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2020

Volume 33, Issue 38

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August 13, 2020 | 50 Cents

Proposed City budget grows by 34%

By MIKE EDDLEMAN Managing Editor Following the shift toward expanding the City staff during the last budget cycle, the Liberty Hill City Council discussed a new proposed budget that includes more of the same.

This year’s proposed budget, outlined for the Council Monday by Finance Director Becky Wilkins, includes nine new positions above what was approved last September. That adopted budget added 18 positions to a staff that totaled 37 last summer. If approved Aug. 24, the City will have 63 total positions, and a general fund budget of $5.68 million -- an increase of 34 percent over the current budget of $4.24 million.

While the increase in expenses is dramatic, it does not include a tax rate increase. The proposed tax rate of $0.454559 per $100 valuation is a rate reduction.

“This is around a four-cent drop from the current rate this year,” noted Mayor Rick Hall.

While the City touted the rate reduction, under new rules set by the Legislature, it is not a decision truly in the hands of the Council.

Due to changes mandated by Senate Bill 2, passed during the last legislative session, allowable revenue increases for Texas cities has been cut

by more than 50 percent. The new proposed rate is the highest rate allowed without voter approval.

“Senate Bill 2 also caps the amount of revenue that you can increase with new property taxes at 3.5 percent,” said City Attorney Tad Cleaves. “The old rollback rate was capped at 8 percent, so your revenue could increase year to year without having voter approval of a new tax rate.”

It is projected that even with the lower rate, the expanded tax rolls and increased property values will generate about $1.4 million in local property taxes next year, compared to just over $1.1 million in the current year. Wilkins said the current rate – if it were adopted – would have generated $2.2 million in the upcoming year.

The current Liberty Hill property tax rate is $0.490187 per $100 valuation. Under the current rate, a home valued at $250,000 would pay $1,225 in property taxes. Under the proposed rate, a home valued at $250,000 would pay about $1,137.

There is a temporary loophole for that rate cap, though, due to the COVID-19 pandemic that would have allowed the Council to set a higher rate.

According to Cleaves, due to

See BUDGET, Page 4

With time on her hands, Jen Cochran Anderson is delving Greeting cards of various types and topic have helped Ginger back into oil painting whole-heartedly after 15 years.

Ketchum pass the time during quarantine. (Courtesy Photo) (Courtesy Photo)

PANDEMIC PASTIMES

Many turn to art to keep busy, stay creative

By ANTHONY FLORES Staff Writer Keeping busy during quarantine can be a challenge, but residents of Liberty Hill are finding creative ways to get through the COVID-19 pandemic, and pick up or sharpen some skills along the way.

Art is the escape method for several, including Ashley Torres DeGraan. She uses this time to create abstract art with her family.

“During quarantine, my family helped me put a couple of puzzles together and

WilCo Commissioners approve proposed maximum tax rate

By ANTHONY FLORES Staff Writer GEORGETOWN -- The Williamson County Commissioners Court voted Tuesday on a proposed maximum tax rate not to exceed $0.458719 per $100 valuation. This rate matched the current tax rate that comprises the General Fund, Road and Bridge Fund, and Debt Service Fund tax rates.

“We, by law, have to post and advertise a maximum tax rate, and we always say that this is not necessarily the rate that will ©2020 The Liberty Hill Independent

be adopted. It’s just the highest that you might expect,” said Pct. 2 Commissioner Cynthia Long.

The court also voted on and unanimously accepted recommended budgets for the General Fund at $218,940,100, the Road and Bridge Fund at $44,576,568, and the Debt Service Fund at $126,845,915.

The overall recommended 2021 budget sits at $390,362,583 -- almost $3.5 million less than the current adopted budget.

“The budget that was put together and proposed money wise is very close to last year’s budget on the maintenance and operations side of things,” said Long. “Obvi-

ously, with the debt service, you can’t tweak that. It is what it is based on voter-approved debt.”

The General and the Road and Bridge funds are about 1 percent less than the previous year, and the Debt Service Fund includes $25 million for debt defeasance.

The similarities seen in the proposed budget compared to the current budget are in response to many of the uncertainties brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic.

“If our budget office has done their job correctly, then nobody on the commissioners court is surprised, and I wasn’t surprised,” said Long.

See COUNTY, Page 6

so I could create my artwork from it,” said DeGraan. “It’s helped keep things calm and peaceful at times when things are so crazy around us. It’s time-consuming and rewarding at the same time.”

DeGraan’s family has taken advantage of quarantine and used their activities to come together more as a family.

“The family loves it just as much as I did,” she said. “It’s brought us time together when we need it the most. Creating memories while doing something so simple as a family.”

Jen Cochran Anderson is reconnecting with her artistic roots through oil painting.

Anderson is an art historian professionally, so art is never far from the mind.

“It’s also nice to get back into a practice that is really fundamental to who I am,” she said.

“I haven’t painted much in the last 15 years — I spent that time in graduate school, earning my Ph.D. in art history, then teaching, working on my scholarship, and raising my son. Taking time for myself to paint lets me get back to the

fundamentals of myself.”

Being able to get back to her roots is helping Anderson get through the stress of quarantine.

“It’s been vital to me to have a creative outlet that lets me express the anxiety and the isolation of quarantining for so many months,” said Anderson. “I love oil painting, in particular. There’s so much scope for both naturalism and expressionism. It’s also a practice that I feel like I have

See PASTIMES, Page 6

BCSO contradicts Hall claim

By MIKE EDDLEMAN Managing Editor In July, after the details of former Police Chief Maverick Campbell’s grievance with the City of Liberty Hill were detailed in The Independent, Mayor Rick Hall threatened to take legal action against the paper, claiming one alleged incident was not being investigated at all.

But the Burnet County Sheriff’s Office confirmed July 31 in response to an Open Records Request that the incident reported by Campbell to law enforcement is indeed being investigated.

In a report filed with the Burnet County Sheriff’s Department March 11 – and later detailed as well in his official grievance filed with the City

– Campbell detailed an allegation from the City Council retreat at Canyon of the Eagles in January where he said Hall threatened his two sons, using a racially derogatory term in reference to them and telling them he would hang them both by their necks from a tree.

At the time Hall leveled the threat of a lawsuit against the paper, he claimed that Burnet County law enforcement told him it would not be investigated.

“They said they’re not going to investigate it because it’s not accurate,” Hall said, saying that’s what he was told when he spoke to them, though he referenced the Burnet Police Department. “I was called and told there was a police investigation about this and

because it was at Canyon of the Eagles it was turned over to the LCRA. LCRA said ‘I’m not doing nothing about this.’

There’s no proof this happened. Burnet County police department said they’re not going to investigate it because there’s no proof that it happened.”

But in a statement received from the BCSO on July 31, Captain Tim Dillard of the Criminal Investigations Division, said it will be investigated.

“The investigation into these class C misdemeanor allegations had been suspended for a time while awaiting further information from Mr. Campbell. (Last week) he agreed to

See INVESTIGATION, Page 6

ANTHONY FLORES PHOTO

The Wind Therapy Freedom Riders, members of Project Overwatch, the Liberty Hill Police Department, City officials and the Liberty Hill community came together to show their support for law enforcement at a gathering Aug. 8.

Event promotes community support for Liberty Hill Police Department

By ANTHONY FLORES Staff Writer With law enforcement under heavy scrutiny and criticism across the country, signs of support can be hard to come by. The Wind Therapy Freedom Riders (WTFR) rode into Liberty Hill Saturday after-

noon to rally the community around the Liberty Hill Police Department.

The Liberty Hill community didn’t miss the opportunity, showing up to the event held in the field across from the police station.

The WTFR and Project Over-

watch worked together to organize the event. Project Overwatch is an organization of active or retired servicemen helping law enforcement through community events and charitable organizations.

Project Overwatch has helped organize events in other parts

of the country, and President Jamal Labbe believes there is a growing movement of support for law enforcement.

“We hosted one of these in Atlanta about a month and a half ago, and we had about 400 to 500 people come out,” he said.

“It was a great event, and we

got some wives and mothers to speak. I think we’re seeing a trend around the country and seeing an uptick in the support for law enforcement.”

Labbe says these kinds of events are important because, up until recently, the majority of support for law enforce-

ment officers came from within the community.

“When this first started, going back to Ferguson, the only ones supporting law enforcement were law enforcement.

