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2020

Volume 33, Issue 20

www.LHIndependent.com

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Medical needs remain a concern for County

A MESSAGE TO LIBERTY HILL AREA BUSINESSES FROM THE INDEPENDENT:

Stronger together

As the COVID-19 pandemic unfolded, business owners and their employees all over Liberty Hill sat down to try to determine what it all meant for the future.

Probably just like we did as a team at The Independent, you probably remember the day you sat down and tried to balance the reality you could see in front of you and the projections you could barely comprehend. No matter what we have learned as it has all unfolded, we can all agree that we were reminded quickly that the answer would only be found together.

In that spirit of togetherness, we are proud to launch THE INDEPENDENT TOGETHER GRANT program making $25,000 in advertising grant funds available to local businesses who need some assistance in keeping their marketing and advertising plan up and running as things get lean.

The Independent has long been the local advertising solution for local businesses, and we know that our success is only as good as your own. We know that every business in our community is part of the foundation that allows us choices as shoppers of insurance, auto parts, home goods and dining options. But we also know that the opportunity to reach customers through your community newspaper doesn’t mean much in a time like this if there are no funds for it.

There are options at every turn right now with programs to help cover operating and payroll costs. The Together Grant Program is open to any locally owned business and is strictly for advertising, which other loan programs won’t cover in most cases.

Participating is as easy as visiting our website and filling out a short application.

The application is simple, but we do ask that you explain how the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted your business, creating this need for marketing assistance, and tell us how you plan to turn this grant in some form into a benefit you can pass on to another segment of our community in need.

We hope these grant funds multiply as they move through the community, touching everyone, and meeting many needs, and for that we need your help.

Will you make a donation of a portion of your sales to a local charity, or help provide meals to first responders as they work day and night through this crisis? Or even simply offer a discount of goods and services so that our common customers benefit in some way? The possibilities are endless.

We can’t imagine this community without each and every business, and as your community newspaper, we hope that this new program will help provide a part of the support someone needs to focus on continuing to build a bright business future in Liberty Hill.

Applications are now being accepted and anyone is welcome to apply. As we select participants we will call and set up your program, determining the right message and right ad size for you. The program is set to run through June 30, but the sooner you apply the sooner we can help plan out that perfect marketing message, sharing it across the community in more than 2,000 homes in print and online.

The Together Grant program is one small way we can bring us all closer in this time where we are forced apart.

Apply online today at www.

LHINDEPENDENT.com.

April 9, 2020 | 50 Cents

Panther Pride

Nine-year-old Tyler McCrary, a third grader at Bill Burden Elementary, stirred some Panther Pride last Thursday when he took to the back of his parents’ truck to show his spirit with his Panther flag as residents do their best at social distancing and working from home. (Courtesy Photo)

By MIKE EDDLEMAN Managing Editor While Williamson County officials continue to look for answers for potential medical challenges on the horizon as COVID-19 cases increase, the County may have found a hint of daylight in an early test.

County Judge Bill Gravell announced a shipment of 1,000 test kits had been received as of Monday, and credited media coverage of the County’s plight for the ability to secure them so quickly.

“Last week when we did the live interview there was a lady who is a former resident of Williamson County who lives up in the Metroplex and somehow online she checked the local media and local stories and she found out we were short and didn’t

MEDICAL, Page 4

Intersection realignment coming downtown

By MIKE EDDLEMAN Managing Editor The Liberty Hill Council gave its approval to a plan to realign the intersection of Loop 332 and CR 279 downtown.

The initial estimate for the project is $858,081, but a final total will not be known until engineering work is completed and bids are opened.

“The task order will actually drill down more into the weeds and will do some more studying to make sure it is what we need,” said Mayor Rick Hall.

“The Council seemed very receptive to the drawings and how the layout was done. I feel like this will be a great thing to do. It gives us that traffic

The intersection at Loop 332 and CR 279 will be realigned in an effort to improve safety and

See INTERSECTION, Page 7 traffic flow. (Courtesy Graphic)

BUSINESS

Commercial development continues despite COVID-19

By RACHEL MADISON Staff Writer While many industries have slowed or come to a halt due to the coronavirus pandemic, the construction industry is still trucking along—especially in the commercial real estate sector locally, where several projects can be seen across Liberty Hill.

Texas Pawn & Jewelry ©2020 The Liberty Hill Independent

One of the most visible projects in Liberty Hill right now is the new Texas Pawn & Jewelry location, which is going up next door to Dairy Queen on Highway 29. Texas Pawn & Jewelry has locations in Hutto and Leander, as well as in the strip center next to Subway and Happy Wok in Liberty Hill.

Troy Farr, owner of Texas Pawn & Jewelry, said he has never liked the store’s Liberty Hill location because it’s not easily accessible or visible, so it was always the plan to build a new building.

“It’s always been our inten-

tion to move the location in Liberty Hill,” he said. “We’ve looked at several pieces of property. We thought about moving next to QuikTrip, but we just kept going back to that property by Dairy Queen.”

The acre directly next to Dairy Queen was purchased by a franchisee, which Farr expects will eventually be a fast food restaurant. His acre is just on the other side and will house a 5,900-square-foot building with a parking lot big enough for at least 40 cars.

“The land and location were

See COMMERCIAL, Page 8

RACHEL MADISON PHOTO

Construction workers work on building the parking lot at the new Texas Pawn and Jewelry site in Liberty Hill, next to Dairy Queen. The project is expected to be completed by September.

Page 2

THE LIBERTY HILL INDEPENDENT

Thursday, April 9, 2020

LHHS art offers a different perspective

By ANTHONY FLORES Staff Writer Just through the entrance of Liberty Hill High School, off to the left in a display case, are several sculptures on display. Directly in front of them is a display filled with various drawings and paintings.

These pieces are the results of the passions, experiences, and perspectives of LHHS art students.

Students in the art program recently competed in the Visual Arts Scholastic Event (VASE), with two students advancing to state, Greta Coker and Tanner Byrns.

Coker is in her second year at LHHS and already making her second trip to the state competition. In her freshman year, Coker reached state, earning the highest award at state competition.

“Last year, I went to state with both of my pieces and had one of them win a gold seal,” she said. “I feel like there’s a lot of pressure since it was my freshman year. I want to keep that up and keep doing well.”

Her work revolves around one central theme.

“I have a body of work going that’s showcasing the beauty of moths,” said Coker. “People often assume that they’re butterflies, and it further proves my point that moths are equally as beautiful as butterflies.”

Byrns’ state-bound piece was inspired by his desire to travel to one of the United States’ most celebrated natural wonders.

“I’ve always wanted to go to the Grand Canyon, so I made my piece about it,” said Byrns.

“I just felt like it would be an interesting place to go. I made a clay base, and I built it from that up. Rolling out the coils was very tedious.”

The high school art program is headed by Susan Barnes and Deborah Schaefer. Barnes focuses more on 2D art and Art 1, playing an essential role in the introduction to concepts and different methods. Schaefer works heavily in 3D art and advanced levels.

The two master’s level educators are dedicated to allowing students to explore their creativity and grow into well-rounded, multi-skilled individuals.

