CITY OF LEANDER CAPITAL HIGHLIGHTS Leander water ...1 day ago · Vistra, an energy powerhouse...
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e City of Leander recently loosened its ongoing water restrictions to Stage 2 water restrictions as the challenges facing the City’s water system has begun to stabilize in recent weeks. Over the middle of the summer, the City rapidly upgraded its water restrictions to Stage 2 and then Stage 3, which limits people’s ability to perform outdoor irrigation to once per week. By downgrad- ing back on Sept. 23 to Stage 2, citizens can now perform outdoor irrigation twice a week. Citizens are still limited to performing the irrigation before 7 a.m. or after 10 p.m. to reduce how much of the water is lost to irrigation. Different types of properties are limited to which days their outdoor irrigation can occur. e schedule is: • No watering on Mondays • Commercial and multi-family properties on Tuesdays and Fridays • Odd residential address- es on Wednesdays and Saturdays • Even residential addresses on ursdays and Sundays Leander has more than enough water supply to meet the needs of every resident. e challenge facing the City was Leander residents’ water consumption spiking in a con- centrated way, causing them to consume the water faster than the City’s system could refill its water tanks. e need for the restrictions was driven soaring summer temperatures being com- pounded by the unprecedented trend of almost all Leander res- idents working from home due to the coronavirus pandemic, meaning their mid-day water consumption was occurring on the Leander water system used to having drop-off period water consumption periods and “catch-up days” instead of at their businesses in other cities like Austin or Cedar Park. e situation came to a head in the middle of the summer when a temporary water outage occurred at the same time as the Leander water systems available water levels being dow, resulting in temporary loss of water for over 20,000 residents and the City having to issue a boil water notice for almost a week. Recent positive trends rang- ing from time dragging into the cooler months of the year to some residents returning to their in-person attendance at their jobs have allowed the City to reduce its water restrictions to Stage 2. NEWS A3 THE HILL COUNTRY NEWS THURSDAY, OCTOBER 8, 2020 CAPITAL HIGHLIGHTS Irving company pivots to green energy Vistra, an energy powerhouse based in Irving, announced plans to achieve net-zero carbon dioxide emissions by 2050. A key part of that plan is a capital investment of $1.15 billion by 2022 on solar and storage projects in California and Texas. e company also plans to close coal-fire energy plants in Illinois and Ohio by 2027. “Vistra’s commitment to our transformation to a low-to-no-carbon future is unequivocal and offers unique opportunities for growth and innovation,” President and CEO Curt Morgan said in a press release. Vistra solar projects opening within the next two years in Texas are in Andrews, Brightside, Emerald Grove, Forest Grove and Oak Hill. A solar project and energy storage project is planned at Upton 2 near Emerald Grove. Energy storage is planned in DeCordova southwest of Dallas-Fort Worth. Vistra is a Fortune 275 retail electricity and power generation compa- ny. Its holdings include TXU Energy, Homefield Energy, Dynegy, Ambit Energy and Luminant. Early voting starts Oct. 13 Gov. Greg Abbott’s executive order and a Texas Supreme Court deci- sion changed some counties’ plans for handling mail-in ballots for the Nov. 3 election. Citing security concerns, Abbott ordered all 254 Texas counties to offer only one drop-off location for absentee ballots. “ese enhanced security protocols will ensure greater transparency and will help stop attempts at illegal voting,” Abbott said. Democrats accused the Republican governor of trying to suppress the vote, particularly in larger metropolitan areas. e League of United Latin American Citizens, the League of Women Voters and two individu- als filed a lawsuit to challenge the order. “Geographically, Harris County is larger than the entire state of Rhode Island,” Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo said. “Our population rivals that of the entire state of Colorado. To propose only a single, secure drop- off location for a county of our size during a pandemic is ludicrous.” Earlier, the Republican-controlled Texas Supreme Court issued a ruling that created a similar partisan reaction