HIPPO BITES Little bits of big news
Hutto library starts seed program
HUTTO — More than 200 varieties of seeds are now available for free in the Hutto Public Library, 500 W. Live Oak, for those who want to try their hand at growing their own food and flowers.
The initiative started with a kick-off event Monday featuring a master gardener to answer planting questions.
“Our new HPL Seed Library, sponsored by our Friends of the Hutto Public Library group, is a community resource designed to promote gardening, sustainability and empower people to grow their own food,” said Library Director Kristin Phillips. “As our library and community grow, the seed library serves as a visual reminder of how we are growing together.”
Community members can take up to three seed packets per household each week at no cost, no library card needed. The public is also encouraged to bring either purchased or self-harvested seeds to the library to donate and keep the program growing.
Library officials say the mission of the seed library is to create a healthier and more selfreliant community. They hope the project will help reduce food insecurity and promote nutrition by enabling residents to grow a portion of their own food.
Overnight road closure Sept. 29
Traffic will be reduced to one lane from 9 p.m. Sept. 29 through 5 a.m. the following morning. The affected areas are Limmer Loop on both sides of FM 1660 and 1660 from Mager Lane to Cockrill Street. Police will help control traffic as work crews continue with paving and striping work. Motorists should avoid the intersection or be prepared for delays.
Enter your spooky house
Hutto’s annual Halloween house decorating contest will be kicking off next month. Residents have until Oct. 16 to enter their decorated homes. This year’s categories include best use of motion or animation, best theme related to classic monsters or “Monster Mash,” best theme related to a Halloween movie and best use of a Hippo, the town mascot.
Awards will be announced on Oct. 26 during the city’s annual parks and recreation Halloween event: Frights at Orgain will be held at Adam Orgain Park, 1001 CR 137. It starts at 5 p.m. for sensory-friendly trick or treating, and opens for everyone at 5:30 p.m. The free event includes vendor booths, games and prizes.
Council considers expanding boards to noncitizens
With the renaming of its former diversity
advisory board to the Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging Commission, City Council members are also considering whether a person needs to be a U.S. citizen to serve on some municipal boards.
During a recent meeting, Mayor Pro Tem Peter Gordon broached whether the increased number of foreign nationals moving to Hutto should be eligible for membership on the DEI&B commission, the Parks Advisory Board and the Library Advisory Board.
Those boards and commissions are purely advisory, with final decisions being made by the council on their recommendations, unlike other commissions such as Planning and Zoning and the Economic Development Corp. with some limited authority to act on their own.
Mayor Mike Snyder has asked whether membership comes down to being a U.S. citizen or being able to vote.
Most of the city’s boards require residence within the city limits and the ability to vote in elections.
The item will be up for discussion again at a future meeting.
