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Volume 34, Issue 37
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Council, EDC discuss incentives programs, need for clarity
By RACHEL MADISON Staff Writer During a joint meeting of the Liberty Hill City Council and the Economic Development Corporation on July 28, Council Member Chris Pezold said more transparency is needed into the EDC’s incentive programs including why some businesses are selected as recipients over others. Pezold said when the EDC board was formed in 2003 after a special election, it looked a lot different than it does today, which led him to state six “facts” before asking one pertinent question. First, Pezold said EDC Executive Director Matt Powell made a comment in a June EDC meeting that you had to know somebody on the EDC to get something approved; and second, Mike Beevers, the developer of Heritage Ridge where Starbucks is located, paid former Mayor
Rick Hall to be a consultant for that project. “I know this because Beevers came over to my house and told me,” Pezold added. “I’m not going to go with rumors, just the facts.” The third “fact” was that the EDC gave Bevers $160,000 for his development. Pezold’s “Fact No. 4” was that the EDC had a line item on its 2017-18 budget for a “downtown connection fees” program, which had $45,000 in it that year; and No. 5 was that at least one past member of the EDC board took advantage of that program, Pezold said. Finally, he said that James Prince, owner of Main Street Social, has attempted to reach out to the EDC for help with his living unit equivalents (LUEs) through an incentive program. He is currently being charged for 27 LUEs, which
See EDC, Page 9
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August 5, 2021 | 50 Cents
City’s 2020 audit remains incomplete due to missing documents
By RACHEL MADISON Staff Writer Hundreds of thousands of dollars in expenses by the City of Liberty Hill in the 2020 fiscal year are unaccounted for, according to an auditor who has been unable to gather dozens of missing invoices, receipts, credit card statements and more. The City’s 2020 audit has yet to be completed due to the missing items. Under best practices, the audit should have been completed in March. Lupe Garcia, CPA and engagement officer for Whitley Penn Accounting, the firm working with the City on completing its 2020 audit, presented an update to Council at its regular meeting on July 28. City Administrator Lacie Hale said staff is looking for the missing documentation, because the delay of the audit’s completion could have serious repercussions. “This could potentially impact
our ability to get bonds,” she said. “We have a wastewater bond we need to go out for, and [not having a finished audit] could increase interest rates if we get that bond. Because our finances would be unaudited, we may also have to find an additional route to secure funds.” The engagement letter for the audit to begin was signed in May 2020, but it wasn’t started then because the 2019 audit was incomplete. The 2019 report was issued at the end of August 2020, which is when Garcia’s firm could start the new audit. Most of the internal field work was done remotely up until now, due to COVID-19, but Garcia and his team were able to be on site at City Hall for three days last week. With
auditors on site, Garcia said he hoped that would speed up finding the missing documents. Hale said the City’s finance
looking for, but estimated her department has gathered 80 percent of what’s missing, and she’s made it her top priority to locate the other missing 20
“There are only three possible explanations for this. It’s either poor management, bad accounting, or an actual crime.”
~ Mayor Liz Branigan
department has been working tirelessly to find the missing items. “The auditors left City Hall with a mountain of documents,” she said. “Now it’s just a matter of going through all of that and the list of what’s missing and seeing what they still need.” Lindsay Strothman, staff accountant for the City, said she can’t put a dollar amount on what the auditors are still
percent. Becky Wilkins, the City’s Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer since December 2018, was not present at the Council meeting last week and is reportedly on leave covered by FMLA for an unknown period of time. During the meeting, Council member Kathy Canady repeatedly stated that Wilkins’ absence was for
See AUDIT, Page 5
Locals react to surge of COVID cases
By CHRISTIAN BETANCOURT Staff Writer Local business owners and public officials in Liberty Hill are cautious about the rise of COVID-19 cases in Williamson County but believe citizens will make the right choices to stay safe. A COVID-19 update from the Williamson County and Cities Health District (WCCHD) put the county in the red phase due to a seven-day rolling average of 44.83 cases per 100,000 people and reported two new deaths since August 2 without any decline over the last 14 days. The WCCHD reported 43,755 confirmed cases and 495 deaths in the county since the pandemic started. Liberty Hill ISD Superintendent Steven Snell said in a statement posted on the school district website shortly after their last board meeting on July 19 that schooling would be done in person while following
The total number of COVID-19 cases reported since the pandemic and a chart showing the similarities between Travis and Williamson County. (WCCHD Graphic) the same protocols utilized by the district at the end of the school year in May.
“Staying in line with the Governor’s executive order GA36, LHISD will not require the
wearing of masks; however, anyone who chooses to wear a mask is welcome to do so,” he
said. “In our community, the last couple of weeks have seen a spike in COVID numbers,
and the county has returned to
See COVID, Page 5
Ice cream shop hopes to help bring tolerance as well as sweets
By CHRISTIAN BETANCOURT Staff Writer As the sound of construction permeated the Main Street Social in preparation for their grand opening Saturday, an ice cream business on the corner added the final touches to a company the owners hope will create a legacy for their younger child Tyler, an 11-year old with special needs. Lisa Candido met her husband in Canada while attending college. The two fell in love and were blessed with three boys. Tyler, the youngest of the three, was born in 2010 with Down syndrome. “We knew our journey raising him would be different,” said Lisa. “We immediately started ©2021 The Liberty Hill Independent
dreaming about how Tyler’s adult life would be. One of our biggest concerns was, ‘What will he do when he grows up?’ We wanted to create meaningful employment for him and other individuals with Down syndrome.” After living in Texas for a few years, the couple planned to create a business for their son later on, but life had other plans. “Through a job change and meeting the right people at the right time, it just seems like we were led to (open the shop now),” said Lisa. “It all happened very quickly. While we expect that Tyler will attend a college program, we’ve always dreamed of providing him and others with Down syndrome with an inclusive and supportive work environment.” The move into ice cream was an easy decision for Tyler’ father, James Candido, whose background was in
The Candido family is opening an ice cream shop in Liberty Hill’s Main Street Social. In addition to offering tasty treats, Udder
See ICE CREAM, Page 4 Love hopes to normalize how others see people with Down syndrome. (Courtesy Photo)
Page 2
THE LIBERTY HILL INDEPENDENT
Thursday, August 5, 2021
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Turpin-Wilkison exchange vows
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NOTICE OF PUBLIC MEETING TO DISCUSS BUDGET AND PROPOSED TAX RATE
The Liberty Hill ISD will hold a public meeting at 6:00 PM 08/16/2021 at Liberty Hill ISD Administration Building, 301 Forrest Street, Liberty Hill, Texas. The purpose of this meeting is to discuss the school district’s budget that will determine the tax rate that will be adopted. Public participation in the discussion is invited. The tax rate that is ultimately adopted at this meeting or at a separate meeting at a later date may not exceed the proposed rate shown below unless the district publishes a revised notice containing the same information and comparisons set out below and holds another public meeting to discuss the revised notice.
Week of July 26 - Aug. 1 The Liberty Hill Police Department responded to or self-initiated a total of 558 incidents resulting in 21 cases, 51 citations, 61 warnings and three arrests.
Weekly Highlights: - On July 26 at approximately 6:25 AM, officers responded to the 2000 block of RM 1869 for a 911 hang up call. - On July 26 at approximately 3:17 PM, officers responded to the 4000 block of RM 1869 for loose livestock. - On July 26 at approximately 3:42 PM, officers responded to the 10000 block of W. SH 29 for suspicious activity. - On July 26 at approximately 3:54PM, officers responded to the 13000 block of W. SH 29 for a traffic hazard. - On July 27 at approximately 12:34 AM, officers responded to the 18000 block of W. SH 29 to assist the Williamson County Sheriff’s Office. - On July 27 at approximately 8:46 AM, officers responded to the 13000 block of W. SH 29 for an accident. - On July 27 at approximately 10:45 AM, officers responded to the 16000 block of W. SH 29 for an accident.