“Our job is to give them the opportunity to be creative, whereas in the academics, they’re a little more linear,” said Barnes. “We’re more into problem-solving and how you come up with this and extend

on this and be creative. They have their self-confidence in creating something pleasurable.”

Barnes helps students learn how to think outside of the box and approach real-world situations in different ways.

“It’s a different dynamic in the workforce,” she said. “You aren’t going to be led around to do one thing, you have to be multi-dimensional in what you’re doing and come up and figure out things. This way of thinking, even if it’s more creative and artsy, could intercede in jobs of the future.”

The teachers work with students on understanding how to communicate through art.

“We talk about what is art,” said Shaefer. “Art is a visual language, there are all different forms. There’s interactive art and stuff like that. We teach them real-world applications.”

Schaefer believes that it not only helps with more progressive thinking but also allows students to communicate with others who come from different cultures.

“This is a visual language that we’re teaching them, it makes societal changes, it’s very powerful,” she said. “There are no boundaries as far as cultures or language. It’s in everything you see, so I encourage them to look at everything.”

As their knowledge and technical skills grow, their growth in other aspects becomes more evident.

“Once they learn the technical skills, it’s easier for them to branch out and do other things,” said Schaefer. “Once they see that they’re successful, they really do get a boost in self-esteem. It’s like a community of artists, we’re all in here all uplifting each other and learning from each other.”

Schaefer says that before being a state-bound artist, Byrns had a much different personality that has changed over time.

“He’s a second-year art student, and I’ve really seen his personality change. He’s become more confident because he’s more confident in his work,” she said.

The road to growth and success can be frustrating for some students, but with success comes failure. It’s a necessity for development.

“Sometimes it’s about the process,” said Barnes. “‘Although I didn’t do it exactly perfect, I learned how to do something fresh and awesome and how do I get better,’ My art 1 students are doing sculpture

Area Worship Plans

Sunday online at fellowshiplh. com

With the ban on mass gatherings, local churches are finding ways to worship together without gathering together in the church sanctuary. Check each church’s website for more information or additional worship times and opportunities.

Andice Baptist Church: 11 a.m. Sunday on Facebook/ andicebaptist Cross Tracks Church: 10 a.m., Sunday on Facebook/ crosstrackschurch Fellowship Church: 9 a.m.,

First Baptist Georgetown (Georgetown and Liberty Hill campuses): 9:30 a.m., Sunday, Facebook/firstbaptistchurchgeorgetown First United Methodist Georgetown: Recording of weekly service is available at 8:30 a.m., Sunday on the Church’s YouTube Channel Florence United Methodist: 10:45 a.m., Sunday, Facebook/ FlorenceNJUMC The Grove: 9 a.m., Sunday on

ANTHONY FLORES PHOTO

Susan Barnes and Deborah Schaefer’s art students displaying their variety of unique art pieces. right now. They’re looking funny and funky, but they’re having a great time. A big part of it is that we’re being expressive.”

The students’ work allows them to be expressive and develop and learn new things about themselves. Art often calls for the artist to look inward and draw inspiration for their work from a private part of themselves.

Piper Ilgen’s piece “Midnight Marina” is a physical representation of her journey from one home to another.

“My piece represents my move to America because I was originally living in Singapore,” said Ilgen. “It was showing my childhood throughout life and how I didn’t see it as home, but as soon as I was coming home, I started to see it as my actual home.”

Shelby Hight, inspired by the current state of climate change and recent wildfires, created “Revolution” a piece with the theme of rebirth.

“I wanted to show there can be regrowth from environmental damage,” she said. “If there’s a forest fire, things will grow back over time. Not everything will be the same, but it’ll be okay.”

Art Club President Jaiden Dennis comes from a family of artists.

“I’ve been drawing my entire life,” said Dennis. “My dad is an artist, my grandparents are artists, everyone in my family has done art. It’s just something I’ve grown up with.”

Dennis, inspired by her childhood, created a piece for her mother’s garden called “Fairy House”.

“Part of the inspiration was Facebook/grovetx.church Life Springs Church: 10 a.m., Sunday online at lifespringschristianchurch.com One Chapel: 9 a.m., Sunday, online at online.onechapel. com Restoration Church:10:30am Sunday on Facebook.

the mythology behind fairies because it comes from Ireland, which I find interesting,” said Dennis. “One of the things my sister and I did as kids, was go out into the woods by our backyard and explore. We’d go looking for fairies and build little houses with twigs. I was looking to try and bring that back but more refined.”

Seeing the way their students have flourished and how much they’ve matured and developed over time inspires Barnes and Schaefer to find ways to bring more students into the fold.

In trying to build the program further, the two educators have identified several obstacles that need to be addressed to achieve their goals.

The first being the hesitation students feel when tackling art for the first time.

“It’s a little intimidating, and we have to give them that comfort. It’s each person’s process,

and you’re at your own level,” said Barnes. “Some of them come in and want to try and explore. Still, some without the skill work or experience get frustrated, thinking, ‘I’m not as good as others, I don’t know if I’m going to be good in this’.”

Keeping students inspired and energized is another issue they face as a result of the fatigue students face because many are in several clubs at the same time.

“Our students are very multitalented, and that’s a struggle for them to decide what to give their time to,” said Barnes.

Coker, aside from art, is also considered by many to be one of the best pole vaulters at the high school. The struggle to maintain her success in both areas is exhausting to the sophomore who dreams of becoming an animator.

“It’s tough because I’m in all advanced classes, too,” she

said. “On the day of VASE, I went to the competition, did my interviews in the morning, and then I had to go to a track meet because I pole vault and then had to come back to hear the state results.”

Aside from keeping students from being burned out and working to encourage self confidence, Barnes and Schaefer face the most significant obstacle of all. Art is viewed as an elective and not a viable career path.

“The problem that I see, that I’ve talked to many students and other teachers about, is that by the time they get to their senior year if that’s not their path, we lose them. Art is only considered an elective,” said Schaefer. “They might have a couple off periods or an ACC class, which is a double block or a UT class, which is a double block, so we lose a lot

See ART, Page 4

Liberty Hill Police Blotter Prepared by Liberty Hill Police Department

Week of March 30-April 5 The Liberty Hill Police Department responded to or self-initiated a total of 356 incidents resulting in three cases, two citations, seven warnings and no arrests.

Weekly Highlights: - On March 30 at approximately 12:02 PM, officers responded to US 183 to assist the Williamson County Sheriff’s Office with a disturbance.

- On March 30 at approximately 2:23 PM, officers responded to Independence Avenue for a disturbance.

- On March 31 at approximately 5:16 PM, officers responded to Declaration Lane for an accident.

- On March 31 at approximately 8:05 PM, officers responded to Falcon Lane to assist the Williamson County Sheriff’s Office with a disturbance.

- On March 31 at approximately 10:09 PM, officers responded to 500 block of Loop 332

for a disturbance.

- On April 1 at approximately 11:45 AM, officers responded to the 3000 block of RM 1869 for loose livestock.

- On April 1 at approximately 8:21 PM, officers responded to Cranberry Cove to assist the Williamson County Sheriff’s Office.

