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Volume 35, Issue 8

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City’s 2020 financial audit finally complete

2021 bond projects starting to take shape

By RACHEL MADISON Staff Writer It took nearly a year longer than it should have, but the City of Liberty Hill’s financial audit is finally finished after months of struggles with missing invoices and other documents, as well as the termination of the City’s finance director in August 2021.

Under best practices, the previous year’s financial audit should be completed by the end of March. Interim Finance Director Misti Hancock told the City Council for months starting in September that the audit would be completed the following month, but various hurdles kept the audit from being completed until now.

Hancock told the Council during that time frame that she was spending time reconciling accounts that didn’t add up, searching for documents that were missing, and spending a lot of her time on the day-today financial operations of the City, which caused more delays.

Lupe Garcia of Whitley Penn, the firm that conducted the audit, said the audit could have ended much sooner than it did, but it wouldn’t have received a clean, or unmodified, opinion.

“Until we gathered all the information and corrected all the balances in the general ledger, we could not support that unmodified opinion,” he said.

“I’m happy to report that’s the opinion we are issuing on the City’s 2020 financial statements.”

Garcia added that the clean opinion means the report can be relied upon as being materially correct, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t things in the City that can be improved.

“We know there’s been challenges working through the audit for fiscal year 2020,” Garcia said. “We’ve documented those challenges in the form of a management letter that contains material weaknesses, significant deficiencies and some instances of noncompliance that we noted as a result of the procedures that we perform.

Management can address those concerns going forward, so the City can issue timely financial

See AUDIT, Page 4

News@LHIndependent.com

By KRISTEN MERIWETHER Staff Writer Less than a year after voters approved a $481.7 bond, what those new schools and renovations will look like is starting to take shape.

The Liberty Hill Independent School District Board of Trustees voted on Tuesday to approve the schematic design of two new schools and the renovations of two existing LHISD campuses. The schematic design helps determine the footprint of the campus and brings the projects one step closer to getting shovels in the ground.

Here’s a look at the renderings and some details about the project:

Elementary School #6 This new elementary school, designed by Pfluger Architects, will be located in a grove of oak trees in the Bar W neighborhood. The approximately 120,000square-foot footprint of the building is designed to highlight and utilize oak trees, while also providing the same high-quality learning experience found at the recently opened Santa Rita Ranch campuses.

With the campus technical-

The schematic design of the front facade of Liberty Hill Middle School was approved by Trustees this week. The construction was approved by voters in a 2021 bond election. (Graphic Courtesy Huckabee Associates) ly in the Leander ETJ, the district will have to work with the City of Leander on the project.

The neighborhood is currently under construction—including critical road and infrastructure needed for construction—and with an expected open date of August 2023, this project has the least room for shifts in timeline.

©2022 The Liberty Hill Independent

Middle School #3 This will be a brand new approximately 194,500-squarefoot middle school designed

by PBK Architects that sits on a large lot at the corner of U.S. Highway 183 and State Highway 29. The school will have capacity for 1,200 students, but is set up to use collaborative space as flex classrooms

to hold up to 1,300 students if needed.

The two-story building uses a compact but efficient design with a focus on natural light and collaborative spaces. PBK designed the building to have the library at the heart of the campus. Both the gym and cafeteria are designed with dedicated entrances so access to af-

ter-school events don’t require access to the entire school. The school is expected to open in June 2024.

The lot is big enough to build another elementary school adjacent to the new middle school. Plans and funding for that project have not yet been

See SCHOOLS, Page 3

Canady’s garage up for sale amid zoning, code compliance concerns

By RACHEL MADISON Staff Writer Liberty Hill City Council member Kathy Canady’s Quick Service Garage in downtown Liberty Hill has been listed for sale at $1.2 million.

This comes after monthslong discussions between fellow City Council members and City staff about the validity of Canady’s residency and the proper zoning of her business—as she has been living in her garage for the last three years—as well as potential code violations created by Canady living there.

But, according to Canady, the reason she has decided to list her property is because the market is doing well.

“The market is so good right now that it may be the time to relocate my business if the

property sells,” Canady told The Independent in an email.

“I plan to continue living in Liberty Hill as this is my home.”

The listing agent for the business is Kim Sanders of Keller Williams Realty. According to the listing, it will be “shown by appointment only to prequalified buyers. Zoned C2 Downtown Commercial.

Great investment opportunity on the corner of RR 1869 and Loop 332/Main St. in historic downtown Liberty Hill. Land and building for sale without the existing business.”

Zoning Concerns Canady’s residency was questioned by fellow members of the City Council in October when they asked City Attorney Marianella Joseph to investigate the legal-

Council goes after Executive Director, discuss election to end EDC

By RACHEL MADISON Staff Writer Tensions were high at last week’s City Council meeting as members discussed the possibility of holding a special election to allow voters to decide if they want to keep or dissolve the City’s Economic Development Corporation.

The discussion was raised by Council member Chris Pezold, who said when the EDC was initially voted into existence in 2003, it had more of a community focus.

“It was very specific about

January 13, 2022 | 50 Cents

community-based service -- let’s say building baseball fields -- so that it would create economic impact through having tournaments, and then that would also benefit the community,” he said.

“I have been asking for this for three years,” added Council member Kathy Canady. “The EDC is supposed to be working for us, and we should be telling y’all what we want to see. We don’t need an eighth of a cent going to the EDC. I think we can decide on our own where we want that eighth of a cent to go, whether that’s infrastructure or parks or transportation.

We need y’all to understand that we are your boss, you’re not our boss. I think some of it is council’s fault, but if you

MATT POWELL EDC Executive Director don’t like it, we can let every one of the board members go and start over.”

Pezold added that current EDC Director Matt Powell, who is paid $124,000 annually, isn’t

See POWELL, Page 4

ity of Canady living in her business. At that time, Joseph said she would examine these concerns for a definite answer, but the issue has not been addressed publicly since then. However, according to Canady, her residency has been verified by Joseph.

“This past Fall was the second time in the past 2 years that the issue has been raised,” Canady wrote to The Independent in response to the newspaper’s questions she requested in writing. “There were no changes in where I lived, so this time it can be for no other purpose than to make a political attack on me and call into question an issue which was already resolved.

The City incurred legal expenses again by asking Marianella Joseph to ‘investigate’ and she reached the same con-

clusion, I qualify as a resident of Liberty Hill to serve on the council.”

The zoning for Canady’s garage is C2, which has listed uses of both residential and commercial based on the City’s Unified Development Code (UDC). According to the UDC, the C2 zoning category does allow for both business and residential use, but the property must be designated a business or residence and may not serve as both. The City’s UDC, which is posted on the City website, also contains a list of prohibited home occupations including “Automobile or mechanical paint or repair shops.”

“Since 1994 I have never lived anywhere other than inside the city limits of Liberty Hill,” Canady told The Independent. “There is no zoning

issues with my living in the shop, regardless of what some people might claim. In April of 2021, I went so far as to request a zoning verification letter.”

The letter Canady requested came from Pamela Mundo of Mundo & Associates, a Texas-based consulting firm that helps cities with civil engineering, planning and development processes. The firm has been working with the City of Liberty Hill since March, assisting the planning and development department on planning and zoning issues.

In the letter, which was provided to The Independent by Canady, Mundo wrote, “the present use of the buildings are lawful nonconforming

See CANADY, Page 8

County narrows footprint for Corridor I-2 Study

By KRISTEN MERIWETHER Staff Writer Williamson County announced changes to its Corridor I-2 Planning and Rightof-Way Preservation Study on Friday. The County will also revisit existing safety improvements to County Road 200 and County Road 236 and identify opportunities to improve and connect existing roadways in the northwest region, per a press release.

The study was originally planning for a new 7.3mile expressway that would run east/west between U.S. Highway 183 and the Burnet County line, and a 4.1-mile north/south connector be-

tween the new expressway and State Highway 29.

That expressway was expected to start out as three lanes, but right-of-way was planned to be purchased now to accommodate up to six or eight lanes for future build-out.

The County said in a press release the study would, “still consider connections for travel between US 183 and SH 29, but with a narrower ROW footprint and updated alignments.” Specifics were not given. Emails to Precinct 2 Commissioner Cynthia Long’s office requesting details went unanswered by press time this week.

In mid-October the County mailed out 63 letters to

property owners in the study area, requesting sit-down meetings to discuss the project. Landowners organized a meeting at Main Street Social on Nov. 3 and nearly 75 residents showed up. The County paused the study on Nov. 11.

“When planning for new roadways, it’s important to listen to the property owners and to take into account the regional needs of the area,” Long said in the press release.

