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2021
Volume 34, Issue 23
www.LHIndependent.com
LHHS welcomes new band director
By MIKE EDDLEMAN Managing Editor When Shawn Murphy steps into the Liberty Hill High School Band Hall this summer, the new director will have his sights set on the kind of success that makes him a proud onlooker. He says seeing the band perform well, be it at halftime or at contest, is everything. “It’s what we’ve trained the SHAWN MURPHY kids for,” said Murphy. “We LHHS Band Director train them so they can be sucoff, give them the tools they cessful without us. You teach them as much as you can, catch them when they fall, dust them See MURPHY, Page 2
Liberty Hill EDC revamps mission, vision
By MIKE EDDLEMAN Managing Editor The Liberty Hill Economic Development Corp. may be in the midst of negotiating a long list of potential economic development deals, but that didn’t stop the Board from taking a step back and rethinking its foundation and what it means for the future. “In preparation for the new strategic plan and proactive direction the Board wishes to undertake, it was agreed that the Economic Development Corporation needed to start at the beginning and determine its mission, vision, and core values,” said EDC Executive Director Matt Powell. “The mission is what they want to be doing right now, the vision is the future they see for Liberty Hill, and the core values are the fundamental beliefs they wish to operate within.” All three – the mission, vision and core values – were approved by the Board April 21. The mission statement now reads, “Help Liberty Hill prosper by facilitating positive,
healthy, and self-sustaining growth.” And the vision statement is, “A prosperous, charming, lifetime destination.” The seven core values outlined by the board are: Integrity, Transparency, Sustainability, Partnership, Community First, Engagement, and Accountability. “The process was extremely collaborative and gratifying,” Powell said. “Each member shared what they want Liberty Hill to be, and how the EDC could help the city become an even better place to live and do business. The board members each have their individual ideas, but they all share a positive vision and an optimism about Liberty Hill.” For Powell, there was one part of the approved building blocks that he found most telling. “Personally, I especially like the term ‘lifetime destination’,” he said. “The Board wants Liberty Hill to be a place you never want or need to leave.”
Election Day is finally here, and a crowded ballot awaits Saturday for those who did not vote early. There are decisions to make in five races for school board and city council, and then there is the $491 million school bond election and a fire department sales tax proposition. Voting locations in Liberty Hill on Saturday will be the Municipal Court building, 2801 RM 1869, and Liberty Hill High School, 16500 W. SH 29. Polls will be open 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Early voting in Liberty Hill – which doesn’t necessarily reflect all voters from the area – was 724 through April 24. Voters can cast their ballot at any of the 14 early voting locations within Williamson County, meaning local turnout could be higher than what is reflected. In the race for three City Council seats, Chris Pezold and Kim Sanders are running for Place 1. Incumbent Steve McIntosh did not file for reelection and moved away from Liberty Hill at least six weeks prior to his term ending. Place 5 Council member Liz Rundzieher is opposed by Angela Lynn Jones. Friday, Rundzieher, who has not at-
tended the last two Council meetings, announced via social media that she has been diagnosed with cancer. Crystal Mancilla is running against incumbent Gram Lankford in Place 3. In the school board race, four candidates are on the ballot for Place 3 – Steve Messana, Michael Ferguson, Charlene Stevens and Antonio Canas – while incumbent David Nix did not seek reelection. In Place 6, most recently held by Vickie Peterson who resigned in January due to work obligations, there are six candidates. On the ballot for the one-year remaining on Peterson’s term are Aurora Trahan, Robert Baughn, Lockie Ealy, Cory Milam, Kristi Hargrove and Jennifer Williams. It is not necessary for any candidate to achieve a 50-percent majority in either race, so a runoff election will not be necessary in the pair of crowded places. Incumbents Kathy Major (Place 4) and Anthony Buck (Place 5) did not draw an opponent and will serve another term. In the LHISD school bond election, the first proposition totals $457.7 million, and makes up most of the total bond package. It includes funds for new schools, campus renovations and expansions, planning funds for additional
Voters weigh in on bond, candidates
©2021 The Liberty Hill Independent
See ELECTION, Page 4
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April 29, 2021 | 50 Cents
Council grants Rundzieher medical leave