So, it was a self-licking ice

See EVENT, Page 6

Page 2

THE LIBERTY HILL INDEPENDENT

COVID fatalities increase, testing decreases

Confirmed daily new cases of COVID-19 slowed early last week, but spiked again this week with 766 cases reported by Williamson County between Monday and Tuesday.

While hospitalizations remain low in the County (76), the total case count has now surpassed 7,000.

The total number of cases in area code 78642 can’t be confirmed through posted data, but according to available information, the total remains under 200. Confirmed cases in Texas surpassed 500,000 Tuesday.

Fatalities and the positivity rate continue to be the red flags at the state level with nearly 1,500 deaths in Texas over the last seven days, bringing the total to 8,710. One third of the state’s COVID-19 fatalities have occurred in the last two weeks.

This spike comes as confirmed case totals dropped below 50,000 for the week for the first time since June. But testing has also dipped dramatically, which could account for the drop in confirmed cases. Tests per day across Texas are down about 8,000 per day across the state so far in August, and in the last week the average has been 30,104, compared to 50,726 per day in July.

One of Gov. Greg Abbott’s key indicators for progress against the virus, the positivity rate among those tested, remains alarmingly high at 24 percent. In late May, the positivity rate fell to as low as four percent as testing ramped up across Texas, but that number has steadily climbed since, and has risen sharply since being at 12 percent on Aug. 1. Abbot said in May that keeping the

positivity rate at or below 10 percent was a key in helping to manage the spread and keeping businesses open.

On Aug. 8, Abbott extended the Disaster Declaration for all Texas counties in response to COVID-19. The declaration was first issued March 13.

“Renewing this Disaster Declaration will provide communities with the resources they need to respond to COVID-19,” Abbott said. “I urge Texans to remain vigilant in our fight against this virus.

Everyone must do their part to slow the spread of COVID-19 by wearing a mask, practicing social distancing, and washing your hands frequently and thoroughly. We will overcome this challenge by working together.”

LINDSEE MAE MILLER

RYDER MARTIN

Liberty Hill Garden Club names 2020 scholarship winners

Liberty Hill Garden Club announced the winners of its annual scholarship awards earlier this summer.

Lindsee Mae Miller and Ryder Martin, both graduating seniors at Liberty Hill High School were selected to receive the Garden Club’s $500 scholarships to assist with their financial needs as they enter college.

Lindsee Mae Miller will be seeking a bachelor’s degree from Texas Tech University majoring in Biochemistry with an ultimate goal of attending medical school and becoming a Family Medicine Physician.

Lindsee is well on her way to a successful career in medicine with a number of achievements already under her belt. She has attended the Dell Medical School Health Science summer and yearlong academies and has received the Dell Medical Emergency Medical Responder Certificate.

In addition, she has her Certified Nursing Certificate- CNS from the Bertram Nursing Home as well as the Texas Tech Health Science Summer Medical Academy Certificate in El

Paso, and the Texas A&M University Sports Medicine Camp at College Station. She also has her CPR/OSHA/Bleeding Control Certifications.

Ryder Martin will be attending Texas A&M where he will seek a Bachelor’s degree in Biomedical Science.

Ryder told the selection committee in his essay that his number one goal in life is to become a successful veterinarian, just like his father.

The scholarship selection committee was most impressed with the fact that at the young age of 16 he earned

his Level One Certified Veterinary Assistant Certification.

Ryder has been a member of FFA, raised livestock, and has been a member of the Liberty Hill Veterinary Science career development event team for years.

The Liberty Hill Garden Club congratulates Lindsee Mae Miller and Ryder Martin, 2020 Liberty Hill Garden Club scholarship recipients.

All of the scholarship applicants should be very proud of themselves and are wished much success in their future endeavors.

Thursday, August 13, 2020

County steps up support to organizations during pandemic

By ANTHONY FLORES Staff Writer In response to an increased need for aid during the COVID-19 pandemic, non-profits and faith-based organizations are working together to relieve the pressure, and Williamson County has joined in to boost that effort.

“When the pandemic started, our Director of Emergency Management Michael Shoe asked that I serve as the liaison for the COVID COAD,” said Williamson County Mobile Outreach Team Director Annie Burwell. “COAD stands for Community Organizations Active in Disasters.”

COAD is composed of a large number of organizations throughout Williamson County.

“So, we have about 80 organizations involved, and it’s a group of non-profit agencies, social services, businesses, and the faith-based community,” Burwell said. “First Baptist Church in Georgetown has been very active.

We assisted Meals on Wheels and their parent organization Opportunities for Williamson and Burnet Counties with supplies.”

As time continues to roll on during the pandemic and masks are now plentiful, the needs of the COAD are narrowing to more specific items.

“Initially, we were very focused on masks and cleaning supplies. While we, of course, still welcome the donation of masks, we’re more focused on cleaning supplies, gloves,

face shields,” said Burwell.

Along with cleaning supplies and items to help disinfect or avoid infection from COVID, the COAD is also accepting food donations, nonperishables to be exact.

“If there are non-profits and social services that need additional food for their food pantries, we’re assisting them,” said Burwell. “If we get donations of things like canned goods, then we’re passing them on to the food pantries and organizations that provide food.”

While the organizations that make up the COAD have indeed come together, the organization is more informal and designed to react to many needs.

“The best way to look at it is as a loosely organized group of organizations working together and collaborating to meet the needs of the vulnerable in Williamson County,” said Burwell. “There is not a lot of formal organization.”

She believes that the work done since the COAD first organized in March has helped keep many small non-profits and food pantries open and serving the community.

“I think it’s been very effective. I think we’ve been able to help, especially help a lot of the smaller non-profits and food pantries and social services organizations continue to operate,” she said. “If they can continue to operate and meet the needs of the needy, then we’re doing our jobs.”

The job of the COAD, for

Burwell, is not to be out front and helping directly, it’s meant to serve and aid quietly in a support role.

“Our job in the COAD is not direct care,” she said. “Our job is to support the agencies that are providing that care, and I think that’s been very effective in allowing groups and agencies to stay open,” she said. “If they hadn’t had the help from the churches and others, they would have had a harder time.”

As summer nears its end and many on unemployment get ready to lose the additional $600 that has helped keep them afloat financially, rent and utility assistance are becoming the most significant needs for aid.

“It varies organization to organization, but certainly rental assistance is a big concern,” Burwell said. “If someone can donate to one of the local non-profits like the Salvation Army or the Serving Center of the Caring Place that provides rental assistance, that is absolutely a high need.”

Citizens interested in donating can head to one of several drop-off centers. Celebration Church, 601 Westinghouse Road, Georgetown, Monday to Friday from 10 a.m.2 p.m.; St. Phillips, 16321 Great Oaks Drive, Round Rock, Monday to Friday from 10 a.m.- 2 p.m.; FBG, 1333 W. University, Georgetown, Tuesday and Thursday from 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.

Liberty Hill Police Blotter Prepared by Liberty Hill Police Department

Week of August 3-9, 2020 The Liberty Hill Police Department responded to or self-initiated a total of 439 incidents resulting in six cases, 54 citations, 118 warnings and two arrests.

Weekly Highlights: - On Aug. 3 at approximately 7:29 AM, officers responded the 4000 block of RM 1869 to assist the Williamson County Sheriff’s Office.

- On Aug. 3 at approximately 2:42 PM, officers responded to the 13000 block of W. SH 29 for an alarm.

- On Aug. 3 at approximately 3:00 PM, officers responded to the 13000 block of W. SH 29 for traffic control.

- On Aug. 3 at approximately 8:44 PM, officers arrested a male adult for an outstanding warrant as the result of a traffic stop.

- On Aug. 4 at approximately 6:24 PM, officers responded to the 900 block of Loop 332 for a prior accident.

- On Aug. 4 at approximately 6:33 PM, officers responded to the 900 block of US 183, to assist the Williamson County Sheriff’s Office.

- On Aug. 5 at approximately 8:00 AM, officers arrested

a female adult with an outstanding warrant as the result of a traffic stop.

- On Aug. 5 at approximately 10:40 AM, officers responded to Matthew Circle for a prior assault.

- On Aug. 5 at approximately 9:15 PM, officers responded to CR 200 for suspicious activity.

- On Aug. 6 at approximately 1:26AM, officers responded to Stonewall Pkwy to assist the Williamson County Sheriff’s Office.