“After thorough conversations with the neighbors, discussions with Burnet County, and further technical analysis, we have adjusted the study to better address the current

See STUDY, Page 8

Page 2

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and markers for a chance to win a laptop or tablet in the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality Eighth Annual Take Care of Kids Art Contest.

Students must submit artwork demonstrating ways to keep the state’s water and air clean, save water or energy, or reduce waste using the slogan, “Take Care of Texas. It’s the only one we’ve got.”

A 2021 winning submission for the Take Care of Texas Kids Art Contest by kindergarten student TCEQ staff will select one Tanmayi Ranga Ramanujam from Skaggs Elementary School in Plano. (Photo Courtesy TCEQ) winning entry per level, from kindergarten through fifth One grand prize winner will physical entry or take a qual- as: Kids Art Contest, MC 118 grade. From the six statewide receive a laptop, and one win- ity photo and upload the file. Texas Commission on Enviwinning entries, the overall ner from each other grade lev- Digital entries must abide by ronmental Quality, P.O. Box the contest rules and must be 13087, Austin, TX 78711grand prize winner will be se- el will receive a tablet. lected by TCEQ commission- Entries can be submitted elec- accompanied by a digital entry 3087.

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Liberty Hill Police Blotter Prepared by Liberty Hill Police Department

Week of Jan 3-9, 2022 The Liberty Hill Police Department responded to or self-initiated a total of 538 incidents resulting in 12 cases, 48 citations, 68 warnings and no arrests.

Weekly Highlights: - On Jan. 3 at approximately 6:40 AM, officers responded to the 1000 block of Loop 332 for a family situation.

- On Jan.3 at approximately 11:22 AM, officers responded to the 1000 block of Loop 332 for suspicious activity.

- On Jan. 3 at approximately 2:13 PM, officers responded to the 15000 block of W SH 29 for a 911 silent call.

- On Jan. 3 at approximately 5:16 PM, officers responded to the 100 block of US 183 for an accident.

- On Jan. 3 at approximately 6:47 PM, officers responded to the 10000 block of W SH 29 for a welfare concern.

- On Jan. 3 at approximately 11:26 PM, officers responded to the 14000 block of W SH 29 for suspicious activity.

- On Jan. 4 at approximately 1:27 AM, officers cited a driver for possession of drug paraphernalia at a traffic stop on the 12000 block of W SH 29.

- On Jan. 4 at approximately 7:45 AM, officers responded to the 14000 block of W SH 29 for an accident.

- On Jan. 4 at approximately 11:53 AM, officers responded to 13000 block of W SH 29 for a 911 silent call.

- On Jan. 4 at approximately 1:56 PM, officers responded to Panzano Drive to assist the Williamson County Sheriff’s Office.

- On Jan. 4 at approximately 6:58 PM, officers responded to Snyders Trail for a mental health call.

- On Jan. 5 at approximately 10:10 AM, officers responded to Horseshoe Loop for an alarm call.

- On Jan. 5 at approximately 1:11 PM, officers responded to the 10000 block of W SH 29 for a traffic hazard.

- On Jan. 5 at approximately 3:39 PM, officers responded to the 15000 block of W SH 29 for an accident.

- On Jan. 5 at approximately 4:20 PM, officers responded to the 1000 block of Loop 332, for a Leander Police Department assist.

- On Jan. 5 at approximately 5:27 PM, officers responded to the 13000 block of W SH 29 for mental health issue.

- On Jan. 6 at approximately 1:03 AM, officers responded

to the 700 block of CR 259 for a suspicious vehicle.

- On Jan. 6 at approximately 10:06 AM, officers responded to Parryi Cove for an animal complaint.

- On Jan. 6 at approximately 12:05 PM, officers cited an individual for possession of drug paraphernalia at the 13000 block of W SH 29.

- On Jan. 6 at approximately 1:24 PM, officers responded to W SH 29 to assist the Texas Department of Public Safety investigation of recent fatal accidents on W SH 29.

- On Jan. 6 at approximately 3:03PM, officers responded to the 10000 block of W SH 29 and CR 260 for a traffic hazard.

- On Jan. 6 at approximately 7:52 PM, officers responded to the 13000 block of W SH 29 for an alarm call.

- On Jan. 7 at approximately 12:02 PM, officers responded to Drystone Trail to assist the Williamson County Sheriff’s Office.

- On Jan. 7 at approximately 5:33 PM, officers responded to Championship Drive for a welfare concern.

- On Jan. 7 at approximately 9:14 PM, officers responded to the 16000 block of W SH 29 for a traffic hazard.

- On Jan. 7 at approximately 10:07 PM, officers responded to Chaparral Drive to assist the Williamson County Sheriff’s Office.

- On Jan. 8 at approximately 12:18 AM, officers responded to Capstone Road to assist the Williamson County Sheriff’s Office.

- On Jan. 8 at approximately 1:52 AM, officers responded to Sally Way for an accident involving a stolen vehicle.

- On Jan. 8 at approximately 3:58 AM, officers responded to Charlie Circle for suspicious activity.

- On Jan. 8 at approximately 9:03AM, officers responded to the 14000 block of W SH 29 for an accident and damaged property.

- On Jan. 8 at approximately 12:01 PM, officers responded to Shawii Pass for a disturbance.

- On Jan. 8 at approximately 9:19 PM, officers responded to King Elder Lane to assist the Williamson County Sheriff’s Office.

- On Jan. 8 at approximately 10:21 PM, officers responded to the 11000 block of W SH 29 for a traffic hazard.

- On Jan. 9 at approximately 2:42 AM, officers responded to Green Bur Oak Loop for a disturbance.

- On Jan. 9 at approximately 3:37 AM, officers responded to Gray Hawk Road for suspicious activity.

- On Jan. 9 at approximately 10:44 AM, officers responded to Trellis Blvd. for a disturbance.

- On Jan. 9 at approximately 8:20 PM, officers responded to the Dawson Dune Cove to assist the Williamson County Sheriff’s Office.

- On Jan. 9 at approximately 9:49 PM, officers responded to Bevers Road for suspicious activity.

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Thursday, January 13, 2022

THE LIBERTY HILL INDEPENDENT

A political black eye

By WILT CUTTER Columnist My doctor and I made a serious mistake in our relationship about 25 years ago. He was standing behind me with his gloved fingers in mid air. I had my elbows strategically placed points down on the examination table. If you don’t know what I’m describing you might find a male over 40 and ask him.

The Doctor said I would feel some pressure and perhaps pain. They would do a smear, send it to the lab and I would get information in a few weeks. He had allowed as to how prostate cancer wasn’t anything to mess around with.

It’s at times like these that small talk was invented. Before the unwelcome intrusion I made a smart-aleck comment about the doctor trying to do to me what the IRS was trying to

SCHOOLS

do the whole country.

In fact, it was a clever comment about the doctor being the first in exploration in the region. If he had just chuckled and said nothing I would have become embarrassed and remained silent.

Instead he had a medical industry joke ready. And I made another political reference and we were off to the races.

Now, no matter how many times a year I see him regardless of the ailment he begins his political banter before the nurse has even left the room.

So, the years go by and I mention a spot on my face just outside the corner of my eye. It’s raised, it’s irregular in shape and looks angry in color.

After putting on his super sleuth microscopic glasses and muttering about it he suddenly says he has to get that thing out of there.

Appointments were created, skin deadened, incisions made and cancer removed. It was successful and they got it all out. However, a day or two lat-

Continued from Page 1

discussed.

Santa Rita Middle School Expansion SRMS opened in August, but with a capacity of only 900 students and growth projections far exceeding what was anticipated when it was designed in 2019, the district will expand the building. A two-story addition on the back side of the school will allow the campus to hold 1,200 students.

The renovation, which was designed by Huckabee, will also include adding bleachers

to the football field, a press box to the stadium and exterior doors to the locker rooms for better access to the fields.

The expansion is expected to be finished in May 2023.

Liberty Hill Middle School Renovations One of the district’s oldest campuses is set for a face lift. VLK Architects designed the renovations, which will include an approximately 38,000-square-foot addition, upgraded outdoor lunch seating, new turf for the football

er I was sporting a huge shiner on my left eye.

It was the biggest black eye I’d had since a misunderstanding in a bar whilst in college.

A few days later, I had other medical tests run. The two nurses from a different practice immediately noticed and wanted to know what had happened.

“You ladies probably aren’t going to believe this,” I drawled, “but I don’t believe I had actual cancer.”

They couldn’t help but clamor for answers to unasked questions.

“Well, ladies, the doctor has been after me a long time.

He found out who I voted for during the last presidential election!”

Wilt Cutter is the only man in the world who’s name is his profession. He finds beauty in the naturally occurring poetry of the Shin Oak Ridge and it’s people. His typewriter hates injustice.