- On July 27 at approximately 3:22 PM, officers responded to the 3000 block of RM 1869 for an accident. - On July 27 at approximately 6:59 PM, officers responded to Century Plant Rd. for a burglary complaint. - On July 27 at approximately 11:56 PM, officers arrested a female adult for driving while intoxicated, as the result of a traffic stop on the 10000 block of W. SH 29. - On July 28 at approximately 5:21AM, officers responded to Tuscany Drive to assist the Williamson County Sheriff’s Office. - On July 28 at approximately 7:11 AM, officers responded to the 14000 block of W. SH 29 for an accident. - On July 28 at approximately 11:20 AM, officers responded to the 14000 block of W. SH 29 for a trespassing complaint. - On July 28 at approximately 3:40 PM, officers responded to the 14000 W. SH 29 for suspicious activity. - On July 28 at approximately 5:46 PM, officers responded to the 15000 block of W. SH 29 for property damage. - On July 28 at approximately 10:43 PM, officers responded to the 13000 block of W. SH 29
$0.862000 /$100 (Proposed rate for maintenance and operations) $0.500000 /$100 (Proposed rate to pay bonded indebtedness)
Comparison of Proposed Budget with Last Year’s Budget
The applicable percentage increase or decrease (or difference) in the amount budgeted in the preceding fiscal year and the amount budgeted for the fiscal year that begins during the current tax year is indicated for each of the following expenditure categories: Maintenance and operations 12.320600% (increase) or % (decrease) Debt service 34.398700% (increase) or % (decrease) Total expenditures 25.825900% (increase) or % (decrease)
Total Appraised Value and Total Taxable Value (as calculated under Section 26.04, Tax Code) Preceding Tax Year $3,683,978,865 $707,001,028 $3,005,153,985 $360,462,121
Total appraised value* of all property Total appraised value* of new property** Total taxable value*** of all property Total taxable value*** of new property**
* “Appraised value” is the amount shown on the appraisal roll and defined by Section 1.04(8), Tax Code. ** “New property” is defined by Section 26.012(17), Tax Code. *** “Taxable value” is defined by Section 1.04(10), Tax Code.
Current Tax Year $4,960,163,295 $956,289,288 $3,983,235,128 $525,881,703
* Outstanding principal
Last Year’s Rate Rate to Maintain Same Level of Maintenance & Operations Revenue & Pay Debt Service Proposed Rate
Interest & Sinking Fund* $0.500000*
$0.825520 $0.862000
$0.457000* $0.500000*
Total $1.364700
$1.282520 $1.362000
(512) 778-5577
Local Revenue Per Student $8,670
State Revenue Per Student $2,747
$9,209 $9,455
* The Interest & Sinking Fund tax revenue is used to pay for bonded indebtedness on construction, equipment, or both. The bonds, and the tax rate necessary to pay those bonds, were approved by the voters of this district.
$2,315 $2,457
Comparison of Proposed Levy with Last Year’s Levy on Average Residence Average Market Value of Residences Average Taxable Value of Residences Last Year’s Rate Versus Proposed Rate per $100 Value Taxes Due on Average Residence Increase (Decrease) in Taxes
Last Year $387,105 $332,544 $1.364700 $4,538.22 $0.00
This Year $440,317 $361,728 $1.362000 $4,926.73 $388.51
Under state law, the dollar amount of school taxes imposed on the residence homestead of a person 65 years of age or older or of the surviving spouse of such a person, if the surviving spouse was 55 years of age or older when the person died, may not be increased above the amount paid in the first year after the person turned 65, regardless of changes in tax rate or property value. Notice of Voter Approval Rate: The highest tax rate the district can adopt before requiring voter approval at an election is 1.382593. This election will be automatically held if the district adopts a rate in excess of the voter-approval rate of 1.382593.
Fund Balances
The Liberty Hill Independent ~~ A Publication of Texas Independent News Corp. ~~
$378,237,702
Comparison of Proposed Rates with Last Year’s Rates Maintenance & Operations $0.864700
for a suspicious vehicle, resulting in the arrest of a male adult with an outstanding warrant. - On July 29 at approximately 2:35 AM, officers responded to the 1000 block of Loop 332 for a suspicious vehicle. - On July 29 at approximately 3:09 AM, officers responded to the 14000 block W. SH 29 for a suspicious vehicle. - On July 29 at approximately 12:07 PM, officers responded to Green Egret Way for an animal cruelty complaint. - On July 29 at approximately 3:23 PM, officers responded to Housefinch Loop for a 911 hang up call. - On July 29 at approximately 7:05 PM, officers responded to CR 290 to assist the Williamson County Sheriff’s Office. - On July 29 at approximately 9:27 PM, officers responded to Filifera Ct. for suspicious activity. - On July 30 at approximately 7:30 AM, officers responded to the 12000 block of W. SH 29 for a mental health call. - On July 30 at approximately 2:26 PM, officers responded to the 10000 block of W. SH 29 for a disturbance. - On July 30 at approximately 4:09 PM, officers responded to the 1000 block of US 183 to assist the Williamson County Sheriff’s Office. - On July 30 at approximately 8:50 PM, officers responded to the 13000 block of W. SH 29 for an accident. - On July 31 at approximately 7:56 AM, officers responded to the 600 block of Loop 332 for suspicious activity. - On July 31 at approximately 2:29 PM, officers responded to Independence Ave. for an accident. - On July 31 at approximately 8:33 PM, officers responded to the intersection of US 183 and W. SH 29 for an accident.
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Bonded Indebtedness
Total amount of outstanding and unpaid bonded indebtedness:
Program Coordinator at Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs. She holds a bachelor’s degree in sociology from the University of Texas, and is a 2015 graduate of Liberty Hill High School. The Turpins will continue to reside in Austin.
Liberty Hill Police Blotter
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Maintenance Tax School Debt Service Tax Approved by Local Voters
Ending Community Homelessness Coalition in Austin. He is holds a bachelor’s degree in economics from the University of Texas, and is a 2014 graduate of Liberty Hill High School. Wilkison, daughter of Charley and Shelly Wilkison of Liberty Hill, is the CARES
The following estimated balances will remain at the end of the current fiscal year and are not encumbered with or by a corresponding debt obligation, less estimated funds necessary for operating the district before receipt of the first state aid payment: Maintenance and Operations Fund Balance(s) $10,061,235 Interest & Sinking Fund Balance(s) $9,535,702 A school district may not increase the district’s maintenance and operations tax rate to create a surplus in maintenance and operations tax revenue for the purpose of paying the district’s debt service.
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THE LIBERTY HILL INDEPENDENT
Page 3
Throwback Thursday
Ira “Red” Graham, here pictured in a photograph from 1950, was among those to operate the “press” in the Andice gin. Graham continued to farm in his later years, and was the first man I ever worked for, as he hired me to help him build fence back in the early 1970s. He started me out at $1.25 an hour, but within a week or two gave me a 15-cent per hour raise. (Courtesy Photo)
Bill McCann, at right, operated a cotton gin in Andice for nearly 30 years. The identity of the young man at left remains unknown, while the man in the center is D.C. Reeder. (Courtesy Photo)
By JAMES WEAR Columnist Recently a longtime family friend dropped by for a visit and brought a l o n g with him a couple of old photographs and other historical papers for us to look through. The photographs were taken about 70 years ago, back when Andice had a cotton gin and
haps the last to toil in the fields. The movie “Places in the Heart” did a fine job of depicting how difficult and challenging the work actually was, and I believe I might have spied a tear rolling down my mother’s face when she watched it. My father was among many local men to work at the Andice gin that was operated by Bill McCann, who is pictured in one of the photos found on this page. The McCann gin, one of several to operate in the Andice area over the years but perhaps the most
Andice cotton gin was among the busiest in the area the hot days of August found country folks of all ages in the cotton fields from daybreak to sundown. Myself, I never picked cotton (other than a few bolls that one year when my brother and I were teenagers and the folks had planted a row of cotton just so we could have a small taste of what it was like to pick it) and can only relate to the industry through memories of the smell of cotton being ginned in Theon, a tiny community in the eastern part of Williamson County. It was in Theon that my folks
operated a bar and grill back in the late 1960s and the Kott Brothers had their gin just a few hundred yards up the road. Farmers would bring their cotton in to be ginned and, after leaving their trailers with the Kotts, would amble down to the folks’ bar and enjoy a couple of cold brews before heading home. The smell and dust from the gin filled the air and made already uncomfortable summer evenings feel even hotter. Mom and Dad both picked cotton when they were young, and their generation was per-
widely-known and longest to remain open, ginned around 40,000 bales of cotton during its years of operation (19291958), according to historian Harold Asher. “During rush season, the gin would run day and night,” wrote Asher in his book Andice History. “Two crews were used then.” Asher listed several others who worked at the Andice gin, with the list including Ralph Love, Ralph Dixon Love, Clyde Reeder, Edward Brizendine, Millard Brizendine, Ira “Red” Graham, Paul Hamilton, Melvin Jensen, Ross
Butler, Henry Snow, Venter Hopkins, Virgil Tucker, Leroy Nunn, J.V. Asher, Sam Winsor, Andrew Solis, Carson Ball, Bill Wade, Lloyd Stapp, Stoke Seymour, John Boyd, Haskell Asher and Maurice Stapp. Asher himself worked at the gin as a bookkeeper. Cotton fields have long since disappeared in this part of the county, and the number of folks still living that can relate to those farming days grows smaller with each passing year.