- On Aug. 6 at approximately 12:06PM, officers responded to the 11000 block of W. SH 29 for a suspicious incident.

- On Aug. 6 at approximately 3:25PM, officers responded to the 15000 block of W. SH 29 to assist the Liberty Hill Fire/EMS. - On Aug. 7 at approximately 3:54 AM, officers responded to Orange Mimosa Lane for suspicious activity.

- On Aug. 7 at approximately 9:01PM, officers responded to Trellis Blvd for a suspicious incident.

- On Aug. 8 at approximately 5:57 PM, officers respond to Bevers Road for a suspicious incident.

- On Aug. 8 at approximately

11:31 PM, officers responded to the intersection of US 183 and W. SH 29 to assist Leander PD with a pursuit.

- On Aug. 8 at approximately 11:41 PM, officers responded to Continental Ave for a family issue.

- On Aug. 9 at approximately 2:57 AM, officers responded to Somerville Street for a suspicious incident.

- On Aug. 9 at approximately 11:06 AM, officers responded to the intersection of W. SH 29 and RM 1869 for an aircraft emergency.

- On Aug. 9 at approximately 2:28PM, officers responded to 10000 block of W. SH 29 for a burglary complaint.

- On Aug. 9 at approximately 3:06 PM, officers responded to the 14000 block of W. SH 29 for a disturbance.

- On Aug. 9 at approximately 9:01 PM, officers responded to the 2000 block of RM 1869 for a burglary complaint.

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OPINION

EDITORIAL: The business of getting back to business Your business has been closed. You’re itching to get the doors open again and back to business, and while the state pushes you to open, it also provides you a laundry list of new requirements to do so.

You have eight locations to manage, more than 750 employees, and thousands of customers to contend with.

Your product, marketed and sold essentially the same way for decades, requires new packaging and your logistics have had to be totally revamped. Everything about your business has changed since COVID-19 reared its ugly head – except the expectation of your customers.

Are you ready to get back to work?

This is exactly what the “business” of educating our children has been dealing with for months as Liberty Hill ISD prepares to open the doors in two weeks to some students while pledging to provide the same level of quality to others who choose to learn from home.

Can you say your business would be ready for the same?

No one knows what the first months of school will bring, and the leadership in Liberty Hill ISD has been forced by the State of Texas to make a decision many of us would just choose not to make. There’s been no complaining, no excuses, no lowering of expectations, though.

No, Liberty Hill ISD has essentially remade itself in one summer. The usual summer work was there – the hiring, budgeting, maintenance and such – and making sure the final touches were complete on a brand new school. Yeah, remember that Santa Rita Elementary opens this month?

But in addition to the standard summer checklist, LHISD has had to figure out how to man-

It doesn’t have to be this way

In an effort to compare staffing numbers and salaries in Liberty Hill, The Independent recently sent open records requests to five area cities for information on their current staffing levels and salaries.

These cities have 10 days to provide the information requested, respond that it is not available or appeal to the Texas Attorney General in an effort to withhold the information.

These are the same requirements that apply to the City of Liberty Hill.

In responding to 21 of the newspaper’s 22 requests this calendar year, the City of Liberty Hill has taken the full 10 days to issue any response.

There has not even been an acknowledgment a request was received. In a few cases, on the 10th day a letter was received asking the paper to clarify its request, which started the 10day clock all over again. On a handful of others the paper was informed at the end of that 10th

age social distancing, keep masks on kids and employees, manage numbers on buses, feed students safely, handle confirmed COVID cases, teach from a remote location, and generally learn to turn on a dime because the promise of the unknown is the only sure thing we can count on heading into this school year.

Liberty Hill ISD is a cumbersome army division that has to operate, move and react like a special operations team.

We should all be grateful for the countless meetings and planning sessions that led to all the answers we have in our hands today about school this year.

We should applaud the district for feeding us answers faster than we can come up with questions, even if those answers change regularly under the unpredictable circumstances of state guidelines and a still little-understood virus.

But most important is how we show that gratitude. A note to a teacher or a friendly social media post can be great, but what they really need is our buy-in and support.

The school district’s plan to reopen Liberty Hill schools is only as good as our adherence to it. If we don’t take precautions seriously away from school then it will be impossible to keep the schools safe. If we don’t pay close attention and meet teachers halfway to make the new ways work smoothly, then they won’t.

So far, the leadership and staff in LHISD has done most of the heavy lifting, but when we send our children back to school – into the classroom or through a login and password – that weight will increase dramatically and we will need to bear some of it to get us all to the finish line this time.

staff notebook Our views and other news and musings from THE INDEPENDENT Staff

day that the City was seeking an Attorney General opinion.

In a couple of instances, the paper was told there was no information available, of course on the 10th day. And on some requests, the information was sent near close of business on that final day. Still others never earned a response at all the first or second time they were submitted, forcing the paper to wait 60 days or more for information.

The Independent has come to expect every request to be drawn out to the final legal moment in what seems like an effort to delay or deny access.

So it was quite surprising when the five requests were e-mailed to other cities last Thursday afternoon and about 10 minutes later the phone rang.

On the other end of the line was Burnet City Secretary Kelly Dix. She was calling to clarify something in the

request. After a pleasant exchange, an explanation from the paper on what it was looking for, it was determined what was needed and the call ended with thank yous and the promise she would begin pulling the information together.

There was no suspicion, no internal decision that the information could not or should not be shared. The paper received three e-mail responses to the initial requests, saying they had been received and were being processed.

It is worth asking again why gaining access to public information in Liberty Hill is mired in silence and hoops, and often fought to the bitter end. At least by requesting information from somewhere else we’ve been reminded that it doesn’t have to be the way it is in Liberty Hill today. ~ Mike Eddleman Managing Editor

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THE LIBERTY HILL INDEPENDENT Thursday, August 6, 2020 Page 3

The ego of revenge and reckoning versus statesmanship

By WILT CUTTER Columnist I was watching news coverage a few years ago when Republican Senator and Presidential Candidate John McCain famously corrected a voter who called then-Senator Barrack Obama a Muslim born in another country.

Imagine the moment. Here is your supporter giving your campaign a free pass on a political misdirect that will help you score. Pushing the fear agenda actually works in politics. Calling your opponent names while cloaking yourself in patriotism and faith actually works. Voters respond to hate and fear very easily.

However, McCain gently took back the microphone and corrected the voter at his own political rally by saying, that actually Barrack Obama was a Christian but he strongly disagreed with Obama on how to run the country. The two men were US Senators and they continued to disagree on this nation’s priorities but not to the extent of demonizing, ridiculing or mocking one another.

Why did McCain handle it that way? Because he was not desperate to win using a false accusation.

Political campaigns are meant to be contested. Ideas and oratory should soar. Problems should be exhumed and hypothetically examined and corrected. Solutions to issues should be offered. The concept of holding office should come with a certain amount of decorum. Just taking the sacred oath after being elected to the school board or city council should bring with it the highest honor and integrity that the citizen candidate can bring to the forefront of public life.

Public life begins when a person allows their name to be considered for appointment or election. From that day forward they should be willing to own past mistakes, publicly share every action, defend every deliberation, and willingly explain not only their actions but the process by which they made their decisions. That information isn’t just important, it belongs to the governed, to the taxpayers.

This is why voters are correct when they ask lots of questions about their candidates and would-be leaders. How you’ve handled people and issues in the past is a likely indicator of how you’ll handle things in the future. Candidates are wise not to become too closed off

or hide or run away from issues. Embracing the past and owning life’s ups and downs seems to be built-in political inoculation. Voters are generally forgiving. Remember the Central Texas candidate years ago who had a toddler picture on his mailer of him sitting in a number #2 washtub on the front porch of his parents’ old home? It’s hard to vote against a man who was telling us he came from hardworking poor folks who didn’t have indoor plumbing.

How you’ve treated people when you had power over them may very well indicate how you will treat them when you are elected. How you’ve treated the truth in your past is likely to demonstrate how you’ll handle honesty and transparency as an elected official. How you handle your own work ethic of holding a job is likely an indicator on whether you work well with others or have a burning desire to tell others how to run their lives. Can you play on the team without being the boss?

How you’ve handled your personal life, run local businesses, sold products or services matter when you put yourself out there in a high place of leadership. How you pay your own taxes and bills is fair game when it comes to handling other people’s hardearned tax dollars. Are you able to honestly stand in judgment against those who don’t

always do the right thing or do it on time?