about voting security and rights. e court said Harris and other counties could not send unsolic- ited mail-in ballots to voters. In-person early voting starts Oct. 13 in Texas. e Texas Library Association is encouraging its member libraries to share election guides created by the League of Women Voters. Early voting runs until Oct. 30. e deadline to apply for a mail-in ballot is Oct. 23, and the deadline to return a mail-in ballot is Nov. 3. Along with visiting their local libraries and reading their local news- papers, people may go to the League’s vote411.org for information about their ballots for the general election. Also, the Texas Tribune, a statewide nonprofit news initiative, offers ballot information at TexasTribune.com. Top educators make the grade Texas’ two top teachers work in opposite ends of the Lone Star state. e Texas Association of School Administrators honored Eric Hale, a kindergarten and first-grade teacher from the Dallas Independent School District, as the 2021 Elementary Teacher of the Year and Antho- ny Lopez-Waste, a history teacher from Canutillo ISD in El Paso, as the Secondary Teacher of the Year. Hale was chosen to represent the state as Texas Teacher of the Year in the National Teacher of the Year competition. e announcement was made during the virtual convention of the school administrators and the Texas Association of School Boards. “My students and parents have survived a category F-3 tornado and are presently living in a pandemic. It is essential that I make sure they know I am here for them and value their educational development,” said Hale, who teaches at David G. Burnet Elementary School. Superintendent of the Year honors went to J.A. Gonzalez of McAllen ISD. Hurst-Euless-Bedford ISD won best school board. ‘Texas in my Rearview Mirror’ Texas lost one of its brightest country stars when singer-songwriter Mac Davis died at age 78 of complications from heart surgery. Born and raised in Lubbock, Davis was known most for his country/ pop songs of the 1970s, including “Baby Don’t Get Hooked on Me,” and for writing a number of Elvis Presley hits, including “Don’t Cry Dad- dy,” “In the Ghetto” and “A Little Less Conversation.” Davis also had a successful acting career, starring in his own variety show and the movie “North Dallas Forty.” e address for the West Texas Walk of Fame is 1501 Mac Davis Lane in Lubbock, which he sang about in “Texas in my Rearview Mirror.” “Many hearts are broken today, including my own, with the death of one of my dearest friends, Mac Davis,” country legend Dolly Parton tweet- ed. “We lost one of the world’s greatest writers, singers and entertainers.” A date for Davis’ funeral is pending, In keeping with the last line of “Rearview Mirror,” his wife said he will be buried in Lubbock in his jeans. Chris Cobler is a board member and past president of the Freedom of Information Foundation of Texas. He welcomes email at ccobler@ texaspress.com. PUBLIC MEETINGS • WILLIAMSON COUNTY — WILCO. ORG The Williamson County Commissioners Court is the county’s governing body. Commissioners meet beginning at 9:30 each Tuesday morning at the Williamson County Courthouse in downtown Georgetown. Agendas and packets are available, and the meetings are streamed live, on the county’s website. Meetings are open to the public. If you wish to speak, arrive early and register. • LEANDER INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT — LEANDERISD.ORG Leander ISD Board of Trustees meet the third and fourth Thursday each month at 6:15 p.m. at 1900 Cougar Country Dr. in Cedar Park. Meetings are open to the public. If you wish to speak, arrive early and register. You can find agendas, board meeting packets and a live stream on the district’s website. • LAGO VISTA INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT — LAGOVISTAISD.NET Lago Vista ISD Board of Trustees meet at 6:15 p.m. on the second Monday of the month at 8039 Bar-K Ranch Road in Lago Vista. Meetings are open to the public. If you wish to speak, arrive early and register. You can find agendas and board meeting packets on the district’s website. • CITY OF CEDAR PARK — CEDARPARKTEXAS.GOV Agendas and minutes for all boards and commissions are available, and many meetings are streamed live, on the city’s website. • CEDAR PARK CITY COUNCIL Meets at 6 p.m. the second and fourth Thursday of each month at City Council Chambers, 450 Cypress Creek Road, Building 4. Council agendas and packets are available on the city’s