Font Size: A A A

 

 

 

ð  Report Water Leaks

Customers of the Liberty Hill Water Supply Corp. are asked to inspect their property for outdoor water leaks. Customers who suspect a leak should contact General Manager Wendell McLeod at 778.5977.

ð  Liberty Hill City Council

Regular meetings are at 6:30 p.m. on the second and fourth Monday of each month in the City Council Chamber.

ð  Liberty Hill Planning & Zoning Commission    

Regular meetings are at 6:30 p.m. on the second Tuesday of each month in the City Council Chamber. 

ð  Economic Development Corp. Board of Directors

Regular meetings are at 7 p.m. on the first Monday of each month in the City Council Chamber.

ð  Parks & Recreation Board

Regular meetings are at 6:30 p.m. on the fourth Tuesday of each month in the City Council Chamber.

ð  Building Standards Commission         

Meets once annually on the first Thursday in October in the City Council Chamber.

 

 

 

(Posted: 10:15 p.m. July 12, 2010)

Officials from the Williamson County Emergency Services District #4 say they did not ask the City of Liberty Hill to waive building permit fees for the extension to the fire station that is currently under construction.

 

In response to an inquiry by Radio Free Liberty Hill, Fire Chief Bruce Watson said no one employed by the ESD inquired to any city employee or elected official about the possibility of the City waiving $3,456 in permit fees. ESD Board of Commissioners President Gene Gatlin added that he did not make an inquiry, nor did anyone else serving on the Board. 

 

During a regular meeting of the Liberty Hill City Council June 28, Building Inspector Pete McKinney said he was directed by Mayor Pro Tem Charles Canady to waive permit fees for the ESD as well as $42,257.20 in fees for the San Gabriel's Crossing apartment complex. The information came to light as officials began working on a  budget for the new fiscal year and learned from an accounting firm that the City is short on cash and may have to raise taxes to make up the difference. McKinney said the  fees he was directed by Canady to waive total $45,713.20. (Read the Story)

 

Chief Watson said as a result of the RFLH inquiry, he consulted with the ESD's architectural firm to find out how they learned the city fees had been waived. 

 

"I was told they sent an employee (of the firm) to City Hall to meet with the Building Inspector and pay the permit fees," Watson said. "He (Pete McKinney) was not in, but later called her back and said the fees had been waived."

 

Watson said he had no explanation as to why the fees were waived or who made the decision to waive them.

 

"But, we do appreciate it," Gatlin added.

 

At the City Council's regular meeting Monday, the issue was raised again. But this time, Council member Wendell McLeod made a motion to require WCESD#4 and developers of the San Gabriel's Crossing apartment complex to pay the total amount of the fees that were previously waived. Councilman Jack Harkrider seconded the motion so the issue could be discussed. After a lengthy discussion, the Council voted against McLeod's motion by 4-1 with McLeod casting the lone affirmative vote.

 

During the discussion, Canady defended his decision to waive the fees for WCESD#4, claiming that former City Secretary Kathy Clark told him the City had waived permit fees for other government entities. 

Harkrider brought forward a detailed timeline regarding the permitting process for San Gabriel's Crossing that he said shows the City may have been partially to blame for delays that apartment developers claim caused them to miss deadlines. 

 

"I think there was a problem on both sides and I think it was because of misinformation and misinterpretation," Harkrider said. "I'm not sure we can hold their feet to the fire." 

 

Canady said he never instructed McKinney to waive the fees for the apartment complex, which developers say will cater to lower-income residents. 

 

"I never told you (McKinney) to do that," Canady said. "Kathy Clark asked my opinion. And as the city administrator, what she did on her own behalf, was her deal." 

 

McKinney said Mrs. Clark, who resigned in February, told him Canady said to waive the fees.  

 

He added that the 180-day deadline had expired again on June 6, and regardless of how the Council decides to address the fees that were already waived, the developer now owes an additional $42,000. The permit deadlines are established in the City's Unified Development Code and the current fee structure was adopted by Council in the form of a city ordinance in September 2009.   

  

Harkrider made a motion that a meeting be set before July 30 between representatives of the Council who were not named, McKinney, and a representative of San Gabriel's Crossing. That motion passed unanimously. 

 

Stay Tuned for more on this developing story.