Yesterday, Democrat Joe Biden chose US Senator Kamala Harris to be his Vice Presidential running mate.

Today, folks are asking if she prosecuted and sent to jail citizens for using marijuana when she had used it herself.

That is not an unfair question.

Sen. Harris will have to answer it eventually. How she answers it will give Americans a peek into her character. If she claims some high anointing and an exemption from having to answer or just tells it like it is -- both will have repercussions.

Clearly, McCain wasn’t desperate enough to win at any cost. He was safe at home in his own skin. He didn’t desperately need the power to prove that he was important.

He was whole just as he was, and wasn’t desperate to prove he was the boss of America.

He didn’t need the money.

He loved his country enough to reject the evil of desperate opportunity and to continue his service until his death.

It’s not too much to ask all our leaders, both locally and nationally, questions and expect honest answers.

Wilt Cutter claims to be the only man in the Free World whose name is his profession.

Wilt’s typewriter hates injustice. He is a man who finds beauty in the people and the naturally occurring poetry of the Shin Oak Ridge of Texas.

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THE LIBERTY HILL INDEPENDENT

Thursday, August 13, 2020

Judge’s order allows outdoor events with more than 10 people

BUSINESS

Chamber celebrates new location for Texas Pawn & Jewelry

Member of the Liberty Hill Chamber of Commerce celebrated the recent grand opening of Texas Pawn & Jewelry with a ceremonial Ribbon Cutting at their new location, 13218 W. State Hwy 29, Liberty Hill. Owners are Troy and Andrea Farr. The store is open Monday- Friday from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Saturday 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. (Photo Courtesy Deborah Reinhard)

BUDGET

Continued from Page 1

the COVID-19 emergency, cities can use the previous cap. “In an emergency, if any portion of your municipality has been affected by a state declaration of emergency you can go back to the 8 percent for that one year and maybe even a second year, and depending on the value of your property, maybe even a third year,� he said. “Currently with the COVID emergency that’s statewide, any city in the state could in fact without voter approval recommend a rate or adopt a rate to raise 8 percent of revenue without having to go to voters.�

In addition to the rule changes for setting the tax rate, other changes allow the City to speed the budget approval process this year. “On the 24th it is our hope that we will be approving a budget and a tax rate at that meeting,� Wilkins said. “Because of the rate we’re proposing we don’t have to have

public hearings so we don’t have to carry this process all the way through September like we normally would.�

The budget has a different look this year, with some departments separated out and shifts in where some costs are categorized. “We’ve sort of overhauled the budget,â€? Wilkins said. “I’ll tell you when I got here it was a little difďŹ cult to navigate and to try and untangle some things and how things work. Typically, when a general fund employee would come into the City, their salary would be split across a couple of different departments – wastewater, water, sewer and general fund. It was extremely difďŹ cult to get a true cost of each segment of our budget.â€?

Personnel Across all funds (general and enterprise funds), salaries are projected at $3.68 million, up $486,971 over the current budgeted salaries.

Not only is that total con-

siderably higher than the current budget, the actual salary expense for the City this year was much lower due to stafďŹ ng changes and unďŹ lled positions. While not an exact annual expense, a list of City personnel by position and salary acquired by The Independent through an open records request in May showed the total annual salary of all City employees on the payroll at that time was $2.88 million.

The $100,000 in salaries approved last year for the Mayor and Council members was again included in the new budget. None of those costs were realized in the current budget due to the delay of the May election. After the November election, the $40,000 salary for the mayor’s position will take effect, and the monthly $1,000 salary for Council members Kathy Canady and Tony DeYoung will begin as neither were opposed in their bid for reelection.

Salaries for the administra-

tive department increased more than $200,000, even after the planning department, City Council and property maintenance departments were separated out.

Salaries for the police department are up $103,560 over the current budget and are projected to increase $327,326 over actual expenditures this year.

Fifteen of the City’s employees fall under the wastewater and water funds, totaling $813,500 in salary expenses.

Revenues Revenue for the general fund – which includes all property and sales taxes, development and permitting fees – is projected at $5.68 million.

Wilkins said in projecting property tax revenues the City set the number at $1.48 million, which is slightly lower than anticipated revenues should all taxes be paid. “The reason we are doing that is that as a state and a country we haven’t truly

faced the economic impact of people who may not be able to pay their mortgage and may not be able to pay their tax bill,� Wilkins said. “If people are still paying their mortgage and taxes and insurance then we’re good, but there could be some situations where people just don’t have the money and we’re not going to see those payments.�

On the sales tax side, Liberty Hill is projecting $825,000.

Fiscal year to date, the City has collected $736,112 in sales tax revenues, and last year it brought in $832,000. “We took a very conservative approach to revenues this year, but even doing so we’re still able to look at the lowest possible tax rate for the citizens,� Wilkins said.

Permitting fees are projected to generate $1.67 million for the upcoming budget, and in “other income� a wastewater management fee is projected

GEORGETOWN – County Judge Bill Gravell has signed an order effective Thursday, August 13, at 5 p.m., permitting Williamson County residents to have outdoor gatherings with more than 10 people in the unincorporated areas of Williamson County provided the gatherings comply with Gov. Greg Abbott Executive Order GA-28, as amended, and future executive orders that may be issued by Abbott.

Gov. Abbott’s Order GA-28 includes limitations on capacity for events or occupancy limits that still apply. A copy of the order can be found at https://gov.texas.gov/uploads/ files/press/EO-GA-28_targeted_response_to_reopening_ COVID-19.pdf.

The order would allow such gatherings outside the Liberty Hill city limits.

This order also follows Abbott’s Executive Order requiring all Texans to wear a face covering over nose and mouth in public spaces. “I trust that the residents of Williamson County understand the seriousness of COVID-19 and know the precautions that are necessary to protect their health. If we continue to use mitigation measures, such as wearing face coverings and washing our hands often, we can safely be able to participate in life events. These gatherings will not be as they once were, but we need to celebrate weddings, and unfortunately, we need to be able to bury family members with the support of our family around us,� said Gravell.

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THE LIBERTY HILL INDEPENDENT

Page 5

A Kenyan avor in Liberty Hill

By ANTHONY FLORES Staff Writer Food is a way to bring people together, share, and indulge in the experience of different cultures. Emma Muniu, originally from Kenya, enjoys the opportunity to share a piece of her heritage and culture with her new neighbors. “My husband and I are Kenyan immigrants. We came to the United States when we were young to go to college.

We stayed here and became citizens and eventually raised a family here,� she said.

The meal is three different dishes: Kenyan curried chicken stew, Kenyan Chapati, and Sukuma Wiki or Kenyan collard greens.

Chapati is an Indian bread that dates back thousands of years, served traditionally with a stew. The food made its way to Kenya when Indians were brought into the country to build the East African railways.

Emma and her husband James were raised eating the traditional bread, before coming to the United States. For Emma’s family, the meal is a favorite and one they look forward to every week. “It’s my husband’s favorite,� she said. “My kids do a happy dance, and when they see me doing the dough, they do the happy dance.�

With a garden at her disposal, greens are a constant for family meals. Emma hopes that people turned off at the idea of greens like kale will give it a chance. “The Sukuma Wiki, in the spring, we make it almost every day because we grow it in my garden,� she said. “I worked in a hospital and the nurses would eat all the food and would say, ‘What do we do with the green stuff,’ and I would ask if I could take it home. Nobody knew what to do with it. “One of the joys we have here is gardening and sharing the produce with our neighbors.

Most of them are elderly and cannot produce their food anymore,� she said.

Emma, her husband, and her kids are a homesteading family, working to grow organic vegetables and have goals to bring Joy Springs Farm to the entire community and provide them with fresh organic fruit and vegetables. “We’re trying to be homesteaders, and eventually, we want to be a go-to place in Liberty Hill,� she said. “It takes a while we’re learning. Our goal is to sell fresh organic food to the community and give it to the elderly.�

Along with chickens, the Muniu’s raise pigs and hope to sell to the community as well, but they’re learning that it’s a tough task to raise pigs large enough to meet demand. “We do raise pigs, but we realize that we don’t grow to the scale of telling everyone we have pork yet,� said Emma. “It takes six months to raise one.

