Liberty Hill digest
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IN THIS ISSUE Around Town | Welcome McCoy’s Business | LH EDC on Growth and Development Experience Liberty Hill | The “Venmo” Challenge
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INSIDE FAVORITES 4
EXPERIENCE LIBERTY HILL RockPointe Church Venmo Challenge
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WORTH THE DRIVE Taylor Rodeo • July 15-17
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AROUND TOWN Welcome McCoy’s Liberty Hill
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WHAT MAKES TEXAS “TEXAS”? Traveling Like a Texan
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SIT-REP Talking Property Taxes with Rep. Terry Wilson
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FACTS TO BLOW YOUR MIND Time Warps
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BELLE CHIMES IN Tweeting Like Its 1776
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FOOD Revolutionary Recipes
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PARTING SHOT Live at Agape BBQ
12 WORTH THE DRIVE Get your big buckles, and buckle up for a trip to Taylor for the Rodeo... July 15-17. photo courtesy of Shelby Lynn Photography
FEATURES 5 NON-PROFIT SPOTLIGHT Hill Country Bowhunters
10 BUSINESS & DEVELOPMENT EDC President, Matt Powell
10 LIBERTY HILL GROWTH EDC Executive Director Matt Powell talks about what’s coming to Liberty Hill.
18 MCCOY’S OPENING DAY McCoy’s—showing their community spirit— donated to several Liberty Hill non-profits as they opened their doors on the first day of business. J U LY 2 0 2 1 L I B E R T Y H I L L D I G E ST
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Liberty Hill digest
Published by Fidelis Publishing Group, LLC
PUBLISHER
EXECUTIVE EDITOR Ann Marie Kennon
Cathy Payne
COMMUNITY EDITOR
Megan Diane Beatty
Megan, a mom of two, has been a part of the Liberty Hill community for 11 years. Originally trained as a nurse, today, she channels her passion to help others into throwing birthday parties for kids battling cancer. Megan’s other passion is running, and that same zest for life flows into her writing and sharing the inspiring stories of Liberty Hill. SENIOR WRITER Charlotte Kovalchuk CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Greta Bauer GRAPHICS & DESIGN Zion Pistole • Ann Marie Kennon CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS Kendra Cofer • Charlotte Kovalchuk • Megan Diane Beatty SOCIAL MEDIA DIRECTOR • Jenny Campbell ACCOUNT SERVICES • Debbie Tolliver DISTRIBUTION • David Schumacher IT/WEBMASTER • Jesse Payne CONSULTANT • W. Ben Daniel
ADVERTISING Jenny Campbell 254-251-9167 (Cell) 512-598-6538 (Direct) jenny@lhtxdigest.com
Liberty Hill Digest is a Fidelis Publishing Group, LLC publication. Copyright © 2021 All rights reserved. Liberty Hill Digest is published monthly and mailed USPS, free of charge, to homes and businesses in Liberty Hill, TX zip codes. Mail may be sent to Liberty Hill Digest, P.O. Box 213, Jarrell, TX 76537.
Email: info@lhtxdigest.com
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EDITOR’S NOTE | MEGAN DIANE BEATTY Dear Readers, We’ve made it to July! That means summer is in full swing and we’re through the first half of 2021. It seems, as each year passes, time gets faster and faster and I am not ready for school to start back up just yet. I may feel different about that in August, but for now, I am enjoying sun rays and relaxing pool days. While we’re talking Summer, I’m happy to share Hill Country Bowhunters’ solution to getting our kids away from sitting on the couch in front of a screen and out into the great outdoors with archery. I hope you also enjoy reading about how our new building supply store is already building relationships and making an impact in Liberty Hill. After learning more about the store’s mission, I am impressed with what they stand for and I am proud to support our new local McCoy’s. As well, RockPointe Church‘s passion for helping others is every bit of touching and inspiring. This church family is doing so much good that it makes you want to mirror that same good. You’ll also want to hear what Representative Terry Wilson has to say about the Texas Legislature’s role in property taxes. This month we address the basics in what will be a multi-part series to help educate those who struggle to read the complicated letters we get from the government and people who are new to the Texas way of taxing. I have to add, when you have the opportunity to not only eat amazing barbecue but cover the live music scene in town while a Journey tribute band happens to be playing, you go all in with ‘open arms.’ Happy Independence Day Liberty Hill! I hope you all enjoyed a safe, fun, and poppin’ Fourth of July.
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experience liberty Hill
by Megan Diane Beatty megan@lhtxdigest.com
The Venmo Challenge
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RockPointe Pastor Shayne O’Brien and a few team members in Louisiana, helping rebuild after Hurricane Laura.
ast Fall, a woman in Tennessee went viral on TikTok, asking followers to Venmo her any amount of money so she could leave a good tip at a struggling restaurant. After sharing a $3,000 tip with three servers, she continued her fundraising efforts... and started a trend.
photo courtesy Adam Stone
Venmo is a mobile app that does not charge a service fee to facilitate peer-to-peer money transactions.