Page 3

LHISD makes technology a priority for 2021 bond program

By KRISTEN MERIWETHER Staff Writer Gone are the days where schools buildings were just classrooms, wooden desks and chalkboards. Today school buildings are outfitted with networked computer systems, state-of-the-art smart boards and high-tech surveillance systems.

As Liberty Hill Independent School District uses the 2021 Bond Program money to build new schools and renovates older campuses they are ensuring the right technology is in place before construction begins.

“We were really looking for some good construction technology consultants to help with design, planning and implementation of all of our bond projects,” Executive Director of Technology for LHISD David Stansbury said at the Nov. 15 School Board meeting.

Hiring a consultant helps keep technology needs at the forefront during the design process so data cabling, bell and P/A systems, classroom A/V, digital signage, access controls, video surveillance, and distributed antennae systems can all be planned for at the start of the project, not an

add-on later.

At that meeting Stansbury requested approval for three vendors who met the district’s criteria in the request for qualifications: Crux Solutions, COMBS Consulting Group and True North Consulting Group. The LHISD School Board approved the vendors unanimously.

At their Dec. 13 meeting, the Board voted to approve technology consulting services from True North Consulting Group for the Elementary #6, Liberty Hill Middle School and Middle School #3 projects.

The technology consultant will provide a review of architectural documents, a program narrative outlining system functionality requirements, preliminary cost estimates, preparation of detail design drawings and specifications, according to a copy of True North Consulting Group’s proposal, which was provided to The Independent through an open records request.

“It’s a little bit different than what we’ve done in the past in Liberty Hill,” Stansbury said at the Dec. 13 School Board meeting. “It gives us a little bit more capability of watching what’s being done

with technology as we go through the design process.

As technology is actually implemented in the schools, we are able to track that a little bit better.”

Elementary #6 is planned to be a 116,000 square foot new elementary school projected to cost approximately $36 million. The technology consultant will cost $51,000 and construction documents are expected to be complete by February.

Approximately $20 million of the 2021 Bond Program is for an addition and renovations at Liberty Hill Middle School. The technology consultant will charge $44,040 with construction documents expected to be complete by March.

Middle School #3 is planned to be a 180,000 square foot new middle school projected to cost $60 million. The technology consultant’s fees are $85,000 and construction documents are expected to be complete by May. The technology consultants will not install any of the equipment or cabling, but will conduct multiple site visits during construction to ensure the design meets the needs of the district.

field and HVAC improvements.

The outside and front of the building, which is at the heart of downtown Liberty Hill, will also get a makeover with a canopy design and front plaza. While the school will get fresh paint and new art in the hallways, the panther mural in the gym will be saved to ensure the history of the school is preserved and honored. The renovations are expected to be complete by August 2023.

LHISD testing HVAC equipment following smoke evacuation

Electricians began inspecting the geothermal pumps in new HVAC units at Liberty Hill High School this week following an evacuation of the campus on Friday, according to Superintendent Steven Snell.

Students and faculty were evacuated from LHHS on Friday around 1:15 p.m. after smoke activated a fire alarm in an upstairs hallway. The incident did not result in a fire. All students and staff were evacuated safely from the building and were allowed to return to

class for a normal dismissal.

In a phone interview on Tuesday Snell said the pump came from the factory with the wires incorrectly installed, which led to the smoke and the subsequent fire alarm. The faulty pump has been disconnected and a replacement has been ordered.

The pump is under warranty and will not cost the district anything to replace. Snell said the HVAC unit has more than one pump so the area it serves would continue to be climate

controlled.

“We’ve got a mild week, so by the by the time we experience cold weather, again, we’ll have that heat pump replaced and functional,” Snell said.

Snell commended students, staff and emergency responders for handling the situation according to plan.

Snell commended the high school staff for responding according to procedure, and thanked the fire department for responded quickly.

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Page 4

CITY COUNCIL BRIEFS

By RACHEL MADISON Staff Writer During the Jan. 5 City Council meeting, the Council: • Authorized the Mayor to execute a letter of intent between the City and BlueWater LH, LLC for a water supply and treatment contract, and directed the City’s legal counsel and engineers to develop an agreement with BlueWater LH, LLC. The Council also authorized the Mayor to execute a second letter of intent with Gandy Water, LLC for a second water supply and treatment contract, and directed the City’s engineers to do a water quality, ability and assessment study.

• Joined the Mayor in presenting a “Hometown Hero” ribbon to Liberty Hill resident Amy Gandy for collecting and donating 2,000 pounds of food to Operation Liberty Hill during her Haunted House on Grange event held in October.

• Authorized the Mayor to execute a letter of engagement with Whitley Penn to conduct the City’s audit for fiscal year 2021. The same company conducted the City’s 2020 fiscal year audit.

• Approved a contract with the Liberty Hill Independent School District to hold the City’s May 7 general election.

• Appointed Liberty Hill resident Brian Rivera to the final vacant position on the Planning and Zoning Commission.

• Approved the annexation of approximately 5 acres north of Highway 29 on Holmes Road.

The applicant intends to build a muti-family apartment complex on that land.

• Approved the final plat for the Stonewall Crossing commercial project, which is an 11.8 acre tract of land located at the entrance of Stonewall Ranch. So far, McDonald’s, Taco Bell and an 11,000-square-foot strip center

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THE LIBERTY HILL INDEPENDENT

have been announced for that property. The Council also approved the site development permit for Taco Bell.

• Heard a monthly update on the City’s emergency preparedness plan from the Mayor. In the last month, the Mayor and City Council have registered for emergency management training, and City staff has verified that the City is supplied with small tools, chain saws and tire chains in case of another ice event.

There is also a generator capable of warming the Over the Hill Gang building in case a shelter is needed. The Mayor also plans to appoint a steering committee within the next month to continue the City’s emergency planning.

• Discussed traffic concerns at the Rancho Sienna and Santa Rita Ranch neighborhood entrances. The Council said they would work on establishing communications with local

POWELL

developers, the Liberty Hill Independent School District and Williamson County representatives to work together on addressing the traffic concerns.

• Approved adding a cover page to City Council agendas for hiring additional staff and consultant positions and for any purchases that fall above the current $50,000 procurement threshold. The cover page will include total cost, where the money is coming from, and why the position or purchase is necessary. City staff will be responsible for adding this cover page to each agenda.

• Approved the reallocation of the Mayor’s 2022 annual stipend of $40,000 to go to the Liberty Hill Youth League, which will use the monies to improve and add baseball fields for their growing roster.

Continued from Page 1

“operating above the perception of impropriety.”

His main concerns were that Levi Slayer, an employee of Powell’s company, Powell Strategic, has also been working on graphic design projects for the City for the last couple of years.

“Is that not some sort of conflict there, if you are going and pressuring for the City of Liberty Hill to use Levi without disclosing that Levi works for Powell Strategic?” asked Council member Crystal Mancilla. “That was brought to our attention by someone in another city. Why did you not disclose that?”

Powell’s response was that the City of Liberty Hill employed both him and Slayer through his company on a consulting basis for two years, until he was hired as an official employee.

“When I was hired to be your full-time director, that business was closed,” Powell said.

“Levi created his own LLC. This company has been defunct since I took this job [as EDC director] a year ago last week.”

Mancilla asked Powell why Powell Strategic still had an active website as of a few days ago if the business was closed.

However, as of Wednesday’s meeting, the site was no longer live. Powell argued that he was not aware the site was still live until just a few days ago, and asked his admin to take it down once he learned it was.

Council member Angela Jones said while she’s not in favor of dissolving the EDC, she believes Powell has not done his due diligence in his role.

“In June, you came before us with incentive programs, and we asked you to take the document back and make it less vague because of the problems that we’re having in our com-

munity,” she said. “It was three months later that you brought it back before us -- and this is a big deal because we have business owners in our community waiting on these programs -and you brought back the exact same document.”

Pezold added that he doesn’t believe the City is “getting its money worth” with Powell, and also accused him of being lazy, untrustworthy, and treating the Council “like we’re morons” by bringing back the same incentive program document months later. Powell argued that none of the council members have made time to meet with him to discuss the incentive programs.

“Whenever we took that trip to Houston [for a conference], I made time for you,” Mancilla retorted. “Don’t treat me as if I’ve never spoken to you. I sat down and I talked with you for a good hour and a half about development that was happening and things that were going on.”

Powell spoke up occasionally during the discussion to make clarifications, but ultimately let several other meeting attendees speak for him, including EDC President John Clark; Chamber of Commerce President Daniel Duckworth, Chamber of Commerce board member Jeff Mayes; and Downtown Beautification Committee President Lonnie Wendling.

Clark spoke about the incentive deals Powell has brought into Liberty Hill during his tenure, including Golf Cart King, Tex-Mix and Heritage Ridge, where Starbucks is located, adding that he also vouches for Powell’s character.