- On April 2 at approximately 3:33 PM, officers responded to the 12000 block of W. SH 29 for an accident.

- On April 2 at approximately 6:42 PM, officers responded to Independence Avenue for suspicious activity.

- On April 3 at approximately 2:12 AM, officers responded to the 15000 block of W. SH 29 for a suspicious incident.

- On April 3 at approximately 12:24 PM, officers responded to the 12000 block of W. SH 29 for a traffic hazard.

- On April 3 at approximately 5:16 PM, officers responded to the 13000 block of W. SH 29 for a traffic hazard.

- On April 4 at approximately 1:25 PM, officers responded to the 13000 block of W. SH 29 for a runaway.

- On April 4 at approximately 8:48 PM, officers responded to the 1000 block of Loop 332 for a suspicious incident.

- On April 4 at approximately 11:52 PM, officers responded to Hickman and Church for a noise complaint.

- On April 5 at approximately 7:39 PM, officers responded to Spring Grove Drive to assist the Williamson County Sheriff’s Office.

- On April 5 at approximately 8:26 PM, officers responded to Blessings Ranch Road to assist the Williamson County Sheriff’s Office.

- On April 6 at approximately 5:24 AM, officers responded to the intersection of US 183 and W. SH 29 for an accident.

RockPointe Church: 9:30 a.m. and 11 a.m., Sunday online at rockpointechurch.com

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Thursday, April 9, 2020

THE LIBERTY HILL INDEPENDENT

Throwback Thursday

My older sister Mary (back row circled) spent time at the Lions Camp in Kerrville back in the mid-50s along with other children, many of whom were also diagnosed with polio. (Courtesy Photo)

Polio once struck fear in America

By JAMES WEAR Columnist It’s been nearly 60 years since the polio virus took the lives of more than 3,000 American children and left thousands of others paralyzed.

Among the estimated 60,000 young people infected in that record-breaking year of 1952 was my sister, Mary, who was nine when she was stricken.

And although she has returned to being confined to a wheelchair over the last few years, she didn’t let the disease get in the way of living a full life.

She and her late husband, Joe, raised eight children and lived in locations all over the country during Joe’s 20-plus years in the Air Force.

She recalls the day our parents drove her to Brackenridge Hospital in Austin, after our mother had spoken to the family doctor and described Mary’s symptoms. Within days after

being admitted the disease took a grip and she eventually would have two inches of bone in her leg removed, leaving her with a permanent limp. A natural right-hander, she would learn to use her left hand for writing.

She would eventually spend several weeks at a rehabilitation center in Gonzales, and also attend a Lions Camp in Kerrville along with other children.

“We had a lot of fun in Gonzales,” she says, recalling that she and other children took part in a parade celebrating Texas’ independence.

Our mother would become a tireless volunteer with the March of Dimes, which at the time was raising money for research into polio. Eventually, a cure would be found, with much of the credit going to Jonas Salk, although a second researcher, Albert Sabin, also developed a vaccine that is viewed as more effective for mass immunization efforts.

As 2020 got underway, polio has been all but eradicated world wide, with only two countries having reported cases.

Pictured in 1952 outside Brackenridge Hospital in Austin are my sister Mary and our mother, after learning Mary had been stricken with polio. (Courtesy Photo)

By MIKE EDDLEMAN Managing Editor “Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night...” has been a long-attributed testament of how nothing stops the U.S. Mail, and now COVID-19 can be added to the list.

Despite closures all around it, social distancing rules and other hurdles, Liberty Hill Postmaster Sheri Robinson said mail service is not being interrupted.

But carriers and postal employees have made some changes, wearing masks and taking extra time for sanitizing around the office.

“Most of our people are wearing the masks they make themselves at home, they don’t care much for the paper ones, they’re kind of uncomfortable,” Robinson said. “We’ve

got all the spray equipment to wipe down desks, counter tops and any boxes out on the street our carriers feel is necessary.”

In the post office, Robinson said accommodations have been made to help keep customers safe as well.

“We have disinfectant up front and we are installing new hand sanitizers at the front counter so customers can also use them to keep clean after they finish,” she said. “We’re doing the six-foot distancing in the front lobby and those things.”

Business has been steady, with the office seeing an increase in some areas.

“It hasn’t slowed us down, in fact it has ticked up around here,” Robinson said. “It’s not necessarily mail in the form of letters and flats, but we have more parcels because every-

one is ordering things.”

When carriers are on their routes, Robinson aid there are not usually any real issues.

“As far as getting out amongst the people (our carriers) are out there by themselves basically aside from when they’re in the building for a couple of hours, and we’re all keeping our distance from each other,” she said.

But she did ask that customers be aware of small changes in routine that could make a difference.

“Just be patient with us,” Robinson said. “I know sometimes we’re used to ringing doorbells and nobody wants to touch doorbells right now.

Now there’s a knock on the door, so be patient with us in case someone doesn’t hear us.

We don’t want people to think we’ve forgotten them.”

Liberty Hill Post Office carries on

As is the case with all essential employees during the COVID-19 pandemic, personal protective equipment for post office employees can be in short supply at times, and Robinson said they could always use donations of hand sanitizer, masks, gloves and disinfectant.

“We’d love to have those things,” she said. “Hand sanitizer seems to be the thing going out the door as fast as we can get it in here, but we’ve reached out to the distillery over in Bertram and they are going to give us a gallon or two of what they’ve made.

We’re holding our own. The customers have been wonderful around here. We work to take care of them and they work to take care of us.”

Page 3

Hobo Junction on path to reopen

By MIKE EDDLEMAN Managing Editor Many in Liberty Hill were left scratching their heads in early March when they could no longer stop in to Hobo Junction for their breakfast and lunch favorites.

The restaurant was closed suddenly due to the building’s condition, but owners say there is a plan in place to get the doors open again soon with Hobo Junction owner Nacona McDowell’s staff cooking up those favorites once again.

Building owner Anderson Price, along with local property manager Kami Prieto, is working out all the details in the rehab project that became quite complicated over time.

“We’ve got Nacona, she’s running the restaurant, everything’s going really well, but that building is extremely old, so we needed to replace that roof,” Price said.

“We started looking at the building and trying to decide how we could remodel and keep the look, the really cool painting inside and the original feel and look, but also upgrade it.”

The small, older kitchen needed remodeling and the plan, according to Price, was to assist with the upgrades and work it into the rent over time to make it possible for Hobo Junction to afford the improvements.

“We went and hired an architect and spent a bunch of money getting a full plan showing what we wanted to do and we took it to the City and they said that was going to trigger a site plan review and we’d have to do detention,” he said. “We went and got a bid and that was going to be $1.2 million, which is more expensive than tearing the building down and starting over. If we spend that much money Nacona can’t afford to be there, it’s unrealistic.”

So the next step was to look at what could be done in a different way, trying to address the most critical needs first.

“We have to fix the roof for two reasons,” Price said.

“One because it is old and has to be fixed, but then our insurance company said we need to upgrade the vent system and there were some other fire risks. We went and got bids and everyone who came out said the roof would not support what we needed.”

But even trying to replace the roof was creating confusion with the City over permitting issues, so Price had a conversation with Mayor Rick Hall and it looked like that had resolved the issue.