BUT WAIT... In Liberty Hill, after a long year managing lockdowns, anxiety, and myriad needs, Pastor Shayne O’Brien and RockPointe Church’s creative team challenged members to do the same. They were asked to give $50,000 to help individuals and families for Christmas. The team had some families in mind with specific needs for their physical and emotional health but the church response was greater than what anyone might have expected. The church collected donations through the app to help individuals and businesses struggling to survive during the slowdown. Worship leader Adam Stone said, “During the pandemic so many people needed help. Instead of being overwhelmed with the great need we tried to focus on helping those we could in big and small ways. If God put them in our path, we helped them through the Venmo challenge.” Having received a little celebrity help to overwhelm the coffers—actor Brian Baumgartner, (Kevin on NBC’s “The Office”), Chuck Norris, and Santa, helped the church family raise $62,657—the generosity continued well beyond the Christmas season. 4
Among the beneficiaries of their holiday campaign was a man who received a dental makeover to improve his health, and hope to improve his career prospects. Another family was able to travel to Colorado to share snow with their two sons born with cystic fibrosis. Among the other 200plus stories are families who received hope and help for adoptions and new homes.
THERE’S MORE... Not content to stop with one great holiday success, the church initiated a new campaign; to raise $25,000 between Easter and Mother’s Day to help The Yellow House Foundation build a new home. The Yellow House Foundation (YHF) is a non-profit, volunteer-driven, and free program that provides 12 Step Programs for recovery of alcohol and substance abuse in Leander, Cedar Park & surrounding Williamson County area. Due to the growth of the area and an increase in the number of sufferers seeking support they are working to expand their capacity beyond their current 43 meetings per week.
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“Helping people and their families have the tools to heal from life’s hurts is our passion and our purpose.” Says Pastor Shayne O’Brien. True to form, the church hit their goal and kept going beyond $25,000.
WAYS TO GIVE RockPointe Church hopes to create a ripple effect of good, not just within their church but across the nation. “There is so much opportunity, whether it is to help a neighbor down the street with a utility bill, a teacher at the school, or a single mom who is doing this thing on her own. Our pastor always says ‘do for one, what you can’t do for everyone’ and we live by that at RockPointe.” Church leaders are not managing campaigns at this time but they encourage everyone to find ways to help anyone in need. All it takes is a quick ‘ask’ about a potential benefactor’s Venmo name. Think of it as a 21st century—and digitally secure—version of “Brother, can you spare a dime?”
by Megan Diane Beatty • megan@lhtxdigest.com photos courtesy Hill Country Bowhunters
non-profit
Love of Outdoors— Guaranteed For Hill Country Bowhunters, hunting is optional
O THIS ORGANIZATION CARES GREATLY ABOUT FAMILY VALUES AND MAKING SURE OUR YOUTH HAVE ALL THE OPPORTUNITIES WE CAN GIVE THEM, BOTH IN AND BEYOND OUR MONTHLY GATHERINGS. THEY HAVE AND WILL CONTINUE TO DO SO MANY GREAT THINGS IN OUR COMMUNITY. ~O ffut t Fa mi ly fo u n d at io n
ver the past few decades, children’s relationships with the great outdoors and nature has changed dramatically. The national panic about kids spending too much time indoors has become so extreme that the crisis even has a name: Nature Deficit Disorder. Fortunately, one local organization is working hard to change that. Hill Country Bowhunters is a family-oriented group of volunteers who care greatly about family values and making sure our youth are introduced to outdoor activities—including, but not limited to archery. They provide opportunities for our youth to participate in activities not in front of a screen while coming together with family and friends in a safe outdoor environment . Kids adapt archery skills but also learn responsibility by maintaining their equipment, practicing often, and being a supporting member of the organization through volunteer work.
ACTIVITIES One of the larger activities HCB organizes is a group hunt and camp outing for the kids and their families at Arrowhead Ranch. Volunteer Caren Hasty says, “It is a great way to strengthen families and share our message about the positive effect of outdoor activities on children. It’s a time to unplug and leave the stress of school and life behind them for a while. Each kid not only gets to enjoy exploring the ranch with family and friends, but they also get to harvest an exotic animal from a pre-selected list provided by the ranch owners.” After hearing about the amazing things this organization is doing in Liberty Hill, HCB was awarded a $5,000 Community Builder grant from the Offutt Family Foundation and R.D Offutt Company.
BE A PART OF IT Albert Hasty, President of Hill Country Bowhunters says, “We are always searching for new places for the kids. If you are a land owner and are interested in helping us by offering the youth a place to hunt, fish, or simply spend the afternoon learning about the outdoors, we are eager to hear from you.” HCB hosts eight 3D archery tournaments annually and all proceeds are directed to the youth hunt program. Scan the code if you are interested in sponsoring, volunteering, becoming a member or to sign up for a tournament.
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adve rto rial
ADVERTORIAL COURAGE CHEER & DANCE UNITED
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IT’S LIKE NO OTHER SPORT
he strong sense of family and community fostered by owners and coaches Justin and Lauren Johnson is just part of what gives the 200-plus athletes and members at Courage Cheer & Dance United a sense of confidence and trust.