“We can sit there and continue to point the finger, and there’s been a ton of miscommunication, and I’ll accept that, but it’s time to stop

Thursday, January 13, 2022

AUDIT

Continued from Page 1

statements.”

The management letter provided to City staff, which The Independent obtained as part of the Open Records Act, noted several deficiencies in the City’s internal control, including bank reconciliation. During the audit, Whitley Penn noted that bank statements for various accounts were not reconciled to the general ledger; new accounts were opened during the year that were not recorded in the general ledger; and certain existing bank accounts had activity that was not recorded in the general ledger.

Another deficiency included capital assets, of which records were not maintained by the City. Whitley Penn recommended the City maintain detailed capital asset records and reconcile these records to the gener-

pointing the finger and work together,” Clark said. “Rather than point, why don’t we reach a hand down and help?

That’s what our citizens are asking us to do, and that’s what I’m asking all of us to do.”

While the Council ultimately decided not to pursue a special election for now, a workshop will be held later this month between the City Council and the EDC Board to work on the issues that were brought to light during the meeting.

Calls and texts to Powell

by The Independent were not returned by press time this week.

Mayor Liz Branigan told The Independent on Friday that she is concerned that last Wednesday night’s discussion is going to run Powell off, which she doesn’t want to happen.

“In the past I felt the EDC was a very negative force in our previous administrations, and I believe it’s begun to turn around and become much more of a constructive and positive organization under [Powell’s] guidance,” she said. “I really don’t want to run him off.”

On the other hand, Branigan said, the type of discussion that occurred is exactly what the City has been needing in order to move forward.

“There are so many hard feelings that have festered around here, and it’s really held us back,” she said. “I’m guilty of that myself. I have hard feelings that have their roots in things that happened many years ago, but it’s time to get over it. That discussion was what we have been needing. It was time to get it all out in the open.”

al ledger on a timely basis to ensure accurate accounting for assets, according to the management letter.

The audit procedure also discovered that certain capital assets were purchased through financing arrangements that were not recorded on the date of purchase; expenses were not recorded in the proper period; and numerous adjustments had to be made to the general ledger in areas such as cash, accounts receivable, accounts payable, debt, pension, revenues and expenses.

In addition, Whitley Penn noted that the City had difficulty locating certain records that were requested as a part of the audit process, and at the time of the audit, the City’s accounting records, supporting schedules, documents and other files, if they existed, were not in order.

When it comes to the audit itself, the first set of financial statements audited were the City’s capital assets and total liabilities. The City’s total assets and deferred outflows, as of Sept. 30, 2020, totaled $76.1 million, while the City’s total liabilities and deferred inflows totaled $38.9 million. This left the City with a net worth of $37.2 million as of Sept. 30, 2020, Garcia said.

The second set of financial reports in the audit include the general fund, debt service fund, capital improvements and public improvement districts. Garcia said the overall fund balance of the City started fiscal year 2020 with $10.7 million and ended with $8.2 million.

The report also showed that the City’s actual revenues of $6.3 million exceeded the budgeted amount by $2.1 million, and expenditures of $4.8 million exceeded the budgeted amount by $600,000.

“There was an increase of fund balance in the general fund of $300,000 to $5.6 million,” Garcia said. “That $5.6 million breaks down into two categories. You have a portion of it that is referred to as unassigned fund balance and that’s what’s available for spending for any lawful purpose.”

Over the last few years, the City has been adding to that unassigned fund balance, moving from $4 million in 2016 to $5.6 million in 2020.

“This is a good thing in a growing city,” Garcia said.

“In the financial reporting for a governmental entity, that’s a very healthy position to be in, because your expenditures for one year in the general fund are only $4.8 million, but you have $5.5 million in your unassigned fund balance.”

The City has retained Whitley Penn to conduct its 2021 fiscal year audit, which Garcia said needs to begin immediately if there is a chance of getting it completed by the end of March.

“We will have to work very hard and very fast,” he said.

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SPORTS

THE LIBERTY HILL INDEPENDENT Thursday, January 13, 2022 Page 5

Needing a new start

Panthers soccer undergoes reset

By SCOTT AKANEWICH Sports Editor When the Panthers took to their home field in the season-opener against Harker Heights, they were looking to turn the page on a disappointing season that saw Liberty Hill fail to qualify for the playoffs in its first season as a Class 5A program.

The result was a promising 5-2 victory, as the Purple-andGold scored three goals in the first half and added a pair in the second in prevailing over the Class 6A Knights.

Senior striker Kegan Taggart scored a pair of goals in the victory, while Dhar Ramsingh, Jeremiah Doyen and Jett Byers each netted a goal apiece.

Sean Snelgrooes supplied two assists and Doyen ans Taggart each had one in the win, with freshman Luke Phillips posting a shutout in goal.

Following that result, the Panthers traveled to House Park in Austin to face McCallum and came away with a hard-fought

1-1 draw, an effort of which head coach Felix Esparza was pleased with, he said.

“We went down, 1-0, in the first 15 minutes,” said Esparza, who is in his first season as Panthers head coach. “But, we kept battling.”

Taggart once again supplied the offense with the second-half strike that leveled the score, which was how the game ended, as Andrew Marshall assisted and Phillips allowed only the first-half goal in net.

For Esparza, this season marks his debut as a head coach, which means there has been a rather steep learning curve when it comes to all of the responsibilities that come with being a bench boss – on and off the field.

“Mostly, it’s been all the administrative things you have to handle as a head coach,” he said. “On the field, it’s been having to make in-game

See BOYS SOCCER, Page 7

ALEX RUBIO PHOTO

Senior striker Kegan Taggart (#11) scored three goals in the Panthers’ first two games of the new campaign and will be relied upon heavily to supply offense for Liberty Hill all season.

Scaling back scoring for sake of team

Point guard opens up floor for others

By SCOTT AKANEWICH Sports Editor One thing Zane Lauper can do on a basketball court is put the ball in the hoop.

However, as Liberty Hill’s senior point guard has learned this season, although scoring himself is still part of his job description, what’s more vital is his ability and willingness to create scoring chances for his teammates.

“I realize now I don’t need to score for us to win games,” said Lauper. “I only care about winning.”

The results on the scoreboard and in the standings have been tangible, as Liberty Hill entered district play with a 16-4 record, averaging 70.8 points per game.

Lauper is currently leading the Panthers with five assists per game, helping facilitate teammates Anthony Sierras (16.5 points per game), Gunter Daniels (14.1), Walker Weems (11) and Cayden Branch (11) to all average in double-figures.

Liberty Hill head coach Barry Boren acknowledged how

Lauper’s efforts have impacted his squad’s fortunes so far this season.

“We’re doing what we’re doing right now because of how Zane has embraced his role,” said Boren. “Even better is he’s doing it without turning the ball over.”

In fact, not only has Lauper taken care of the ball, he’s forced the second-most turnovers on the team with 109, along with 60 deflections and 58 steals.

According to Boren, Lauper’s ability to move the ball quickly up the court in the Panthers’ pressing system keep opponents on the back foot.

“Zane is good at getting the ball in his teammates’ hands early,” said Boren. “As soon as he gets the inbounds pass or a rebound after a missed shot by the other team, he immediately looks up and finds a teammate – then he can get the ball back in the frontcourt and find whoever is open.”

Boren emphasizes a philosophy that relies heavily on sharing the ball without too much dependence on any one player.

“For me, an assist is worth more than a basket,” he said.

“We always want our kids to embrace giving the ball to someone who has a better shot than they do – we try to make the assist meaningful.”

So meaningful, Boren even tracks a category known as “missed assists” on the Panthers’ stat sheet – in other words, when a missed basket results from a successful pass – of which Lauper leads with 16 on the current campaign.

Lauper said he’s always had a knack for handling the ball and running offenses.

“Back when I was first trying out, I was good at dribbling and bringing the ball up the court,” he said. “Also, I like making decisions as to where the ball goes.”

Now that Lauper is the starting point guard, he plays many more minutes than last season when he was a backup and more time on the court with how the Panthers play means a higher level of conditioning is needed to keep up the pace for an entire game.

“It used to be I knew I was

ALEX RUBIO FILE PHOTO

Senior Zane Lauper (#5) has done an excellent job this season of providing scoring chances for his teammates. only going to be in the game with it, proper execution of the son-ending defeat, so this time for short periods of time, so I offense becomes more critical, around Boren is looking for a could go all-out,” said Lauper. he said. better fate – one that begins “We want to win all our with his point guard, who he is “Now, I need to be in even better shape so I don’t get tired district games,” said Lauper. confident in, he said. because that can affect my de- “Then we can play an easier “Something like winning team in the first round.” district doesn’t happen if you cision-making.”