website. Meetings are open to the public. If you wish to speak, arrive early and register. • CITY OF LEANDER — LEANDERTX. GOV Agendas and minutes for all boards and commissions are available, and City Council meetings are streamed live, on the city’s website. • LEANDER CITY COUNCIL Meets at 6 p.m. the first and third Thursday of each month in the City Council Chambers, Pat Bryson Municipal Hall, 201 N. Brushy Street. Council agendas and packets are available on the city’s website. Meetings are open to the public. If you wish to speak, arrive early and register. • CITY OF LAGO VISTA — LAGOVISTATEXAS.ORG Agendas and minutes for all boards and commissions are available on the city’s website. • LAGO VISTA CITY COUNCIL Meets 6:30 p.m. the first and third Thursday of each month in the Council Chambers at City Hall, 5803 Thunderbird Drive. Council agendas and packets are available on the city’s website. Meetings are open to the public. If you wish to speak, arrive early and register. CITY OF LEANDER Leander water restrictions downgraded to Stage 2 CITY OF LEANDER Sandy Creek Water Treatment Plant located at Lake Travis. By JOSH MONIZ HCN SENIOR REPORTER WilCo Parks launches parks pass WILLIAMSON COUNTY Williamson County Parks Department launched their first-ever Parks Pass that will offer special benefits for those interested in spending time outdoors at a Williamson County park facility. e goal of the program is to encourage residents to visit County parks and reward those who are frequent users of county parks with discounts. “We are excited to launch the new parks pass program. We worked really hard to build in user benefits that have an application at all Williamson County park locations,” said Williamson County Parks De- partment Senior Director Rus- sell Fishbeck. “I believe that park users will find value in the pass and that their loyalty and repeat use will be reward- ed accordingly. As the holiday season nears, the Parks Pass will make a wonderful gift for your family and friends who also enjoy the outdoors.” e Parks Pass will waive some day-use fees and pro- vide discounts on overnight camping, and pavilion rentals, among other benefits like: • Unlimited free day use at River Ranch County Park, when the County’s newest addition opens later this year. is benefit applies to the passholder and up to 14 guests in the same non-commercial vehicle • Discounts on overnight camping • Equestrian use fee dis- count • Unlimited disc golf play (restrictions apply) • Discount ($10) on Open Arena Ride at Expo Center • Discount ($10) on Group Pavilion rentals e Parks Pass can be purchased for $50 at the Southwest Williamson County Regional Park office, located at 3005 CR 175 in Leander, and at the Williamson County Expo Center, located at 5350 Bill Pickett Trail in Taylor. e purchase is a final sale, and it cannot be refunded or trans- ferred to another person. At the time of use, the pass- holder must be present to re- ceive the benefits and provide staff with a form of identifica- tion. All benefits and rates are subject to availability. Policies and benefits may be subject to change without notice. Please visit www.wilco.org/ parks for more information. STAFF REPORTS METRO CREATIVE GRAPHICS The WilCo Parks department has launched a Parks Pass system that give the user free day access and discounts to the county’s parks. GEORGETOWN PALACE THEATRE Palace to stage show outside Steel Magnolias, the play about Chinquapin, Louisiana’s go-to place for a beauty fix with a hearty side of gossip, is coming to the Georgetown Palace eatre as an outdoor production. e show opens Friday, Oct. 9, in the Palace Courtyard, an area behind the Palace that is nestled between two buildings with lights hanging from the trees. Performances will start after sunset. Groups will be socially distanced from one another and masks are required. e play was written by Robert Harling and is direct- ed for the Palace by Emily Taylor. e show features two separate all-star casts, each performing half of the sched- uled performances. e show runs through Sunday, Nov. 8. Ticket prices are from $24-$34. e Palace Courtyard is behind the Palace which is 810 S. Austin Ave, in Georgetown. For ticket infor- mation, call 512-751-5646. STAFF REPORTS MARTHA BOWLES The cast and crew of Steel Magnolias set up for a rehearsal on the outdoor stage behind the Palace Theater in Georgetown.
Transcript of CITY OF LEANDER CAPITAL HIGHLIGHTS Leander water ...1 day ago · Vistra, an energy powerhouse...