We’ve done it before, posted to Facebook, and a few people came a bought some. We eat it too, and soon it was gone, and we had to take down the ad.�

The next two years will be vital for the family’s goal of being produce providers to the community, but Emma feels that if they stick to their plan, it should work out. “We think in the next two years. I would sell things on

HOMETOWN FLAVORS

Emma and James Muniu immigrated from Kenya and have chosen Liberty Hill as their home.

(Courtesy Photo) Kenyan Curried Chicken Stew is a favorite of the Muniu family. handful of chopped cilantro. 3-5 tbsp. oil (avocado oil if in the greens with salt and pepYou can also add a cup of co- possible) per. Cover and let the greens (Courtesy Photo) conut milk or heavy cream for Salt and pepper to taste shrink. The greens will shrink Facebook, and people would minutes.

1/2 tsp. curry (optional) to less than half of the bulk an extra rich and thick stew. be curious, and they would Let the dough rest for at Sukuma Wiki Cut the collard greens very greens you placed initially. come and ask what else we least an hour. You can rest the Ingredients: thing to allow the avors to Uncover the pan and sautÊ for would sell; they’d ask if I sold dough for up to four hours; 2 bunches collard greens or penetrate. Chop the onions and 4-8 minutes. Try not to overvegetables because they’d see this allows the chapati to be kale (can be a mix of half col- sautÊ them until caramelized. cook until dark green to get a the garden. I thought it would a softer bread. Roll out the lards and half chard) Add the curry in and cook with better taste. You can also add be nice for the community to dough into a at piece and ap- One medium or large red onion the onions for 30 seconds. Add bacon to the dish. have a place they could come ply a tablespoon of butter and for this. I have a plan, and I oil. Spread, and then make the want to grow organic owers,� dough into one big roll.

Emma said. “The timeline is Cut the roll into eight even in about two years we should pieces — warm a cast-iron have a place that you can come skillet or pan (the heavier the $10/week for Minimum 30 Words and buy vegetables and ow- skillet, the better). Don’t overAdditional Words $0.20 Deadline 12 Noon Tuesdays ers.â€? heat the pan or the bread will burn. Take the pieces of dough NEWS@LHINDEPENDENT.COM My Attempt at Kenyan and roll them out 6 inches in Curried Stew diameter. Place the dough on Cleanup deposit is required.

FOR SALE LEGAL After getting the recipe from the skillet and cook each side Seller reserves the right to Emma, I decided to try making until they begin to show a few NOTICES withdraw the property at anyLAWN CARE the curried stew. I followed the light brown spots. Coat the time before the sale date. Unit EQUIPMENT FOR SALE recipe exactly as instructed, cooking bread with oil and ip SECURITY STATE BANK items are sold as-is to highest used a cast-iron skillet, and them a few times before taking 12’ trailer, 48� Ferris commer& TRUST, Fredericksburg, bidder. The sale is open to cash added extra coconut milk for them out. Repeat the process cial grade mower, Weed Eater Gillespie County, Texas has buyers only. The facility has a and misc parts. All need TLC. richness. with each of the other pieces. applied to the Federal Depos- right to place a minimum bid (512) 203-1179.

I was able to ďŹ nd all the necKenyan Curried it Insurance Corporation on on each unit. All sales are ďŹ nal.

(8/13p) essary ingredients at my local Chicken Stew August 5, 2020, to establish All questions can be directed grocery except for the English Ingredients: a branch at 15050 Texas 29, to The Property Manager: 512peas. I settled for regular sweet One chicken (cut into pieces) EMPLOYMENT Liberty Hill, Texas 78642. 515-5310. peas, and because I enjoy 1/8 cup oil Any person wishing to com- (8/13p) spice, I used a hefty amount of One large onion (chopped) MEAN BOSS, AWFUL ment on this application, either peppers to give it a kick.

1/2-1 tsp. ginger (grated) WORKING CONDITIONS, for or against, may ďŹ le written I paired it with some steamed Four smashed or grated cloves PUBLIC must work outside, no cell comments with the Regional rice and poured the curry over of garlic phone reception, low pay, no Director of the Federal DeposNOTICES it. The rice did an excellent job 1 fresh green/red chili (optionbeneďŹ ts, learn architectural it Insurance Corporation at its absorbing the juices. al) stone business. Need admin- Dallas Regional ofďŹ ce, 1601 BID PROPOSAL: Manhole The stew turned out great, Four tomatoes (washed and istrative assistant to perform Bryan Street, Dallas, Texas located at the intersection of with a nice creamy texture. chopped ďŹ nely) range of duties to include lift- 75201 on or before the 15th County Road 213 and HWY The spices smell like they can One large bell pepper ing 50lbs, climbing, standing. day after the date of this pub- 29, on the Texas Materials be overwhelming at ďŹ rst. Still, (chopped) Must be able to work legally in lication. The non-conďŹ dential property, needs to be fully rethey melded together perfectly 1-2 tbsp. curry powder the USA. Send email to Ber- portions of the application placed while it is in service. to give a rustic, spicy avor 1 tsp. coriander tramStonejobs@gmail.com. are on ďŹ le at the appropriate Manhole measurements are that packed a punch. I’m a cur- 1/2 tsp. cumin seeds (9/3p) FDIC ofďŹ ce and are available approximately 36’’ wide X 30’ ry fan, so this dish was perfect Salt and black pepper to taste for public inspection during deep. Another manhole that for me.

1 cup boiled English peas HIRING DIRECT CARE regular business hours. Photo- is located north of work being For those intimidated by this One medium carrot chopped to for special needs population copies of the non-conďŹ dential performed on County Road dish, as long as you follow the small pieces in Liberty Hill. 12-8pm and portion of the application ďŹ le 213 needs to be replaced while steps, you can’t mess it up, and One large potato cut up into weekend FT spots. Starts $13/ will be made available upon in service as well. Will need the end product is well worth small cubes hr. with beneďŹ ts. Training pro- request. to meet 2- 3 days prior to the it.

1 1/2 cups of broth (I use revided. Call Cho (512) 963- (8/13p) bid start date, to look at the Kenyan Chapati duced sodium) 0773. HopeHouseAustin.org project. To set up a time and Ingredients: one handful of chopped cilan(8/13c) NOTICE OF PUBLIC date please call Brian Paul 4 Organic cups our. (2 white tro SALE Wastewater Superintendent at unbleached, two whole wheat) First heat oil in a large, heavy DAVIS TIRE & AUTOMO- Pursuant to section 59 of the the City of Liberty Hill (254) 2 cups warm water pot and add in the onions unTIVE is looking for full-time Texas Property Code, Easy 226-0094.

1 tbsp. butter x2 (1/2 for dough til they’re translucent. Add the tire technician. No experience Stop Storage, 10640 W STATE (8/13) half for rolling) ginger, garlic, chili and stir the necessary. Please call JD Da- HWY 29, LIBERTY HILL, 1 tbsp. oil x2 (1/3 for dough mixture until the aromas comvis at (512) 778-6810 if inter- TEXAS 78642 will hold a MISSING PROPERTY 1/2 for rolling out) bine. Add in the curry powder, ested. public auction in order to satis- If you believe the police de1.5 tsp. salt coriander, cumin, salt, and (8/13c) fy a landlord’s lien of personal partment may have a found 1 tsp. sugar pepper into the mix and cook property. item that belongs to you, you Oil (enough to cook chapati) for 15-30 seconds.

THE AUCTION WILL BE can call the Property Division To make the dough for the Next, add in the chopped toSERVICES HELD ONLINE: AT WWW. directly at 512-548-5530 or chapati, mix all of the dry in- matoes. Cover with a lid and S TO R A G E T R E A S U R E S . email at ekrause@libertyhillgredients in a bowl ďŹ rst. Cre- let it cook for ďŹ ve minutes or SELL YOUR UNIQUE home COM tx.gov. When contacting the ate a small well in the center until the tomatoes are soft. made or grown items locally!

Bids will Start on August 23, Property Division, describe of the dry ingredients and then Add in the chicken and brown The Market At Indian Mound 2020 at 10:00 AM CST and the item(s) you are looking for, add the oil and the water. Mix for two minutes. Mix in the Ranch is currently accepting End on August 31, 2020 at in detail, and we will let you with a wooden spoon until the broth and bring it to a boil be- Vendors for the 2020 Season.

1:00 PM CST. Storage units know if we have it. If we do, our, oil, and water are mixed. fore covering and simmering Saturday’s 9-3 weather permitare believed to be contain gen- we will make arrangements to Knead the dough but not too for ten minutes. ting. $20 space fee. 12805 SH eral household items. get it back to you. much to avoid a tight dough.