With the Panthers now in the Last year’s third-place dis- don’t plan for it to happen,” midst of district play with an trict finish pitted the Panthers said Boren. “Zane has done a eye on a league championship against a strong Dripping tremendous job for us in getand the No. 1 seed heading Springs squad in the bi-dis- ting us to where we need to into the playoffs that comes trict round, resulting in a sea- be.”

Seizing the opportunity Freshman point guard shines for the Lady Panthers

ALEX RUBIO FILE PHOTO

Lady Panthers freshman point guard Gabby Mundy (#2) has played well this season despite her lack of varsity experience.

By SCOTT AKANEWICH Sports Editor When starting point guard Madison Walker recently went down with an injury, Liberty Hill head coach Chris Lange had a sizable void in his lineup – one he needed to fill fast with the district schedule looming.

However, there was a more-than-capable understudy sitting on the bench in freshman Gabby Mundy, who has quite literally taken the ball and run with it, by not only ably filling in for Walker until the senior’s return, but has played important minutes for the Lady Panthers all season.

Mundy has shown an uncanny ability to shoulder the load of running the Liberty Hill offense with a smoothness that belies her relative lack of varsity – or high-school, for that matter – experience.

Initially, when Walker was injured, Mundy said it was abundantly clear she would be thrust into the fire a bit faster and for longer than she had anticipated.

“We only have two point guards and I’m one of them,” she said. “My first varsity start, I was nervous, but now I’m used to it.”

According to Lange, he’s not surprised Mundy has been able to launch her high school

career with such flair and authority.

“Gabby reminds me of some other point guards we’ve had here,” said Lange. “She handles the ball really well and her decision-making is getting better – she can really read the floor, is good at directing traffic and has a pretty good head on her.”

Mundy said one of the biggest challenges for her so far has been the much larger playbook she’s had to digest compared to junior-high basketball.

“There’s probably about 70 percent more to learn,” she said. “But, it really only took me about two-and-a-half weeks to get it all down.”

Lange said Mundy has definitely put in the requisite time and effort to brush up on all of the nuances of the systems and schemes she’s now being asked to run.

“Gabby’s done a pretty good job of it,” he said. “She’s spent a lot of time studying in order to lock all the plays down better and once Madison (Walker) got hurt, it landed on her to be able to take over, which she was able to do.”

One of the highlights of the season to this point was when Mundy lined up and started against Class 5A No. 1 and defending state champions Cedar

Park.

“I was kind of nervous because I know some of their players and knew what to expect,” said Mundy. “But, I still just had to play my game.”

What exactly is Mundy’s game?

“I need to be aggressive and attack the rim,” she said.

“Also, I need to give other people the chance to score.”

All that means when Mundy has the ball in her hands in directing the Lady Panthers’ offense, she’s looking to do one of two things – either driver the lane for a basket and/or a foul herself or quickly dish the ball off to an open teammate that has a better scoring chance.

The former of those two courses of action, though, presents Mundy with a physical challenge – albeit one she is more than equipped to take on, she said.

“You have to be able to go at someone and not be afraid of contact,” said Mundy.

Lange praised Mundy for the ability to do exactly that and with a knack for keeping herself healthy despite the bumps along the way.

“Gabby has a way of being creative with her shot even

See WALKER, Page 7

Page 6

THE LIBERTY HILL INDEPENDENT

Thursday, January 13, 2022

Liberty Hill girls fall to Georgetown in overtime

By SCOTT AKANEWICH Sports Editor Not often is a basketball team held scoreless for an entire quarter, but that’s exactly what happened to Georgetown in the first period of its visit to Liberty Hill on Tuesday night to take on the Lady Panthers in a critical district game.

Yet, there it was – a doughnut on the scoreboard after the home side held the visitors scoreless over the course of the opening eight minutes of play.

Only problem was, the Lady Panthers could only muster four points of their own in what ended up being a low-scoring, defensive battle the Eagles emerged victorious from in overtime by a 33-31 score.

Senior Emma Hubbard and freshman Gabby Mundy led Liberty Hill with 11 points each and it was the former who could’ve won the game in regulation, but a basket on which a foul was committed happened a split-second after head coach Chris Lange had called a timeout, therefore nullifying the hoop that would’ve put the Purple-and-Gold up, 29-27, with only seconds remaining.

Lange explained the reasoning behind the move.

“Ninety percent of the time, I don’t make that call,” he said.

“But, Emma (Hubbard) was under pressure and I thought I could get us in better position

to score off an inbounds.”

Instead, the contest was extended into the extra session and came down to a last-second inbounds play by Georgetown that resulted in a game-winning, buzzer-beating jumper from the left wing by senior guard Jacqui Spencer, who led the Eagles with 10 points, along with 6-foot-4 senior center Niah Williams, who also added 10 for Georgetown.

Following its scoreless first quarter, Georgetown came to life in the second stanza, scoring six points, but Liberty Hill countered with 10 of their own, highlighted by six points from Hubbard, who bookended a pair of free throws to open the stanza with a bucket to end the half, with the Lady Panthers up by a score of 14-6.

In the third period, it was the Eagles that took the initiative in outscoring the home team by a 13-8 margin despite another period-ending score by Hubbard off a steal to make it a 22-19 Liberty Hill advantage entering the final eight minutes.

The Lady Panthers extended their lead to as much as 26-21 before back-to-back buckets

by Spencer gave Georgetown its first lead of the game, at 2726, with 2:12 left in regulation.

ALEX RUBIO PHOTO

Emma Hubbard (#25) co-led Liberty Hill with 11 points in the Lady Panthers’ 33-31 home overtime loss to Georgetown on TuesSee LADIES, Page 7 day night.

Lady Panthers off to winning start to season Liberty Hill won three of four games at tournament

By SCOTT AKANEWICH Sports Editor Liberty Hill’s girls’ soccer squad got off to a winning start with three wins in four contests at the Waller tournament last weekend, outscoring the opposition by an 18-2 margin in the process.

First up was a match with Class 6A Cypress Falls, a game the Lady Panthers prevailed in by a 7-0 score, as the Purpleand-Gold netted three goals in the first half, followed by four more in the second.

Kaylie Fowler led the way with a hat trick, while Neeley Giessinger scored a pair of goals and Chloe Ludwick and senior Emma Stephens also chipped in with a goal apiece.

Stephens also picked up two assists, along with Cordelia Brown, while Carson Glenn, Kelsey Castillo and Kassidy Contreras each contributed a helper to the cause.

Keira Garcia got the shutout in goal without having to make a save.

Later in the day, Liberty Hill

took on Class 5A Barbers Hill and easily defeated the Eagles, 8-0.

Fowler and Giessinger each scored two goals, while Castillo, Glenn, Addison Harris and Stephens scored a goal apiece in the win.

Glenn, Fowler, Elayna Hubbard, Ellie Thompson, Contreras, Brown and Stephens each had an assist.

Freshman goalkeeper Brooklyn Escobar got the clean sheet without being forced into a save.

Finally, the Lady Panthers were tested on the second day of the tournament in beating Class 6A Tomball, 1-0, on a second-half goal by Stephens that was assisted by Fowler, while Escobar collected another shutout with a two-save performance.

On the final day of the event, Liberty Hill played a 2-2 draw through regulation against Class 6A Duncanville before falling, 3-2, in a penalty-kick shootout.

Giessinger and Fowler lead the

ALEX RUBIO PHOTO

Kaylie Fowler (#9) scored five goals in the Lady Panthers’ opening four games of the season at the Waller tournament.

Lady Panthers with five goals each on the season, while Ste-

phens has three, along with a team-leading four assists.

Liberty Hill (3-1) will next play at the Governor’s Elite

Cup in Georgetown on Jan. 13-15.

LHHS defeats Georgetown 63-59, moves to 4-0 in district play

ALEX RUBIO PHOTO

Walker Weems (#34) scored 20 and 12 points, respectively, in Liberty Hill’s district victories over Leander and Georgetown.

By SCOTT AKANEWICH Sports Editor Anthony Sierras began Liberty Hill’s home district game against Georgetown on Tuesday night in street clothes on the Panthers’ bench, still nursing an ankle injury that had kept the senior forward out of the Purple-and-Gold’s previous contest.

But, by the time it was over, Sierras was in uniform in his customary role of leading his team to victory in a 63-59 win over the Eagles.

Sierras scored nine points – all after entering the game at the outset of the fourth with Liberty Hill trailing by a 46-44 score – including a pair of baskets-and-one following strong drives to the hoop.

Panthers head coach Barry Boren said he was hesitant to insert his leading scorer into the lineup, but decided the situation called for an infusion of energy.

