Jarrell State of the City 2025

Jarrell City council members were invited to answer five questions about their priorities and vision for the city. Following are responses from the three who participated.

Lori Allen

Daniel Klepac

ONE MAJOR CHANGE/IMPROVEMENT YOU HOPE TO MAKE THIS YEAR?

Allen: I feel the city council has already accomplished improvements by appointing new members to the EDC and Planning & Zoning Committee. With new members, comes new vision and that's what the city needs to move forward.

Clawson: One improvement I hope to accomplish is securing a city manager who will continue to lead our city with fiscal responsibility and ensure that we maintain a full staff.

Klepac: I would like to see the street in front of the fire station rebuilt to handle the weight of the fire trucks when they exit and return to the station.

WHAT CITY ISSUE/INITIATIVE DO YOU FEEL MOST PERSONALLY CONNECTED TO —HOW ARE YOU WORKING TO ADDRESS IT OR HELP?

Allen: Being a newly elected council member, I have yet to connect myself to any particular city issue or initiative.

Clawson: Regarding city matters, I am most connected to our infrastructure. I intend to continue my attendance at relevant meetings whenever possible, to help in securing enduring solutions.

Klepac: Having adequate water for our citizens. I want to make sure we control growth and not run out of our most precious resource. I have always been vocal about our capacity to provide and will continue to do so as other developments request to build here.

WHAT IS YOUR VISION FOR THE CITY’S ECONOMIC GROWTH?

Allen: The economic growth of Jarrell is vital to sustain viability. Attracting new businesses to our city is key in developing a city where we don't have to go to Georgetown for anything, making Jarrell a "one-stop shop."

Clawson: My vision for economic growth involves attracting more employment and retail opportunities for our citizens, which, in turn, should augment our sales tax revenue. My current focus is on ensuring that the city remains realistic with the infrastructural opportunities that we currently have to prevent over promising and under delivering.

Klepac: I would like to see a controlled growth with a mix of commercial, retail, and new homes. We need businesses here to provide employment instead of our citizens having to seek employment in surrounding cities.

GIVEN UNLIMITED RESOURCES, WHAT ONE PROJECT/INITIATIVE WOULD YOU IMPLEMENT TODAY?

Allen: My one project would be repairing/ renewing all our roads. Infrastructure needs improvement to support our growth as a community.

Clawson: I would immediately focus on enhancing accessibility within Jarrell. A significant number of our residents are frequently traveling to avail themselves of healthcare, recreation, employment, and various essential amenities.

Klepac: I would love to rebuild every street in Old Town to handle the traffic that we see today and include water drainage.

WHAT ARE THE TOP THREE QUALITIES OR CHARACTERISTICS YOU ARE LOOKING FOR IN THE NEXT CITY MANAGER?

Allen: I am looking for someone with experience who is able to make decisions with confidence and be a good team leader.

Clawson: In my opinion: strong leadership, ethical conduct, and fiscal responsibility. These qualities will ensure that the needs of our city and its citizens are effectively met.

Klepac: Knowledge, drive, and professionalism!

At the Chamber of Commerce’s monthly luncheon in March, Mayor Patrick Sherek shared a snapshot of where Jarrell stands and where it’s headed during his State of the City speech. Afterward, My Jarrell followed up with the mayor to get a closer look at what’s next for the community—from big-picture growth to day-to-day challenges.

You referenced three economic development initiatives currently underway—the Labatt project, Auto Zone, and a mixed-use development. Could you elaborate on the strategies the city is employing to attract new businesses?

Mayor Sherek: To attract new businesses like Labatt, Jarrell uses targeted incentive tools such as Chapter 312 tax abatements, Chapter 380 performance agreements tied to job creation and investment milestones, infrastructure cost-sharing agreements, and expedited development review processes. These incentives are carefully structured to ensure real public benefits, such as new jobs, infrastructure improvements, and expanded tax revenue, while minimizing financial risks to Jarrell and its residents. We also work with Retail Coach, a company that connects expanding businesses with new areas. It is essential for the city to collaborate with businesses and developers to build a strong foundation for future growth.

You said the Labatt project is expected to create approximately 100 jobs upon completion. How will a project of this scale impact the Jarrell economy?

Mayor Sherek: Bringing in good jobs is key to making our community stronger and more self-sustaining. Right now, many residents commute

outside of Jarrell for work, which means the city and businesses here are losing that potential revenue. The Labatt project will help change that by offering around 100 new jobs here in town—a big step toward keeping our workforce local. Those jobs mean more people will be able to shop, eat, and do business in Jarrell, which helps local businesses thrive. We hope this creates a ripple effect as we work to attract more companies to set up shop here. In the end, it’s not just about jobs; it’s about building a community where people can live, work, and raise their families without needing to travel far for a good job.

You spoke about a water deal that would provide water for Jarrell for the next 5-10 years. Could you elaborate on that?

Mayor Sherek: This water agreement would provide approximately 5 million gallons of water per day to support around 15,000 homes. This deal will ensure we can meet our current water needs, however, with the rapid growth, the city will continue exploring additional water sources to plan for future growth and sustainability.

You said Williamson County gave the City money from an ARPA grant to be used for a waterline on the east side. Can you share where and how far the waterline will extend? Is this waterline connecting to a new water source or just furthering the reach of the current water sources?

Mayor Sherek: The City of Jarrell was awarded a $14 million ARPA grant from the county to fund construction of a 16-inch transmission waterline, approximately 6.4 miles in length, extending from CR 303 to CR 310, generally following a route along FM 1105, CR 375, and CR 314. This project will use the water from Lonestar Regional Water Authority and, in the future, connect to our current system providing services to the south. When completed, it will enhance the city’s water infrastructure and service capacity, ensuring sustainable support for current needs and future growth.