VIEWPOINT:
An Open Letter to the People of Williamson County
By BILL GRAVELL Williamson County Judge One death per day. What would you do to prevent one death per day? As of this writing, we have had 493 COVID-19 related deaths in Williamson County. The first death was Richard, and he died on 3/26/20. That was 490 days ago. I remember the day
well. I was shaken and scared about a virus we knew little about. We are approaching 500 deaths in our county, and that number is just staggering to me. Imagine attending a football game this fall but there is no band, no football team, no spirit squad and a portion of the stands are empty. That’s how many lives we have lost to COVID-19. In Williamson County, our average household size is 2.69. To give you some context, walk the streets of your neighborhood this
evening and when you get to 185 homes, that would equate to the total loss of life in our county. Let’s talk about vaccinations. I want to talk to those that are unsure or undecided about vaccinations. I want to be clear it is a person’s right to choose if they want to be vaccinated. If you choose not to be vaccinated, I will always respect your rights. I understand many of the views that have been expressed to me about vaccine hesitancy, and I still have some concerns as
well. However, my final decision was to be vaccinated in March, and the reasoning was professional and personal. As the head of Emergency Management during disasters, I believe it is important for me to keep myself healthy and in good shape to serve the community. I wanted to be around my co-workers and make it a safe environment. I wanted to set the right example for my community. Personally, maybe even selfishly, I just want to live and spend my remaining years with my wife. I want to
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been unvaccinated people. Since the beginning of March, 95% of the confirmed cases have been unvaccinated people. On 3/26/20, we had no tools to help prevent the death and dying from COVID-19. We could not have prevented Richard’s death, but today, we can hopefully prevent your death. Please consider getting vaccinated. It is a step you can take to prevent one more death per day.
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Page 4
THE LIBERTY HILL INDEPENDENT
Thursday, August 5, 2021
Scouts earn Railroading Merit Badge
Liberty Hill Scout Troop 196 held a mini merit badge university on July 31. Normally, the University of Texas service fraternity, Alpha Phi Omega, provides Merit Badge University each year to hundreds of scouts of the Capital Area Council, of which the Liberty Hill troop is a part. The COVID pandemic put a stop to it as well as other opportunities for the scouts to work on merit badges for over a year. One of the merit badges taught at the troop’s event was Railroading. Scoutmaster Steven Hale is a railroading and train enthusiast and brought his two “speeders” for the boys to see. These small rail cars were used by railroad maintenance employees to ride the tracks checking for problems. These cars are no longer used, and Hale was able to obtain two of them. The car pictured is a former Union Pacific car, but the seats came from a Chevy Tahoe, which are much more comfortable than the original seats. The cars have their own engines and can seat two people. Pictured are Connor Ford and Matthew Criminale of Troop 196. (Courtesy Photo)
ICE CREAM
transportation logistics and philanthropy. “Ice cream is a staple in our home,” he said. “We always have multiples of ice cream in our freezer. We always wanted a family business, so ‘why not ice cream?’” According to Lisa, Udder Love Ice Cream will be a true family business, adding that her two older children and husband would be scooping until Tyler is ready to take over the company. “It’s going to be something that Tyler can assume responsibility for as he gets older, and potentially it can be his shop as he gets older,” she said. James added that Tyler would become a great owner since he has shown great prowess from
Continued from Page 1 a young age. “Tyler is my hardest-working son,” James said. “He has always been helpful. From a young age, he cleared his plate at the dinner table and helping around the house. He is by far just a helpful and wonderful-natured kid. He will be happy to work for free or work for ice cream.” One of the main challenges Lisa said they have faced as a family is how people underestimate the value and intelligence of those living with Down syndrome. “Tyler knows everything that’s around him,” she said. “He just has a communication issue. He learns everything that’s around him. He just learns a little bit slower.”
Lisa hopes Tyler’s presence at the shop will help normalize how others see people with Down syndrome. “I hope to see people feel comfortable around him,” she said. “(I hope people don’t) see him as different, scary, or odd. He’s just like their 10-year-old son. He just wants to play and have fun.” Anyone with the genetic condition is encouraged to apply to work at the shop. “We want to allow them to work at Udder Love,” said Lisa. “I think it would be a fantastic example for Tyler. We don’t want to marginalize people with Down syndrome. We want them to see Udder Love as an opportunity for them to gain meaningful and
US Navy promotes Florence officer
U.S. Navy Electronic Technician Senior Chief Damon Rowlett from Florence, who is assigned to the aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74), had his new rank pinned on by his family and fellow Chiefs during a promotion ceremony at the Langley Air Force Base theater in Hampton, Virginia on July 29. John C. Stennis is in Newport News Shipyard working alongside NNS, NAVSEA and contractors conducting Refueling and Complex Overhaul as part of the mission to deliver the warship back in the fight, on time and on budget, to resume its duty of defending the United States. (Photo Courtesy U.S. Navy)
supportive employment.” The business also hopes to help organizations that deal with Down syndrome raise funds to help the community. “We want to work with organizations to give back and promote what life is like to have someone in your life with Down syndrome,” said Lisa. The business will start with 16 flavors of ice cream along with dairy-free and sugar-free flavors, waffle cones, and sundaes with potential for growth in the menu. “We are extremely happy to be out in this community,” said James. “The people have been absolutely helpful and wonderful. We look forward to Tyler Candido is the inspiration behind Udder Love, a new ice cream shop opening this weekend at Main Street Social. being a bigger part of it.” (Courtesy Photo)
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Thursday, August 5, 2021
AUDIT
Continued from Page 1
non-disciplinary reasons. But on July 7, Wilkins told the Council that the 2020 audit wasn’t complete due to the pandemic and the fact that she was working shorthanded for 14 months, partly due to an employee being out on FMLA for an extended period of time. She added that she had just found out the head auditor over the City’s audit lost her husband recently, so a new assignment would have to be made. She estimated at that time the audit would be completed in two to three weeks. At the July 28 council meeting, Garcia said the audit was at best only 60 percent completed. Wilkins has been his main point of contact on the City staff. Council member Angela Jones said that Wilkins’ earlier estimate of the audit being completed in two to three weeks was not realistic. “There are some inconsistencies, because [the auditor] is saying we are only about 60 percent done,” Jones said. “We have a problem that needs to be addressed, because this is going to affect our ability to borrow money and our bond rating if we don’t get this complete.” Liberty Hill Mayor Liz Branigan told The Independent this week that she couldn’t provide information regarding Wilkins’ current FMLA absence, including the length of time she would be away from work. However, the agenda for the Aug. 4 council meeting includes an executive session item to “deliberate the appointment, employment, evaluation, reassignment, duties, discipline, complaints, or dismissal of the City Treasurer.” “The City really needs a competent financial officer,” Branigan said. The role of the auditors is to look at a sampling of the City’s payroll, non-payroll services like supplies and capital outlay, purchasing, procurement card transactions, permits and utilities. In addition, walkthroughs and testing are performed in the areas of cash and investments, capital assets, human resources and payroll, purchasing and accounts
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payable, revenues and receivables, long-term debt, pension and other post-employment benefits, as well as component units like the Economic Development Corporation and public improvement districts (PIDs). “The City is in the process of locating several vendor invoices,” Garcia said. “It’s a significant amount. Some of them are six figures. Some of them are significant because they are related to capital assets, like construction. We can’t move forward until we get those.” Some of the more notable missing invoices include $247,533.81 paid to QA Construction Services; $105,843 paid to Holt Cat; $491,132.90 paid to Cunningham Constructors & Associates; and $223,440 paid to PGC General Contractors. Additionally, documentation from City-issued credit cards used by various employees is also missing, including cardholder user agreements, statements, general ledger account coding, and receipts and approvals. “We have been provided some documents like user agreements, statements and receipts, so we hope to wrap that section up soon,” Garcia said. Hale said employees who are issued credit cards have to sign an agreement that they will document everything associated with their purchases, which is why the auditors are asking for everything from evidence of approval of transactions to receipts and account statements. Some card transactions still outstanding include $629.88 charged to the Omni Hotel in Fort Worth in January 2020 and $1,031.72 charged to Lowe’s in August 2020 by former Mayor Rick Hall, among several other charges by other former and current city employees. Revenue testing for municipal courts, permits and utilities also have various pieces of information outstanding, along with supporting documents for journal entries made. Strothman explained that anytime there is activity in the City’s bank account or money is