“I wasn’t going to play Anthony tonight, but I wrote his name in the scorebook just in case we needed him,” said Boren. “He got dressed at halftime and by the fourth quarter, I thought we needed a spark.”

Sierras provided that and much more as not only were

his teammates energized by his return to action, but also a vociferous home crowd that wildly cheered his every move.

The game began with the visitors lighting up the scoreboard from beyond the three-point arc, as the Eagles drained four 3-pointers in the first quarter in taking an 18-10 lead after one.

But, the Panthers opened the second period with a 7-0 run, highlighted by back-to-back buckets by Cayden Branch, in taking a 21-17 lead before senior guard RJ Sanchez hit a three and senior center Walker Weems closed out the half with six points, but the Eagles were still up, 27-25, at halftime.

Aaron Hurst began the scoring for Liberty Hill in the second half, but not until Georgetown had extended its lead to six points, at 32-26, before Gunter Daniels hit a three in trimming the deficit to three, at 36-33.

But, every time the Panthers came knocking on the Eagles’ door in trying to mount a comeback, the visitors were able to once again pull away and led by as many as seven, at 46-39, as the third period wound down.

However, before its conclusion, Branch hit a 3-point-

er, which was followed by a Weems basket and the Eagles’ lead was down to 46-44 beginning the fourth.

Which was when Sierras entered the game and took over the proceedings in helping the Panthers outscore the Eagles by a 19-13 margin over the final eight minutes of play.

Weems scored a game-high 20 points – including a perfect 8-for-8 performance from the free-throw line – to lead Liberty Hill, while Daniels added 13 and Sierras and Branch scored nine apiece.

Boren said once his side survived the Eagles’ opening-quarter long-range assault, there were in good shape moving forward in the contest.

“Georgetown hasn’t shot like that from three all year,” he said. “So, it was the perfect storm for them, but we weathered the storm.”

Liberty Hill (20-4, 4-0) remain on top of the district standings with its unbeaten league record and will next face road games against Glenn on Friday and East View next Tuesday.

See HOOPS, Page 7

Thursday, January 13, 2022

THE LIBERTY HILL INDEPENDENT

Hoops squads off to strong start

By SCOTT AKANEWICH Sports Editor Now that w e ’ r e passed the Christmas season and the central Texas weather has finally turned chilly (except for the odd 70-degree day here and there, of course), we can turn our attention to indoors and both of Liberty Hill’s basketball teams.

There is certainly much work to be done for both the Panthers girls’ and boys’ squads after a season that saw the Lady Panthers miss the playoffs and their male counterparts eliminated in the opening round of the postseason.

However, this year is different as both teams have an entire season of Class 5A competition under their belts after debuting at the higher classification last year.

Ladies, first, shall we?

Head coach Chris Lange’s club began the week with an overall record of 18-9, including a 3-2 start to district play coming off last year’s disappointing sixth-place finish

when they posted a 4-10 mark, which means they’ve nearly matched last season’s wins before reaching even the halfway point of league play.

The Lady Panthers have been relying heavily on a defensive style of play that lends itself to low-scoring battles in which as little as 40 points – or less – is needed for victory.

In fact, Liberty Hill has already prevailed in seven contests in which they failed to score 40 points, which is usually a recipe for defeat, but not when you can play lockdown defense, which has been their specialty this season.

Gone are the outside shooters the club had last season and in their place is a group of rugged, in-your-face ballers who aren’t always pretty to watch, but get the job done more times than not.

Seniors Madison Walker, Emma Hubbard, Regan Walker and Kenzy Wise are the meat-and-potatoes of the outfit, while freshman Gabby Mundy has provided a spark at the point guard position by stepping in and playing with the calm, cool, collected nature of a much more seasoned player.

No question, the Lady Panthers will need hefty contributions from all of them to compete for a playoff spot in as tough a district as there is in the entire state, which features No. 1 and defending state champions Cedar Park, along with strong Georgetown and Glenn sides.

With those three opponents likely to snatch the top three playoff berths, it will be left for Liberty Hill to fight off the likes of Leander, Marble Falls and Rouse for the final dance invitation.

As for the boys, they’re off to their usual high-flying start to the season in averaging 70 points per game in their customary pressing style of play that suffocates opponents while breathing life into their own lungs.

A district championship is a distinct possibility for a team that finished third last season in the league standings and was forced to face a tough Dripping Springs side in the opening round of the playoffs – a contest that ended their season with disappointment.

Entering the week, the Panthers were 19-4 overall and 2-0 in district following dom-

inant wins over Cedar Park and Leander, with the toughest competition likely to come from Glenn and Georgetown.

Senior forward Anthony Sierras leads the line, but it’s the junior duo of Gunter Daniels and Cayden Branch that complete the core of the team, with Daniels’ gritty, drive-the lane, fearless style contrasting the perimeter game of Branch, who can carry an offense when heating up from distance.

In addition, senior point guard Zane Lauper and senior center Walker Weems complete a strong starting five for head coach Barry Boren, who is closing in on 800 career wins.

All in all, both Liberty Hill hoops teams are poised to not only qualify for the playoffs, but make a run in the postseason and establish themselves as solid Class 5A programs to be reckoned with.

Which is good because no matter the weather outside this time of year, it’s always warm and cozy in the gym, but it’s that much more warm and fuzzy when the Purple-andGold is winning.

PANTHER OF THE WEEK

Reading the play like a book Senior soccer player looks to literature

By SCOTT AKANEWICH Sports Editor Hayden Ehrsam is a bit lighter from the neck up these days.

Seems as if the Liberty Hill senior midfielder lost a fantasy football duel with teammate Marcelo Bravo and the price of defeat was a haircut from his sophomore teammate that shorn away his trademark flowing locks.

Ehrsam is still feeling the effects of having less hair, but there is one benefit.

“Now, when I eat, I don’t have to worry about my hair hanging down and getting in the way,” said Ehrsam. “But, I do miss it a little.”

Looks aside, Ehrsam is also getting more accustomed to his role as a senior leader in the Panthers’ engine room as a holding midfielder – one that now includes speaking up when necessary.

“I’m trying to be more vocal now,” he said. “But, I usually only talk to the midfielders.”

Ehrsam began playing soccer at age four and also played basketball and ran cross country, but when he reached high school, he decided to stick with the beautiful game as his sole pursuit.

Besides, there was one aspect of the latter that no longer appealed to him, he said.

“I didn’t want to have to get up so early for practice every day,” said Ehrsam.

Off the pitch, Ehrsam seeks solace in reading and has a wide range of literary tastes.

“I read a lot of historical fiction,” he said. “Also, I really like the Percy Jackson series because it talks about Greek and Egyptian mythology.”

Ehrsam also enjoys dropping a line into local bodies of water to see what might be biting on

Ladies

Continued from Page 5

adjustments and making sure my eyes are in the right place, so I can ask myself why something is happening.”

As Esparza has gotten to know his new players, he said it’s been a bit of a challenge to get them to focus on all the little aspects of the game that go into success and not just shiny statistics.

“When you’re dealing with teenagers, they’re always obsessed with the stats – the goals and assists,” said Esparza. “But, you also need to concern yourself with things like possessing the ball properly, taking chances when they’re open without trying to force things and getting back to fundamentals.”

However, Esparza has been happy overall with the level of buy-in he’s gotten so far from the players.

“We have good kids here,” he said. “They work hard and you can’t ask for anything more.”

Taggart had three goals in the opening two games of the season and will be largely depended on to continue to provide scoring as the campaign progresses, along with fellow scorers Ramsingh and Byers, while senior midfielders Hayden Ehrsam and Garrison Clopton are expected to control the middle of the park.

At the back, sophomore defender Marcelo Bravo anchors a defense that has Phil-

lips as the last line in goal.

Esparza said Bravo is athletic and versatile enough to fill multiple roles.

“Marcelo’s good enough to play anywhere on the field,” he said.

In addition, Bravo is one of three team captains, along with fellow sophomore Caden Glenn and Ehrsam, with the trio looked to for leadership.

According to Esparza, the three were selected as captains due to their undying work ethic – although that’s something that runs throughout his entire team.

“Those three never missed a practice or a weight room, which shows a lot of commitment on their part,” said Esparza. “But, I don’t want to single just them out because our entire varsity has been here every day.”

Esparza and his players are on a mission to restore the program to the standard it was at before last season’s disappointing outcome and he’s confident they’re headed in the right direction.

“There’s always room for improvement, but I believe we’re on the right track,” he said. “We’re a very talented team and have the ability to be successful. As long as we play Liberty Hill soccer, the rest should take care of itself.”

Walker

Continued from Page 5 when she makes contact,” he said. “Then, she’s able to fall right to keep from getting hurt instead of just smacking the floor.”