COACHES Their love for and accomplishments in gymnastics and cheerleading led the Johnsons to open the gym in 2011 with a goal of training elite-level athletes. Lauren, a former teacher, says, “This is like no other sport—it’s art and athleticism at its best.” They also went above and beyond to be certified to provide supportive child care for rural and lower-income families. Justin says, “We have a great Summer Day Camp with themed classes, plus open gym nights and birthday parties. During the school year we will grow to 250 kids, and our after-school kids receive the same quality training as our competitive athletes. We also plan to restart our Friday Night lockins for the next school year.” Lauren agrees, “The gym is like a family; we treat every kid and parent like a member of our own family. We want each to feel the love we have for the sport and the athletes. I can’t wait to get there every day to help them do things they didn’t think they could. We push them to push themselves mentally and physically and, of course, to have courage.”
ATHLETES The gym’s competitive reputation is as big as Texas. Having cheered and danced against teams around the nation and the world, they are running out of room to display the awards. Most recently all four competitive all-star cheer teams took 1st place at The Open Championships held in Orlando, FL. Athletes come from all over, drawn by word-of-mouth praise and for opportunities to condition, travel, and even earn college scholarships. Several members of their co-ed teams are multi-sport athletes, gaining strength and balance to improve performance in everything from gymnastics to football. Lauren is pleased that cheerleading continues to evolve as a sport, and teaches athletes the importance of team work and improving all skills, not just tumbling and stunting. Plus, cooperation and effort from every member is critical. Much of cheerleading is about uniformity, so each person is expected to perform at the same level as the rest.
THERE IS NO BENCH IN CHEERLEADING At Courage, growth is for everyone, from tots to teens to grownups, who wish to grow in all aspects of fitness, dance, and cheer. The Johnsons are doing private evaluations this month with an eye toward selecting teams at the end of Summer. Lauren adds, “Everything is bigger in Texas, including the pride we have in our cheerleaders.”
ALL-STAR • CHEER • AFTER SCHOOL COURAGE NINJA • TUMBLING COMPETITIVE CHEER & DANCE • TOTS 134 JONATHAN DRIVE • 512-289-4616 8
Email couragecheer@gmail.com for a private evaluation or to register for classes.
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economic development by Charlotte Kovalchuk • charlotte@lhtxdigest.com
Transforming Liberty Hill into a Lifetime Destination Thanks to a wonderful school district, restaurants, as well as parks and a splash pad, Liberty Hill is already well on its way to becoming a lifetime destination.
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young town of 4,000, Liberty Hill is still stepping into its identity while preparing for the growth that is visible from its home at the intersection of State Highways 29 and 183. “Economic development is like a wave that’s coming,” Liberty Hill Economic Development Corporation Executive Director Matt Powell says. “The wave is passing through Cedar Park and Leander and you can just see it on the horizon. What can we do today to start paddling so when it arrives, we’re in the best position to surf it?”
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT The Liberty Hill EDC has been working to answer that question since the early 2000s. Formed just after Liberty Hill was incorporated in 1999, the seven-member team is on a mission to transform the community into a lifetime destination with a vibrant downtown and an abundance of local shopping options. Part of that goal includes changing Liberty Hill’s status as a bedroom community by bringing primary jobs to the area—everything from retail positions to manufacturing and professional desk jobs.
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“It’s important to respect the history of Liberty Hill.” Matt says, “I believe we can do our part to help raise the quality of life here while providing protections to areas like downtown that we want to see prosper.” Matt says, “Liberty Hill is being filled with people that are seeking a better life for themselves and their families. They are seeking good schools for their children, they’re seeking a place to live, a place to raise their families.” The EDC’s next step is commissioning studies to learn what types of businesses the organization and City want to recruit, as well as how to diversify jobs while preserving Liberty Hill’s character and uplifting current businesses. “We want to attract new businesses but also be an excellent support network for businesses already here,” Matt says. One challenge in recruiting businesses is Liberty Hill’s population of just a few thousand. “It’s obviously hard for businesses to commit until the rooftops are there, and it’s hard to get rooftops until there are businesses. It’s the chicken and egg deal,” says Jace Mattinson, chief financial officer of Higginbotham Brothers.
courtesy LibertyHillWorks.com
L-R: Eric Bailey, John Clark, Jamie Etzkorn, Adrienne Hughes, John Johnston, and Michael Helbing sit on the Liberty Hill Economic Development Corporation board of directors.
But the hardware giant decided to build its 40th location in Liberty Hill anyway, drawn by the area’s growth potential and lack of competition. The company had already bought land off Highway 29 when the Liberty Hill EDC reached out, asking how the organization could help speed up the process. Impressed by Liberty Hill’s vision of embracing smart growth, Jace and his team opened Higginbotham Brothers in Liberty Hill in October 2020. Thanks in part to a small jobsbased incentive from the EDC, they ramped up hiring faster than expected in their first year. “Our sales tax revenue is staying in the local market instead of a neighboring city like Leander, Cedar Park, or Georgetown,” Jace says.
