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WEEKLY WRAP UP for Friday, Oct. 18, 2019
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Representative Dade Phelan (R-Beaumont) fields a question from Chamber of Commerce Advocacy Committee Chair Mark Nibbelink (of the McCrory-Timmerman Project) during a town hall on Proposition 8 that will be on the Nov. 5 ballot amending the Texas Constitution. Early voting begins Monday, Oct. 21.
A message from your Chamber
The Greater Taylor Chamber of Commerce and the City of Taylor co-hosted a town hall Wednesday night Oct. 17 at the Taylor Public Library.
State Rep. Dist. 52 James Talarico (D-Taylor/Round Rock) and Proposition 8 author Rep. Dist. 21 Dade Phelan (R-Beaumont) explained the plan behind Proposition 8 which will appear on the Nov. 5 election for changes to the Texas Constitution.
Phelan said his district was hit with more than 30 inches of water in the wake of Hurricane Harvey in August 2017 and learned that our state needs a plan to be more resilient after floods. He said that after-action studies all pointed to the same thing: The citizens of the State of Texas need to work cooperatively and with conscious effort to plan for flood mitigation.
"Even if you don't flood now," he said, as new roads, houses and businesses are created, "you will. It's just a matter of time."
Using data from those reports and the example set by the San Antonio River Authority, Phelan said he wrote and put forth Senate Bill 7 that UNANIMOUSLY passed the Texas House and Senate and is on its way to voters for their approval as Proposition 8: Flood Infrastructure Fund Amendment. (You can find the ballot language and details here.)
If passed, it would created the Flood Infrastructure Fund which the Texas Water Development Board would be authorized to use for projects related to flood drainage, mitigation and control.
Phelan said he is worried that voters might see the Proposition and immediately vote "no" because it has the word "fund" which often triggers fears of increased taxes. He explained that the measure does not include a tax but, rather, designates or sets aside money already collected from oil and gas companies and put into the State's "Rainy Day Fund," specifically for this purpose.
If passed, the fund will work in conjunction with SB8 to
help finance projects included in the statewide flood plan
. According to the Texas Tribune, the fund would be similar to the water development board's
State Water Plan. "T
he state flood plan would allow representatives from each of the state flood planning regions to craft a plan and submit it to the water development board for consideration," according to the Tribune (See that story here).
Plans would need to be drawn up by local partners who share watersheds to ensure cohesiveness throughout the plan. Those plans will be incorporated into the State Flood Plan which Phelan expects to be created within five years, if the measure passes.
Early voting on the measure and others (find a full list here) begins Monday with election day on Nov. 5 (also the day of the local Kiwanis Club Annual Pancake Supper).
VOTE
Registered voters can begin casting ballots on the Williamson County Bond Issue and proposed amendments to the Texas Constitution on Monday, Oct. 21. You can find a full list of Williamson County voting locations here.
Polls at Taylor City Hall, 400 Porter, will be open on election day, Tuesday, Nov. 5, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Early voting at City Hall will be as follows.
Commissioner will address bond issue 
Williamson County Precinct 4 Commissioner Russ Boles will address members of the Greater Taylor Chamber of Commerce at a luncheon at noon Monday, Oct. 21, at Sirloin Stockade.
Boles is expected to address the proposed county road and parks bond's
two proposals totaling $447 million.
Proposition A
addresses safety and mobility improvements to roads throughout Williamson County. The
$412 million project lists
includes widening
roads, building turn lanes, planning
interchange connections and improving drainage.
Proposition B
raises
$35 million
for
improvements to existing parks including playground equipment,
additional parking, extending trails, and installing restrooms and pavilions.
Boles was elected in November 2018 to represent Precinct Four which encompasses the eastern portion of the county, including Round Rock, Taylor, Hutto, Granger, Coupland, and Thrall.
This luncheon, hosted by the Greater Taylor Chamber of Commerce, is free to attend. Those wishing to eat should pay $10 at the door and arrive around 11:45 a.m. to ensure they have time to get their lunch prior to the start of the meeting.
For more information, call the Chamber at 512-352-6364.
It's time for
a scare on the square!
Spooktacular returns to Heritage Square 6-8 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 31.
The City is currently seeking organizations, businesses or groups to host free trick-or-treat or Halloween game booths or vendor booths for $25. Click
here to learn more about those opportunities.
As part of that event, Friends of the Taylor Public Library will host a costume contest at 7 p.m. for children in various age groups and a contest for the best themed family group.
Children and families are urged to register for the contest at the amphitheater 6-7 p.m.
Judges are also needed for the contest. If you are willing to help, please email Friends of the Taylor Public Library President Tia Rae Stone at president@taylorchamber.org with Spooktacular Judge as the subject line.
Click
HERE to download a copy of the poster (pictured) to put up at your business or to share with family and friends.
Haunted Taylor
 Join guides from the Taylor Conservation and Heritage Society on a nighttime stroll through the murderous and macabre, the frightening and fascinating, history of Taylor.