Last of all, there’s the matter of integrating with her older,

Hoops

more seasoned teammates.

“At first, I thought I wasn’t going to have the right chemistry with them,” said Mundy. “But, they’ve been very accepting of me even though I’m only a freshman.”

Continued from Page 6

Liberty Hill 66, Leander 45 Daniels led Liberty Hill with 20 points in the Panthers’ 66-45 home win over Leander on Friday, while Branch added 18 and Weems 12 in the victory.

Liberty Hill led, 13-8, after one period before taking

a 31-15 halftime advantage after Branch opened the second quarter with three consecutive baskets on the way to 10 points in the stanza, as the Panthers went on a 19-0 run bridging the opening two periods.

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Senior Hayden Ehrsam lost a fantasy football bet with a teammate that cost him a haircut after not getting one for two years. a given day.

“My brother and I go about a mile from our house down to the San Gabriel River to fish,” he said. “I got back into it about two years ago. I like the solitude of being alone without people around.”

Back on the pitch, Ehrsam is being counted on to help anchor a team that is gunning for a return to the playoffs after missing out on the postseason last year and he’s confident in what he and his teammates are capable of.

“I think we can win a district championship,” said Ehrsam.

“I really want to win a playoff game because I’ve never

played in one.”

Ehrsam’s place in the Panthers’ scheme is to add an extra layer of cover for the defenders, while also contributing to the attack when openings to go forward present themselves and in order to properly suit such a job description, a few particular skills are needed, he said.

“First of all, you need to always be aware of your space on the field,” said Ehrsam.

“Also, your touch and control of the ball is super-important.”

Upon graduation, Ehrsam hopes to attend either Texas A&M or Texas Tech and study business and sports manage-

ment.

However, there’s another profession he can see himself pursuing, he said.

“I’ve thought about getting a teaching certificate,” said Ehrsam. “So, I can coach and stay closer to the game I love.”

One thing Ehrsam won’t be getting close to any time soon again, though, is a pair of clippers.

“The last time my hair was this short was two summers ago,” he said. “When Marcelo cut my hair, it was all uneven and went I went to get tit fixed, the haircut lady laughed at me.”

Continued from Page 6

After Mundy hit a free throw to level the proceedings at 27-27, the fateful last-second sequence took place, which forced the game into overtime.

Liberty Hill was without senior forward Kenzy Wise, which left it up to freshman Evie Bruce to pick up the slack in Wise’s absence and the firstyear player made a good account of herself, said Lange.

“Evie played great tonight,” he said, of Bruce’s first varsity starting assignment. “I couldn’t have asked for anything better from her and I’m really proud of how she handled it.”

Senior Madison Walker added seven points for the Lady Panthers in the loss.

Lange praised his squad’s effort on the defensive end of the court.

“Our defense did a great job – they couldn’t score on us,” he said. “But, we struggled to find buckets ourselves.”

Boys Soccer

Page 7

Hubbard also drew rave reviews from her coach.

“Emma’s offensive game was much better tonight, which was good to see,” said Lange.

Liberty Hill (18-10, 3-3) will next visit Glenn on Friday before traveling to East View next Tuesday and currently sit in the fourth and final playoff spot in the district standings.

Lange said his team should be lauded for its continued efforts.

“They’ve been giving me everything they can all season,” he said. “We’ve played some close games – a couple shots here and there and it’s a different story – but they always play hard no matter what.”

Liberty Hill 42, Leander 27 Mundy scored 14 points – including eight straight free throws down the stretch – in the Lady Panthers’ 42-27 home victory over Leander on Friday.

ALEX RUBIO PHOTO

Senior Ashlyn Calhoun (#10) fights for a loose ball during the 33-31 home overtime loss to Georgetown on Tuesday, moving the Lady Panthers to 3-3 and fourth place in district standings.

Liberty Hill led, 19-18, at halftime, as Wise scored 10

points and Hubbard added seven in the win.

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LEGAL NOTICES LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the City of Liberty Hill has been asked to review and approve the following application(s), to wit: A request for a Zone Map Amendment from the Agriculture (AG) zoning classification to a Planned Unit Development (PUD) zoning classification on the following property: Being approximately 20.36 acres of Lots 6 and 7 of Twenty-Nine Ranch subdivision, locally addressed as 9975 and 10085 State Highway 29 W, Liberty Hill, Williamson County, Texas, and identified as Assessor’s Parcel Numbers R331214 and R331215.

In accordance with Section 211.006, Texas Local Government Code, a public hearing on this application will be conducted by the

Planning and Zoning Commission at the Liberty Hill Municipal Courthouse, 2801 Ranch Road 1869, Liberty Hill, Texas on Tuesday, February 1st, 2022 at 6:30 PM. Upon receiving a recommendation from the Commission, the City Council and take final action on this matter on Wednesday, February 23rd, 2022 at 6:00 PM at the Liberty Hill Learning and Event Center, 14875 W State Hwy 29, Liberty Hill, Texas.

For more information, you may either visit the Development Services Department at 100 Forrest Street, call (512) 7785449, or send an email to planning@libertyhilltx.gov.

By order of the Director of Planning on January 10, 2021.

(1/13)

LEGAL NOTICE Application has been made with the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission for a Mixed Beverage Permit

by Gone Country, LLC dba Whiskey Barrel Pub, to be located at 1004 Loop 332, Liberty Hill, Williamson County, Texas. Owners of said LLC are Donald Puckett and Heather Hodges.

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STUDY

THE LIBERTY HILL INDEPENDENT

Continued from Page 1

needs of northwest Williamson County as well as the current regional needs.”

The study, funded through the 2019 Road Bond, is part of the County’s Long-Range Transportation Plan, a conceptual plan that identifies future connections to ensure the County can maintain a high level of safety and mobility as growth occurs.

“Growth is a regional concern that must be addressed holistically,” said Long. “As an elected official, it is my responsibility to plan for the future, while listening to current concerns.

The growth the county is seeing necessitates long-term and thorough planning, so we can avoid future gridlocked traffic and emergency services that have delayed response times.”

Williamson County is the third fastest-growing city in Texas, and Liberty Hill grew by 277% between 2010 and

CANADY

2020, according to U.S. Census Bureau statistics in the release. There are more than 6,700 residential and commercial lots currently in development in the Liberty Hill area, according to the release.

The Liberty Hill United Landowner Group, which formed from the Nov. 3 meeting at Main Street Social released the following statement on Monday: “The Liberty Hill United Landowner Group is gratified that the concentrated efforts of so many in the community influenced effective change. The frontline team will ensure the positive dialogue continues.

The group will go back to meet with the Williamson County engineering team to help influence this next phase of discovery and maintain involvement in the plans that will shape Liberty Hill for residents now and in the future.”

LHISD Trustees raise substitute teacher pay

By KRISTEN MERIWETHER Staff Writer In an effort to further attract substitute teachers, Liberty Hill ISD Trustees voted to increase the daily rate for substitutes by $25 per day.

The increase puts the district ahead of surrounding districts—for now.

Beginning immediately, certified substitutes will earn $120 per day, up from $95, with long-term assignments earning $155. Non-certified subs will earn $115/day, up from $90, with long-term assignments at $155 per day.

“For subs, there are plenty of jobs at every district to be had, because we’re all seeing a staffing shortage with COVID,” Superintendent Steven Snell said. “We felt this was an aggressive move

Continued from Page 1

uses which are a mix of residential and commercial use which is typical within an historic downtown area. The residential use, on this property, which is part of the mixed use was in place in this building prior to City Council establishing the Uniform Development Code (UDC) in 2005.”

The letter goes on to say, “As per the UDC, the residential use and the commercial use on this property are legal nonconforming use since they were in existence prior to the adoption of the UDC. The UDC controls uses adopted after it was adopted in 2005. Uses before the UDC code was adopted are legal.”

Mundo then referenced the UDC’s definition of nonconforming use in section 8.02, which states that nonconforming use is “Any use of land, buildings, or structures, lawfully existing at the time of the enactment of this Code, or of any amendment hereto, governing use for the zoning district in which such use is located, which does not comply with all regulations of this its [sic] amendments.”

Potential Code Violations In November 2021, the Council voted unanimously—with Canady recusing herself—to also make a formal inquiry into code compliance at Quick Service Garage. Canady said this request, which was made

by Council member Chris Pezold, was “merely an attempt to harass and cause expense to me because I frequently vote differently than he does. If the city council has the power to do this to me, it can be done to anyone who stands in their way.”

In December, The Independent submitted a public information request asking for all documentation of code inspections done at Quick Service Garage from January 2019 to December 2021. City secretary consultant Michelle Perez responded and said the City did not have any such documents.