SHOPPING LOCAL The EDC hopes to promote that local shopping goal by launching a Buy Local program to encourage residents to keep their dollars in Liberty Hill. “Liberty Hillians are especially proud of their town,” Matt says. “If we give them local options, done respectfully, they will shop there to support their own community. They will be proud to shop local.” Some businesses coming to town include Heritage Ridge, Tex-Mix, and Golf Cart King. Heritage Ridge is
the ownership group of a large retail complex near Liberty Hill Junior High and are currently negotiating contracts with multiple shops and restaurants. Their incentive from the EDC is for enhanced water and wastewater infrastructure and to add a hike and bike trail along the back of their development. No incentive dollars are going to any end user, Matt says. Tex-Mix provides concrete services throughout Central Texas and are moving their professional and sales offices to Liberty Hill in the Vista at 29 retail and office complex currently under construction. Golf Cart King will be building a manufacturing and distribution center, as well as the headquarters for the company, behind the QT. Matt calls these business deals collectively transformative. “The generation of new dollars for the city will total over a million dollars per year once these projects are all open and operating, not to mention the new jobs being created in the city—white collar to blue collar to retail,” he says. To learn more about the Liberty Hill Economic Development Corporation, visit LibertyHillWorks.com.
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The Texas We Love...
at the Taylor Rodeo Rodeos may not be ranch vs. ranch any
more, but prepare for a taste of what makes Texas, Texas and famous across the world. The Taylor Rodeo Association is putting on their 71st annual rodeo July 15-17 at the Williamson County Expo Center, right in the hometown of Bill Pickett.
Board President Edwin Stojanik says the event is particularly exciting because it is an open competition, which means the riders, ropers, and racers just might be your friends or neighbors. It is also a CPRA- and UPRA-sanctioned event. As well, if you've ever envied the youngsters able to enter the Mutton Bustin' competition (below), all ages are welcome to sign up for the crowdfavored Calf Scramble or Wild Steer Saddling competitions.
SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE Each evening, the event will open with flags and the kind of patriotic moments one might expect at a Western event, including trick riding by the Texas Cowgirls. Friday night will wrap with live music by Triston Marez, and Saturday, after the new queen is crowned, guests can stay for a George Strait Tribute Band. There will be food trucks all three nights, and there are still spaces available for vendor booths. (taylorrodeo.com) Edwin adds, while the
entertainment is old school, the technology is 21st century so bring your debit cards and your appetite. The rodeo events include a full complement of favorites:
bareback and saddle bronc riding steer wrestling women's breakaway, tie-down, and team roping women's barrel racing bull riding calf scramble for kids and adults wild steer saddling mutton busting
JULY 15 & 16, DOORS OPEN 5PM • JULY 17 • DOORS OPEN 4:30PM • WILCO EVENT CENTER 5350 BILL PICKETT TRAIL, TAYLOR • TICKETS START AT $12 (KIDS UNDER 4 ARE FREE) 12
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by Ann Marie Kennon • annmarie@lhtxdigest.com photos courtesy of Shelby Lynn Photography
THE ASSOCIATION Edwin says, "We believe in prayer and the flag and I love the kind of people we work with and entertain. This kind of camaraderie is the way Texas is." When not producing one of the nation's best smalltown rodeos, the Association stays actively involved in many community projects
and functions in Taylor, Thrall, Granger, Thorndale, and Hutto. Edwin adds, "We also support Dell Children's hospital, the American Cancer Society, and Special Olympics. Everything we do is for the kids; supporting youth and promoting the cowboy lifestyle."
In May, members were thrilled and thankful to have a sold-out crowd and 63 teams of barbecue masters compete—in wind and rain—in the first Barbecue Cookoff and Bull-nanza. Edwin says, "I'm grateful to Clint Chitsey and the expo center staff, our
worth the drive
County Judge and Commissioners, all the judges, fans, and pitmasters. Their efforts contributed to our mission to provide education financial assistance to graduating seniors in Williamson and Milam Counties. Students help us at our events and we help them pay education costs and buy animals. I am looking forward to handing out more awards at the Saturday night rodeo." Williamson County Judge Bill Gravel says, "I am excited to see this event returning to the Expo Center. The Taylor Rodeo is a taste of Texas with a hometown feel, and a reminder to me of what is important in America; our family, our faith, and hard work."
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A Novel Idea • Libraries on the Road JULY 13 & JULY 27 San Gabriel Crossing Apartments 9:00am - 10:00am
Liberty Trails Apartments 10:30am-11:30am
Operation Liberty Hill 12:00-1:00pm
Thanks to the Liberty Hill ISD Education Foundation, and librarians Jolie Jennings and Lauren Claymon for creating and facilitating Take Learning and Libraries on the Road this summer. These events are outdoors and open to everyone. These district bibliophiles will be providing free books of all kinds, for all ages, and STEM kits for students to keep in their home libraries. They will also teach visitors how to access books online. Contact Jolie at jjennings@libertyhill.txed.net.
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HONOR AND MEMORIALIZE
BRICK OPTIONS
A custom engraved brick from the National Mounted Warfare Foundation will create a lasting tribute for someone special in your life, and preserve their memory for future generations. Your brick will be displayed on the grounds of the National Mounted Warrior Museum outside of Fort Hood, Texas.
Commemorative bricks are available in two sizes, 4” X 8” for $100 and 8” X 8” for $200. A 4” X 8” brick may have up to three lines of text, an 8” X 8” may have up to six lines. Each line may have up to 18 characters. You may also purchase miniature replicas of your brick - a 1.5” X 3” souvenir brick is $20 and a 3” X 3” is $30.
INSIGNIA ENGRAVED BRICKS Insignia and logo engraved bricks are available, but will incur a setup fee dependent on the complexity of the design. Pleas contact us directly for more information.
