The Legislative Special Session is coming up next week. I'm having a hard time understanding what their trying to accomplish. Lakeway worked hard to pass an electronic device ordinance that significantly improves the driving safety in the city and is enforceable! The State wants to do away with our ordinance and impose theirs - it is much weaker and will not be enforceable, that's already been proven.
It appears they would like to do away with our tree ordinances - I am particularly concerned with trimming ordinances and our Oak Wilt problems. You have probably seen the results of Oak Wilt in the city - it would be a shame to lose more of our beautiful trees to this disease.
They want to give us a tax break! If the legislature wants to lower property tax, why aren’t they addressing school taxes that they control? Per the Texas Municipal League, cities collect just 16 percent of taxes levied in the state. Lakeway actually has reduced its tax rate to offset the increase in property values since 2011. Cities already have a tax cap of 8 percent. Lakeway’s tax rate is $0.162 per $100 evaluation – the school tax rate is $1.40 per $100. A “School Finance Commission” to kick the can down the road for 2 years and limiting cities to a more restrictive cap is not a solution to homeowner property tax increases.
Now to some good news! Flint Rock road was paved this week and is close to being complete. I expect the striping to be done soon - they have to wait a few days for the asphalt to cure. The dual left at 620 is also nearly complete and TxDOT will be installing the light heads soon (I hope).
I've also noticed TxDOT has started work on the signal at Dave Dr. It will make residents access to that subdivision much safer - more as it proceeds.
Monday I was honored to attend the Alan Babin "Walls of Honor" celebration. Here's a link to KVUE's coverage. We are honored to have a hero choose Lakeway as a forever home. Thank you for your service Alan!
Mark your calendar, Lakeway's Cool Arts Party is coming up on August 19th. It showcases some of the best art talent in the region at a free exhibit and sale from 1-5 p.m. at the Lakeway Activity Center, 105 Cross Creek.
Staff has been working hard on the budget for next year - we will have a Budget Work Session on Monday, July 24th at 2 p.m. The public is invited!
Monday City Council will meet in regular session - there is a lot on the agenda - here is a link. If you would like the whole meeting packet it is available here.
Steve Jones and I met this week with the new Travis County Executive of Emergency Services Josh Davies. Lakeway functions under the county's emergency management umbrella and contracts for emergency medical services. Mr. Davies replaced Danny Hobby who retired this year. We look forward to working together!
Work is continuing on Hurst Creek Road - our contractor has been busy patching the bad sections and will soon start the overlay. It should be a big improvement. This is paid for by the 1/4 cent sales tax that was reinstated on the May election.
From the Chief:
LPD Officers conducted 176 traffic stops and responded to the following calls 17 alarms, 18 animal calls, 10 suspicious circumstances, 8 ordinances violations, 7 collisions and 7 disturbances. Plus, we conducted 131 traffic stops and responded to 84 other calls for service, totaling 280 calls for the week.
LPD officers travelled to Odessa to pick up a wanted subject for a felony warrant out of this agency. Patrol officers field released two subjects for possession of drug paraphernalia.
Patrol Officers responded to 100 block of Sebastian’s Run in reference to the theft of patio furniture. The furniture was taken from a small patio at a private residence, next to the garage, sometime between 1145am and 2pm. The value of the stolen furniture was approximately $300.
Patrol Officers responded to The City of Lakeway Skate Park in reference to a criminal mischief. Unknown suspects, sometime between the morning of 7/7 and the morning of 7/10 painted graffiti on the skate park walls.
Patrol Officers responded to 500 block of Rock Bluff Drive in reference to a prior theft. Unknown suspects stole a mountain bike valued at $1000 and a GPS unit valued at $100 out of his car. The victim last saw the bicycle on 6/8 and last saw the GPS unit on 6/30.
Patrol Officers responded to a store located in the 1400 block of RR 620 South in reference to a theft. The victim, a store employee, advised that another employee stole her debit card on 7/9. The theft was caught on the store’s security camera and copies of the footage were given to the officer. During an interview with the suspect, the suspect confessed to stealing the victim’s card with intent to use it. Detectives are in the process of obtaining an arrest warrant (Credit/Debit Card Abuse, a State Jail Felony).
Patrol Officers took a report of a burglary of a vehicle that occurred in the parking lot at Lakeway City Park. The window of the victim’s 2014 Kia was broken out and her purse was stolen sometime during the afternoon of 7/11/17. The victim did not put a value on the stolen purse, but the window replacement was valued at $180.
Detectives were assigned to investigate a report of a Disturbance that occurred in the 1300 block of RR 620 South. According to the victim, he was verbally threatened by a male subject. Detectives are following up on available leads in the case which remains active.
Chief Radford received notice this week from “Mothers Against Drunk Driving” in cooperation with TxDOT that they will be recognizing him with an award at their annual recognition luncheon in September. Chief Radford is being given a Diamond Hero Leadership award bestowed to law enforcement executives who have shown superior commitment to DWI enforcement by providing their departments with the resources, support and training needed to reduce drunk driving.
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That's all for now - more as I find out. Have a safe weekend and enjoy the rain if it happens!
If you would like to be added to my email list, send a note to lakeway@bain.us and I'll take care of it.
Joe Bain
lakeway@bain.us
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