HIPPO BITES
Little bits of big news
EDIE ZUVANICH Special to the Press
Pressure on TCEQ for water treatment plant HUTTO — Earlier this year both Hutto Independent School District and Hutto City Council submitted letters to Texas Commission on Environmental Quality protesting an application submitted by developers to build a wastewater plant on Limmer Loop in front of Veterans Hill Elementary School.
Ashley Bailey, Hutto director of development services, explained during an earlier council meeting that the developers had chosen to build their own wastewater plant to service their pending housing subdivision because the city of Hutto would require the developer to pay the costs associated with bringing new wastewater services to the area. She also said the developers contacted Round Rock for wastewater services but were denied.
The location of the future housing development is in Hutto ISD but is part of the Round Rock extra-territorial jurisdiction.
Hundreds of community members contacted TCEQ to protest the application, initiating a public hearing to be scheduled before the final decision could be made on the permit.
“TCEQ set a public meeting that was going to be at their offices in Austin in the middle of the day on a weekday,” said Henry Gideon, HISD assistant superintendent for operations and safety. Gideon said he contacted State Representative Caroline Harris and she is working with TCEQ to conduct the public hearing after hours at a Hutto school campus to ensure community members can be present to share their concerns.
No date has been set as of yet.
Hutto seeking pie eaters
Registration is now open for the 38th Annual Hutto Olde Tyme Days pie eating contest, featuring pies from Texan Café and Pie Shop. The pie eating contest is a popular part of the yearly event, according to the Hutto Chamber of Commerce.
This year the family-friendly festival is Saturday Oct. 14 from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. in downtown Hutto.
The fair will feature a car show from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The car show is free to the public. Car enthusiasts wanting to show off their wheels pay a $20 entry fee. The contest will have awards, according to the Chamber of Commerce.
Local dance groups, possibly a martial arts demonstration and other performances will begin at 11 a.m. Five live music bands will fill the air, the first band taking the stage at 1 p.m. The event also has entertainment and games scheduled for children.
Registrations are still being accepted for vendors and sponsors. For more information visit huttochamber.com New business flocking to Hutto While large new developments come to Hutto with great fanfare like Academy Sports + Outdoor, scheduled to open in November, there are a multitude of smaller businesses announcing their arrival almost every week in Hutto’s business-friendly neighborhoods.
Tex-Mex restaurant Chuy’s recently announced they would open in Hutto’s Townwest Commons development center. No opening date has been set yet.
Einstein Bros. Bagels recently opened in the same area, 720 State Highway 79, Suite 200.
Mighty Fine Burgers, Fries and Shakes is now serving fried avocado sandwiches and country-fried burgers at 310 Ed Schmidt Blvd.
The historic downtown area will welcome The Hutto Wine Bar at 105 East St. in October. Hutto ordinances allow for walking through downtown carrying a glass of wine, and the shop will sell wine by the glass and bottle as well as winepaired snacks.
A bevy of beauty professionals are setting up shop at Next Salon Gallery, 3333 CR 119, Suite 1. The gallery is a megasalon offering spaces to aestheticians of all types.
Sweet Lash Wax and Med-Spa is the latest hot spot for waxing, Botox and laser treatments. It opened at 111 Co-op Blvd.
The popularity of off-road vehicles drove Krawltex to open their business at 3333 CR 119, Suite 46. They do custom fabrication work as well as classic restoration, specializing in offroad vehicles.
In addition to the above, yoga enthusiasts, pet lovers and foodies of all types have seen an influx of businesses catering to them this year with many more in the permitting process.