Each brick inscription will be reviewed for appropriateness. Bricks will be produced and emplaced upon completion of the museum - currently projected for late 2020
Commemorative Brick Program • 833-IN-HONOR • NMWFoundation.org • Mounted Warrior Museum Killeen, Texas J U LY 2 0 2 1 L I B E R T Y H I L L D I G E S T
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around town
by Megan Diane Beatty • megan@lhtxdigest.com photos by Kendra Cofer
Welcome a New Community Partner! Left: Store Manager Matthew Pool celebrates the “board cutting” ceremony on opening day. Below: Chainsaw artist Griffon Ramsey hard at work with her Stihl tools, creating a Liberty Hill Panther (bottom), which will be donated to the ISD.
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hen you’re the new McCoy’s in town, you don’t settle for a ribbon; you cut a 2x4 to open your doors! Then, you open your hearts to the community with a perfectly branded and welcoming opening day.
A LITTLE HISTORY... McCoy’s was founded in Galveston in 1927 as a roofing business. Fast forward to today and the new Liberty
Store Manager Matthew Pool says community involvement is something the whole McCoy’s family strongly believes in; “When you walk in the store, we want you to feel like you’ve known us your whole life.” Customers need just one look around the shiny new facility to see his passion for the company’s new Liberty Hill family. During the opening ceremonies, McCoy’s generously presented checks to L4 Cares, The Education Foundation, Panther Pit Crew, and Operation Liberty Hill. “We don’t plan to stop there,” Matthew says. “We want to expand that. We really want to be good stewards in the community.” 18
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Hill location makes 89 building supply stores, strong and growing. After a great deal of research focused on growth, McCoy’s saw a need and determined it was time to make building easier for Liberty Hill. In addition to convenience, the new location also opens the door for new employment opportunities. The store has over 30 positions and Matthew expects more jobs to open as they continue to grow. He adds while, officially, their customer base includes serious do-it-yourselfers, farmers and ranchers, repair and remodel contractors, and independent homebuilders, “What we really get a kick out of is serving people who come in with a problem and they don’t know how to fix it. It’s fun for us to interact with those community members, help them with their project, and help them tackle their work day. Those are our favorite customers.” Whether you have a project to build, an employment need, or you just want to make some new friends, the new McCoy’s has you covered. “We are super pumped to be here. It is a dream come true for me to be in Liberty Hill. The community is great and we are eager to become one of the staple businesses and benefactors.”
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by Ann Marie Kennon annmarie@lhtxdigest.com
TRAVELING LIKE A TEXAN
WHAT MAKES TEXAS “TEXAS”? by Ann Marie Kennon annmarie@lhtxdigest.com
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mong the many things Texans have to explain about Texas is the special delight (and shared pain) of traveling the roads in the nation's largest continental state. For starters, there are 683,533 lane miles in Texas; 40 percent more than number two, California. Makes sense; mathematically, we could fit 1.6 Californias inside the land area of Texas... or four Floridas, 28 Vermonts, or 221 Rhode Islands. Yes, Alaska is bigger, but it's a bit challenging to live in most of it, and they only have five percent of our road miles.
IT'S JUST REALLY BIG Texans, out of necessity, have a different understanding of distance than other states. Anyone who has driven from Central Texas to Louisiana, Oklahoma, or 20 20
New Mexico knows you spend most of your first day still inside Texas. If you drove from the northwest corner of the Panhandle to the boot toe, you'd have gone 1/300th of the distance from the Earth to the Moon. From El Paso, you can drive to Denver—or the Pacific Ocean—faster than you can get to Texarkana. The longest highway in Texas is 783.5 miles; US 83 starts in Perryton on the Oklahoma state line and continues to the border of Mexico at Brownsville. Let's also not forget that Texas is also faster. On our 40-mile stretch of SH-130 we can drive 85 mph—the highest legal speed limit in the country. But, it makes sense to drive faster since it takes longer to get anywhere.
what makes Texas “Texas”
IH-35 Here in Georgetown, while the highway connects Mexico to Canada, we have a special, ongoing love-hate relationship with Texas' Main Street, also known as IH-35. Our own Congressman John Carter has often said, "There was construction on I-35 the day you were born, and there will be construction on I-35 on the day you die." Not so surprising when you consider nearly one-third of it is in Texas. At 503.9 miles, at any given time, there is bound to be a pothole or structural failure somewhere. Plus, a lot of that traffic comes from the 40 percent of the state's population who live in the metropolitan areas along the IH-35 corridor. It is an important transportation backbone for the Texas economy for destinations inside Texas, Mexico, and the rest of the United States and Canada. It brings us as much tourism and economic strength as it does noise and frustrating delays.
BEFORE INTERSTATES For a shorter but awash-with-nostalgia Texas drive, Route 66 traverses the top of the Panhandle. It opened in 1926 and was initially called Main Street of America or the Mother Road. When Americans began affording automobiles, it was one of the roads that connected much of the nation to the West Coast, and many great stopovers exist today for those who want to take the scenic route to Chicago or Los Angeles. In Amarillo, road-trippers still enjoy quaint restaurants, eclectic roadside attractions, old service stations, and architecturally significant buildings. The city's Sixth Street
Historic District is home to buildings that have great historical significance and transport visitors back to the heyday of the Mother Road. Just west of the city is one of America's superlative roadside attractions, Cadillac Ranch. While the collection of Caddys buried in the dirt by a group of artists in 1974 has gone from a tribute to American cars to a quasi-trash heap of spray paint cans and odd smells, it doesn't spend a day without visitors and worldly pilgrims who want a unique keepsake of Texas.