Tours are offered at 7:30 and 8:30 p.m. on Saturdays Oct. 19 and Oct. 26 for $20 available
here.
Tickets usually sell out well before the tour dates so don't miss your opportunity to r
evel in tales of Taylor's rough and tumble past and the stories behind many familiar buildings (and the structures that preceded them) in our historic downtown.
Tours begin in HERITAGE SQUARE , last up to 1.5 hours and are about 3/4 of a mile long. Please wear comfortable shoes. While there is no age requirement, please know that some rather gruesome material will be discussed during the tour that may not be appropriate for young children.
LEAD Taylor
The City of Taylor is looking for citizens who want to learn more about their city for the 2020 LEAD Taylor Program. The program is a community-focused, collaborative program that provides participants an in-depth look at government operations, community planning and awareness, and the opportunity to learn about civic culture from the inside. The first class will be Thursday, Jan. 16, 2020. For more information and application, visit
https://www.ci.taylor.tx.us/838/LEAD-Taylor
. Applications are also available at City Hall, 400 Porter St.
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Coppera Plumbing and Commercial Services, owners Liz and Sam Dowdy Jr., staff and supporters celebrated the grand opening of the company's new office at 1009 Second St. in Taylor on Oct. 3. The event was marked with a Greater Taylor Chamber of Commerce ribbon cutting. The company began as S&D Commercial Services in 2007 and changed its name to Coppera in 2016. For Commercial questions you can contact Coppera at 512-365-1838 or office@coppera.com
Patricia L. Brown & Associates Honey Bucket
595 Round Rock West Dr. #201 1711 FM 112
Round Rock, TX 512-246-1149 Taylor, TX 737-615-9484
Embark Energy (Phillips 76) 2nd & Main Lofts
1702 N. Main 100 E. 2nd St
Taylor, TX 512-365-1103 Taylor, TX 917-576-7044
Thrall ISD
201 S. Bounds
Thrall, TX 512-898-0062
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Monday, Oct. 21, noon --
Luncheon: Pct. 4 Commissioner Russ Boles is our speaker at Sirloin Stockade
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Thursday, Oct. 24, 7:30 a.m. --
Funding: Holiday Inn Express & Suites
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Friday, Oct. 25, 11:30 a.m.--
Ribbon Cutting:
2nd & Main Lofts, 100 E. 2nd St.
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Friday, Oct. 25, 2 p.m.--
Ribbon Cutting: Phillips 76, 1702 N. Main
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Monday, Oct. 28, noon--
Ribbon Cutting: Moose's Brake & Tune Up, 719 W. 2nd
- Wednesday, Oct. 30, noon--Ambassadors: Gatti's
- Thursday, Nov. 7, 8 a.m.--Finance Committee: Chamber
- Monday, Nov. 12, noon--Chamber Luncheon: Sirloin Stockade
- Wednesday, Nov 20, noon--Programs & Services: Chamber
- Wednesday, Nov 27, noon--Ambassador Luncheon:
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Washer & Horseshoe Tournament
Toss some metal, win some prizes and help Taylor Lions support the Leader Dog program.
The 21st annual Walter Gonzales Foundation Washer and Horseshoe Tournament will be Saturday, Oct. 19, at the Taylor SPJST Hall, 5025 FM 619. Register under the tent from 8 to 10 a.m. It costs $20 per team and spectators are welcome. Food will be available.
For tournament information, callthe Walter Gonzales Foundation:
J.J. Sanchez at 254-217-1993.
For Leader Dog / Lions Club information, call
Greg Teggeman at 512-925-9735.
LifePark Center will host a family fall festival 10 a.m-2 p.m.
Saturday, Oct.
19 at Heritage Square Park. The event will feature a bounce house, petting zoo, Zumba demonstration, farmers market and more. Learn more at
www.lifeparkcenter.com
Thanksgiving Celebration
The Blackshear/O. L. Price Ex-Student Association will be hosting their 19th Annual Feast of Sharing 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 2, at the Fannie Robinson Park Pavilion, located on the corner of Walnut and Dolan in Taylor. The community of Taylor is invited for this free meal with all the trimmings. For information call 512-296-6109.
Dr.James Lee Dickey Day
The Dr. James L. Dickey Day Parade and Health Fair will be Nov. 16. The downtown parade will begin at 10 a.m. followed by the health fair at the at the TISD Main Street Event Center 3101 N. Main. Click
here to download an application for the parade and
here to download an application for a free booth at the health fair. Contact Jennifer Harris at 512-296-6109 for more information.
Entertainment calendar
WilCo EXPO: Click
here to look at what's going on out at the Expo Center.
SPJST Post 29:
October's schedule is here. November's schedule is here.
Taylor Station Bar: Click here for upcoming events.
Texas Beer Company: To keep up with everything going on at TBC, click here.
Marshall's Tavern: Marshall's events are here.
The Loose Screw: See their events here.
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