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moved from one account to another, a journal entry must be made. Some of those entries are incomplete, according to the auditors. When it comes to the roll-forward schedules for capital assets, fund balance and longterm debt, the fund balance doesn’t equal, Garcia said. “This is a big one,” he added. “The City has a few funds where the beginning fund balance is not equal to the prior year’s ending balance. Those should equal. There are some differences there that need to be reconciled.” For example, there is a difference of $1.558 million when comparing the grand total of contractor fees collected to the ending balance of several expense accounts, including building permits and sign permits. Lastly, Garcia said the general ledger doesn’t accurately reflect its cash position. A reconciliation of cash reported in the general ledger to bank statements needs to occur, because there is some activity that has occurred with PIDs that hasn’t been recorded, Garcia said. “There are only three possible explanations for this (missing items discovered by the auditor),” Branigan told The Independent. “It’s either poor management, bad accounting, or an actual crime.” Throughout her campaign for Mayor and following her election, Branigan repeatedly requested monthly revenue and expense reports, but was told those documents did not exist. The Independent also submitted multiple Open Records Requests during the same time period seeking a document that prior to Fall 2019 was produced by the City’s accounting software and provided regularly to council members. The newspaper’s requests received the same response that Branigan received — that the documents did not exist. Following her election in November 2020, Branigan requested during council meetings that the panel be briefed on the budget, but the request was met with resistance — primarily by Canady, who said the discussion shouldn’t hap-
pen until budget time. “I’ve been fighting since last November to see where the money has been spent,” Branigan said. She added that a review by the auditor of the City’s records prior to Fall 2019 showed nothing missing. She attributed good accounting practices to the leadership of former City Administrator Greg Boatright, who was terminated in August 2019 by Hall and the previous council. During the discussion with the auditor July 28, Council member Crystal Mancilla asked whether a city treasurer would know that they would need this type of documentation at the end of the fiscal year to complete the audit. Garcia’s short answer was that yes, they should know this. Jones asked how the communication between the City and the auditing firm had been. Garcia said it wasn’t about the staff being unresponsive, it’s just that the firm is hitting a wall in that staff is unable to find the proper documentation. “The next step would be contacting those vendors,” he said. “Record keeping especially should have a better process.” Garcia said it’s hard to say how the upcoming fiscal year’s budget will be affected without the 2020 audit complete. “You don’t have a clear picture of fiscal year 2021 so you can plan for fiscal year 2022,” he said. “It’s all compounding at this point.” Canady said not having Wilkins in office to assist the auditors, who she reiterated was out on “non-disciplinary leave,” didn’t make a lot of sense. “Having our financial person out could affect that,” she said. “That could have caused a problem in getting what [the auditors] need.” If completing the audit was just dependent on all the records being supplied, it would have been completed in March, Garcia said. His firm reached out to Wilkins at the beginning of June to follow up on the audit process and did not receive any response or
information for about a month, he said. Council member Chris Pezold asked Garcia when he expects the audit to be completed. Garcia said it is a priority to his firm and the auditors are making themselves available as information comes forward. His hope is to have the audit completed by the end of August. Hale said this week the plan moving forward to remedy this type of issue occurring again is to create a more strict policy in regard to procurement card use and the processing of the City’s financial documents, invoices, credit card receipts and more. “We are considering a threestrike rule where if you don’t give us an invoice three times in a row, you will lose your card,” she said. “There needs to be an understanding that the City card is the City’s, not yours. I’m not saying that because we have abuse, I’m saying that because the culture has to shift that there’s more responsibility that comes with this than what has been presented. We have to enforce more strict policies to help our finance department with their processing, and so that’s something we’re looking into initiating Oct. 1.” Hale added that moving forward, employees will be expected to do their due diligence when it comes to getting the finance department the documents it needs for audits. “This will allow for the finance department to organize documentation in a matter that’s more efficient for them,” she said. “We haven’t had that in the past, so going forward we’re turning this new leaf to better efficiently operate. The whole City will have to work as a team going forward, and it will be understood that this is the new procedure and this is why we do it, and hopefully going forward we won’t have any more of these issues.” In July, the Council held a lengthy discussion about the need to hire a financial management consultant to assist in a variety of financial matters. Mancilla asked Wayne McKethan, president
of The Financial City Manager, to present to the council on services he could provide. McKethan was at the meeting on July 28, where he presented the services he could provide once again, but with the caveat that he couldn’t do much until the audit was complete. “You have to divert all your resources to the audit for now,” he said. “The audit is the first priority, and then hopefully I’m second so I can come and help with your management, so this doesn’t happen again.” McKethan added that he could help find ways to document finances effectively, keep track of invoices and receipts and more through his services. “You’ve got problems,” he said. “It’ll take a while to do all the things on your list. But the community is asking questions, and if there are questions from your constituents, then you need to track the information down and get them some answers.” The Council ultimately decided that until the audit is complete, they can’t bring McKethan in to help. “After hearing McKethan speak, I feel we have more urgency to get our audit completed,” Mancilla said. “The City would be best served by him once our audit is complete. We do need his services moving forward so we don’t have another hiccup.” The Council decided to table the hiring of McKethan for one month, with hopes that the audit would be complete by then. Branigan said the revelation of possible mismanagement of City finances is coming to light now as a result of new council members who are focused on finding answers. Prior to the May election, the majority of council seats were occupied by office holders who were still closely connected to Hall, and Branigan was outvoted in her attempts to bring concerns to the public. “What you’re seeing now is a result of an honest, new council,” she said.
safe practices that help to prevent and avoid the spread of COVID-19. They have the individual right and responsibility to decide for themselves and their children whether they will wear masks, open their businesses, and engage in leisure activities.” Agape BBQ owners Brandon Reinhold and Jeremy Archer said their business has not been affected by the rise in cases, and they believe their customers are responsible enough to take care of their own health. “We have seen a slight uptick in mask-wearing,” said Reinhold. “We were wearing masks during the previous uptick of COVID-19, but we don’t require them. We have no stand.” “We just follow the rules of authorities,” added Archer. “Red has no requirements as far as I know. It’s up to you as a person.” Amezquita also believes her
customers and fellow business owners can help contain the spread by regarding each other’s beliefs. “I believe it’ll be left up to each of the businesses to handle it however they do,” she said. “Other than that, I’d just say we should respect each other. I’m not a fan of the situation the pandemic has caused. It has created so much hate and more division than we already had in this world. All of us will never see eye-to-eye, but we can respect each other.” Liberty Hill Mayor Liz Branigan said she and city staff are watching the rise of cases closely and waiting for guidance from state officials while keeping the offices clean and sanitized. “We began to stock masks in City Hall and have not begun to require them (to be worn),” she said. “Vaccinated people can still carry this virus. I think our city employees should set a good example by wearing
masks in social situations. It’s good to have the public be able to come back to City Hall.” The court system of Williamson County began requiring masks and social distancing at the Williamson County Justice Center on July 19 for all employees and members of the public. “This action is being undertaken based on the recommendation of the Williamson County Local Health Authority,” stated a press release from the entity. “Their guidance is that the best way to slow the spread of COVID-19 is through vaccination and that, beyond vaccination, the best way to further mitigate risk is through face covering and social distancing.” Director of District Court Administration Roland S. Morgan, Jr. stated that although he was aware of Abbott’s Executive Order prohibiting any entity reliant on public funds from imposing mask man-
dates, the courts are separate entities “The Courts are unique in that the judicial system is a separate branch of government,” he said. “The Supreme Court of Texas has general responsibility for the efficient administration of the Texas judicial system and the authority to make rules of administration applicable to the courts. The Office of Court Administration has specifically determined that previously issued executive orders do not alter the Supreme Court’s emergency order, the ability of a judge to control his or her courtroom, or judiciary-imposed requirements for those entering a court building who will be attending a court proceeding.”
Read more on this story at LHIndependent.com.
