Here is a recap of what was featured in the Wednesday, May 17, e-edition of the Taylor Press. The e-edition is emailed to subscribers and available at www. taylorpress.net.
ETJ OPT-OUT BILL COULD MEAN NO LAWSUIT FOR TAYLOR
Attorney Bill Cobb and co-counsel Chris Johns have been talking with residents for several months about a potential mass-action civil filing against the city regarding limitedgrowth and no-growth restrictions on Taylor’s fringes, which property owners say prevents them from selling their land at fair-market rates.
The recent passage of Senate Bill 2038 in both the upper chamber and the state House may negate any legal maneuvering because it paves the way for landowners to petition a city to leave an ETJ.
The bill awaits Gov. Greg Abbott’s signature.
Realtor Alice Duffy joined the two attorneys at the library.
Cobb, who helped with the language of SB 2038, described the measure as a wellcrafted bill that “closes all loopholes that the city of Taylor could use to get around it.
BALLOT BOX SECURITY QUESTIONED
WILCO – Some citizens are concerned about the potential for election fraud. Section 127.1232(b) of the Texas Election Code now requires a video recording system be placed in all areas containing ballots.
Elections administrator for Williamson County Chris Davis said his department added temporary and permanent surveillance cameras in each storage room. But the founder of True Texas Elections, LLC Laura Pressley said one hallway did not have a camera and that was an issue.
DISTRICTS RAMPING UP SCHOOL SAFETY
On May 5, schools across the country responded to an internet threat that turned out to be a large-scale hoax.
Hutto Independent School District was one of the many affected by the threat, and they used their Parent Square app to quickly alert parents about the hoax.
Hutto ISD recently purchased three weapon detection scanning machines to be used at the high school and Ninth Grade Center entrances.
They are also purchasing wearable panic devices, which can support emergency communications and potentially improve threat response times and increase the height on all school fences from four feet to six feet.
Hutto and Taylor districts are both investing in ballistic window film, a coating for street facing windows that strengthens glass against ordinance.
DUCKS CROWNED AREA CHAMPS
WACO – The Taylor High School varsity baseball team’s lategame comeback Friday, May 12 gave the Ducks the edge over the Robinson Rockets to win the Area Championship in Waco.
The Ducks found themselves a 3-1 hole heading into the sixth inning and scored four unanswered runs in the last two innings to win the game.
With the Area Championship behind them, the Ducks prepared for their next series, a best-of-three regional quarterfinals against Salado High School that started Thursday, May 18 at Georgetown East View High School. The Ducks won game one.
TEACHER LONGEVITY REWARDS APPROVED
HUTTO – Hutto Independent School District approved monetary bonuses for those who have reached a five-year milestone of continuous employment in the district during the 2022-23 school year. The bonuses will be awarded in June.
“These numbers are not easy, especially with the budget that we have currently but it’s a statement and a reminder that this board truly is behind them,” said board member Terrence Owens.
The approved plan calls for teachers who are celebrating their fifth year in the district to receive a $250 stipend and those celebrating their tenth to receive a $500 stipend. Amounts increase for every additional five-year anniversary up to $2,250 for those who have served 30 years and beyond.
Only teachers who are celebrating a fiveyear increment will receive the bonus this year, a total of 131. That leaves the majority of teachers waiting another year or more to receive the bonus, including 19 teachers with over 20 years of experience each.