After 10 minutes of simmer- 29 W. Send email to imr1873@ Units to be auctioned include: (8/27) Transfer the dough onto a ing, add in the peas, bell pep- gmail.com for details.

Kelly Hemphill & Melissa clean surface with a little oil per, carrots and stir for ďŹ ve HatďŹ eld and knead well for about three minutes. Lastly, add in the

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Page 6

COUNTY

THE LIBERTY HILL INDEPENDENT

Continued from Page 1

“We had given direction to the budget office back in late April. We expected a flat budget from last year simply because we don’t know what we don’t know. There’s going to be a lot of unknowns in terms of revenue to the county next year, and we felt it was the conservative approach to proceed cautiously.”

One of the most important things to pay attention to in the proposed budget is the absence of pay increases for civilians and no new added positions.

These are also in response to COVID-19.

“I think what stands out, for the most part, would be no compensation increases for civilians, meaning non-law enforcement and no new positions,” said county budget officer Ashlie Koenig. “So,

we are not increasing our (full time employee) count. That’s one of the reasons you saw we were able to recommend a decrease. Because of those two things.”

Koenig believes that without COVID-19 the budget could be quite different.

“I do think there would be an increase primarily because of being in a county experiencing such high growth,” she said.

“I think we would have seen people added or positions added. We’re primarily a service organization, and I think it’s roughly 54 percent of our budget attributed to personnel. As the demands rise, we have to respond and add people. As a county, all of our departments touch every taxpayer at some point in time.”

Koenig stressed the impor-

tance of taking a conservative approach because while it may not affect the county in 2020, it will affect 2021.

“What people need to know is that the court has final say over the tax rate and the budget and they’re very cognizant of the climate of the impact from COVID and individuals who have lost jobs or lost healthcare,” she said. “I think people should know that the court is sensitive to this and we want to prepare and be conservative. It’s not this year that we’ll be impacted, it’s next year.

With that said, we lowered the budget.”

During the Tuesday budget modification workshop the court debated ways to provide increased compensation for county employees. County Judge Bill Gravell suggested

merit raises be provided to civilian employees.

“I make the motion that we provide a merit increase for all Williamson County civilian employees,” he said. “My motion is that we give a 2 percent merit increase to all Williamson County civilian employees. To make it available to the department heads or elected officials to award if they so choose. The number I was given was $1.5 million.”

Gravell’s motion came from seeing the work employees have done during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“I was of the opinion that we wouldn’t be able to do it this year, and I saw the motion for hazard pay for EMS and MOT, and I believe in that,” he said.

“What I saw those folks do during COVID’s early stages

Thursday, August 13, 2020

was phenomenal, and what HR has done is worth hazard pay. I know that 2 percent is a lot, and it’s the taxpayers’ funds. I wasn’t in favor of a merit increase until I saw that one item.”

The motion met some resistance from some on the commissioners court, citing the current landscape of the job market for residents of the county.

“The only problem I have, and it’s not that I don’t appreciate every individual that works for us, but there are people that don’t have jobs right now,” said Pct. 3 Commissioner Valerie Covey. “We’re going to have a hard time reducing our tax rate because it boxes us in, even more, the next few years.”

Commissioner Long pro-

posed a one-time 2 percent lump-sum merit increase to not impact next year’s budget.

“I think this accomplishes what you want and what we all want, and it puts less of longterm uncertainty,” said Long.

The one-time lump sum merit increase would be based solely on performance and discretion by department heads and elected officials. The motion passed 5-0.

A public hearing is set for 10 a.m. Aug. 25, where members of the community can voice their opinions.

Leading up to the public hearing, people can sign up and publicly comment at weekly Commissioners Court meetings every Tuesday.

INVESTIGATION Continued from Page 1

COURTESY PHOTOS

Ashley Torres DeGraan and her family use puzzle pieces to con- Lisa Dayhoff creates pieces using the diamond painting struct abstract art. method and donates them to fundraisers supporting veterans.

PASTIMES

Continued from Page 1

a lot of room to improve in, and I like attempting to improve a skill.”

Diving into her art as well, Lisa Dayhoff is working on honing her diamond painting skills. Diamond painting is a mix between cross stitch and paint by numbers that requires the painter to apply resin diamonds to a coded canvas.

The new pastime makes COVID restrictions less cumbersome.

“It gives us something to look forward to every day, as well as a weekly basis as we wait for new ones we have ordered to come in,” said Dayhoff.

“For me, I can concentrate on the little details so that I am not just sitting around worrying about the things and people I was so used to interacting with personally.”

Making it more than just a personal hobby, Dayhoff donates her work for fundraisers to help veterans.

“Since I tend to donate my finished pieces for fundraisers, this is also helping me build up my options,” said Dayhoff. “It gives me another way to help my fellow veterans whole, minimizing the risk to others and my family.”

Ginger Ketchum is taking

her art off the canvas, using her creativity to make cards.

Whether it’s holidays, get well soon, happy birthday or happy anniversary cards, Ketchum is covering the spectrum.

“I found that creating cards to give to others lifted my spirits. It took the edge off from being isolated. I kept busy each day,” said Ketchum. “I wanted to share something with my mother that she could easily do in her room by herself. I created card kits for her and her friends to assemble.”

Working with crafts holds a special place in Ketchum’s heart. Her mother passed in July, and before quarantine Ketchum would work on crafts with her mother. Be-

cause of quarantine Ketchum wasn’t able to continue that activity with her. To remedy not being able to connect with her, Ketchum would create and send cards to her.

“My 92-year-old mother was quarantined in a Round Rock nursing home. We were not allowed to visit. Although I chatted with her via video chat, I wanted to uplift her spirits as the residents were not allowed to leave their rooms,” she said. “We previously had crafted together weekly. I volunteered at the nursing home and taught a crafting class periodically.

Making cards and sending them to my mother for herself and to uplift her friends was therapeutic for both of us.”

provide that information, so the case has become active again. Mr. Hall has provided the names of several potential witnesses who were present at the event where these alleged offenses occurred. We are in the process of scheduling and conducting interviews with these potential witnesses.”

According to Campbell, his two sons are awaiting a Child Advocacy Forensic Interview as part of the investigation.

Without addressing any specific allegations, Hall categorically denied in June that there was any truth to any of the allegations made by Campbell in

his grievance.

“I can tell you this, that the comments made in there are not valid,” Hall previously said in an interview regarding the grievance. “At the initial point some of these comments were made, Becky (Wilkins) spoke to every one of the employees and there was no comments from any of the employees that came remotely close to all that.

This is the typical thing that happens with a disgruntled employee, or ex-employee trying to divert the real things from them to someone else to try to discredit somebody else when they’re the ones in trouble.”

EVENT Continued from Page 1

cream cone,” he said. “The idea is that we want to energize that community and extend that olive branch out to support law enforcement so that they see it’s not just their ilk. Now we see this motorcycle community. I think it’s important that they see it’s not just the mothers, wives, and themselves but also everyone.”

Liberty Hill was the fifth stop for the organization on Saturday. The group’s trek went from one end of the county to the other, including stops in Round Rock and Pflugerville, and the Williamson County Sheriff’s Office. After Liberty Hill, they scheduled stops in Leander and Cedar Park.

Out of the first five stops, Liberty Hill’s event proved to be the biggest in terms of community turnout. There were cake and beverages for those in attendance, many sporting prolaw enforcement flags, shirts, and signs.

Attendees had the chance to mingle with members of the LHPD and Mayor Rick Hall, who was also in attendance.

The City of Liberty Hill helped with the event, providing the beverages.

“Our community is always really supportive, and this shows it,” said LHPD Chief Royce Graeter. “We’ve got a lot of community members out here besides the guys who just rode in. The City got behind us and helped us out -- they hooked us up with the lemonade and tea.”

Graeter believes the event is vital for his officers’ morale, especially in the current climate.

“This is great because it makes all of the officers’ morale go up,” he said. “That’s what we need, especially in these hard times, to know that your community cares about you, that there are people out there who care.”

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SPORTS

THE LIBERTY HILL INDEPENDENT Thursday, August 13, 2020 Page 7

Teams gear up for a unique season

By SCOTT AKANEWICH Sports Editor On the surface, it may seem like any other mid-August around the main field house at Liberty Hill High School as fall sports teams have begun workouts in anticipation of the resumption of competition.