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sit-rep with Rep. Terry Wilson
"According to Value" Taxes WHAT IF I DISAGREE WITH MY TAX APPRAISAL?
A property owner may present objections about the property’s value, exemptions, and special appraisal in a hearing to a local Appraisal Review Board (ARB). The usual deadline for filing a protest is May 1. If the appraisal district mails a notice of appraised value, the deadline is 30 days from the delivery date of the notice. More information can be found by using the QR code.
A CONVERSATION WITH TEXAS REPRESENTATIVE TERRY WILSON HELPING US UNDERSTAND THE WHO, WHAT, WHY, AND HOW OF OUR AD VALOREM TAXES.
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roperty tax, or ad valorem tax, is charged by local governments based on the value of a property. It is also the most-frequently-asked issue for our State Representative, Colonel Terry M. Wilson (US Army, Retired). Rep. Wilson says, "People ask me all the time what can be done about their taxes. Last session, the State Legislature passed the 'Texas Taxpayer Transparency Act' to provide people with the tools to understand their property tax bill and to get involved before the tax rates are even set.”
SETTING THE TAXES Texas is one of nine states that do not collect a personal income tax. Instead, local governments charge property taxes to provide local services and pay down debts. Texas does not have a state property tax and instead relies on other taxes, like sales and use tax, to generate state revenue. On average, about half of the property taxes you owe are paid to the local school district. You may also pay property taxes to your city, county, and special purpose districts, such as emergency services districts (ESD), hospitals, community colleges, and municipal utilities (MUD). In Liberty Hill, the majority of property taxes are paid to Williamson County, City of Liberty Hill, and Liberty Hill ISD. Each taxing entity determines your property tax bill by applying their adopted property tax rate to the taxable value of your home. Rates are set, individually, by a governing body or executive committee of those taxing entitles; e.g., City Council or MUD Board. Before setting a property tax rate, cities, counties and school districts must propose a budget and hold a public hearing on the proposed budget, then build a budget to address 22
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everything from salaries to road repair, and decide what to charge property owners to cover those costs. The proposed budget must be made available for inspection and posted on the city, county, or school district website. Budget discussions can start as early as January of a given year, and beginning in early August, most taxing units take the first step toward adopting a tax rate based on a certified list of properties and respective values they received from the appraisal district. By August 7th , most taxing entities will post budgets and proposed tax rates online. For Williamson County properties, information on the taxable value of property, the proposed tax rate, and the estimate of the total tax bill—if the rate is approved—will be available in August at williamsonpropertytaxes.org. This is the reason taxing entities have public hearings—everyone is welcome to attend the budget planning meetings to hear about the needs of a county, city, school district, etc. Rep. Wilson adds, "Budgets determine revenues, and revenues determine rates. While budget planning can be complex, it is worthwhile to attend those hearings. That is the time to do your homework. If you believe the city should prioritize funding for the fire department or updating a local park, sending an e-mail to your city council member is the best starting point. Attend the public hearing, ask 'why' things are needed, and get the details. Your participation is integral to ensuring local budgets match local priorities and elected officials are all asking for your input.” While speaking at a recent multi-district school board meeting, the Representative asked about community participation during budget meetings. He says, "Their
answer was 'little to none.' Considering school district property tax makes up more than 50 percent of our property tax bill, it is imperative property owners participate in the budget process. Being informed will significantly justify the tax rate and how much we pay in taxes."
THE VALUES A tax bill is determined by multiplying the total tax rate by the taxable value of the property. Taxable value is determined by looking at the property’s market value, assessed value, and any applicable exemptions.
MARKET VALUE The Texas Constitution requires property to be appraised at its market value. Market value is defined as the price for which the property would sell between a willing buyer and a willing seller. The chief appraiser in each appraisal district is responsible for determining the market value of each property in the county as of Jan 1. Appraisers will review recent sales of similar properties and report those values to the Appraisal District Board of Directors.
ASSESSED VALUE Property values may increase or decrease each year to match market values. If your house qualifies for a homestead exemption (a sole and primary home), you do not pay property taxes on the full market value of your home. While the market value increases or decreases year to year based on the local housing market, an appraisal cap acts as a buffer against drastic changes on your residence homestead, limiting any increase to your home’s assessed value to 10 percent per year until the Assessed Value and the Market Value are equal.
OUR HYPOTHETICAL HOUSE... 2020: You bought a new home and the appraisal district determined the Market Value was $200,000 on January 1, 2020. The 2020 Market Value and Assessed Value are $200,000 for the residence homestead. 2021: The home’s Market Value increased to $300,000 but your Assessed Value would only increase 10 percent—to $220,000. 2022: The market value stays at $300,000, your Assessed Value would still increase by 10 percent to $242,000, since the assessed value is still below the Market Value.