“We finally talked with the Mayor and he said he thought they could issue a special use permit to cover the remodel and if we did less than $50,000 in the remodel it

wouldn’t trigger the site plan review,” Price said.

With that hurdle behind them, it looked as though plans could finally move forward, then another issue cropped up.

“One of the permit reviewers pointed out that the porch was built in the Capital Metro easement,” Price said.

“They said ‘the City knows that and if we give a permit to remodel for a structure built on property you don’t own we could be liable and Capital Metro could sue us.’

This had become like a year nightmare.”

Undeterred, Price’s next stop was Capital Metro where he was able to strike a deal where he would agree to not change the footprint of the porch and the railroad would sign off on a licensing agreement.

So far, since that time, all sides have been agreeable to the plan that would allow the work to begin.

“With the special use permit and licensing agreement in place we can go in, pull the roof off, replace it, then we can resolve the insurance issues, which are primary ventilation and grease fire prevention, and then we can get it insured and Nacona can go back and continue to function,” Price said. “Over time we will remodel little sections and as her business grows she can support paying more rent, which will help us pay for it all.

“I’m afraid, even if we could do this all at once, Nacona’s business needs to grow to support the added cost. We don’t think this job is going to make the most money, it’s not going to be our best investment, but we still expect to make some money. We’re doing it because over the long run we think this will be really successful and we can preserve something really cool and be part of something that is like a landmark in Liberty Hill.”

Though he is from South Austin, Price owns other property in Liberty Hill and sees how the community is growing.

“It’s nice to see chains coming to Liberty Hill because it provides options, but at the same time I don’t like to see that happening because you want to see some of the cool, original stuff stay,” he said.

“I’m confident if we can get that building in a decent condition where it can serve more people (Nacona) will make so much more money,” Price said. “We bought that building from the original owner of Hobo Junction, and she had sold that business to Nacona (McDowell) and was looking to sell the building and we’ve had lots of plans for it.”

See HOBO, Page 6

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Page 4

THE LIBERTY HILL INDEPENDENT

EDICAL County call center fields public questions M Continued from Page 1

By MIKE EDDLEMAN Managing Editor Williamson County has had a wealth of information it wants to get to the general public regarding the COVID-19 pandemic, and County leaders saw quickly that the public had a lot of unanswered questions.

To streamline the communication process and help get people answers to their specific questions, the County established a call center, headed by Elections Administrator Chris Davis.

“The call center is twofold,” said Davis. “The first part of it started on March 19 and it was an intake call center. After the mass gathering order and then the next week that shelter in place order, we were set up to receive calls from the public.”

Many calls coming into the center focused on how to apply the Stay Home Stay Safe order and how to determine if a particular business was considered essential or not under the order.

“We have been taking the orders handed down by the County Judge and the Governor and helping folks interpret how that would apply to them whether it be the businesses that were essential or activities that were essential,” Davis said.

The call center staff fielded a wide range of questions, from those about golf courses being open to calls from landscaping

ART

companies to figure out if they could continue working.

“We had the county-wide order to refer to and its myriad stipulations on what’s permitted, what’s considered essential, what isn’t and so with the folks calling in we were helping them know how to apply the order,” Davis said. “We were also getting calls from employees from businesses they deemed nonessential and they were calling to confirm with us whether their work was essential or not.”

Other types of calls included questions on virus symptoms, testing options and who to contact regarding suspected cases.

“We have been able to refer people to the health district or the Capital Area Medical Operations Center if they suspected they had symptoms of COVID-19, or wanted to inquire about obtaining a test,” Davis said. “We are kind of a dispatch in a kind of way, referring folks to different services.”

Beginning this past week, the call center was also tasked with aiding the Williamson County Veterans Services Office in reaching out to the more than 6,000 veterans living in the county.

“We’re still having the intake for questions on COVID-19, but at the same time, when those calls aren’t coming in, our call center folks are calling out on a list of veterans

Continued from Page 2

of them.”

Convincing parents that art isn’t just an elective and that it can help their students be successful in life is the first step.

“What we’re thinking about now is how to capture some of those students,” said Schaefer.

“We’re brainstorming what we can do to try and get more of the students to go into the art path without it being a taboo where parents think, ‘We don’t want our child to go into art because it’s worthless and not help them as a life skill’.”

Barnes believes that it’s necessary to allow students to decide what they want to do, and if the path they choose comes with risk, then it’s worth it as

long as they love their choice.

“I feel like you have to do your passion,” said Barnes.

“Sure, you want to make a living, you don’t want to be broke, but you want to feel excited about what you do.”

What is viewed as just a hobby to some people can be a calling to someone else. Coker, for example, has every intention of forging her own path, regardless of how others see it.

“There’s a stress relief you get from creating art,” she said.

“People often don’t take art seriously or think you can make a career out of it, but if you’re passionate about what you do, there’s always a chance.”

Williamson County Call Center (512) 943-1600 Mon-Fri 8am to 5pm Saturday 8am to 2pm checking on their needs,” Davis said. “What we are doing is contacting them and inquiring as to what their needs are. It is more of a proactive rather than a reactive effort.”

The opportunity to contact local veterans accomplishes two things for the County, one a long-term goal and the other a chance to check on a segment of the population that may have particular needs.

“As the Veterans Services department existed to date, they were an intake department just handing veteran calls as they came in. But a long term project of theirs was to cull that list of veterans and do so by reaching out and they have never had the time or the staff to do that,” Davis said. “Our call center did, so we obtained the list and are going through it now trying to reach out to all veterans in the county, ask about their needs. They may have needs to be put into contact with Veterans Affairs, the County Veterans Services office, or to see if they have financial, housing, medical or mental health needs. We have been given resources and numbers to refer these folks to.”

The list in the hands of call center staff is 6,000 veterans long and it is a slow, methodical process.

“We’re trying to get to a point where we can handle 200 to 300 calls per day,” Davis said of the outbound call mission to veterans. “It is the same call center staff both fielding incoming calls, and when that isn’t happening, making outgoing calls when they can.

“We’re getting a couple of wrong or disconnected num-

bers, but in general the veterans we are reaching out to are grateful for what we are doing.

Some just want to talk, but we’re also able to refer folks to the proper resources where they can find relief.”

The call center began as an 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. operation seven days a week, but was scaled back last weekend to maintain the same hours Monday through Friday, but to close on Sunday and be open from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday. The staffing has varied from eight to 12 people daily.

“We’re setting it up where we can take voicemail messages when we are not taking calls and then act on them when we stand back up again,” Davis said. “The staff has varied depending on the volume as we try to react to that volume.”

The call volume was highest early on, with about 500 calls each day on March 24-25 around the announcement of the Stay Home orders. Overall the center is averaging 100 to 150 calls per day. In addition to being there to answer questions from the public, taking that call volume off the 911 emergency system has also made a big impact.

“When we have our daily departmental meetings it is being expressed to us and other department heads that the load has been lessened a bit for the 911 center, which was the precise and foremost reason to set up this call center,” Davis said.

“We were able to divert from there and add a more informative kind of call for non-emergency areas. We think it has helped quite a bit.”

