As the COVID-19 crisis continues to demand swift and large-scale policy changes of global, national, state and city governments, the same is true for smaller limited districts.

In western Travis County, the governments of Village of The Hills and Village of Briarcliff have been making adjustments as needed.

Briarcliff City Secretary Tina Linder said the city office has been closed to the public since March 13, and staff is taking turns working from home several days a week.

As far as disaster declarations, Linder said March 31 that right now, Briarcliff officials are staying in line with state and county declarations.

In the Village of The Hills, Mayor George Spencer issued an initial local disaster declaration March 19, and that order was extended by The Hills City Council at a special meeting on March 27.


The Hills City Manager Wendy Smith May said via email that for now, meetings are being held remotely, and the city office is closed to the public.

Calls and emails continue to be answered, and law enforcement officers continue to patrol, she said.
May said Waste Connections, the city’s contracted trash and recycling service, is doing cart-only collection through April, and no extra bags or bulky waste will be collected by hand in order to protect city workers.

The park trail and field are open with social distancing, but all other park facilities are closed, she added.


"We are in regular communication with Hurst Creek Municipal Utility District, the Property Owners Association [and] The Hills Country Club as well as other local governments in the region and Lake Travis Fire Rescue," May said, adding communication with residents is ongoing through the city’s website, Facebook page, and email.