July 9, 2009

The Horseshoe Bay City Council began working on the city’s budget for the 2010 fiscal year at a four and a half hour public workshop Monday morning. The city’s staff prepared a draft budget, five year capital plan, and preliminary analysis for the city’s tax base prior to the meeting. During the workshop each of the city’s department heads made presentations of their respective business plans for the coming fiscal year that begins October 1, 2009. After questions and discussion counci ...

The Horseshoe Bay City Council meeting room was packed on Tuesday afternoon as the council addressed a host of substantive agenda items. AT&T requested a postponement of the public hearing on its permit to build a 150 foot wireless antenna tower on South Wind, near the air port, so the council rescheduled the matter for their next meeting on August 25.

After a slowdown in foreclosure filings during May, when only 16 notices were filed, June heated up with 32 foreclosure notices filed with the Llano County Clerk’s Office. For the first six months of this year, 170 foreclosure notices have been filed on Llano County properties, up from 96 for the same period in 2008, and 46 in 2007. Lenders and borrowers have also dramatically increased the use of Deeds in Lieu of Foreclosure for distressed properties.

Horseshoe Bay Police Chief Bill Lane said that although the July 4th weekend was hectic, the department’s activity was manageable during the holidays. The HSB Police Department charged three people with public intoxication, two with possession of marijuana, and another with a burglary charge related to a domestic incident. Lane estimates his officers responded to a dozen fireworks complaints, numerous loud music or rowdy party complaints, and a slew of parking related complaints. HSB police ...

Good Evening Horseshoe Bay... Your City Council met early and often this week – Monday morning, bright and early, we began a five hour discussion of the next fiscal year budget. Remember the rule as we progress – any references to “fixin’ the streets” and how we pay for it is “a work in progress.” Since it’s been a month since you got your last admonishment, you might have forgotten.

Knock, Knock, Knock. “Anybody home? We’ve been doing some math and need to talk!” First it was China knocking on America’s door in April; then Russia in May; India in June. And Japan, OPEC countries, Caribbean tax havens, the United Kingdom and Brazil could soon be chiming in. The chorus is growing.

It’s been almost two years since turmoil began in the financial markets. And during that time, your own financial picture, along with that of virtually every other investor, has probably changed. Still, you can do a lot to get back on track toward the future you’ve envisioned — and you can start today.

I always look forward to the Fourth of July events in Horseshoe Bay and have missed very few of them over the years I have lived here. There is something especially heart-warming and inspiring about watching the parades and activities and just mingling with friends at Quail Point on this occasion that joyfully celebrates our history and our heritage. This year I was delighted to be asked to participate in a new activity, the first-ever Horseshoe Bay Fourth of July Apple Pie Bake Off.