Category Archives: Volente

River Place Limited District board holds inaugural meeting

Patricia Rybachek (center), representing the River Place Limited District’s management company Inframark, leads a discussion Dec. 19 regarding signage changes needed in the neighborhood after the area was annexed by the
city of Austin Dec. 15.

Issues remain for some residents following Dec. 15 annexation

By LESLEE BASSMAN , Four Points News

The past week has seen large changes for River Place residents, with the city of Austin finalizing its annexation of the western Travis County development Dec. 15 and the area’s new Limited District board of directors holding its Dec. 19 inaugural meeting.

At the Dec. 19 meeting, Limited District board members—which included all officers of the River Place Municipal Utility District—unanimously voted to adopt and ratify the Strategic Partnership Agreement, or SPA, between the district and the city of Austin. This agreement allowed the development, upon annexation, to form a governing body tasked with maintaining River Place parks, nature trails and solid waste services, while the remainder of neighborhood utilities and properties come under Austin governance.

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VHS percussion goes to Midwest Clinic in Chicago

Vandegrift percussion students performed in Chicago at the Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic during their trip Dec. 20 – 23. They played a total of nine pieces, with two pieces specifically written for Vandegrift to perform at this concert.

By JENNY ROSAS, Contributor

The Vandegrift band drumline, led by percussion director Joe Hobbs, performed at the Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic in Chicago, which takes place Dec. 20 – 23.

This marks the first time in VHS history for the school to attend this event. A total of 24 VHS students attended, along with all four band directors, parents and family. Seven of these students have participated in the Midwest event as middle schoolers from Four Points and Canyon Ridge middle schools.

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Travis County taxing authority drops taxes on eight River Place homes

Four homes located on Lagood Drive—3700, 3701, 3704, 3705—and four homes located on James Ryan Way—10200, 10201, 10206, 10207— were not taxed River Place Municipal Utility District ad valorem taxes for 18 years due to an error. An estimated loss in the range of approximately $87,000 in taxes were not paid.

Error cost local utility district tens of thousands of dollars over 18 years

By LESLEE BASSMAN, Four Points News

During the Dec. 19 meeting of the River Place Limited District board of directors, members discussed Travis Central Appraisal District’s failure to include eight River Place homes in the former River Place Municipal Utility District’s tax rolls for the past 18 years. Therefore, the homeowners of these properties have not paid MUD ad valorem taxes since 2000, the year the parcels were annexed into the district, said Patrick Reilly, president of the River Place Limited District.

“A homeowner at the River Place Homeowners Association annual meeting came up to me and inquired about why he was being charged MUD taxes and one of his neighbors did not appear to be charged taxes by the MUD,” said Scott Crosby, board member of the River Place Limited District. “I went in and looked at several addresses on Travis County’s website and found that was in fact the case.”

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Water district responds to customers’ high bill complaints, GM explains recourse options for residents

Jason Homan, general manager of Travis
County Water Control and Improvement
District 17, explains how a water meter operates

By LESLEE BASSMAN, Four Points News

Steiner Ranch resident Nancy Phillips said she was concerned when she received her Nov. 22 water bill from her provider, Travis County Water Control and Improvement District 17. The statement showed about twice the amount of gallons of water she and her spouse consumed from the month prior, and near what the couple consumed during the summer months when their irrigation system was in use, she said.

“What was startling was the (November water) usage because, during the summer, when you are watering twice a week, you don’t expect to see the same usage in November when you’re not,” said Phillips, who lives in The Plateau. “And, as far as we know, we don’t have any leaks.”

WCID 17 General Manager Jason Homan, who is also a resident of Steiner Ranch, said his billing clerks have received some calls recently from district customers noting an increase in their bills.

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Demographer continues forecast for growth in Leander ISD

Area school district enrollments of 2016-17 vary in the Austin-Round Rock area. Leander ISD has added more
than 5,000 students since the 2011-12 school year. Source: Leander ISD

By DAN TROXELL , LISD Superintendent

Families and children will continue to stream into our world-class Leander ISD schools, according to the district’s recently released annual demographer report.

As the highest growth district in Austin — and the 10th-highest growth district in the entire state — our board of trustees, leadership team and community must continue to anticipate the challenges and opportunities that go with being a destination school district.

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