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have any test kits,” Gravell said. “She sent me a message and within a matter of a few hours we were put in touch with a company called AIT Laboratories that’s based out of Georgia and we were able to replace and order.”

The first batch of test kits allowed the County to begin testing first responders, one of Gravell’s key concerns last week. That first large shipment of tests cost the County $70 each for a total of $70,000.

“We will get the resources necessary here to protect our citizens,” Gravell said.

“When this is over, if I have 1,000 test kits left over and the pandemic’s gone by and there might be criticism for that, I will smile because I’d rather have too many than not enough.”

The County is receiving about 500 test kits daily now.

Senior care In Bexar and Galveston counties, outbreaks of the COVID-19 virus hit senior care facilities, leading to dozens of cases in those two facilities.

To help Williamson County avoid a similar outbreak, the County has partnered with Hearthstone Nursing and Rehabilitation in Round Rock to create a wing specifically for the care and treatment of seniors who test positive for the virus.

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Thursday, April 9, 2020

“We are opening a wing at a nursing home that is exclusively for patients that are nursing home residents and have tested positive,” Gravell said. “We’re able to isolate them at that nursing facility and take care of them with doctors and nurses.”

The facility has already taken its first patients, but those were seniors from Travis County.

As of Monday, there had been no positive tests in a Williamson County nursing home.

Temporary plan Gravell said early this week that a plan was in place to open a temporary hospital in a donated 325,000 square foot, multi-story facility should the need arise for more hospital beds in Williamson County.

The facility has the capacity for 1,500 patients and could be expanded.

“We’re just trying to prepare the space in the eventuality that one might be needed, and if it were needed we are absolutely counting on our state and federal authorities to bring the doctors and nurses here to operate this low-level care center.”

There are 315 hospital beds currently available in Williamson County, as well as 90 intensive care unit beds, 65 ventilators for children, and 221 adult ventilators across seven hospitals.

Elise Scott turned 8 on March 27, but her mother, Suzanne Scott, was forced to cancel her party. A request to neighbors turned into a special celebration when they lined the streets in her Gabriel’s Overlook neighborhood for a parade, cheering and applauding Elise as she drove through by. “It took us a full 30 minutes to make it by all the houses and there were signs, presents and balloons,” Scott said. (Courtesy Photo)

Thursday, April 9, 2020

THE LIBERTY HILL INDEPENDENT

Page 5

First COVID-19 case confirmed in Liberty Hill

By MIKE EDDLEMAN Managing Editor The City of Liberty Hill was notified April 4 of the first confirmed case of the COVID-19 virus in Liberty Hill.

“We have one case now here in Liberty Hill,” Mayor Rick Hall said Saturday. “We’re just encouraging people to stay at home, don’t go out unless they have to. That’s the only way we’re really going to defeat this is just keeping unnecessary contact down.”

The County total went up by 10 Wednesday, to a total of 97.

There have been four deaths in the County, and 24 local cases have required hospitalization.

Forty cases in the County are counted as recovered.

While Williamson County is posting daily totals for confirmed cases, the Williamson County and Cities Health District is only notifying officials in cities under 20,000 population.

“The County will notify the larger cities and then the health department will notify the mayors and it is the mayor’s responsibility to put it out to the community,” Hall said.

Hall said throughout Liberty Hill in the last two weeks he has seen good compliance from the community through the stay at home and social distancing guidelines.

“From talking to our officers and talking to business owners, I think the social distancing is working pretty well,” Hall said. “I’ve gotten reports from the police department doing checks that different businesses around town have six-foot spots marked off, they’re only letting a few people inside at a time. I think everyone is adhering to it, and by looking at traffic it is obvious traffic has slowed down on 29, too.”

Patience is what he urged the

community to practice most right now.

“We just have to wait this out,” Hall said. “It’s not easy for anybody, I get that, but we just have to work together, do the best we can, and stay home as much as possible.”

Postponements Liberty Hill will postpone the May 2 municipal election as well as the Whimsy & Wonder event, previously scheduled for May 16.

The election is being moved to Nov. 3, and the Council will vote Monday to make it official.

“We got a letter from the Governor this week mandating that elections be postponed, so what we do on Monday night will basically just be to approve the ordinances to make the changes,” Hall said.

Hall is also looking to shift the City’s charter election plans from November to May 2021, and will be asking the Council to support that move also.

“We’ve lost more than a month right now in trying to get the group together that’s working on the charter,” Hall said. “We’re not being as effective as I had hoped and I’m not real sure when all of this is said and done that we’ll have time before the end of August to put it on the agenda to get it done so we will have time to do justice to the charter.”

Whimsy & Wonder is being rescheduled for Aug. 1.

“We’ve been looking at what everyone else is doing around the area, looking at some of the vendors needing to be paid now, and with it still being an unknown I wasn’t willing to start paying companies for an event I wasn’t sure was going to take place,” Hall said. “We had spoken with the vendors and they said they could post-

pone to a few later dates in August without a problem so that’s what helped us make the decision to do it.”

The City Council will meet Monday, April 13, with half of the Council in the chamber at the municipal court building and the other half at city hall.

The meeting will be broadcast, MARCH 27 MARCH 31 APRIL 4 APRIL 8 and Hall said there is new auWilliamson County Cases 34 50 76 97 dio equipment being installed Williamson County Deaths 0 1 1 4 this week to facilitate the Texas Cases 1,731 3,266 6,110 9,353 meeting.

Texas Deaths 23 41 105 177 Wear masks U.S. Cases 85,356 163,539 277,205 395,011 On Tuesday, Williamson U.S. Deaths 1,246 2,860 6,593 12,754 County recommended that all SOURCE: CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION county residents follow the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommendations to wear face CASES BY COUNTY CASES BY LOCATION coverings when they are out in IN WILLIAMSON COUNTY public.

HARRIS 2,146 This recommendation is inAUSTIN 10 DALLAS 1,261 tended to help further reduce CEDAR PARK 14 TARRANT 554 the spread of COVID-19 beGEORGETOWN 13 tween people in close proximiTRAVIS 517 ty to each other and people are HUTTO 7 BEXAR 503 asked to wear the cloth face LEANDER 12 coverings at frequently visitWILLIAMSON 97 ROUND ROCK 36 ed places like grocery stores, convenience stores, and pharLIBERTY HILL 1 macies.

CASES CASES Stay home order extended County Judge Bill Gravell also extended the Stay Home CASES BY AGE Stay Safe order – originally set MARCH 27 0-17 3 to run until April 13 – through MARCH 31 April 30.

18-40 27 Area parks APRIL 4 41-60 43 Parks in Liberty Hill will APRIL 8 Over 60 24 remain open, but both Williamson and Travis counties SOURCE: DEPARTMENT OF STATE HEALTH SOURCE: WILLIAMSON COUNTY & CITIES SERVICES 4/8/20 HEALTH DISTRICTS 4/8/20 announced this week that their parks would be closed through the Easter weekend to prevent STACY COALE GRAPHIC gatherings.