However, just the starting dates alone – set by the UIL – are enough to give one pause when considering exactly how this new school year – and sports season – is going to play out.

Five months have passed since all official high school competition across Texas was halted due to the COVID-19 pandemic and Class 4A and below schools were permitted to begin practice on Aug. 3, which was when Liberty Hill normally would’ve started getting ready for the upcoming schedule.

But, due to the Panthers’ jump up to Class 5A for the new school year, the green light was further delayed, providing an instant price to pay for being included with the big boys and girls in the top two classifications.

So, instead of beginning of time, the Purple-and-Gold volleyball and football squads have been forced to wait another month to get going, as those sports will begin competing on Sept. 14 and Sept.

24, respectively.

Not the case for the Panthers cross country and tennis teams, which have already been working out ahead of the first meets and matches of the season on Sept. 7.

According to new Liberty Hill head tennis coach Sherry Rhoden, her sport is providing exactly what the doctor ordered for her young athletes – literally and figuratively.

“Tennis has been recommended by the CDC since day one of this pandemic,” said Rhoden. “It’s considered level 2 on the risk scale. As far as sports go, we’re very grateful for our sport, especially in times like this. In fact, most of our players continued playing tennis through drills, tournaments and small practices all summer long. Now that we’re back on campus, we’re checking individual temperatures and asking the COVID questions before we begin practice each day. When we’re grouped together for instruction, we’re social distancing and wearing our masks.”

Health guidelines aside, both players and coaches are pleased to simply be back at their chosen craft, said Rhoden.

“The players seem so happy to be back together on the courts – their court time is filling their mental, physical and social needs,” she said.

“Both the ladies’ and men’s teams have been working hard and staying positive in the heat. Everyone seems very eager to learn and improve. As coaches, we’re ecstatic to see our players and be back on these beautiful, purple courts.”

Head cross country coach Kim Holt and her squad have been working out since July 27 and are slowly getting up to speed with not only their times, but the new safety protocols, she said.

“At the moment, the kids are wearing masks to practice daily. We check their temperature, ask them the health questions and record the data and we also give them hand sanitizer,” said Holt. “After we check them in, they take their masks off to practice. When we use the weight room, we’re sani-

tizing the equipment after use and the kids are using hand sanitizer. After practice, they put their masks back on.”

Of course, maintaining proper distance is also of the utmost importance, said Holt.

“We also tell them daily to make sure to social distance,” she said. “We’re only allowed to have 50 percent in the locker rooms at the moment, so we have to make sure to limit the kids that go in. We haven’t let the kids use the showers yet, but when school starts we’ll have guidelines on that hopefully. So, we’re able to get our workouts done – we just have to work with the guidelines.”

Lady Panthers head volleyball coach Gretchen Peterson said being back together allows her and her team to once again renew the camaraderie, which provides one of the most rewarding aspects of athletics – and one that also helps ease the constraints of the current conditions.

“Everyone was so ready to get back to some sort of normalcy – the unknown of would we or wouldn’t we have a season was the worst of it – not knowing was very wearing,” she said. “Spirits are up and good, we have a plan, we have a vision, we know we have to roll with it. Things will change, but we’re going to move forward and find the blessings in all the mess of it and make it nice. It’s so good to be back with our teams and kids – not because of the practices or games necessarily, but because of the friendships, bonds and relationships – when you have those in place, it makes everything else a lot easier to take in.”

As always, Peterson had the knack for putting a positive spin on the proceedings while

A Purple-and-Gold year in the books

By SCOTT AKANEWICH Sports Editor In early August of 2019, I arrived here in a place I knew nothing about.

Didn’t know anybody or anything.

Rolling into town in the wee hours on SH 29 on that summer night, the first thing we saw was an exquisite, well-lit structure before even passing the city limits sign that read, “Liberty Hill, City Limit, Pop. 967.”

Liberty Hill High School.

Before we even realized what it was, this absolute gem of a campus greeted us with a warmth one could almost see emanating from its walls – and most certainly could feel.

“Guess that’s where we’ll be spending a lot of our time,” we thought to ourselves.

What I did know was Liberty Hill was a one high school town, so there was to be no pecking order of covering this school or that one, making sure the coverage was equally spread around like grape jelly on a big ol’ slice of Texas toast.

No, it was going to be all Purple-and-Gold, all the time.

Even growing up out in California, anyone who knows anything about sports has heard about Texas high school football and how the game is a religion in the Lone Star State and we weren’t quite sure what we were getting ourselves into as the only person in town charged with telling the stories that would unfold under the famous Friday night lights.

Certainly wasn’t Junipero Serra High School in San Diego, where home games were at 3 p.m. – because there were no lights – and next to nobody

would show up anyway.

After all, the beach was open.

Just how serious did these people – our new neighbors – take the game?

We were going to find out.

Especially a team coming off a 13-2 season which saw them advance all the way to a state-championship game.

Yes, the team we would be covering played its last game the year before on a field in Dallas with a big, blue star at the 50-yard line.

No pressure.

However, upon introduction to the Panthers’ football program and spending time with coaches and players, we quickly realized this wasn’t some concentration camp atmosphere like something out of “The Junction Boys.”

Instead, it was simply a place where mediocrity wasn’t tolerated and excellence was always the goal.

After all, Coach Walker wouldn’t have it any other way.

We weren’t sure exactly what to expect from athletic director and head football coach Jeff Walker before our first meeting with the Panthers’ sideline boss.

Stereotypes would suggest Texas high school football coaches are no-nonsense, drill sergeant types who have absolutely no time for anything else but making their team better.

What stereotypes didn’t suggest was a caring individual who has things like “Hug Day” and has all his players line up and shake hands with the coaching staff at the end of practice every day – you know, to smooth out any potential hard feelings of something that might have happened out on the field that afternoon.

Coach Walker ended up being all of the above.

Vince Lombardi and Mr.

Rogers all rolled into one.

The Panthers steamrolled Glenn in the season-opener, but then went on to struggle during a campaign that saw them fall to 2-5 before righting the ship and running off five consecutive wins before bowing out of the state playoffs in the fourth round to finish 7-6.

Someone once said you learn a lot more from losing than winning, so that theory will be tested as the new season begins this fall.

But, back to last year.

Coming from a city that has well over 100 high schools to a place with one wasn’t so much of a culture shock after spending three years in Wyoming, where we had seven schools to cover.

But, this was still going to be different.

One. What this has allowed is to develop relationships to a much higher degree than if we had that piece of toast to worry about.

People like Coach Walker, Gretchen Peterson, Kim Holt and Philip Dodd – and those are only the fall sports coaches – quickly made us feel like we were at home in our new home, almost as if we’re part of the Panthers family.

Which, of course, we are.

Anyway, fall season was only the beginning of a school sports calendar that featured highs and lows for the Purple-and-Gold only to be ultimately cut short by a pesky pandemic.

However, the new school year brings about our second year on the Liberty Hill sports beat and after being around the block once already, there probably won’t be as many new experiences to enjoy, but one thing’s for sure.

Everything will still be just as special and unique.

LAURA COLEMAN PHOTO

New Liberty Hill head tennis coach Sherry Rhoden and her team are practicing proper protocols as the Panthers practice ahead of the new season. waxing philosophic with a bit With that being said, intensi- yellow, fuzzy balls.” of humor mixed in. ty must remain tempered – for Peterson echoed the emotions “What we’re doing requires now, anyway. of her coaching colleagues more planning and monitoring “At the moment, we get a when it came to embracing opand you organize things differ- chance to slow down and teach portunity and taking absoluteently, but you make it work,” some specifics that will help ly nothing for granted in the she said. “Honestly, if they moving forward, but once the current climate. told me I had to coach wearing season starts, it’s fast and furi“I think there are lessons to a full hazmat suit standing on ous,” said Walker. “But, we’ve be learned in all of this and my head, I would do it with a done a great job of taking one we have all learned there are smile, as long as we’re moving day at a time. We don’t worry no guarantees and things can forward and our kids are get- about things out of our control go as quickly as they got here, ting to play. As for the kids, and we’re focused on getting so enjoy and embrace what they get it and they want this, our team prepared to play.” you have when you have it,” so you do what you have to Rhoden added to the senti- she said. “We all need to use do – complaining isn’t going ment of living in the moment more common sense and not to do any good, so why waste and appreciating the chance just assume when it comes to that energy?” to get back at the business of our health, but also we can’t Liberty Hill athletic director practicing and playing the live without fully living. So and head football coach Jeff game they love. we make the most of everyWalker has provided his play“We’re taking each day one thing, make sounder decisions ers with proper perspective day at a time and we recog- and live our lives in the moregarding the new normal they nize each day is a gift for all ment we’re in. As for volleyfind themselves in. of us to enjoy,” she said. “The ball, everyone in the state is “It’s definitely challenging, schedule may change, but our in the same boat – some of us but our student-athletes are do- love for the game will not be better, but ultimately it’s the ing a great job of following the affected. Tennis players have same situation and challenges guidelines in place,” he said. “I been extremely blessed during – it’s about figuring out how remind the kids daily we’re a this pandemic and I speak for to make it work and getting phone call away from the sea- many when I say we’re grate- things done – making adjustson being possibly canceled, ful for this lifelong game that’s ments and moving forward.” so we need to make every day outside in the fresh air. What a we get count.” luxury to be able to hit these

Liberty Hill Youth Soccer begins with pandemic plan in place

By SCOTT AKANEWICH Sports Editor One thing the global coronavirus pandemic can’t do is quell the world’s game – even right here in central Texas.