THE RATES “NO NEW REVENUE” TAX RATE The no-new-revenue tax rate is a calculated rate that would provide the taxing unit with approximately the same amount of revenue it received in the previous year on properties taxed in both years. Essentially, the taxing board is asking, “What rate will generate the same amount of revenue as last year, given that home values have increased?” This is much like determining a new monthly payment when the same car loan is distributed over a different time period; the total loan amount is the same but the monthly rate may decrease if it is spread over more months. The "No New Revenue" tax rate may or may not mean you pay the same amount of taxes on your individual property, since it is related to all properties within the district. This process is repeated each year using the prior year’s revenue and the current year’s values.
TAXABLE VALUE The appraisal district calculates the Taxable Value by subtracting applicable exemptions. An exemption removes part of the property’s value from taxation, which lowers the tax bill. Homesteads receive a mandatory $25,000 exemption on their taxable value for school taxes, so our hypothetical homestead above would have a taxable value of $175,000 for the school district. Because each local government may offer different optional exemptions*, your taxable value may be different in each. The taxable value is used by the Tax Assessor/Collector to determine your Tax Liability once the property tax rates have been set. Now that you know the value of your home, if you know what your County, City, ISD, and special district tax rates are, you can predict your tax bill.
KEY TAKEAWAYS Rep. Wilson says, “You can play an important role in the process of setting the budget and tax rate by attending public hearings of your local government. You can also register your opinion of proposed tax rates, starting this fall, on WilliamsonPropertyTaxes.org. You can also appeal the market value of your home with your local ARB.” He also suggests those who wish to challenge their future home value appraisals should visit the Williamson County Appraisal District website (WCAD.org) for more information.
* I n M ay, W i l l i a m s o n C o u n t y Co m m i s s i o n e r s C o u r t i n c r e a s e d p r o p e r t y t a x e x e m p t i o n f o r p e r s o n s 65 a n d o l d e r f r o m $3 0 , 0 0 0 t o $9 0 , 0 0 0 . P r o p e r t y t a x e x e m p t i o n f o r d i s a b l e d p e r s o n s i n c r e a s e d f r o m $2 0 , 0 0 0 t o $75, 0 0 0 .
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facts to blow your mind
TIME WARPS The first man to fly in a plane and the first man to walk on the moon were both alive at the same time. The first person to walk on Mars is almost certainly alive right now.
er ev d! s n ne thi appe h
Our familiar favorites in the dinosaur world did not all live together. The time difference between when Stegosaurus and Tyrannosaurus walked the Earth is greater than the time difference between Tyrannosaurus and now. Betty White is older than sliced bread. Remember the FAX machine? The “technology” for transmitting images by radio waves was patented 16 years before the telephone. Napoleon Bonaparte got a personal demonstration from the inventor one year before the start of the American Civil War. We built an atomic bomb 20 years before we invented color television. We put a man on the moon before we put wheels on luggage. Cleopatra’s lifetime was nearer the invention of the iPhone than the building of the great pyramid at Giza. The pyramid was complete in 2560 BC; Cleopatra died in 30 BC.
Photographs exist of veterans of the Revolutionary War. NO Wh T Be ite tt
y
Mammoths were still walking around 1,000 years after the Egyptians finished building the Great Pyramid.
The light you are reading this magazine by could be many thousands of years old. It takes a photon anywhere from 200,000 to 1 million years to travel from the core of the Sun to the surface, then just a little over 8 minutes from the Sun’s surface to your eye, sliding in at 670,616,629 mph.
Photons start life in the core as gamma rays, so half a million years of ricocheting off hydrogen and other atoms calms them down enough to warm us rather than give us radiation poisoning. 24
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1864 by Nelson Augustus Moore for E. B. Hillard’s publication The Last Men of the Revolution. ~Wikipiedia Commons
some useful gamma ray you su but they ws are perpo wers ill not give sorry . . . , Hulk.
belle chimes in
If Our Founders had Social Media I
have always loved the creativity of meme makers and bloggers who create modern takes on historical events. I'm sure you've seen the Christmas Nativity as told by Facebook posts. So Belle decided to get in the groove too. This actually required a bit of study... most of us can remember the basics, but I enjoyed the trip down Civics101 memory lane for some of the more snarky details. Hopefully it's not so obscure that I'm the only one who gets it. Miss Belle went to college in Charlottesville so she is certain that, given the chance to enjoy 21st-century humor, even Thomas Jefferson would roll his eyes and say, "Oh, whatever!" every now and then.
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food
Revolutionary Recipes In keeping with the Independence Day celebration, we refer to 'Revolutionary' in a purely historical sense. Practically speaking, these recipes evolved with foods that were ripe and available around July 4th in the 18th century. In pre-colonial America, salmon were plentiful, and typically migrated up the New England rivers in early summer. This was an easy source of protein for settlers. Peas and potatoes were ready to eat by the end of June, which added flavor and variety to the meal. Naturally, as America was instituting its first national holiday, these foods became attached to it and the tradition carries on today. Legend tells us John and Abigail Adams served this menu at their home July 4, 1776, but many think that's just a good story to sell more salmon. Still, if you're worried about losing your Southerner card, just consider them "refreshingly seasonal" summer foods.