Gov. Greg Abbott directed the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) and the Texas Historical Commission (THC) to close all state parks and historic sites. They closed GEORGETOWN – Do you protection from transmission by the medical professionals Tuesday and will reopen at the have an embroidering machine, of airborne contaminants that and first responders. The secdirection of the Governor. or own a sewing machine that will later be distributed to ond model, the Pleated Pattern you are ready to use during those at the frontlines of the Mask, is intended for official social distancing? How about battle against COVID-19. distribution to other identified scissors? Williamson County is “We are calling on anyone groups. There are a number of looking for you! with experience as an embroi- different designs in circulation, In an effort to support first re- derer or a seamster, or with but the Mask Brigade will be $10/week for Minimum 30 Words Additional Words $0.20 sponders, medical profession- sewing experience, or who using these two specific patals, and other individuals who might be handy with a pair of terns in order to ensure that the Deadline Tuesday At Noon may be dealing with the ongo- scissors to pitch in and help masks are standardized.

(512) 778-5577 or NEWS@LHINDEPENDENT.COM ing supply shortage of personal out,” said Judge King.

“The Wilco Way is all about protective equipment (PPE), The goal is to provide guid- stepping up and helping others Small, Woman Owned, DisSUBCONTRACTOR & SERVICES Williamson County has estab- ance to folks willing to roll and joining the Mask Brigade advantaged, HUB, HUBZone, SUPPLIER PROPOSAL lished a Mask Brigade under up their sleeves and volunteer is one way for our talented INFORMATION PACKET 8(a), Minority, and all similar ORCHID LANDSCAPE the leadership of the 26th Dis- their time, skills and even ma- residents to do just that. I am Bartlett Cocke General con- firms are encouraged to submit Mow, edge and cleanup. trict Court Judge Donna King. terials to construct two differ- grateful to Judge King for tractors, Construction Manag- proposals on this project. BartBilingual. Dependable.

Working in partnership with ent types of masks. The Wilco leading this effort, and I iner-at-Risk, for: New Middle lett Cocke General Contractors J & J, call (512) 734-7860.

COVID Rangers and Reid’s Mask Brigade page, shared be- vite our amazing Williamson School - Bid Package 2, is re- is an equal opportunity (EEO) (4/23p) Cleaners, the volunteer task low, provides instructions and County residents to join her,” questing competitive propos- employer. force will make fabric masks specifications needed along said Williamson County Judge SELL YOUR UNIQUE home als from subcontractors and (4/9) intended to provide a layer of with drop off information.

Bill Gravell. made or grown items locally! suppliers.

Interested participants may go There are two models of Subcontractor and supplier The Market At Indian Mound masks being accepted. The to www.wilco.org/howcanIRanch is currently accepting proposals will be received via first is the COVID Ranger help or contact organizers at Vendors for the 2020 Season. Fax to (512) 326-4339 or (512) Mask, designed to go over the COVID-19Masks@wilco.org Saturday’s 9-3 weather permit- 326-3990 Fax or via email to N95 mask to extend the life for more information. ting. $20 space fee. 12805 SH bidaus@bartlettcocke.com of the N95 mask being used 29 W. Send email to imr1873@ no later than 2:00:00 PM on 4/16/2020. gmail.com for details.

Any proposals received after this time will not be accepted.

PUBLIC NOTICES Electronic copies of the proposal documents may be obtained from Bartlett Cocke NOTICE OF PUBLIC or viewed at local and online SALE OF PROPERTY Friday, April 23rd, at 10:00 planrooms. Contact Aarron a.m., BS Storage, 16600 Hwy Lacey via email ALacey@ 29 W., Liberty Hill, TX. Unit bartlettcocke.com or phone (512) 326-4223 Phone to make 11, Johnathon Spires. arrangements.

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THE LIBERTY HILL INDEPENDENT

Thursday, April 9, 2020

SBA outlines options for small businesses during pandemic

By MIKE EDDLEMAN Managing Editor The federal government has rolled out a number of measures to provide assistance to small businesses impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, and the best place to start when looking for information is the Small Business Administration (SBA).

Mina Ramon, with the SBA San Antonio District Office said it is both simple and complicated to navigate everything out there today.

“As far as what the SBA is providing we do have four primary ways we are assisting with small businesses,” she said.

Those include the Economic Injury Disaster Loan Emergency Advance, SBA Express Bridge Loans, SBA Debt Relief and from the recently past CARES Act, the Paycheck Protection Program.

“With the disaster loans we also offer the SBA Express Bridge Loan because it does take some time to get these disaster loans, so this kind of bridges that gap,” said Ramon.

Some of the programs can turn into grants if businesses meet certain requirements on how funds are used, and others offer deferments on payments.

“We also have our debt relief program, so any SBA disaster loan or any of the current ones you would receive, we would defer the payment automatically for a year,” Ramon said.

“Then on several of our other loan programs we do have a six-month deferment on those payments as well.”

But before business owners jump to apply for loans or new programs, Ramon says there is an opportunity to have important conversations about their business.

“Our service that we recommend all businesses go through year round, whether there’s a crisis or not, is one of our resource partners,” she said. “Visit with one of our resource partners like the Texas State Small Business Development Center because they can help the small business work through a lot of the problems they are having.”

There may be changes that can be made that might mean not having to take out a loan.

“Sometimes businesses don’t realize they can cut some of their expenses in some places,” Ramon said. “It helps in reevaluating how they are doing things so we definitely recommend all businesses visit with our mentors because they do provide that sounding board for small business owners and they are free to use.”

But finding the right answer is not something that can be done universally, rather it varies dramatically from one business situation to another.

“It really is on a case by case basis and that’s one of the reasons we tell people to reach out to our business mentors or business advisors because they can have these confidential conversations with the business owner,” Ramon said. “A lot of businesses don’t quite understand how their finances work and some of the other options that could be available to

them. A business mentor or advisor will say ‘Why don’t you try this, or have you thought about that?’”

These advisors are able to often take a fresh look from a different perspective.

“It is good to have that sounding board and having someone not directly involved with you in the business that can help you make some of these decisions,” Ramon said. “A lot of times business owners run through with their blinders on because they’re so focused on what’s going on directly in their business that they don’t see some of the other options that are available.”

Regular online informational opportunities are also available to any small business owner looking for information or assistance.

“Right now our district office is doing several webinars throughout the week that provide all the resources that the SBA is providing to the small business community,” Ramon said. “Each of the webinars we’re offering right now with the COVID-19 small business resource webinars is the same exact information at each of the sessions, but whenever we do have updated information I go through and update that presentation with the most recent information available to us.”

When it’s all done, there is always an opportunity to ask questions.

“We go through our Powerpoint presentation, then we open it up for questions and that’s probably the most beneficial part to our webinars is that it offers a one-on-one experience,” Ramon said.

“We do it through Skype so we have our chat box and one of our team members goes through and answers questions through the chat box and then at the end of the presentation we open up the phone line so that people can ask their questions.”

HOBO

If a loan turns out to be the right option, the SBA understands that the process can be cumbersome and delayed, but there is an answer for that as well.

“The SBA does see that is a problem that small businesses may run into and that’s one of the reasons why as part of the CARES Act they implemented on the Economic Disaster Loan the loan advance,” Ramon said. “Through the loan application website, small businesses are able to opt in to this loan advance that will give them up to $10,000 in advance for their small business, and this advance does not need to be paid back. Essentially it would be a grant.