Continued from Page 1
phase ‘Red.’ We will continue monitoring this situation and working with the Texas Education Agency and the Williamson County Health officials.” As the schools in Liberty Hill prepare to start classes Aug. 19, one annual tradition will be held differently this time around. “With the rise in COVID numbers, the decision has been made that all campus staff will be on their home campuses for this year’s convocation, which will now be held virtually on Thursday, August 12,” said Marsha Hood, Executive Assistant to the Superintendent. Local businesses shared the measures they are taking to help protect their customers and employees. “We reopened May 19, 2020,” said Indigo Salon owner Jamie Amezquita. “We haven’t required masks since June if our guests have been vaccinated; however, our team still wears
them being that we’re in other people’s personal spaces.” Amezquita added their customers have been vigilant about protecting themselves. “We have seen more people voluntarily wearing masks again since the numbers have gone up,” she said. “We are taking sanitation very seriously. We didn’t need to change our procedures. However, we did invest in a new cleaning system.” Texas Governor Greg Abbot renewed a disaster declaration order for the State on July 30, extending the order in place since March 13, 2020. The day before, Abbott issued a statement to clarify the State’s fight against COVID-19. “The new Executive Order emphasizes that the path forward relies on personal responsibility rather than government mandates,” said Abbot in a press release. “Texans have mastered the
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SPORTS
THE LIBERTY HILL INDEPENDENT Thursday, August 5, 2021 Page 6
Practicing with a purpose
Attention to detail paramount for Panthers By SCOTT AKANEWICH
Sports Editor Time and again, players sprint from the huddle up to the line of scrimmage before quickly snapping the ball and running play after play seeking one thing and one only. “What we want is perfection,” said Liberty Hill head coach Kent Walker. “We want to work just as fast in practice as we do in games.” The Panthers began official practice this week in the leadup to the annual Purple-andWhite scrimmage on Saturday and in order for their vaunted Slot-T offense to run smoothly, the kinks must be worked out – although Walker said his team was able to get ahead of the curve before practice even began. “The UIL allowed us an hour of skills work per day over the summer,” he said. “So, we’ve been able to focus on certain
sophomore Joe Pitchford – who played at Rouse last year before moving to Liberty Hill – are splitting snaps at quarterback for the time being while Walker and his coaching staff evaluate which one will be under center when the season kicks off – a process that will be ongoing. “Right now, Will is practicing with the No. 1s (first team) and Joe is with the No. 2s (second team),” said Walker. “We’ll give them both a good look and decide which one gives us the best chance to win.” In the backfield, sophomore Noah Long will lead the way, with senior Grady Flinn and juniors Logan Dyer and Carlton Schrank jockeying for playing time. Walker added this early stage of the season is to simply get the ball rolling, which includes plenty of praise for players who are learning on the job, but also on-the-spot-corrections when mistakes are made. SCOTT AKANEWICH PHOTO “We want to encourage our Liberty Hill’s offense features 11 new starters this season after the Panthers advanced all the way to the state semifinals last year. players and tell them how they can get better,” he said. “But, things and be ahead of the still be bumps in the road as tice, for example. were a lot of distractions. But, we also want them to know the game.” Walker and his team get ready “Yesterday, we were a little I thought today we were much ‘why’ and understand the imGood thing, as the offense for the season opener at home rough,” said Walker. “We had better – we brought more en- portance of it.” will feature 11 new starters this against Ellison on Aug. 27. the usual TV cameras and ergy and were more focused.” See PRACTICE, Page 7 season, but there are bound to Like on the first day of prac- everything out here, so there Senior Will Szewczyk and
Lady Panthers loaded with leaders
By SCOTT AKANEWICH Sports Editor Last season certainly didn’t end the way the Lady Panthers’ volleyball squad would have wanted. As a result, following a firstround playoff exit, the players returning from that squad are more determined than ever to not let history repeat itself – a burden and responsibility that will fall on the shoulders of the team’s eight seniors. “I think we have more responALEX RUBIO FILE PHOTO sibility to help out with the Senior Emma Becker (#5) is looking to make the most of her last season of Lady Panthers vol- younger players,” said senior leyball.
outside hitter Emma Becker. “But, I don’t think it will be more difficult – I’ll just have more to do to get us ready.” Becker believes she and her teammates are poised to build on a strong first season as a Class 5A team with the players assembled. “So far, practice is going pretty good,” she said. “We have a lot of talent in this gym and I’m very excited for the season.” However, in order to better last season’s results, more of a sense of urgency is needed,
said Becker. “More hard work and more focus is definitely what we need – especially during practice,” she said. “We need to be giving 110 percent all the time and not be goofing off.” Becker said the Lady Panthers simply need to address the aspects of their collective game, which betrayed them last season, in order to not make the same mistakes this time around. “We need to focus on the
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Thursday, August 5, 2021
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Finding a calling in coaching New volleyball hire has criminal justice degree
By SCOTT AKANEWICH Sports Editor When Kara Reeves was handed a college diploma from Sam Houston State University, the customary classy English script read “Criminal Justice.” Not exactly the kind of background normally found on the resume of a high school coach. However, how Reeves reached her current position as Liberty Hill’s new assistant volleyball coach is one that took a few twists and turns along the way, she said. “I wanted to work in a Special Victims unit,” said Reeves. “Initially, I worked for child protective services.” But, the attraction of sports once again provided too strong a pull to resist for Reeves, who played multiple sports in high school and softball at Sam Houston State – a Division I program – and had later coached at Trinity Universi-
ty before moving on to high school coaching in the San Antonio area. In addition to her coaching duties for the Lady Panthers, Reeves also teaches Special Education, a subject she fell into quite by happenstance, she said. “I applied for a job once and there were two openings – one for a criminal justice teacher and the other being special education,” said Reeves. “But, by the time I interviewed, the criminal justice job had already been filled, so I took the other one.” Since that fateful day, Reeves has developed a passion for educating the students she has in her classes, which includes those with autism, Down Syndrome and other various learning disabilities – making her mission more challenging, but at the same time, more rewarding.
“It takes patience and you have to think outside the box,” she said. “You just have to get to know the kids.” As far as her on-court philosophy is concerned, Reeves said she prefers players who are willing to work hard and with the right mindset – even if they might not have as much athletic ability. “My biggest thing is for kids to work hard and put effort in for the team – I’ll take 10 average kids with a good work ethic,” she said. “You can’t have a bad attitude because volleyball isn’t an individual sport, so I want kids who will go out there and give it their all to better themselves and the team.” Even after being in her current profession for many years, Reeves said she sometimes has difficulty believing she is where she finds herself. “I never thought I’d be a
We’re back ... finally By SCOTT AKANEWICH Sports Editor At long last, our long nightmare is finally at an end. Monday marked the first day of practice for fall sports and with it the curtain came down on the barren wasteland of want we suffered through for the past two months. When you’re on a high school sports beat and there’s no high school, it makes for a rather boring, depressing time when there are no balls of whose bounce to follow.
But, alas, all that’s behind us now as the day dawns on a new school season of Liberty Hill sports and all the anticipation it brings with it as the Purple-and-Gold gears up for its second year as a Class 5A program. We hate to beat a dead horse, but we would be remiss if we didn’t address that fact as we move forward. Last year presented a challenge for Panthers sports unlike any they had faced as after years of being the proverbial big fish, all of a sudden they were thrown into an ocean to fend for themselves against much bigger schools with higher enrollments. However, there was an un-
known factor of just how things would play out in the higher classification which is absent this year. We know exactly what to expect and how difficult it’s going to be once again to be competitive against the big boys and girls of the nearby schools Liberty Hill now finds itself matched up with. Of course, the football team is in a different district than all the other sports (which still makes absolutely no sense, by the way) and will play the same gridiron-challenged teams they demolished last season. The exception, though, is this year the Panthers will have all four non-district contests
SCOTT AKANEWICH PHOTO
New Liberty Hill assistant volleyball coach Kara Reeves has a degree in criminal justice, but has taught special education and coached in recent years. teacher, even though my mom choosing it.” of the Liberty Hill commuwas one for 30 years,” she As far as donning Purple- nity,” said Reeves. “I want to said. “But, I did it for a year and-Gold goes, she’s pleased make this my forever place.” and fell in love with it. I think as punch in her new position. it chose me rather than me “I’m really excited to be part
– as opposed to only two last season – and will face competitive sides in Georgetown, Del Valle, Ellison and LBJ, providing a young, unproven team a chance to measure itself before the district schedule begins. Eleven new starters on offense will provide head coach Kent Walker and his staff with a hefty challenge in replacing the three-headed backfield of Blake Simpson, Trey Seward and Eric De La Cruz, who were all lost to graduation after forming a formidable trio on last season’s state semifinalists. Venturing indoors, the Lady Panthers’ volleyball squad is poised to build on a campaign
that saw them fight valiantly against one of the toughest districts in the state and emerge with a third-place finish and a playoff berth. Head coach Gretchen Peterson has a strong senior class at her disposal, including big bomber Emma Becker up front to rain down ferocious kills on opposing defenses, while farther back in the court, Haley Kuhlmann will throw herself around with reckless abandon in her defensive specialist role, while Emma Parsons will serve up the assists like they’re going out of style. Did we mention Ailie Hair and her dominant presence in her middle-blocker role? Just did.
SCOTT AKANEWICH PHOTO
Senior Will Szewczyk lets loose with a pass downfield during a drill on the Panthers’ second day of practice.