By MIKE EDDLEMAN Managing Editor The City Council again met with only three members and the mayor Monday, as Council members Steve McIntosh and Liz Rundzieher were absent. Rundzieher, who has missed the last two meetings, announced Friday on her campaign Facebook page that she had recently been diagnosed with cancer. Council member Kathy Canady added an item to the Monday agenda to propose a 90-day medical leave of absence for Rundzieher. “We have a thing that we can’t miss three meetings in a row without having a reason to,” Canady said. “I know most of you know, but Liz has been diagnosed with cancer. I think her fear is that she needs it known that she may not be able to be here for a period of time and that’s why I asked – she asked me to ask for medical leave. She will not be at the next meeting.” The Council passed the leave unanimously, but not before Council member Tony DeYoung asked for documentation that Rundzieher had re-
quested the issue be brought to the Council, rather than it coming under the initiative of Canady who placed the item on the agenda. “With all due respect, is there any correspondence from Liz herself – an e-mail or text message – for the record of her requesting the medical leave versus you asking for it?” DeYoung asked. “I’m sure she didn’t think she had to do that,” Canady responded. “I’m sure she would be glad to get a note from her doctor.” DeYoung clarified he was not questioning the diagnosis or looking for something from a doctor, but clarification that Rundzieher initiated the request and wanted the leave. “She didn’t send me anything,” Canady said. “She asked me to handle it.” Rundzieher is currently on the ballot seeking reelection. She is opposed by Angela Jones. Budget plan Liberty Hill will begin its budget process early this year, kicking off with its first budget workshop scheduled
for May 10, and returning to an old way of discussing expense needs. “It will be the department heads who will be standing before you,” said Finance Director Becky Wilkins. “You’re going to get to know your department heads and hear them make their spiel and they will be telling you what they want. After those are done we will come back to you with a proposed budget, trying to accommodate the things that people ask for within reason, depending on tax rates and what expected revenues are.” The change was embraced by the Council, despite the much less public discussion of the budget through its formulation the last two years. “I think this is what we’ve been talking about and this is what we needed and what we wanted,” said Council member Gram Lankford. “This is really, really important. This needs to continue. This is going to be good for anyone sitting up here, anyone who is elected, having face-to-face interaction with department heads.” The new method of putting
LIZ RUNDZIEHER City Council Member together the budget is the way it was developed and discussed prior to Rick Hall’s term as Mayor. In both the 2019 and 2020 budget process members of the Council repeatedly expressed its faith in Hall and his leadership in preparing the budget behind closed doors, ultimately leading to almost no discussion of how departmental expenses were determined or justified. Each budget workshop is scheduled throughout the summer months and will begin at 5:30 p.m. prior to Council meetings in most cases. “I like the idea that we’re spreading it out and starting
See COUNCIL, Page 8
Lundy named Intermediate Teacher of the Year
By ANTHONY FLORES Staff Writer With more than two decades in the classroom, Liberty Hill Intermediate math teacher Katy Lundy says she’s seen almost everything her job can throw at her. That was until this school year started. “Almost everything was different. From talking in a mask all day to making everything digital,” Lundy. “We couldn’t pass things out or share materials. We weren’t able to do a lot of activities. I teach math, so math manipulatives and other math activities were things we couldn’t do. It was like reinventing the wheel all year long.” Katy Lundy received Liberty Hill Intermediate’s Teacher of the Year award. The 23-year LHISD Lundy started working for teacher voluntarily took on more responsibility during the pandemic, earning the recognition of See LUNDY, Page 8 her peers.
Liberty Hill ISD partnered with Benny Boyd Car Dealership to provide staff with two dinner plates as a thank you for their hard work over the last year. Administrators worked to help prepare and serve meals.
Benny Boyd offers tasty thank you to teachers
By ANTHONY FLORES Staff Writer The Liberty Hill Junior High parking lot was packed with teachers driving through to pick up free meals as a thank you for the work they put in over this pandemic-affected school year. LHISD principals formed
an efficient conveyor line, preparing two plates for each passing vehicle. Local auto dealership, Benny Boyd, partnered with the district to provide the meal for teachers. “We want to give a big shout out to Benny Boyd for approaching us and saying they had the ability to do this,
and they wanted to serve our teachers,” said Superintendent Steve Snell. “I’m thankful that businesses like this recognize that teachers can use a helping hand, and thanks now and then.” Jamie Erickson, head of community relations for Benny Boyd, helped organize the
event as a gesture of thanks. “We wanted to partner with Liberty Hill ISD, and they wanted to reward their teachers in a unique way because of the last year,” said Erickson. “With all the challenges that they had, we feel like these
See DINNER, Page 8