“The City of Liberty Hill does not have any documents to provide for any code inspections conducted for Quick Service Garage,” she told The Independent. “The document provided by [Code Enforcement Officer Jerry] Wray was basic information on Quick Service Garage, but no code inspections were performed.”

However, the newspaper also confirmed that an open code inspection was being conducted in mid-December 2021 at the garage by Wray and Building Official Elias Carrasco.

“We did have a conversation with [Canady],” Carrasco said in December. “We just want to make sure that what we noticed and what we saw at her location is indeed a violation.

We are still in the process of trying to figure out what all the violations are at the property.

We are still investigating all aspects of the building code, UDC, city ordinances, and looking to make sure we are addressing all the violations.

We need to make sure everything is lined up before we issue anything.”

A public information request was submitted asking for a copy of the completed inspection, but as of press time Wednesday, that document was not provided.

Wray said when he inspects

an automobile garage, the main things he looks at include liquid accumulation, such as used oil and antifreeze, tires stacked without any cover, as well as old car parts and motors.

“If you get eight to 10 motor blocks stacked up outside, that gets hideous looking,” he said.

“The amount of items that can be accumulated and methods of storage becomes important at those type of facilities.”

He added that when he’s conducting an investigation, regardless of what the initial complaint was, he looks at the entire property and writes down any and every violation he sees, as well as information on how to bring those violations into compliance.

Different violations have different time frames for compliance, Carrasco said. For example, when it comes to home-based occupations, he said violators are typically given 30 days to vacate and find somewhere else to run their business. Standard compliance violations, like junk accumulation or grass that needs to be mowed are given seven days.

“The public knows we are doing a job, and we are doing it according to black and white ordinances,” Wray added. “We do not add or subtract to anything the language says. We are very clear about it. We stay that path of what we’re supposed to do. It doesn’t matter whose case it is.”

Legal Matters In November, Canady hired Georgetown attorney Jana McCown to represent her in the zoning and code inspection matters. Correspondence between Joseph and McCown began Nov. 3, according to emails received by The Independent through a public information request and has been ongoing as topics surrounding Canady’s residency have been on the Council’s executive and regular session agendas a few times since then.

In an email sent to Joseph in early December, McKown wrote, “The discord among council members is distressing at best, and downright harassment when taken in total. Is there nothing you can do to control this situation?”

Joseph did not respond to that email but did respond to a follow-up email from McKown asking her if Canady would be on the Council’s agenda for discussion anytime soon.

According to that email, Joseph wrote, “This item is scheduled for discussion during executive session and regular session. Members of the Liberty Hill City Council have two concerns with Councilmember Canady’s abode: (1) Does Canady’s living arrangement satisfy state law residency requirements for an elected office holder? (2) Is Canady’s abode in compliance with the Liberty Hill Code of Ordinances?

“These are both reasonable, legitimate questions the City Council has chosen to evaluate. In regards to the possible Code Enforcement concern, if the inquiry moves forward I anticipate Ms. Canady will be treated neither better nor worse than any other Liberty Hill citizen.”

Canady was appointed to the Council in 2019 to fill a vacancy in Place 2 created with the resignation of Ron Rhea. She

Thursday, January 13, 2022

ran unopposed in May 2020, and her term expires in May 2022. She said she will file for reelection.

“I do intend to run for re-

district will pay for it with Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief funds, a combination of State and federal COVID relief money provided by the Texas Education Agency. The district will pay for substitutes with that funding through the end of the school year, a cost of just under $400,000, Mabry told the Board Tuesday.

The Board could vote to continue the raises during the next budget cycle, but several members expressed concerns about how close the rate was getting to other positions.

Trustee Kendall Carter asked Mabry how much a full-time teacher is making compared to the subs. Mabry said the rate for full-time teachers depends on experience but is somewhere near $235-$250 per day, plus benefits. The new sub rate, which does not include benefits, isn’t close yet, but is closer to support staff rates.

“What concerns us right now is if we increase it too much, election and the timing of all it’s going to be higher than these ‘issues’ being publicized some of our instructional should call into question the motivation behind it,” Canady said. to help us increase our sub fill rate.”

LHISD, along with nearly every school district in the country, has struggled to find enough substitute teachers.

COVID, a lack of people willing to work and low pay have compounded the problem. With the district growing rapidly, they are looking to address what they can control.

“I don’t think it’s entirely a money issue,” Executive Director of Human Resources and Operations Bob Mabry told The Independent. “From the information we get back from the surveys, money seems to be an incentive that might get more participation.

So that’s what we’re hoping for.”

The increase was not a part of the approved budget so the

Canady’s loan document

Another facet of Canady’s questioned residency is a loan document that she signed on May 29, 2019, for a “Designation of Homestead and Affidavit of Nonhomestead.” On the affidavit, Canady claims 402 S. Boundary Street in Burnet as her homestead property. The address is a triplex near downtown Burnet.

In signing that document, Canady swore that “(She) does not now and does not intend ever to reside on, use in any manner, or claim (her) Nonhomestead Property as a business or residence homestead.” The document also states that “the above-described Homestead Property is designated as the homestead of (her) family,” and “(she) now owns and resides on, uses, claims, and designates (her) Homestead Property as (her) only legal homestead, exempt from forced sale under the Constitution and laws of Texas.”

“I have never lived in Burnet,” Canady said during an October council meeting. “[This affidavit] was required by the title company to be signed to close the loan I needed with my investor. It protects my investor. When we started to close, I said I live here (in Liberty Hill), and they said, ‘You can’t live here; you have to say you live somewhere else to dispel the homestead issue.’ I had to close because I had a very short window of time. I was told people do it all the time, and ‘When you walk out of here, you’re done,’ so I did. But I don’t live there, I live here.”

aides,” Mabry said.

He said the district looks at overall increases in pay every year, but next year could be a focus on auxiliary staff so those rates can remain competitive.

While the latest pay raise puts the district ahead of surrounding districts, the advantage may not last long.

“The talk is a lot of these other districts are looking at the same issue, and they may increase their sub pay as well,” Mabry told the Board.

If that does become the case, the district may have to rely on its other assets to woo subs.

“I’m going to say that as a retired administrator, and somebody who said subbed after I retired, that the money is important,” said Trustee Kristi Hargrove. “It’s kind of scary going in and substituting sometimes, but if you provide an environment that’s supportive, and that’s prepared, and they feel comfortable with it, then that’s a plus—in addition to the money.”

Long re-elected Chair of CAMPO

The Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization (CAMPO) Policy Board unanimously re-elected Williamson County Precinct 2 Commissioner Cynthia Long as its 2022-2023 Chair.

Commissioner Long is the first representative from Williamson County and the first women to serve as Chair of the six-county CAMPO Board.

“I am humbled and honored that my transportation colleagues have elected me to continue leading our organization during this crucial time of continued population growth,” said Long.

CAMPO is the regional transportation planning organization that serves six counties in Central Texas, including Bastrop, Burnet, Caldwell, Hays,

Travis and Williamson counties.

CAMPO coordinates with cities, counties and other transportation planning organizations to improve mobility and ultimately, quality of life.

The Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization (CAMPO) is the Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) for Bastrop, Burnet, Caldwell, Hays, Travis, and Williamson Counties. MPOs are federally required throughout the country in areas with a population of 50,000 or more and are required to produce a 20+ year transportation plan, called a Regional Transportation Plan (RTP), and a four-year planning document called the Transportation Improvement Program (TIP).

Thursday, January 13, 2022

THE LIBERTY HILL INDEPENDENT

HOMES AROUND THE HILL Homes for Sale

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Fully fence, power, 30x40 workshop AW0478 Northcross, J. Sur AW0478 Northcross, J. Sur AW0478 Northcross, J. Sur Lot 90, Block 1 Phase III Lot 74, Block 1 Phase III Lot 79, Block 1 Phase III Lot 87, Block 1 Phase III Lot 73, Block 1 Phase III Lot 76, Block 1 Phase III Lot 88, Block 1 Phase III Commercial Property for Sale No restrictions, water available No restrictions, water available No restrictions, water available No restrictions, water available No restrictions, water available No restrictions, water available Under Contract / Pending

3BR/2BA Lot 83, Block 1 Phase III Lot 85, Block 1 Phase III Lot 75, Block 1 Phase III Lot 72, Block 1 Phase III Lot 71, Block 1 Phase III 3BR/2BA 3BR/2B - Barndominium & Shop Electricity & water available Cleared & level Sold!

4BR/2BA 3BR/2BA 3BR/2BA Old barn & septic Lots of trees 3BR/2BA Lot 84, Block 1 Phase III 3BR/2BA No restrictions, Ag exempt 3BR/2.5BA 3BR/3BA 3BR/2BA River front & trees

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THE LIBERTY HILL INDEPENDENT

Thursday, January 13, 2022