Practice Continued from Page 6 With all the upheaval on the offensive side of the ball, the defense has much more experience at its disposal, not the least of which is senior linebacker Andon Thomas, who led the Panthers with 161 tackles last season and solidi-
fies a corp that includes fellow linebackers Aaron Brewer and Kaden McMahan and defensive lineman Lloyd Johnson – all seniors. Thomas said he and his defensive teammates are on a mission this season to redeem
Volleyball things which allowed teams to beat us last year,” she said. “But, I feel like our senior class will work hard because it’s our last chance, so we want to make all the time and effort pay off.” Liberty Hill head coach Gretchen Peterson is eagerly anticipating what the new season will bring, but in order for her team to realize its potential, she needs all of them to be all in, she said. “Over the summer, we want them to lift weights and go
themselves from the unit’s shortcomings in the final three games of last year, including the season-ending 62-61 overtime loss to Crosby in the state semifinals. “Honestly, I feel like we defeated ourselves in those
Continued from Page 6
to our open gyms, but we still want them to take time to be kids,” said Peterson, who is entering her 18th season as Lady Panthers bench boss. “But, once August rolls around, they need to know what they’re committed to.” Peterson only gets four days of practice before the first scrimmage of the season, with the opener on Aug. 10 – a pair of matches against Canyon Lake and Clemens at the former, which means time is of the essence in quickly building
momentum, she said. “We don’t get as much time to get ready compared to other sports, which is something unique to volleyball,” said Peterson. “You need to be ready to roll and be able to get your people in the right positions.” Peterson believes the trials and tribulations of last season have forged within her players a new level of will and determination that should serve them well. “This year, we know what to expect, but there’s no guaran-
One thing is for sure about this group – they’re fighters who are never short on effort and spirit and with a year of Class 5A experience under their collective belt, it will definitely be interesting to see if they can better their results this time around. We’re not forgetting cross country and tennis, who will also be getting back after it on the trails and courts, respectively, in rounding out the quartet of fall sports. All we know is we’re glad they’re all back and even if the calendar still says it’s summer, it’s fall as far as we’re concerned and we’re ready to go. Not a moment too soon, either.
games,” he said. “Guys weren’t doing their jobs like they were supposed to. But, I think we’ve got it all fixed up.” In addition, Thomas said he doesn’t believe there is any extra pressure on the Panthers
defense to perform, what with an entirely new offensive unit. “We have leaders on our offense who are up to the job,” he said. “If we all do our jobs, we should be fine.” However, despite the ghosts of how last season ended pro-
viding motivation for moving forward, Thomas is ready to do just that, he said. “I think our defense will be 100 percent better this season,” said Thomas. “We’re zeroed in and hyped for the season.”
tee,” she said. “We could do everything different, but at the end of the day, we just need to win matches. Although I think with what our team went through last year, we’re better for it.” According to Peterson, there isn’t necessarily pressure to improve on last season, but there is an open door through which to walk. “I would say it’s more of an opportunity for us because a lot of things are in place,” said Peterson. “It’s always our
responsibility to put our best team on the court to represent our school, so we can be proud.” Peterson is optimistic her squad is already ahead of the curve concerning building on last season. “We’re already better than we were last year,” she said. “We’re more competitive, more talented and more mature and our best is going to be really good.” All that being said, though, Peterson said she can’t put a
ceiling on what her team is capable of. “I can’t control how good we’re going to be, but we’re going to be ready,” said Peterson. “We have a definite vision of ourselves.” For Becker and her fellow seniors, it’s their last go-round and they certainly want to make the most of it, she said. “It’s my last year of playing high-school volleyball,” said Becker. “I want to make as many memories as I can.”
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THE LIBERTY HILL INDEPENDENT
Thursday, August 5, 2021
Cross country kicks into gear Panthers working way toward first race
By SCOTT AKANEWICH Sports Editor With the opening meet of the new season fast approaching, Liberty Hill’s cross country squad is already well underway in building the strength and endurance they’ll need in order to conquer the trails of the oncoming campaign. Plenty of potential lies within the ranks of the Purple-andGold and there is no shortage of runners chomping at the bit to begin with a bang, said Liberty Hill head coach Kim Holt. “We have about 60 kids out for us this season,” she said. “We had 20-25 show up every day for our summer workouts, so the majority of them came back in good shape.” One of those slimmer, trimmer runners is senior Greg Miller, who had to overcome a stress fracture to his left ankle sustained in April, which kept him out of action for five months, before he could return to full-time training – a period of time that was certainly detrimental to his overall fitness, he said. “I gained 15 pounds,” said Miller, who also plays soccer for the Panthers in the spring. “I was going out to eat all the time with both of my teams.” However, since he’s been back in the running saddle, Miller has shed the additional
weight – dropping 17 pounds in the process – but, still had some catching up to do following his stint on the sidelines. “Some nights, I’d be working until 10,” he said. “So, I would end up going on late-night runs in my neighborhood until 12 or 1 a.m.” Eimilie Taylor is a senior on this season’s squad, but it’s her first on the varsity team, so although she’s a relative newcomer to her current teammates, she still feels she needs to lead by example, she said. “It doesn’t matter if I’m new to varsity,” said Taylor, who only started running cross country last year in addition to her track duties. “Because the younger runners will still listen to me.” Taylor said she’s already noticed a big difference between her junior varsity days and where she currently finds herself. “Varsity is a lot more difficult because in JV, there’s one set pace,” she said. “But, now I have to increase my pacing with harder workouts.” Despite the fact the summer workouts weren’t mandatory, Taylor said she knew it was in her best interests to participate. “It’s pretty tough to have to wake up so early,” she said. “But, I know if I didn’t, I would be out of shape.”
Miller is taking his role as a senior seriously after having someone to look up to in that capacity last season, he said. “Cade Johnson was a huge influence for us last year,” said Miller, of his former teammate who graduated with the Class of 2021. “It’s a big role to fill, but I’m ready to step into it and make sure everyone remains focused.” As far as his other sport is concerned, Miller said while each helps him with the other, it’s more one-sided in that regard. “Cross country helps more with soccer because I can play an entire game without getting substituted,” he said. “Soccer helps cross country because it helps me stay in shape.” Last season, neither the girls’ nor boys’ teams qualified for the state meet, with only the boys making it as far as regionals, due to the increased competition level the Panthers faced lined up with Class 5A teams for the first time – a fact Miller said made all the difference in the world. “Our district was harder than we had ever seen,” he said. “So, our main goal as a team this year is to make it out of district again.” Holt said the removal of the unknown factor that loomed entering last year will help this
SCOTT AKANEWICH PHOTO
Seniors Eimilie Taylor and Greg Miller will help lead Liberty Hill’s cross country squad this season. season. “I think now the kids know exactly what they’re up against,” she said. “But, I have high hopes for them because they’re looking good so far.” Despite being in her current role as Panthers head coach since 2009, Holt said she still marvels and appreciates how her athletes continue to show
the grit needed to compete in such a grueling sport – a source of gratification that never gets old. “I love seeing the kids come out here and work so hard,” she said. “They always want to get up early and come and run their guts out for us – it always makes me want to get out of bed.”
But, nothing can possibly compare with witnessing the elation of her runners on race day, said Holt. “Especially when they get new personal records and other accomplishments,” she said. “It’s exciting and what it’s all about.”
PANTHER OF THE WEEK
Playing with pain par for the course
Senior doesn’t let chronic back condition get in the way
By SCOTT AKANEWICH Sports Editor Nobody can ever accuse Haley Kuhlmann of not having a backbone. The Liberty Hill senior defensive specialist never hesitates to launch her body all over the court in chasing down loose volleyballs with a reckless abandon, which belies her easygoing nature, putting herself at risk in the process. One would never know they were watching somebody with a chronic back condition who suffered a fractured spine during her freshman year. But, that’s exactly Kuhlmann’s conundrum in a nutshell. “I sat out for six months during my freshman year in the hopes it would get better,” she said. “But, it didn’t.” Kuhlmann has a family history of back problems including her sister, father and grandmother who have all dealt with varying degrees, so it was no surprise the condition would strike her as well, but that doesn’t make it any easier to deal with and she has to go to great lengths just to get herself ready to go out on the court. “I have to do all kinds of extensive stretching and exercis-
ALEX RUBIO FILE PHOTO
Haley Kuhlmann (#21) definitely doesn’t shy away from going to the floor in pursuit of loose balls – and has the scars to prove it. es before every match,” said Kuhlmann. “Also, I have to ice my back and use stim (electric stimulation).” In addition to rebounding from injury entering her sophomore season, Kuhlmann was faced with the challenge of a position change once she was elevated from the Lady Panthers JV to the varsity squad – moving from outside hitter to defensive specialist – as much of a polar opposite as exists on
a volleyball court. However, she handled the switch with grace and in the time since has blossomed into a steadying influence from her backcourt position – even if she’s not completely sure about it herself, she said. “I hope I’m a little better now than I was then,” said Kuhlmann. “I know I can see the court and read the other team’s hitters a lot better now, so it’s easier for me.”
