Bee Cave City Council: Safety Medians, Library Drama, and a New Friendly Face

Oh, the thrills of small-town politics! The Bee Cave City Council had a blast at their Tuesday night meeting, discussing safety medians and blowing a colossal budget on a Public Safety Building. Let's dive in, shall we?

The $18 Million Party Palace (aka Public Safety Building)

The council gave a thumbs-up to an $18 million max budget for the new Bee Cave Public Safety Building. Construction starts in March or April next year, taking around 15-18 months to complete.

The Police Department is currently chilling in Bee Cave's old City Hall, a building from 1998 that apparently wasn't designed for law enforcement. Shocking, I know. The new digs will also host Lake Travis Fire Rescue, because why not?

Meanwhile, the Bee Cave Public Library budget is getting a haircut. Mayor Kara King and her crew are slashing the original $30 million price tag. Council member Andrea Willott spilled the tea: "The cost was so large due to the site and size, so the subcommittee is looking at finding a different location and downsizing the planned building from two stories to one." They're aiming to keep the budget under $20 million. Fingers crossed!

Medians on Texas 71: The Thrilling Saga

William Semora, TxDOT's engineer for southern Travis County, dropped by to chat about adding medians to Texas 71. Construction starts in fall 2025, and it's all because of a study that found an average of 134 crashes annually from 2019 to 2022. Yikes!

TXDOT's plan? Medians along a 6.4-mile stretch, with 15 median breaks for turning lanes. Semora claims this could reduce crashes by up to 39%, reduce severity by 80%, and keep traffic flowing. We'll believe it when we see it, William.

Want to weigh in? TXDOT reps are meeting with the community on Oct. 17. You can also email SH71info@txdot.gov or call 512-537-4019 by Friday, Nov. 1.

New Face Alert: Hilary Pircher

In a groundbreaking move for government transparency, Bee Cave hired Hilary Pircher as their new administrative assistant. She's posted up at the front desk in City Hall, ready to answer your burning questions.

Pircher hails from Houston, where she worked in the mayor's office for people with disabilities. Now, she's here to help Bee Cave maintain its reputation for "excellent customer service." Let's hope she likes medians and overpriced buildings!

That's all, folks! Remember, every vote (and median) counts. 😘