Veterans Day Celebrations, Development Info, Police and More!

Good morning!  Friday was a busy day - a great day for Lakeway.  Lets look at the good things going on here in our wonderful community!

Veterans Day had two celebrations going on simultaneously!  We got new citizens and a hero in one of them.  The Babin family officially moved into their new home furnished by the Gary Sinese Foundation!  Alan Babin, Jr. was injured severely while trying to help fellow soldiers in a fire fight.  Here is a link to more info.

Gary Sinise was in Lakeway to give the keys to the new home to Alan, Rosie and Alan, Jr.  Here's a link to the KVUE report.  I appoligize for those without Facebook, but here is a video of the Babin's on Lohmans Crossing where the passed the Elementary school where all the students and teachers welcomed them to Lakeway with waves and flags.  It was a great celebration and presentation - a wonderful example of the good in Lakeway!

Pict. by Al  Weber

Pict by Al Weber

The Lakeway Veterans Day celebration was held at the LTISD Performing Arts Center at 10:30 to a nearly full house.  The entire LTISD Band, the Choir and the Camp Mary Army band.  Astronaut Alan Shepard's daughter, Julianna Shepard Jenkins was the guest speaker - what a show!  She and her sister brought a golf club Shepard used to "hit a ball" on the moon!  All area Veterans and spouses were honored at the event and certificates were passed out to those that had their names engraved at the Heritage Center Monument.  A reception and luncheon was held at the Lakeway Heritage Center.  A special thanks to the Lohmann's Ford Chapter to the DAR for their continued support of the event!

Thank you to all the Veterans for their service and sacrifice! Thanks to the LTISD for the use of the Performing Arts Center, the band and choir - we couldn't have done it without you!

Baylor Scott & White Healthspeak Education Series will be holding a seminar on Back Pain, November 30 at 6:00 p.m.  Here is a link to more info!

Contractor for the Police Station did a pre-bid conference this week and reported good attendance.  Bids will be opened next week and will begin evaluating subcontractors.  The city is processing site development and building permits and is finalizing site acquisition.  We are on schedule to break ground in January.  City Manager Steve Jones will start doing a monthly report on the progress of the project at council meetings.

Mr. Jones also spoke to the Leadership Lake Travis  groups this week about new developments including city center, options we are evaluating on the Stratus property and the second phase of Tuscan Village.

There has been  some interest in the properties behind HEB.  Here's what we know - anything else would be conjecture:

Stratus has offered to trade higher density (350 unit apartment) on south end of their property for 25 acres of parkland (north end of the property).  I have seen no interest from council on this proposal.  They currently have the right to build R-5 condos on the property (around 200 units) that would take the entire property.  We are currently looking at other options - possibly a purchase.  Here is the Stratus meeting video.

Hathem Dawlett has made a proposal for the property.  Here is that video.  Mr. Dawlett has contacted the city and offered to make both Lohmans Spur extension and Main Street 4 lanes.  There has been no other movement on this project.

There are actually 9 property owners in this area.  That includes the MUD property (under contract to Dawlett), Church of Christ property, school property, Reed Property, and other pieces.  That's all there is for now, anything that evolves will be talked about at public ZAPCO and Council.  If you have specific questions, I or any council member will be glad to get you an answer. 

The Lakeway Blvd. irrigation project is nearing completion.  They will be working on the four medians West of Lohmans Crossing next week.  Alpha Paving will start Monday on multiple asphalt patches throughout the city.

BDS is very busy.  They have had over 50 requests for temporary certificates of occupancy.  Here is a link to his weekly report.

CBC meets next Thursday in regular session.  Here is their agenda.

You have probably already heard, the bonds all passed this past election.  That means our Sports Stadium has moved forward and will be built.  

From the Chief:
LPD Officers conducted 257 traffic stops, responded to 11 alarm calls, responded to 19 animal calls, responded to 7 collisions, answered 24 suspicious circumstances calls and handled 114 other types of calls for service for a total of 432.

Routine traffic stops resulted in the following charges, Out of Jurisdiction Warrant X 2, Possession of a Controlled Substance X 1, Driving while Intoxicated X 1, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia X 3. 

Officers responded to a Sailmaster address in reference to a criminal trespassing call. Upon arrival officers found a subject in the front yard. The homeowner did not want the subject, who was an ex-boyfriend, on the property. He was issued a criminal trespass warning. Further investigation revealed that the subject was intoxicated; he was issued a field release citation for public intoxication and released to a relative that was called to the scene.

Detectives were assigned to follow up on a possibly credit card abuse incident after patrol officers located several credit/debits cards during a traffic stop in the 2000 block of RR620 South. Due to a lack of cooperation on behalf of the debit card issuers, detectives were unable to locate/contact any of the potential victims and were forced to close the case without prosecution. 

Detectives responded to the 15000 block of Barrie drive to assist patrol officers with a deceased person call. Detectives and Crime Scene personnel processed the scene and interviewed several parties at the residence. After a thorough investigation, it was determined the elderly subject likely died of natural causes.


Detectives were assigned to investigate a report of Harassment in the 300 block of Fantail Loop after the victim reported receiving multiple harassing text messages and emails from a former boyfriend. Detectives are conducting interviews and attempting to gather evidence in the case as the investigation remains active. 
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That's all for now.  Please thank our veterans if you see them somewhere - they are the reason we live in this great democratic society.  Without them we might be speaking another language.  I'm proud of our vets and appreciate all of their efforts and sacrifices.  THANK YOU!

As always, questions are welcome.  If you would like to be added (or removed) from my email list, send a note to lakeway@bain.us.

The Cavs won last night against the Vandegriff Vipers 40-28 - Go Cavs!  This was the last regular season home game - off to the playoffs!  Have a GREAT weekend!  

Joe Bain
lakeway@bain.us