connect Tuesday. “I have been in…
Wednesday, January 22, 2014 by Jimmy Maas
The Region
No contract between Travis County and Saxet Gun Show promoters
This weekend’s Saxet Gun Show at the Travis County Exposition Center will likely be the last one at that venue for the foreseeable future. For the second time in three weeks, the Travis County Commissioners Court heard public comment…
Friday, January 17, 2014 by Jimmy Maas
Development
Travis County approves economic development incentives rules
Finalizing an effort that has been months in the making, the Travis County Commissioners unanimously approved revised economic development incentives for the county Tuesday. “It’s been a struggle working on this and I think we’ve done a pretty good…
Friday, January 17, 2014 by Mark Richardson
Elections
Still a horse race for Brown, Eckhardt in quest for County Judge spot
The two Democrats battling to replace long-time Travis County Judge Sam Biscoe have raised a combined $464,000 in campaign cash through Dec. 31. Andy Brown and Sarah Eckhardt are waging the first real battle for the top job in Travis…
Wednesday, January 15, 2014 by Mark Richardson
Politics
Commissioners to investigate loss of in-person jail visitation
Several members of the Travis County Commissioners Court say they were caught off guard Tuesday when they were told that in-person family visits at the Travis County Jail have been replaced by a video system. And a majority of commissioners…
Wednesday, January 15, 2014 by Jimmy Maas
Politics
Travis Commissioners approve fee increases for county parks
Travis County Commissioners voted Tuesday to raise fees for visitors to Travis County parks, but it is not clear exactly when that hike will happen. Commissioners approved the increase to close a potential budget gap. This is the first…
Tuesday, January 14, 2014 by Mark Richardson
Public Safety
Civil rights groups: Video jail visits too costly, may be violating civil rights
A two-way video conferencing system that has all but replaced in-person visits by friends and family members with those incarcerated at the Travis County Jail is coming under fire as being too expensive, too impersonal and possibly even dangerous to…
Wednesday, January 8, 2014 by Jimmy Maas
Politics
County, promoter at impasse over background checks at gun show
Travis County Commissioners and the promoter of the Saxet Gun Shows reached an impasse Tuesday over a contract provision that would require the promoter to perform background checks on all gun sales. Negotiations for a year’s lease to hold eight…
Wednesday, December 18, 2013 by Mark Richardson
The Region
Commissioners still pondering prevailing wage questions
Travis County Commissioners found themselves in the middle of tug-of-war Tuesday over proposed policy changes to the county’s Economic Development and Construction Procurement Practices. The issue of the county requiring a prevailing wage of $11 per hour for all construction…
Thursday, December 12, 2013 by Mark Richardson
The Region
Current long-term plans do nothing to improve Austin’s I-35 headaches
Current long-term plans – such as the 2035 CAMPO Transportation Plan – will do little more than maintain the current level of traffic bottlenecks on Interstate 35 and won’t take enough vehicles off the road to significantly cut commute times,…
Wednesday, December 4, 2013 by Mark Richardson
Development
County finds just $4.3 million to buy flood-ravaged homes
Travis County officials say they have searched their budgets, bond programs and possibly even the couch cushions to come up with $4.3 million to buy out damaged and destroyed homes from the Halloween floods. But it will be another…
Wednesday, December 4, 2013 by Elizabeth Pagano
Development
ZAP cites density issues in denying planned Steiner Ranch project
The last residential project proposed for the Steiner Ranch development failed to win over a concerned Zoning and Platting Commission last month. “It’s like we’re holding this hostage, and that’s really not appropriate… (But) I don’t want to read…
Wednesday, November 27, 2013 by Mark Richardson
Public Safety
County official says damage from Halloween flood likely underestimated
A Travis County official says that estimates of the damage from the Halloween flood may have been “grossly underestimated,” and further examination of the damage could bring the total high enough to trigger federal aid. Travis County Emergency Management…
