Bastrop to see infrastructure updates ahead of X relocation
Bastrop city and county officials confirmed infrastructure updates are underway to accommodate the relocation of Elon Musk's social media company X—formerly known as Twitter—near Hyperloop Plaza in the 800 block of FM 1209.
X will mark the spot for Musk's third Bastrop County company—not including his soon-to-open Montessori school, Ad Astra.
On Sept. 14, the tech billionaire updated the address in California court filings for the social media company from San Francisco to Bastrop.
Bastrop City Manager Sylvia Carrillo and Mel Hamner, Bastrop County commissioner for Precinct 1, confirmed the social media platform's headquarters will be moved to Hyperloop Plaza.
What's happening
Officials said more infrastructure is needed to support the move, like wastewater treatment and traffic adjustments.
The Musk facilities, which include The Boring Company, Boring Bodega, SpaceX's Starlink, and X, will be connected to the new wastewater treatment plant.
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ESD No. 3 to be established after Bastrop County voters weigh in
The creation of Emergency Services District No. 3 will move forward with plans to nearly triple the number of EMS units in most areas of the county.
Bastrop County First Responder volunteer Preston McGrew, one of the three people who spearheaded the campaign for ESD No. 3, said the process to begin implementing the initiative should take between 12-18 months.
Some background
Throughout the summer, Bastrop County First Responders volunteers Preston McGrew, Caleb Peck and Paul Hightower, presented their case for ESD No. 3 at City Council meetings, citing a pattern with the current contracted EMS services from Acadian of long response times across the county.
“We frequently see it go to level zero, which means there are no ambulances available anywhere in the county, and wait times between 45 minutes to an hour,” McGrew told Community Impact in a previous interview. "This just isn’t sustainable as a long-term solution, especially with the population growth we are seeing in Bastrop County."
ESD No. 3 will be funded through property taxes at $0.10 per $100 of a property’s valuation—the same amount used for other ESDs in the county. This would equate to an increase of $200 per year in property taxes on a home with an assessed value of $200,000.
Learn more here.
Bastrop County property tax bills hit mailboxes; owners urged to pay before Feb. 1 deadline
Bastrop County property owners should receive their tax bills in the mail soon and begin planning payment arrangements.
What you need to know
Ellen Owens, Bastrop County tax assessor-collector, said most bills should be in the mail by Nov. 15; however, property owners can view and pay their bills online at http://bastroptac.com.
Owens said payments are due upon receipt; however, payments are not considered late until midnight Feb. 1.
“I recommend anyone wanting to pay online do so before the last minute,” Owens said. “If there is a glitch, or if it processes even one minute late, then there will be penalties and interest charges.”
Owens explained that those eligible for split payments will get a coupon page with their bill—allowing them to divide their payments into fourths.
Read more here.
