The Williamson County Commissioners Court approved the comprehensive plan April 11, with the dollars to be dispersed over the next two years. Vetted by the county auditor’s office to ensure the projects meet the requirements of ARPA, the list of items garnered the approval of Precinct 1 County Commissioner Terry Cook.
“This felt like Christmas when this came out to me—that somebody was listening in on my dreams for what could happen for this county,” she said. “I am thrilled at what has gone into planning this.”
Commissioners discussed possibly approving the plan, without guaranteeing funding amounts for the list of projects. Precinct 3 County Commissioner Valerie Covey and Precinct 4 County Commissioner Russ Boles supported a motion to accept the projects without specifying the total that would go to studies on underground water resources as well as broadband access.
However, the court instead voted 3-2 to earmark the actual amounts.
“I’m not willing to take dollar amounts off of that, because we haven’t put our money where our mouth is on these issues,” County Judge Bill Gravell said.
Projects funded:
- 10-15 micro homes for Williamson County residents in Community First Village: $1 million in 2023, $1 million in 2024;
- Costs for operating psychiatric hospital beds for uninsured residents: $750,000 in 2023, $750,000 in 2024;
- Five registered nurses at San Gabriel Respite Center to provide detox services: $287,000 in 2023, $575,000 in 2024;
- Expansion of services at Yellow House Foundation, a nonprofit agency for alcohol and substance abuse recovery: $176,915 in 2023, $124,085 in 2024;
- Domestic violence detective with sheriff’s office: $152,464 in 2023, $105,181 in 2024;
- 30 ventilators for Williamson County ambulances: $670,000 in 2023;
- Underground water study of Trinity Aquifer: $500,000 in 2023, $500,000 in 2024; and
- Pilot program to expand broadband access: $750,000 in 2023, $750,000 in 2024.