The City of Leander recently loosened its ongoing water restrictions to Stage 2 water restrictions as the challenges facing the City’s water system has begun to stabilize in recent weeks.
Over the middle of the summer, the City rapidly upgraded its water restrictions to Stage 2 and then Stage 3, which limits people’s ability to perform outdoor irrigation to once per week. By downgrad-ing back on Sept. 23 to Stage 2, citizens can now perform outdoor irrigation twice a week. Citizens are still limited to performing the irrigation before 7 a.m. or after 10 p.m. to reduce how much of the water is lost to irrigation.
Different types of properties are limited to which days their outdoor irrigation can occur. The schedule is:
• No watering on Mondays• Commercial and
multi-family properties on Tuesdays and Fridays
• Odd residential address-es on Wednesdays and Saturdays
• Even residential addresses on Thursdays and Sundays
Leander has more than enough water supply to meet the needs of every resident. The challenge facing the City
was Leander residents’ water consumption spiking in a con-centrated way, causing them to consume the water faster than the City’s system could refill its water tanks.
The need for the restrictions was driven soaring summer temperatures being com-pounded by the unprecedented trend of almost all Leander res-idents working from home due to the coronavirus pandemic, meaning their mid-day water consumption was occurring on the Leander water system used to having drop-off period water consumption periods and “catch-up days” instead of at their businesses in other cities
like Austin or Cedar Park.The situation came to a head
in the middle of the summer when a temporary water outage occurred at the same time as the Leander water systems available water levels being dow, resulting in temporary loss of water for over 20,000 residents and the City having to issue a boil water notice for almost a week.
Recent positive trends rang-ing from time dragging into the cooler months of the year to some residents returning to their in-person attendance at their jobs have allowed the City to reduce its water restrictions to Stage 2.
NEWS
A3THE HILL COUNTRY NEWSTHURSDAY, OCTOBER 8, 2020
CAPITAL HIGHLIGHTS
Irving company pivots to green energyVistra, an energy powerhouse based in Irving, announced plans to
achieve net-zero carbon dioxide emissions by 2050.A key part of that plan is a capital investment of $1.15 billion by 2022
on solar and storage projects in California and Texas. The company also plans to close coal-fire energy plants in Illinois and Ohio by 2027.
“Vistra’s commitment to our transformation to a low-to-no-carbon future is unequivocal and offers unique opportunities for growth and innovation,” President and CEO Curt Morgan said in a press release.
Vistra solar projects opening within the next two years in Texas are in Andrews, Brightside, Emerald Grove, Forest Grove and Oak Hill. A solar project and energy storage project is planned at Upton 2 near Emerald Grove. Energy storage is planned in DeCordova southwest of Dallas-Fort Worth.
Vistra is a Fortune 275 retail electricity and power generation compa-ny. Its holdings include TXU Energy, Homefield Energy, Dynegy, Ambit Energy and Luminant.
Early voting starts Oct. 13Gov. Greg Abbott’s executive order and a Texas Supreme Court deci-
sion changed some counties’ plans for handling mail-in ballots for the Nov. 3 election.
Citing security concerns, Abbott ordered all 254 Texas counties to offer only one drop-off location for absentee ballots.
“These enhanced security protocols will ensure greater transparency and will help stop attempts at illegal voting,” Abbott said.
Democrats accused the Republican governor of trying to suppress the vote, particularly in larger metropolitan areas. The League of United Latin American Citizens, the League of Women Voters and two individu-als filed a lawsuit to challenge the order.
“Geographically, Harris County is larger than the entire state of Rhode Island,” Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo said. “Our population rivals that of the entire state of Colorado. To propose only a single, secure drop-off location for a county of our size during a pandemic is ludicrous.”
Earlier, the Republican-controlled Texas Supreme Court issued a ruling that created a similar partisan reaction about voting security and rights. The court said Harris and other counties could not send unsolic-ited mail-in ballots to voters.
In-person early voting starts Oct. 13 in Texas. The Texas Library Association is encouraging its member libraries to share election guides created by the League of Women Voters.