“It is the same thing with the Paycheck Protection Program,” she said. “We work with local lenders on this program and small businesses that utilize these funds, if 75 percent of the funds go to payroll, then these loans could be forgiven, again s long as it goes 75 percent to payroll.”

There have been issues with larger banks being able to process the Payroll Protection Program applications early on, but Ramon said there is another option.

“A lot of our local community lenders have that capability,” she said. “A lot of people don’t think about community lenders and they’re a great asset to the community.”

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a huge impact on businesses, said Ramon, adding the situation has been “very fluid” from the beginning.

“We’ve never seen an event like this,” she said. “Most of the time when we think of disaster, we think of a localized disaster like a hurricane. Even a large-scale hurricane like Harvey, that ripped through multiple states, was a large number of small businesses affected and we did our best to support them. With this crisis it is such a large scale com-

Continued from Page 3

The original plans, dating back to the purchase of the building nearly four years ago, mirrored a similar project in South Austin.

“We’ve done something similar in Southwest Austin,” he said. “We bought an old gas station, that’s now called Graceland Grocery, and it’s

pared to what we normally see. This is the entire nation’s economy and all the small businesses effected by this and they’re all trying to get assistance through our system.”

Applications have been reduced dramatically in length to help speed the process in hopes of accommodating more businesses and cut wait times.

“We’ve really decreased the requirements for small businesses to receive these loans because we’re trying to get the money into the hands of the owners,” she said. “Small businesses are the backbone of the economy, especially in smaller communities. They are feeling the impact of these businesses that are out because of the COVID-19 social distancing and everyone having to stay at home.”

Lastly, Ramon urges business owners be patient.

“It’s not what a lot of people want to hear, but be patient, all things will work out.”

The SBA website www.sba. gov/tx/sanantonio has detailed information on loan options and the application process, but below are some basic details of each of the primary programs available.

• Paycheck Protection Loan The Paycheck Protection Program is a loan designed to provide a direct incentive for small businesses to keep their workers on the payroll.

SBA will forgive loans if all employees are kept on the payroll for eight weeks and the money is used for payroll, rent, mortgage interest, or utilities.

You can apply through any existing SBA 7(a) lender or through any federally insured depository institution, federally insured credit union, and Farm Credit System institution that is participating. You should consult with your local lender as to whether it is participating in the program.

Lenders began processing loan applications April 3. The Paycheck Protection Program

will be available through June 30.

• Economic Injury Disaster Loan The SBA’s Economic Injury Disaster Loan provides economic support to small businesses to help overcome the temporary loss of revenue they are experiencing as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

This program is for any small business with less than 500 employees (including sole proprietorships, independent contractors and self-employed persons), private non-profit organization or 501(c)(19) veterans organizations affected by COVID-19.

The Economic Injury Disaster Loan advance funds will be made available within days of a successful application, and this loan advance will not have to be repaid.

• Express Bridge Loan Pilot Program Express Bridge Loan Pilot Program allows small businesses who currently have a business relationship with an SBA Express Lender to access up to $25,000 quickly.

These loans can provide economic support to small businesses to help overcome the temporary loss of revenue they are experiencing and can be a term loan or used to bridge the gap while applying for a direct SBA Economic Injury Disaster loan. If a small business has an urgent need for cash while waiting for decision and disbursement on an Economic Injury Disaster Loan, they may qualify for an SBA Express Disaster Bridge Loan.

• SBA Debt Relief The SBA will automatically pay the principal, interest, and fees of current 7(a), 504, and microloans for a period of six months.

The SBA will also automatically pay the principal, interest, and fees of new 7(a), 504, and microloans issued prior to September 27.

this really cool, funky gas station with a great location and it had been for sale. We bought it because we didn’t want it to get torn down to build a giant

7-11. What we ended up doing was acquiring all the land behind it and now it is a wedding event venue and we lease it out.

It is a very Austin grocery with all types of cool stuff. It’s still a gas station and then they do barbecue and then weddings in the back. We felt like we were able to make an investment that would turn out okay, but we knew we were preserving something cool and unique.”

That same inspiration came to Price when he saw Hobo Junction, and while the plans have been downsized some and delayed over time, the plan to preserve Hobo Junction is as determined as ever.

“When we saw Hobo Junction we thought it was perfect,” he said. “It is such a cool building, locals love it, and we thought we could build on what we have here. Our goal was actually to buy all the real estate behind and adjacent to it. My thought was to make the whole thing a park with a music venue, maybe a little kids train track and an outdoor bar, then Hobo Junction would serve as food service for the whole facility. Obviously we’d still love to do that, but I can’t force people to sell their property.”

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INTERSECTION

control we need in the area and it also gives us safety controls.”

The plan will alter the Loop coming from the east toward CR 279 to create a T-intersection with a three-way stop.

Traffic coming into downtown from CR 279 would be able to turn right onto the Loop or continue into downtown after a stop. Drivers entering downtown from the east on Loop 332 will be able to continue right on the Loop with a yield or turn left onto CR 279 after a stop. Traffic leaving downtown will be able to continue south on CR 279 or turn left and continue on the Loop fol-

THE LIBERTY HILL INDEPENDENT

Continued from Page 1

lowing a stop.

To assist with traffic control at the intersection and designate the continued right into downtown from the Loop, a triangular median will be constructed at the intersection.

The project replaces a plan scrapped by the Council in May 2019 to construct a roundabout at the intersection. The City spent close to $400,000 on engineering for the project and awarded a bid in April 2019 for $1,372,104 for the roundabout and adjacent parking lot project on the laundromat property.

Under the new plan, the intersection and parking lot come

in at a combined projected cost of $1.2 million.

The parking lot has been separated from the intersection work as it has already begun as part of a larger downtown street and utility project totaling $1.2 million.

“In this we’re also doing two and a half of the roads downtown, replacing water lines and sewer lines downtown,” Hall said. “All these projects we’re doing now are more expensive than the roundabout, but it’s also better used money than the roundabout and we’re getting better use of it by repairing water lines and sewer lines and services downtown

for our citizens and not just a traffic circle that has been mentioned several times as having a pretty look to have coming into our city.”

Hall said the project specifically includes the parking lot, Van Alley parking, utilities for Barton, Aynsworth, a new water line going down CR 279, resurfacing of those roads, and completion of Munro.

The Independent requested the breakdown of the projects by cost and Hall said he would gather the information for a clearer picture of the work being done.

“The $1.4 million for the roundabout actually included

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Page 7

the washateria parking and the roundabout,” Hall said. “I’m just trying to get you apples to apples. All those other things are additional things we filled in outside what the roundabout bid was.”

Council member Tony DeYoung regularly voiced concerns for both vehicles and pedestrians at the intersection wanting the Council to pursue a solution, specifically pointing to the pending opening of the splash pad at Wetzel Park on the southeast corner of the intersection and the anticipated increased pedestrian traffic.

Through traffic modeling, Hall said engineers deter-

mined the three-way stop sign at the intersection would manage the traffic flow well.