She does, though, at times yearn for the days of when she was the one rising up above the net to pound home kills on opposing defenses. “Sometimes I miss it,” she said. “Hitters always get the biggest celebrations and it’s really fun to slam a ball down, but I know I just have to do my job.” It’s a job Kuhlmann does very well, as last season’s stats bear out when she led the Lady
Panthers with 239 digs – averaging 3.1 per set and 11.4 per match – along with 515 serves received, all four numbers far and away tops on the team scoring charts. Despite her on-court excellence in Purple-and-Gold, Kuhlmann has no designs on extending her playing career beyond her senior season, instead choosing to focus on another new job – one that will find her in classrooms and on
courts, only on the opposite end of the instruction highway. “I want to be a high school math teacher and a coach,” said Kuhlmann, who hopes on attending either Texas A&M University or Texas Tech University to pursue her career goals. “I always wanted to be both, but then I realized they don’t make much money, so I had changed my mind.” Until an intervention from a person near and dear to her heart swayed her back in the right direction. “It was all because of (Liberty Hill head) Coach (Gretchen) Peterson,” she said. “She was always trying to convince me because she thought I would be good at it.” After all, Kuhlmann seems to fit the bill for the job description. “I love kids, volleyball, coaching and teaching,” said Kuhlmann. “So, I guess so.” But, before she moves on with the rest of her life, Kuhlmann still has plenty of business left to handle on the court and there’s a very good chance it will require her trademark roughhouse style, which has left her with permanent reminders on her elbows of the wars she’s been through as well as always having holes in the sleeves of her jersey resulting from countless floor-scraping experiences. “I actually got a new jersey for this year – it’ll probably last a couple weeks before it has holes in it,” she said. “Also, the battle scars are fun.”
Words of wisdom
Liberty Hill head football coach Kent Walker shared some advice with youngsters attending the Liberty Hill Youth Football camp at Liberty Hill Middle School last week an event that focused on fundamentals and basic skills. SCOTT AKANEWICH PHOTO
Thursday, August 5, 2021
EDC
THE LIBERTY HILL INDEPENDENT
Continued from Page 1
is nearly $300,000. “My question is, why does an establishment that checks off every requirement in our comprehensive plan not get told about a program the EDC has when he asks for help specifically?” Pezold asked. Powell said the City has numerous incentive programs, some that have been better advertised than others, and some that have no real documentation stating their parameters. “The Heritage Ridge project was brought to me, and I was told it was based on an existing program,” Powell said. He added that a lot of the EDC’s incentive programs have been utilized in the past even though it’s been a challenge to find documentation showing exactly what those programs are. “I have been full time in this role since January, and it’s been a challenge to find what a lot of these programs are,” Powell said, adding that just a couple of days before the meeting he had finally received some information showing details of the EDC’s LUE incentive program. “It’s been hard to find black-andwhite descriptions of what the programs are.” Pezold said because the EDC is its own taxing entity, the EDC needs to be more proactive. Pezold also told Pow-
ell that his $124,000 annual salary is high enough that if someone comes to him asking for help via an incentive program, he should be providing that help. Powell responded that the average business owner, who doesn’t know anyone within the city or that these incentive programs exist, was the impetus behind the EDC working to come up with new programs. “Our hope was that all previous programs would be eliminated, and all the new programs would be for everyone, and not based on who you know,” he said. “They will be transparent, fair and equitable.” EDC Director John Clark said Powell has tried over the last several months to make an incentive program work for Main Street Social, because it’s a downtown project the EDC “can hang its hats on.” “Matt tried creating another program to get a higher amount to be a part of this project,” Clark said. “Anything we’ve done was to try to get more for that establishment.” Pezold’s response was that until now, Prince has not received any help, even though his business is bringing in over 200 jobs to downtown Liberty Hill. Pezold added that it doesn’t look right that a development
where Starbucks is being constructed received an incentive from the EDC, but Main Street Social did not. “We did not give money to a Starbucks developer,” said EDC Director Jamie Etzkorn. “That did not happen. It was given to a developer under a program that’s very similar to the LUE program that nobody knew about. It was found in [meeting] minutes, and it was honored per the minutes. It was given for infrastructure.” Pezold added that Beevers needed that additional infrastructure to attract national brands to Heritage Ridge. He reiterated that Hall was paid money to present this project to the EDC on behalf of Beevers. “I don’t believe any of us have any knowledge of that,” Etzkorn said. Powell said he never met with Hall on the Heritage Ridge project. “He hasn’t approached me on any project so far,” he said. “Sometimes when you don’t have full documentation and records have been hard to get, you have to rely on counsel, and let them advise us on what is the best course of action.” John Johnston, president of the EDC, said there were eight lots available in this project, and all were spoken for but one, but because things with
COVID have gone on so long, the developer has lost those. “He came to us because he needed to put in a lift station that the city required, and he was going to have to come up with extra money,” Johnston said. “I don’t know how he found out that any business coming into town could get up to $20,000 per business for construction, but his idea was that he’d use $20,000 for each lot to put in that lift station, and then when new businesses came in they would not be eligible for the $20,000. He was basically taking the $160,000 up front to get the infrastructure completed rather than letting each individual business come in and ask for the money. That’s how that came about.” Pezold said it just didn’t look right because the money went to Beevers, who had paid money to Hall for consulting services, and then he got in front of Johnston’s board and was granted $160,000, particularly because Hall and Johnston are friends. Johnston said while Hall is his friend, Hall never asked for him to put anything on the agenda or to vote one way or another. “We were totally separate in our roles,” Johnston said. “If he had pressured me, then we wouldn’t be friends.” Council member Angela Jones said to the lay person,
SALES
(ESSER) Grant Programs Liberty Hill ISD will hold a public hearing on August 16, 2021 at 6:00 P.M at the Liberty Hill ISD Administration building located on 301 Forrest Street, Liberty Hill, Texas. The purpose of the hearing is to discuss Liberty Hill ISD’s application for the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations ESSER II and the Supplemental ESSER Grant Programs. (8/5)
about October 1, 2021 and ending on or about May 27, 2022 and subsequent renewal periods in strict accordance with the terms, conditions, and provisions of this solicitation. Bidders should inspect the project location as shown on the map located in Exhibit “A” prior to submitting bids in order to be fully aware of the scope of the services required. Bidders should use Scope of Work as defined and per Bid Document Plans and Specifications to determine the sealed bid price. Failure to do so will not relieve the successful bidder from performing in accordance with the strict intent and meaning of the specifications at the awarded bid price. There will be no additional cost to the City. Bid packages are available at www.Civcastusa.com, Project ID “Liberty Hill City ParkSwim Center, Lift Station & Force Main”. A set of bid documents and construction
plans will also be available for viewing at City Hall at the address indicated above, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. All questions and requests for additional information shall be submitted through www.civcastusa.com. Each bid must be accompanied by cash or a certified cashier’s check, drawn on a bank or trust company authorized to do business in the State of Texas, payable to the City of Liberty Hill in an amount at least equal to five percent (5%) of the total amount of the bid, as a guarantee that a contract will be entered into. In lieu of cash or a certified check, the Bidder may submit a bid bond in the form prescribed in the Instructions to Bidders. Contract awards for the trail improvements project area will be made to the lowest, responsive, responsible bidder. The lowest and best value bids are those, which result in the lowest cost to the City of Liberty
HUGE GARAGE SALE. August 5-7, 9am-?. 352 CR 260, Liberty Hill. Clothing, decorative items, pictures, bedding, toys, books, furniture, TVs, lamps, misc. items. (8/5p) ESTATE SALE - BARN & HOUSE. Saturday, August 7, 7am-12 Noon. 600 Phillip Lane, Liberty Hill. Final Closeout - most items $1! Christmas, art, glassware, quilts, furniture. (8/5p)
AUTOS FOR SALE 1998 FORD MUSTANG CONVERTIBLE. Red/Black. Text or call Justin (817) 3538483. (8/12p)
SERVICES COMPUTER TUTOR At your place, at your pace, I can help you with your computer, iPhone, iPad, or tablet. Helpful tips and tricks. Reasonable rates. Call Karen, 432553-2468. (9/30p)
PUBLIC NOTICES PUBLIC HEARING Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief
REQUEST FOR BIDS & INSTRUCTIONS FOR BIDDERS CITY OF LIBERTY HILL, TEXAS LIBERTY HILL CITY PARK - SWIM CENTER, LIFT STATION & FORCE MAIN Notice is hereby given that the City of Liberty Hill is soliciting Sealed Bids for a swim center and utility improvements on City Property at 251 CR 200, Liberty Hill, Texas. Sealed Bids, one (1) original, (5) copies, and one (1) electronic copy (in PDF format) on CD or flash drive shall be delivered to the City of Liberty Hill, City Secretary, 926 Loop 332, Liberty Hill, TX 78642, at or before: 2 P.M. local time on Tuesday, August 24, 2021, at which time bids will be publicly opened and read. Bids received after the opening date and time will not be considered. Contractor shall provide all necessary labor, material, and equipment to provide construction services for the City of Liberty Hill starting on or
Page 9
under the documentation provided on the Heritage Ridge project, that it was really a stretch for the EDC to give Heritage Ridge $20,000 per lot for infrastructure, because the wording isn’t there. “I was surprised by the interpretation as well,” Powell said. “I think Heritage Ridge should have been done differently. It’s still a deal that will bring profit to the city, but it’s going to make less than some of the others are. If there was a deal I think could have been done better, it would be this one. Our board has had extensive discussions since then about eliminating that program.” Powell admitted the language on that program is vague, and that all he had to go on at the time was legal advice from the city’s attorney at the time, Tad Cleaves, who was hired by Hall in March 2020. “There was lots of uncertainty with that program, which is why it was presented to the council with reservations,” Powell said. Powell said the EDC has been operating without a lot of direct feedback from the council, and their goal is to come to an agreement on incentive programs with council that everybody embraces. “The link on our website [to apply for incentives] will be launched as soon as the incen-
tive programs are approved,” Powell said. “That is the info we are all desperately seeking. We all hate that program [used for the Heritage Ridge development]. I suspect it won’t do well when it comes up for a vote in front of EDC and council. We want to offer something that’s very fair; programs you don’t need to hire a consultant for and anyone can understand.” Pezold said he raised the topic because he wants to find the truth. “When you have someone bringing in documents no one else can find, that is stuff we’ve got to get past. Right now, you guys with our help, should write a new set of bylaws and have another special election, and let the people of the town decide [what they want from the EDC],” Pezold said. “Right now it’s not a good look. This is stuff I’m here to clean up.” Council Member Crystal Mancilla said having this discussion was the first step to greatness within the city and what will set Liberty Hill apart from other cities. “We need to have trust between one another so our constituents can have trust in us,” she said.