Early voting runs until Oct. 30. The deadline to apply for a mail-in ballot is Oct. 23, and the deadline to return a mail-in ballot is Nov. 3.
Along with visiting their local libraries and reading their local news-papers, people may go to the League’s vote411.org for information about their ballots for the general election. Also, the Texas Tribune, a statewide nonprofit news initiative, offers ballot information at TexasTribune.com.
Top educators make the gradeTexas’ two top teachers work in opposite ends of the Lone Star state.The Texas Association of School Administrators honored Eric Hale,
a kindergarten and first-grade teacher from the Dallas Independent School District, as the 2021 Elementary Teacher of the Year and Antho-ny Lopez-Waste, a history teacher from Canutillo ISD in El Paso, as the Secondary Teacher of the Year.
Hale was chosen to represent the state as Texas Teacher of the Year in the National Teacher of the Year competition. The announcement was made during the virtual convention of the school administrators and the Texas Association of School Boards.
“My students and parents have survived a category F-3 tornado and are presently living in a pandemic. It is essential that I make sure they know I am here for them and value their educational development,” said Hale, who teaches at David G. Burnet Elementary School.
Superintendent of the Year honors went to J.A. Gonzalez of McAllen ISD. Hurst-Euless-Bedford ISD won best school board.
‘Texas in my Rearview Mirror’Texas lost one of its brightest country stars when singer-songwriter
Mac Davis died at age 78 of complications from heart surgery.Born and raised in Lubbock, Davis was known most for his country/
pop songs of the 1970s, including “Baby Don’t Get Hooked on Me,” and for writing a number of Elvis Presley hits, including “Don’t Cry Dad-dy,” “In the Ghetto” and “A Little Less Conversation.” Davis also had a successful acting career, starring in his own variety show and the movie “North Dallas Forty.”
The address for the West Texas Walk of Fame is 1501 Mac Davis Lane in Lubbock, which he sang about in “Texas in my Rearview Mirror.”
“Many hearts are broken today, including my own, with the death of one of my dearest friends, Mac Davis,” country legend Dolly Parton tweet-ed. “We lost one of the world’s greatest writers, singers and entertainers.”
A date for Davis’ funeral is pending, In keeping with the last line of “Rearview Mirror,” his wife said he will be buried in Lubbock in his jeans.
Chris Cobler is a board member and past president of the Freedom of Information Foundation of Texas. He welcomes email at ccobler@
texaspress.com.
PUBLIC
MEETINGS• WILLIAMSON COUNTY — WILCO.
ORGThe Williamson County
Commissioners Court is the county’s governing body. Commissioners meet beginning at 9:30 each Tuesday morning at the Williamson County Courthouse in downtown Georgetown. Agendas and packets are available, and the meetings are streamed live, on the county’s website. Meetings are open to the public. If you wish to speak, arrive early and register.
• LEANDER INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT — LEANDERISD.ORG
Leander ISD Board of Trustees meet the third and fourth Thursday each month at 6:15 p.m. at 1900 Cougar Country Dr. in Cedar Park. Meetings are open to the public. If you wish to speak, arrive early and register. You can find agendas, board meeting packets and a live stream on the district’s website.
• LAGO VISTA INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT — LAGOVISTAISD.NET
Lago Vista ISD Board of Trustees meet at 6:15 p.m. on the second Monday of the month at 8039 Bar-K Ranch Road in Lago Vista. Meetings are open to the public. If you wish to speak, arrive early and register. You can find agendas and board meeting packets on the district’s website.
• CITY OF CEDAR PARK — CEDARPARKTEXAS.GOV
Agendas and minutes for all boards and commissions are available, and many meetings are streamed live, on the city’s website.
• CEDAR PARK CITY COUNCIL Meets at 6 p.m. the second and
fourth Thursday of each month at City Council Chambers, 450 Cypress Creek Road, Building 4. Council agendas and packets are available on the city’s website. Meetings are open to the public. If you wish to speak, arrive early and register.
