City of Hutto bond propositions

Written by Patrick Brendel Friday, 09 October 2009 13:01

City of Hutto bond propositions

Proposition 1

$8.5 million for transportation projects

• Farley, Taylor, East, West and Metcalf streets will be widened by installing a curb-and-gutter system. The change will make room for on-street parking, sidewalks, and landscaping.
• Mager Lane will receive curb and gutter, sidewalks and a continuous turn lane.
• Center turn lanes will be added to Front Street at the intersection of Jim Cage Lane and Front Street.
• Sidewalks will be installed on FM 1660 near Farley Middle and Ray Elementary schools.

Proposition 2

$3.3 million for Fritz Park, future parks, park facilities and open space acquisition

• Fritz Park would receive new internal walking paths, a concession stand, fan seating, press boxes and restroom facilities. Existing football and baseball fields would be reoriented so visitors can access different parts of the park easily.
• The money would also fund new picnic pad sites, playground equipment, trails, park entrance, road, concession stand, bleachers and press boxes. The existing tennis courts, now used to store parks and recreation department equipment, would also be reopened for game play.

Proposition 3

$6 million for a sports complex

• City officials are reviewing several potential sites for the six soccer and five baseball/softball fields proposed, including one site adjacent to the Williamson County Landfill that could be donated or favorably leased to the city by the county, said Mike Hemker, parks and recreation department director.

Proposition 4

$5 million for a recreation center

• The YMCA of Williamson County approached the city about a recreation center partnership, said city finance manager Micah Grau. The terms of the agreement have not been finalized, he said, but could include a situation in which the city builds the proposed 25,000 sq. ft. facility with an indoor swimming pool then leases it to the YMCA to operate.

City charter amendments

Three proposed amendments to Hutto’s home-rule charter, which was first adopted in 2004 and last amended in 2006, will also be included on the ballot Nov. 3.

Proposition 1

• This amendment would change council member and mayor terms from two years to three years and provide a method for the transition.
• Council members in Places 1, 4 and 5 will draw lots to determine which member will serve until 2012. The other two members will be up for election in 2011.
• Places 2, 3 and 6, which are up for election in 2010, will also draw lots to decide one place that will serve a two-year term—from 2010 to 2012.
• The position of mayor will begin three-year terms with the 2010 election.

Proposition 2

• Currently, Hutto’s charter does not allow family members of the mayor or council members to serve in unpaid positions for the city, such as on an advisory board. This amendment would change the language to read that family members may not be employed by the city.

Proposition 3

• The final charter amendment proposes that the city carry blanket crime coverage for any city employee who handles money, meaning the city would have insurance against theft by the covered employees.

Source: Debbie Chelf, Hutto city secretary/records management officer