CLASSIFIED ADS $15/week for Minimum 30 Words Additional Words $0.20 Deadline: Noon Mondays
NEWS@LHINDEPENDENT.COM Hill for the complete park construction to be performed by a qualified bidder. The City reserves the right to reject any and all bids and to waive any and all irregularities. Evaluation criteria are below. PRE-SUBMITTAL CONFERENCE: A pre-submittal conference will be held on-site at 251 County Road 200, Liberty Hill, Texas on Tuesday, August 10, 2021 at 2:00 p.m. local time. REQUIRED BID FORMS: A complete and responsive bid shall include: Bid Form (00300) – signed/dated, Statement of Bidders Experience (00400), Bid Bond (00410) and Conflict of Interest Form
(512) 778-5577
(HTTPS://WWW.ETHICS. STATE.TX.US/FORMS/CIQ. PDF) (8/5) MISSING PROPERTY If you believe the police department may have a found item that belongs to you, you can call the Property Division directly at 512-548-5530 or email at ekrause@libertyhilltx.gov. When contacting the Property Division, describe the item(s) you are looking for, in detail, and we will let you know if we have it. If we do, we will make arrangements to get it back to you. (8/26)
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Page 10
THE LIBERTY HILL INDEPENDENT
HOMES AROUND THE HILL Forest Creek University Park - Georgetown 2 Homes/Guest House - 4.95 acres Liberty Hill - 76 acres Liberty Hill - 17 acres Hidden Creek Estates Hornsby, J - 4.6 acres Palmera Ridge Spring Meadows - 2 Homes Coming Soon! Kempner Ranch - 40 acres Mesa Vista Ranch Mesa Vista Ranch Mesa Vista Ranch Mesa Vista Ranch Mesa Vista Ranch Mesa Vista Ranch Mesa Vista Ranch Mesa Vista Ranch Mesa Vista Ranch Mesa Vista Ranch Mesa Vista Ranch Mesa Vista Ranch Durham Park Little Gabriel River Ranch Florence Cloudwood Ranch Lot - Briggs Cantarra Meadows/Pflugerville Stonewall Ranch Purser Estates Anderson Mill West Buttercup Townhomes Near Downtown Liberty Hill Stonewall Ranch Somerset Ranch Llano Jenks Branch Mesa Vista Ranch Mesa Vista Ranch Mesa Vista Ranch Mesa Vista Ranch Mesa Vista Ranch Saratoga Springs Florence Summerlynn - Leander Larkspur Palmera Ridge - Leander San Gabriel River - 3/4 acres Flores Iron Oak - 2 acres
Homes for Sale 4BR/2.5BA 3BR/2BA 4BR/4BA 3BR/2B - Bardo & Shop 3 Homes & Barn 3BR/2BA - Game Room - 1+ acre 4BR/2BA 3BR/2BA 5BR/3.5BA 6BR/5BA Acreage/Property for Sale TBD Yellow Senna Pl Lot 70, Block 1 Phase III TBD Yellow Senna Pl Lot 72, Block 1 Phase III TBD Yellow Senna Pl Lot 73, Block 1 Phase III TBD Yellow Senna Pl Lot 76, Block 1 Phase III TBD Yellow Senna Pl Lot 77, Block 1 Phase III TBD Yellow Senna Pl Lot 78, Block 1 Phase III TBD Yellow Senna Pl Lot 81, Block 1 Phase III TBD Yellow Senna Pl Lot 82, Block 1 Phase III TBD Yellow Senna Pl Lot 92, Block 1 Phase III TBD Red Yucca Ct Lot 84, Block 1 Phase III TBD Red Yucca Ct Lot 88, Block 1 Phase III TBD Red Yucca Ct Lot 90, Block 1 Phase III 550 Shin Oak Lane Wet weather creek 420 Iva Bell Lane Barn Tract 4B N Hwy 195 No restrictions, Ag exempt Lot 12 Cloudwood Ranch Rd Lots of trees Under Contract / Pending
2237 Shark Loop 2006 E 18th St 1601 CR 256 4060 CR 201 17600 W State Hwy 29 141 Taylor Creek Way 1840 CR 226 2200 Bonavista Way 440 CR 277 820 Panther Creek
13500 Kearns Dr 145 Granite Path 312 Barrington 1705 Spiderlily 401 Buttercup Creek Blvd 3103 CR 1869 500 Fieldstone 1105 Somerset Meadow 504 E Green St 120 Bryson Bend TBD Lobeila Bloom Bend TBD Lobeila Bloom Bend TBD Lobeila Bloom Bend TBD Lobeila Bloom Bend TBD Yellow Senna Pl 402 Spring Grove Tract 3A N Hwy 195 104 Falcon Lane 105 Blue Sage 2201 Bonavista Way 121 River Rd 550 Stadium Dr 232 Oak Hill
Indian Oak Estates Hillcrest Cloudwood Ranch Lot - Briggs Ranch at Cypress Creek Boulderwood Park Bertram Cole Drive Estates Liberty Hill Burnet Liberty Hill - 2.2 acres Liberty Hill Purser Estate
875 Indian Oaks 120 Crestview Dr Lot 22 Cloudwood Ranch Rd 2003 Autumn Fire 108 Boulderwood Dr 367 Mesquite 601 Cole Dr 2210 CR 282 709 Rhomberg 140 Shin Oak Lane 2190 CR 282 214 Barrington
4BR/2BA, Game Room 3BR/2BA 3BR/2BA 3BR/2BA 2BR/2.5BA Commercial, Mixed Use 5BR/3BA 4BR/3.5BA 3BR/2BA 4BR/3BA Lot 23, Block 4 Phase III Lot 24, Block 4 Phase III Lot 25, Block 4 Phase III Lot 26, Block 4 Phase III Lot 69, Block 4 Phase III 3BR/2BA No restrictions, Ag exempt 4BR/2.5BA - 2 car garage 3BR/2.5BA 3BR/2BA - 2 car garage 3BR/2BA Cleared & level 4BR/4BA Sold!
3BR/2BA 3BR/2BA Lots of oaks, backs to creek 3BR/2.5BA 3BR/2BA 3BR/2BA 4BR/4.5BA Build to suit home site 3BR/1BA 3BR/2BA + pool Build to suit home site 3BR/2B
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