“We actually took the traffic counts we got from the engineers, they sent them over to Steger Bizzell, and they modeled it with the traffic counts and this was basically what they came up,” Hall said.

Cross walks will also be installed allowing pedestrians parking in the new lot on the laundromat property to safely cross Loop 332 to reach Wetzel Park.

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Page 8

COMMERCIAL good on Highway 29, and we are excited to be in Liberty Hill for the long haul,” Farr said.

“We’re excited to not be in a strip center anymore and have our own standalone building.

It’ll be good growth potential for us in this area.”

The building, which should be completed by September, will look very similar to Texas Pawn & Jewelry’s Leander location, which Farr said takes people by surprise when they realize it’s a pawn shop.

“We’ll have a nice rock facade on the front and exterior, and on the inside, we’ll have beautiful cases and counters,” he added.

Main Street Social Since its groundbreaking in January 2019, the Main Street Social food hall project has been moving along slowly but surely. Currently, the project is in full construction mode, with steel and framing going up on the building, and the parking lot recently being completed with 220 spaces.

The flagship within the food hall, Moonie’s Burgers, is still on board, as are all the other vendors that previously committed, including a deli, fishand-chips vendor and a pizza place.

Owners James and Tambra Prince have made a few changes to the project here and there over the last several months, such as adding two more food stalls for future vendors. While they don’t have specific vendors promised to those spaces yet, the plan is for one stall to sell ice cream and the other to be a “pop-up” style stall, where various vendors can utilize the space to sell their goods.

“We wanted to make this stall an opportunity for people trying to start their business,” said James Prince. “We can do a short-term lease there and give them a lot of flexibility.”

Previously, the Princes planned on having a sit-down restaurant inside the food hall as well, but they have since decided to hold off on that portion of the project for now.

“We moved the restaurant out of the main food hall because while we know we have plenty of places for people to park, we didn’t think there’d be enough space for people to sit and eat,” he said. “We pulled the restaurant out of there and our goal is to put 50 seats in our greenhouse when we build it, which will be phase two of the project.”

The greenhouse, which won’t be built until after the food hall is complete, will be 6,000 square feet and will house a restaurant that will function like a traditional supper club, he added.

“We’ll plan to be open a couple weekends a month, and we’ll get a chef out of Austin or Houston to come out and take over the kitchen with farm-totable, scratch-made food,” he said.

The Princes have also put in a 32,000-gallon water reclamation system, which will be used for irrigation, a toll booth they’ll fashion to serve outdoor drinks from, as well as a reclaimed windmill for novelty.

Tambra Prince said they’re placing a major focus on the outdoor part of the food hall in order to have a place for community events and outdoor games, individual pod areas, a tot lot for small children, and another play area for kids age 7 and up. Outdoor games will include tether ball, corn hole and even a life-size chess board.

The soft opening for Main Street Social is scheduled for mid-September, with a hard opening by Oct. 1.

“If our vendors aren’t ready, we’ll back it up, and, if we’re feeling really ready, we may open sooner,” James Prince said. “We want to make sure we’re all in sync.”

Other commercial projects Ground has been broken and the pad sites are in place for two 20,000-square-foot buildings at Vista at 29, a mixed-use project on the Highway 29 corridor that is expected to bring retail, restaurants and office space to the area. The development will be located approximately a mile west of Ronald Reagan Boulevard and two miles east of Highway 183.

Ryan Perry, broker and vice president at leasing agent Asterra, said the first two buildings should be completed by September, and he is working with tenants on signing the first letters of intent on the retail

THE LIBERTY HILL INDEPENDENT

Continued from Page 1

lease spaces and the office and retail purchase options.

“We expect to have a great mix of professional office, retail, drive-thru restaurants and ‘sit down, stay a while’ restaurants,” Perry said. “This is a great opportunity to purchase or lease in a fantastic mixeduse development on a high traffic street in one of the fastest growing areas of Austin.”

Highway 29 Office Park, located at 14001 W. SH 29 in Liberty Hill, is owned by Youngquist Investments. Current tenants in the office park include KLM Design Build; Islet and Goertz Homebuilders; Vita Nova Counseling; and Preferred Elite Construction. Perry said he plans on having two more leases signed by the end of April.

As of now, there are no new tenants or leases signed at Water Tower Center, at 14125 W. SH 29 in Liberty Hill, or The Shops at San Gabriel Ridge on Highway 183 in north Leander, said Monique Rivera,

broker with Asterra, but she is still actively looking for new tenants to add.

“At The Shops at San Gabriel, we would love any medical tenants, a nail shop, a tanning shop, yoga, martial arts, or ice cream,” she said. “At Water Tower we would love more medical [tenants], ice cream, a hair salon, dentist, orthodontist, martial arts, yoga, or a gym.”

Panther Plaza, located at the northeast corner of SH 29 and County Road 200, has been complete since October 2019, but has yet to sign any tenants. Phil Morris, assistant vice president of RESOLUT RE!, formerly known as Retail Solutions, said the building remains in shell condition, ready for tenant improvements.

“We’re working with at least one prospect right now that is an ‘essential service’ and hope to be able to move them forward,” he said. “With all of the craziness around, things have definitely slowed but not to a

complete halt.”

Jardin Plaza, located next door to Mexican restaurant Jardin Corona at 15395 W. SH 29, is being developed by JLB Real Estate. Francisco Puebla, co-owner of developer JLB Real Estate and manager of Jardin Corona, said the building will consist of six units total ranging from 1,500 to 2,000 square feet each.

The project has been under construction since fall 2019 and was originally set to be completed this month. Delays in construction have postponed the project, and it should now be completed within the next few months.

The 183 Highlands Retail Center, located on Highway 183 heading north into Liberty Hill, still has just one tenant: a dental office called #thesmiledoc. In addition to the retail center, commercial pad sites and an office park are also a part of the mixed-use development.

Tawney Stedman, broker with

Thursday, April 9, 2020

Capella, said construction has just been completed on Building A in the Highlands Office Park, which has units 750 to 9,100 square feet available for purchase or lease. Building B, which is 5,500 square feet, will be completed in August.

Signed on to a couple of the commercial pad sites are Trillium Montessori, a childcare center, slated to open in fall 2020; and Paws Landing, a luxury dog daycare, groomer and indoor dog park, which has recently started clearing land.

“As for COVID-19, activity has been slower than usual, but has shifted on our office condos from small users to purchasing larger spaces and full buildings,” Stedman said. “[We’ve had] many inquiries from medical users and investors wanting smaller properties.”

Two other projects, both along Highway 29, just broke ground within the last few weeks. The first project is be-

ing done by Georgetown-based Jimmy Jacobs Construction, just to the east of Meridell Achievement Center. It will be a standalone building for Comanche, Texas-based Higginbotham Brothers, a hardware store that provides lumber, building materials, paint, lawn and garden supplies and more, said Jerrod Worsham, owner of Jimmy Jacobs Construction. Higginbotham Brothers has been around since 1881 and has dozens of stores across Texas. Worsham estimates the Liberty Hill project will be completed in approximately nine months.

The other project is being completed by Plano-based Huffman Builders, just to the east of Indian Mound Ranch.

The construction company could not be reached by press time for additional information.