4TH OF JULY SALMON WITH EGG SAUCE SALMON
• 1 whole salmon with its head (about 8 pounds)
EGG SAUCE
• 6 tbsp butter • 6 tbsp flour
• 1-½ cups hot fish stock or salmon-steaming broth • 1-½ cups milk • salt
• ¼ cup chopped celery
• freshly ground pepper
• ¼ cup chopped carrot
• Tabasco sauce
• 1 scallion, chopped
• lemon juice
• 2 bay leaves
• 3 hard-boiled eggs, chopped
• salt
• 1 tsp minced fresh dill or chervil
In a fish steamer or a pan large enough to hold the fish whole, place the salmon on a rack and pour in boiling water to just beneath the rack, it should not touch the fish. Add vegetables and bay leaves, sprinkle well with salt. Cover the pan (can use heavy-duty aluminum foil), if necessary. Steam about 45 minutes, adding more water if it threatens to boil away.
• 2 tbsp fresh chopped parsley Melt butter in heavy saucepan and stir in the flour. Cook over low heat, stirring 2-3 min. Add 1 cup fish stock of the steaming liquid from the poached salmon. Return to heat, stir until sauce thickens. Add milk, whisk until smooth. Season to taste with salt, pepper, Tabasco, and lemon juice. Fold in chopped eggs and herbs. Heat through.
Put the salmon on a platter, remove the skin, and coat with a little of the egg sauce, passing the rest in a bowl. Serve with steamed new potatoes and garden peas cooked in a little boiling water until just tender. Serves 12 or more. 26
food
PEAS WITH NEW POTATOES • 1/4 pound salt pork • 2 small onions, peeled and minced • 8 little new potatoes • 2 cups cooked peas • 1 cup heavy cream
INSTRUCTIONS Cut the pork into slices and fry until crisp. Remove pork from pan and add onions. Cook until delicately golden. Scrub but do not peel potatoes. Cook, covered, with pork and onions in as little water as possible for about 20 minutes. Remove pork slices. Add peas to potatoes and onions. Pour cream over vegetables and simmer until blended.
A P P L E P A N D O W D Y
Amy Traverso
The name refers to the act of “dowdying” the crust—breaking it up with a knife and pressing it into the bubbling juices— midway through baking. What it lacks in streamlined good looks it makes up for in rich flavor.
• Refrigerated pie crust dough • 8 large firm-tart apples (about 4 pounds) peeled, cored, and sliced 1/4-inch thick • 2 tbsp firmly packed light brown sugar
• 1 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1 tsp ground ginger
• 1/4 tsp freshly ground nutmeg
• 1/8 tsp ground cloves
• 1/2 tsp kosher salt
• 1/3 cup maple syrup
• 1-1/2 tbsp granulated sugar for sprinkling
Preheat oven to 425° and set a rack to the middle position. Arrange apples in a 12" oven-proof skillet with sides at least 2" high. Sprinkle with the brown sugar, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, cloves, and salt. In small bowl, stir maple syrup with 1/2 cup water and pour over the apples. On a lightly floured surface, roll the chilled dough into a rectangle about 9" x 11" and 1/4" thick. Using a knife or pizza cutter, cut into squares roughly 3" across. Arrange squares over the apples, making a concentric pattern; sprinkle with sugar. Bake until juices are bubbling and pastry is golden brown, about 30 minutes. Remove from oven and use a spatula to gently press the pastry down into the juices until mostly (about 80%) submerged. Return to the oven 10-15 minutes, until pastry is nicely glazed and sauce has thickened.
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parting shot
by Megan Diane Beatty • megan@lhtxdigest.com
Live... From Liberty Hill
A
gape Barbecue’s “music under the oaks” Saturdays are the perfect end to a Summer day in Liberty Hill. Last month, they featured Departure ATX, a Journey tribute band that was everything a Generation-X music lover could want. In addition to the biggest hits from the 1981 “Escape” album—if you close your eyes, you’d think Steve Perry was on the stage—they also broke out some Van Halen “1984” and hits from Heart, Fleetwood Mac, and Foreigner. Everyone enjoyed the music, from the folks who remember the 80s (and want to forget their big hair), to Millennials who consider the songs “classics,” all the way down to Gabi (pictured) who, at 4 years old already enjoys dancing to good music when she hears it. Weekends at Agape are for relaxing and enjoying friends with excellent barbecue, beverages, and 300-year-old oaks. They also have live music on Friday nights and “Name that Tune” bingo on Thursdays to round out the Summer season.
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Agape BBQ general manager Brandon Reinoehl enjoyed seeing so many regulars and new faces under the oaks. “Nights like this are exactly what our mission is… to use our space to make our guests feel at home while enjoying live music and authentic Texas beer and barbecue.”
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P.O. Box 213, Jarrell. TX, 76537
ECRWSS POSTAL PATRON LIBERTY HILL, TX
Introducing LibertyHillWorks.com The Liberty Hill Economic Development Corporation is proud to debut their new website, LibertyHillWorks.com. Whether you are considering Liberty Hill as a new destination for your business or are already a proud Liberty Hill business owner, you can find resources here for you. Learn more about the City, get in touch with EDC members, and more! Visit LibertyHillWorks.com now to find resources for your business, with more to come in the future! J U LY 2 0 2 1 L I B E R T Y H I L L D I G E ST
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