The Liberty Hill Youth Soccer Association is currently accepting registration for the fall 2020 season and although initial participation is down, the league is steadfast in its resolve in moving forward, said LSYHA President Josh Jacobi.

“We’re playing in a completely new and foreign atmosphere,” said Jacobi. “Registration numbers are down, but not as much as we expected. Typically in the fall, we have less families signing up as we’re head-to-head with other sports and back to school. With the pandemic, we were expecting lower numbers, but have been surprised by the turnout. Our number one goal, by a mile is safety. We didn’t want to have a season just to have youth sports – we wanted to make sure we can get kids out playing the beautiful game in a safe and responsible manner.”

With that in mind, the league has an extensive plan in place to ensure safety for all involved, he said.

“Our emergency action plan is lengthy and complex. But, it gives guidance for spectators, players, coaches and referees,” said Jacobi. “Temperature checks before each game and practice will be done at home – parents and players will self-report and equipment is not to be shared. Communal equipment will be sanitized between all events. Game days will be longer as we will have less fields in order to allow room for social distancing and time between each game to clear out. We’ve also implemented a lengthy contact tracing plan, which is dependent on everyone following proto-

col, but will be able to quickly identify areas of risk if we do have a positive test.”

Jacobi added the powers-thatbe at the league have worked with a sense of urgency all summer in order to ensure the league can indeed go ahead with its usual season, he said.

“Typically during the summer, our board is off. Maybe we might volunteer an hour per week with the exception of our field coordinator,” said Jacobi. “But, this summer has been constant from May when registration started to our first practices the week of Aug. 10. We had to register players while not knowing if or how the season would happen, we had to create an emergency action plan, appoint safety coordinators and wait for parent organizations to give advice. But, we hope once the players take the field and are having fun and feeling safe, it will all be worth it.”

LHYSA offers leagues for girls and boys ranging in age from under-4 to under-19 in either recreational or more competitive settings depending on the player’s needs, he said.

“Our recreational teams work in two divisions. Division 4 is the under-4 through under-10. These teams only play within Liberty Hill Soccer,” said Jacobi. “For Division 4, we want to continue teaching skills on and off the field and giving the kids in our community an opportunity to learn teamwork, competition and responsibility. Division 3 is recreational as well – these teams travel and we have a back-toback defending Capital Area Youth Soccer Organization champion in the under-12 girls’ team.”

For players wishing to show a more serious side, LHYSA provides an academy program that is geared to guide those

whose desire it is to pursue higher-level competition and instruction.

“Our academy introduces kids to more advanced skills and paid certified coaches,” he said. “We’re fielding four select teams – two girls’ and two boys’ – this year and hope to compete at each level. Select teams have advanced skills training multiple days per week with paid and certified coaches. They will travel and participate in tournaments multiple times per year – it gives those wanting to advance their skills at a high level an opportunity for more competition.”

However, aside from all the safety protocols and competition levels, LHYSA remains committed to providing an environment in which local youth can learn valuable life lessons – something he has firsthand knowledge of, said Jacobi.

“There are so many benefits to youth sports, and soccer in particular,” he said. “The longest-lasting lesson or skill I remember taking away from youth soccer was teamwork and the importance of physical exercise. I hope kids lacing up for LHYSA can appreciate the value of physical exercise in a safe and competitive outlet while learning how to work together as a team – both will have lifelong benefits.”

More information about the league and how to join can be found at www.libertyhillsoccer.org.

No one covers the Panthers better than THE INDEPENDENT! For complete local sports coverage, www.LHINDEPENDENT.COM/SUBSCRIPTIONS

Page 8

COUNCIL

THE LIBERTY HILL INDEPENDENT

Continued from Page 4

to net the City $750,000.

The wastewater fund is projected to generate revenues of $5.93 million, the sewer fund $1 million and the water fund $1.84 million. These funds are separate and can’t be used in the general fund.

Debt service About a third of the property tax rate is for debt service.

The Interest and Sinking (I&S) – or debt service – portion of the total proposed tax rate of $0.454559 is $0.145096.

The debt service included in the proposed budget is $647,075, and that stems from two outstanding tax notes.

“Our property tax must include the rate necessary to pay our bond payments for the next year,” Wilkins said.

Increased bond or tax note debt would, in future budget years, increase the I&S rate, reducing the amount of the property taxes raised that could go to general fund expenses such as salaries and operations.

On the enterprise fund side, the City currently has two sewer, three water and three wastewater bonds.

“The (enterprise fund) debt is revenue based and paid for with the fees we collect,” Wilkins said.

New equipment Among the new equipment items listed for the upcoming year is a postage machine with an envelop stuffer, allowing the City to streamline mailings.

The police department will be getting radio upgrades and weapons upgrades.

The Council approved the financing of a new dump truck for the City as well at its last meeting.

Capital improvements There is nothing budgeted under capital improvements

for the upcoming year, but Wilkins pointed out that it doesn’t mean the City can’t take on new projects.

“It’s not something we technically budget for in the budget process,” Wilkins said. “Council can come back anytime and say ‘let’s do this project and do it under CIP and here’s how we’re going to fund it.’ At any point you can do that.”

This past year, the Council met its CIP needs by transferring funds from the reserve fund, and the proposed budget shows a transfer to capital projects of $3.29 million in the current year, with at least some of that being pulled from the reserve fund.

Any capital projects added

for the upcoming year, which would include the swim center and downtown intersection of Loop 332 and CR 279, would have to be covered primarily through the issuance of new bonds.

In the discussion of handling capital improvement projects in the future, Wilkins indicated that bonds should be issued for particular projects, again indicating that previously the City was not handling projects this way. However, when tax notes were issued in previous years they were issued for specific projects.

A recent look by the Council at the City’s projects showed there was little remaining in funds to address projects, with

the final $710,319 said to be available likely going toward the planned community center approved in July, at an estimated cost of $750,000.

Any bonds issued next year would likely not impact the I&S tax rate until the 20212022 budget. The current tax notes are in year four of their seven-year payment plan.

“When it comes to the next budget cycle we would have to budget for that out of our expenditures so we can make sure we have enough money to cover that,” Hall said.

Issuing bonds for future projects would be a decision made by the Council.

“People think when you say bonds it is something

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like a school bond that you have to go vote on, it’s not,” said Council member Kathy Canady. “It is something that we vote on, but it’s not something that has to go out to the public to be voted on.”

Reserve funds In a brief discussion of the reserve fund, Wilkins commented to the Council that perhaps as revenue streams grew – sales tax in particular – in coming years that the City might be able to divert more funds to the reserve account.

“Hopefully, we will be in a position to maybe increase our reserves in a couple of years with some excess sales tax and build for the future so that when a CIP project comes up

we’re not having to go bond, we maybe have some savings,” Wilkins said.

But last year that is exactly what the Council voted to do in taking money from the reserve fund to cover capital projects.

Rather than putting more into the reserve fund, which was at approximately $2.7 million at the end of the 2018-2019 fiscal year, the Council voted on a new policy that only holds four months worth of reserve, which last year totaled $1.06 million. The remainder of the reserve was redirected to cover other expenses in the current year.

There is no plan to add to the reserve fund in the proposed budget.

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