• CITY OF LEANDER — LEANDERTX.GOV
Agendas and minutes for all boards and commissions are available, and City Council meetings are streamed live, on the city’s website.
• LEANDER CITY COUNCIL Meets at 6 p.m. the first and third
Thursday of each month in the City Council Chambers, Pat Bryson Municipal Hall, 201 N. Brushy Street. Council agendas and packets are available on the city’s website. Meetings are open to the public. If you wish to speak, arrive early and register.
• CITY OF LAGO VISTA — LAGOVISTATEXAS.ORG
Agendas and minutes for all boards and commissions are available on the city’s website.
• LAGO VISTA CITY COUNCILMeets 6:30 p.m. the first and third
Thursday of each month in the Council Chambers at City Hall, 5803 Thunderbird Drive. Council agendas and packets are available on the city’s website. Meetings are open to the public. If you wish to speak, arrive early and register.
CITY OF LEANDER
Leander water restrictions downgraded to Stage 2
CITY OF LEANDER
Sandy Creek Water Treatment Plant located at Lake Travis.
By JOSH MONIZHCN SENIOR REPORTER
WilCo Parks launches parks passWILLIAMSON COUNTY
Williamson County Parks Department launched their first-ever Parks Pass that will offer special benefits for those interested in spending time outdoors at a Williamson County park facility. The goal of the program is to encourage residents to visit County parks and reward those who are frequent users of county parks with discounts.
“We are excited to launch the new parks pass program. We worked really hard to build in user benefits that have an application at all Williamson County park locations,” said Williamson County Parks De-partment Senior Director Rus-sell Fishbeck. “I believe that park users will find value in the pass and that their loyalty and repeat use will be reward-ed accordingly. As the holiday season nears, the Parks Pass will make a wonderful gift for your family and friends who also enjoy the outdoors.”
The Parks Pass will waive some day-use fees and pro-vide discounts on overnight camping, and pavilion rentals, among other benefits like:
• Unlimited free day use at River Ranch County Park, when the County’s newest
addition opens later this year. This benefit applies to the passholder and up to 14 guests in the same non-commercial vehicle
• Discounts on overnight camping
• Equestrian use fee dis-count
• Unlimited disc golf play (restrictions apply)
• Discount ($10) on Open Arena Ride at Expo Center
• Discount ($10) on Group Pavilion rentals
The Parks Pass can be purchased for $50 at the Southwest Williamson County
Regional Park office, located at 3005 CR 175 in Leander, and at the Williamson County Expo Center, located at 5350 Bill Pickett Trail in Taylor. The purchase is a final sale, and it cannot be refunded or trans-ferred to another person.
At the time of use, the pass-holder must be present to re-ceive the benefits and provide staff with a form of identifica-tion. All benefits and rates are subject to availability. Policies and benefits may be subject to change without notice.
Please visit www.wilco.org/parks for more information.
STAFF REPORTS
METRO CREATIVE GRAPHICS
The WilCo Parks department has launched a Parks Pass system that give the user free day access and discounts to the county’s parks.
GEORGETOWN PALACE THEATRE
Palace to stage show outsideSteel Magnolias, the play
about Chinquapin, Louisiana’s go-to place for a beauty fix with a hearty side of gossip, is coming to the Georgetown Palace Theatre as an outdoor production.
The show opens Friday, Oct. 9, in the Palace Courtyard,
an area behind the Palace that is nestled between two buildings with lights hanging from the trees. Performances will start after sunset. Groups will be socially distanced from one another and masks are required.
The play was written by Robert Harling and is direct-ed for the Palace by Emily
Taylor. The show features two separate all-star casts, each performing half of the sched-uled performances.
The show runs through Sunday, Nov. 8. Ticket prices are from $24-$34. The Palace Courtyard is behind the Palace which is 810 S. Austin Ave, in Georgetown. For ticket infor-mation, call 512-751-5646.
STAFF REPORTS
MARTHA BOWLES
The cast and crew of Steel Magnolias set up for a rehearsal on the outdoor stage behind the Palace Theater in Georgetown.
