NOVEMBER 6TH - 12TH SAVE 20% OFF! Delivery not included in discount.
2020
Volume 33, Issue 49
www.LHIndependent.com
News@LHIndependent.com
October 29, 2020 | 50 Cents
No answers regarding high project costs
By MIKE EDDLEMAN Managing Editor As the City of Liberty Hill prepares to embark on a number of new capital projects, many questions remain regarding cost overruns on recent projects and funding capacity for future plans. Two projects in particular -the Municipal Court Building renovation and Downtown Street and Utility project -have cost taxpayers an additional $423,475 above the bid award, but efforts by The Independent to get an explanation of the additional costs have been unsuccessful due to the City’s refusal to grant an interview to discuss the projects. In July, at the request of CounMIKE EDDLEMAN FILE PHOTO cil member Tony DeYoung, City staff provided an up- In January, contractors demolished the old washateria in the date on CIP expenditures that initial phase of the parking lot project at the corner of Loop 332 and CR 279. That project, which included multiple projects in the downtown area, was initially bid at $1.57 million but is now See PROJECTS, Page A6 up to $1.84 million as it gets closer to closing out.
UNANSWERED QUESTIONS:
* Who managed the municipal court building project? * Is it reasonable to nearly double the cost of that project? * What accounts for the increases in cost for recent capital projects? * How are projects and their costs tracked by the City? * Where specifically have funds come from to pay for the more than $5 million in projects the last two years? * How is the City determining the amount of bond funds it can afford to take on in future debt? * What will annual payment be for $2.5 million bond being considered? Because of the City of Liberty Hill’s lack of communication with The Independent, these are questions that can’t be answered through documents or attendance at City meetings.
Mixed signals on mixed use zoning proposal
By MIKE EDDLEMAN Managing Editor The City Council was set to consider an ordinance Monday establishing a new zoning district in Liberty Hill. However, mixed signals from one member of the Planning and Zoning (P&Z) Commission regarding the process of moving the ordinance forward stalled action. The ordinance would have established a mixed use zoning district for the City, something everyone seemed to agree Monday was necessary, but P&Z member Steve Messana took issue with how the ordinance reached the Council for consideration. Ultimately, the Council voted unanimously to postpone
consideration of the measure and scheduled a joint workshop with P&Z for Nov. 5 to further discuss the ordinance. Messana addressed the Council during public comments, adding that he was representing himself and not the P&Z Commission. “Why would city management take a zoning document created by Mr. (David) Stallworth, using his experience, education and resources, and decide that they know better than him and redact over 50 lines of the ordinance he created,” Messana asked the Council. “What experience does Mayor (Rick) Hall or Lacie Hale have in crafting zoning ordinances? Do they know more than David Stallworth?
By ANTHONY FLORES Staff Writer To say that Darryl Lee has lived a fascinating life would be an understatement. In his eight-and-a-half-year career with the Coast Guard and decades as a semi-conductor engineering technician, Lee has experienced places and cultures all over the world. “I worked for Texas Instruments, Intel, Samsung, and
Freescale. All of these were high-end technical jobs, and my last position was as a senior engineering technician in photolithography,” said Lee. “All it boils down to is working with high-end equipment. I enjoyed it, and you make good money. In that job, when you’re eating, you’re eating well, but when everything drops around the world, it gets a little hectic. You always have to have a side gig.” Lee’s side gig? His restaurant between Sanderson and Del Rio. With COVID-19, Lee decided it was time to pivot and start having some fun. “COVID was beating up ev-
“What experience does Mayor (Rick) Hall or Lacie Hale have in crafting zoning ordinances? Do they know more than David Stallworth? Have his education? Have his experience? What makes a logistics manager and insurance salesman turned mayor capable of writing city zoning ordinances? What makes a former city secretary capable of writing city ordinances?”
~ Steve Messana Planning & Zoning Commission
Have his education? Have his experience? What makes a logistics manager and insurance salesman turned mayor capable of writing city zoning ordinances? What makes a
former city secretary capable of writing city ordinances?” Messana went on to explain he was suspect of the approval process and what he called the effort to push the ordinance
Bringing people together one kernel at a time
©2020 The Liberty Hill Independent
quickly through for approval. “While I do support a mixed use zoning ordinance, I support it only if that ordinance was crafted by an experienced professional,” he said. “I also support proper process. And to this point this ordinance has not gone through the proper process. What’s the hurry?” The P&Z Commission first received a copy of the original ordinance on Oct. 16 prior to its Oct. 20 meeting. But at the meeting, according to Messana, Commissioners were given a revised and “highly redacted” version that the City recommended for approval. Messana said the original version was primarily written
See ZONING, Page A5
erything in the restaurant business, so I thought it was time to go back and have some fun,” said Lee. “I have a little restaurant. I had shut down for the winter season and was going to open up for the spring, and then with COVID, I said forget that for now.” Making popcorn, or “poppin” is a passion for Lee that stems from some of his most cherished memories. “What got me started poppin’ was the love of popcorn. It brings people together, and it’s just fun,” said Lee. “It comes Darryl Lee is bringing people together with his offbeat variety from my most fun job. It was of flavored kettle popcorn. Poppin’ Around Texas is Lee’s way of giving back to the community and giving people a taste of See POPCORN, Page A6 his own cherished memories. (Courtesy Photo)
Grand Opening Celebration
WilCo shatters early voting record
By MIKE EDDLEMAN Managing Editor Early voting doesn’t end until Friday, but voters in Williamson County have already eclipsed the previous record for early voting, and smashed the 2016 election vote total by more than 25,000 ballots. Through Tuesday, 225,045 ballots had been cast in this year’s extended early voting window, with 9,420 at the Liberty Hill location. Current voter turnout stands at 59.7 percent. In the 2016 General Election the county had 205,862 total votes including Election Day. For the 150,000 registered voters who have not voted early, polls will be open 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Tuesday with polling sites open at the Liberty Hill Municipal Court building, 2801 RR 1869; Liberty Hill High School; and the Santa Rita Ranch House, 175 Elizabeth Park Road. There will be 57 voting locations throughout the county on Election Day and voters can cast their ballot at any of those sites. The full list can be found online at Williamson County Elections Department, www. wilco.org. The county has more than 370,000 registered voters heading into this election, more than 10 percent more than for the 2018 contest. In 2018, there were 336,148 registered voters in the county for the November election with a 62.25 percent turnout. In the last presidential election in 2016, there were 306,811 registered voters and a 67.1 percent turnout. The ballot includes federal races including the contest for the presidency, all the way down to local races for Liberty Hill Mayor and Liberty Hill ISD Board of Trustees. Incumbent Mayor Rick Hall is being challenged by former City Council member Liz Branigan in the lone race for the City, while there are two races for LHISD Board of Trustees. Three candidates – Antonio Canas, Kendall Carter and Dana Munguia – are looking for the opportunity to occupy the Place 2 LHISD seat vacated by Clay Cole who chose not to seek reelection. In Place 1, Board President Clint Stephenson is being challenged by Terry Smith. Also on the ballot is a measure to decide whether City Council terms should be extended to three years. If passed, the extended term limits will not go into effect until the next City election in May. Sample ballots can be found on the County’s website.
INCREDIBLE SAVINGS BOTH DAYS!
Fri, Oct. 30 - Sat, Oct. 31
Donuts & coffee both mornings Hot dogs from 11-1 both days Halloween treats for kids on Saturday
12500 W State Hwy 29, Liberty Hill | (254) 329-7010