Public Safety Day, Austin Craziness, Taxes and More!

*****Friday the 13th - Be Careful...*****

Weather?  Not much.  Almost rained a couple of day, but didn't happen.  Looks like it's going to be near the century mark again for the next few days.  Here's a link if you want to see what the conditions are real time.

*****Public Safety Day*****

From City Website

Public Safety Day is tomorrow, September 14th!  This is a great way to see the first responder agencies up close.  Police, Fire and even the STAR Flight helicopter will be there.  It's free at the Lake Travis Elementary at 15303 Kollmeyer Dr from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m..   Here's a link to more info - it well worth the time to check it out!

*****Austin Telco Credit Union*****

Got word that Austin Telco made the Best of the Best in Austin in the Credit Union Category!  Have you considered a Credit Union for your financial institution?  If not, maybe you should!  Non-profit, means all the profits are given back to the members, free checking with no minimum balance, high rates on CD's, low rates on all types of loans and ATM's all over.  Give it a look!  atfcu.org

*****Austin Craziness Continues*****

Have you been watching the latest craziness in Austin?  First they made it legal to camp anywhere on Austin public property.  Now they have folks with tents on medians and all over.  But now there are complaints - folks that run the ARCH (homeless shelter) don't want anyone camping near them - too dangerous....  Also UT wants

Photo Courtesy Change.org

to restrict camping and homeless there - safety concerns, and streets around 6th street also - safety concerns.  But it's o.k. to camp and sleep near businesses and residential areas - no safety concerns there.  Am I missing something?  I hope it doesn't move this way!

*****Taxes*****

I got a card with a website address - travistaxes.com - that allows you to put in your address and see the changes you and I will be writing a LARGER check for next year.  Lakeway is a small part of this but still a part.  In my opinion, we don't have an income issue, we have a spending issue.  Consultants, Assistants, Directors and legal expenses.  Government finances are different than business finances.  They say we need more money - how much?  Would 20¢ per hundred be enough?  30¢ per hundred?  50¢ per hundred?  Plan projects and spread the time out so it fits within your budget - that's how citizens have to do it.  Let your elected officials know how you feel, maybe it's just me!  They got a pretty good raise this year - $245,000 from new property, sales tax increases and even a $600,000 refund from the Police project.  That's a bigger increase than I got from Social Security.....

*****Council Meeting*****

Looks like another long meeting Monday - packets aren't out yet so I'll just hit the highlights.  

4)  Previous Business - Update on scope of work for police station?  No clue - I do know that it's done, it didn't raise your taxes and 10 years from now we won't be looking at a bond to enlarge or remodel it - like we are doing for the City Hall (probably cost twice as much to enlarge than original cost to build).  Now we know how big Lakeway will be - land locked - construction costs go up significantly every year.  

5)  Public Hearing on Budget

6)  Public Hearing on Tax rate.  Discussion at last weeks meeting of what would have to be done to increase the rate to the rollback rate - they could go even higher but would have to face a possible petition to roll it back.

7)  Looks like Lake Travis Chamber is going to ask for some HOT funds.  If they have a process to track funding it might be a reasonable request.  They are looking to bring the Texas Firefighters Conference to Lakeway.

8)  Committee Chair Larry Harlan will give a presentation on the Comprehensive Plan.

9 & 12)  Donation acceptance.

10)  Try again on abolishing the City Marshal - probably a good idea - who's going to use the plate reader purchased for the Marshal?

11)  Third reading of the Animal Ordinance

13)  More changes - looks like they want to change the Subdivisions and Site Development Ordinance.  I guess we are unhappy with Lakeway and its rules - do we really want to change Lakeway to Austin?

15-16)  And of course, the infamous executive sessions.  One to talk about suing the previous City Attorney (my assumption) and the other to talk about the City Manager (I thought they did that?).

More once the packet is out.

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The Lakeway Community Blood Drive is scheduled for September 21st.  Put it on the calendar!

The Lakeway Wildlife Advisory Committee has been moved to September 26.  If the Council doesn't want to listen to the recommendations, why continue?

That's all for now - more as the packet is released or when the meeting is over.  Here's a link if you want to watch the council meeting live Monday night.

More as I find out!  I'm working on some info on Electric Power, Electric Cars and Windmills.  I'll try to get it out next week - need to look at the facts, and see if it's worth it!

If you want to be added to my email list, send a note to lakeway@bain.us and I'll get you added.  Thanks again for all the support for Bella!  She's looking forward to showing off for the calendar!  

Joe Bain

lakeway@bain.us