Here is a recap of what was featured in the Wednesday, Sept. 14, e-edition of the Taylor Press. The e-edition is mailed to subscribers and available at www.taylorpress.net.
INTERACTIVE EXHIBITS, SWAG AND JOBS AT EXPO
Pot roast samples from Sirloin Stockade, virtual reality games from Workforce Development Rural Capital Area, chirping baby chicks from Sweet Eats Fruit Farm.
These were just a few of the myriad delights enjoyed by area residents of all ages Saturday, Sept. 10 at the Greater Taylor Chamber of Commerce’s Business Expo & Job Fair at the Williamson County Expo Center. Hundreds of local families, employment seekers and others came out to this free annual event to visit the booths of more than 60 vendors at the fair who offered door prizes, swag, music, food, interactive exhibits as well as information on area job openings from Samsung Austin Semiconductor, Epcor Utilities, Durcon, Ancira Salsa, DDP Motorsports and more.
Workforce Solutions Rural Capital Area was one of the vendors on hand sharing information about the free childcare, as well as the training and recruitment services they provide — and showing off the virtual reality headsets they use for everything from welding to public safety instruction.
Career & Technical Education students Josh Lopez and Kalee Sandoval were also on hand with their instructor Marvin Kroft at the Taylor Independent School District’s booth to talk about their experiences with the welding
program.
PATRIOT DAY REMEMBERED IN TAYLOR
One of the country’s most tragic day has not been forgotten in Taylor.
“On Sept. 11, 2001, America stood still,” said Councilmember Robert Garcia. “Everyone knows when and where they were at. That is etched in our minds forever.”
Garcia and others offered those sentiments and more during Taylor’s Patriot Day March & Program Sunday. It marked the 20th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks. Numerous area first responders participated in the march down Main Street near sunset.
In addition to Taylor police and fire departments including Avery-Pickett Volunteer Fire Department, vehicles and representatives were sent from Thrall, Granger, Hutto, Bartlett, Sam Bass, Pflugerville, Georgetown, Elgin, Austin Fire, Texas Department of Public Safety, Williamson County Constable Precinct 4, Round Rock, Coupland and Jarrell.
Chris Connealy, Williamson County director of Emergency Services, spoke about where he was when he heard about the attacks. At the time, he was fire chief at the Houston Fire Department. Like many major metropolitan cities on 9/11, false threats of more attacks ran rampant across the nation.
Taylor’s 9/11 remembrance ended shortly after sunset at Heritage Square.
CITY APPROVES DRAINAGE PLAN, HIRES DRAINAGE TEAM
At the Sept. 8 meeting, the Taylor City Council unanimously approved adopting the final Drainage Master Plan, prepared by HALFF Associates, Inc. The plan includes documentation and analysis of drainage problems, complaints, flooding hotspots as well as $35 million in projects as proposed solutions that could be incorporated into the city’s Capital Improvement Project (CIP) plan, as well as proposed new fees to fund portions of these improvements.
The largest planned improvement is a three-phased, $6 million project to build a regional stormwater detention facility, as well as a new storm drain system and other improvements for the Donna Channel, which HAALF describes as “currently undersized” and causes stormwater flows to exceed channel banks and go out toward Davis Street until it reaches Bull Branch.
According to the report, this project would alleviate flooding on Davis Street, and Drake and Mallard Lanes.
The second largest is a $5 million project to build a new drainage system to mitigate flooding at Kimbro and Shaw streets, which “experience significant ponding during large storm events from West Eighth Street to Second Street,” according to the report.
In addition to the Drainage Master Plan, the city council also allocated money in this year’s budget for new employees from the Municipal Drainage Utility System (MDUS), which is funded through a fee based on impervious cover for businesses and residences.
SAYCHEESE TO LAUNCH A FOOD TRUCK
SayCheese will soon be taking to the road in their new mobile grilling machine. According to organization president Corey Graef, the non-profit purchased the used food trailer in August, and it is currently being painted and made road-ready for a predicted start date of late October or early November.
SayCheese is a 501(c)3 serving people with disabilities including autism, down syndrome and intellectual development disability. Graef said the program is open to those age 17 and up. The participants are referred to as team members, and SayCheese currently has team members who live in Taylor, Thrall, Hutto, Thorndale, Granger and Elgin.
In addition to socialization, the hand-on training helps team members learn marketable skills. Team members have found volunteer positions and paid employment in the food service and hospitality industries.
