Following a request from the Hutto Fire Rescue, the city is waiving water and wastewater impact fees for the emergency service district's upcoming fire station.

Hutto City Council voted Thursday night to waive up to $60,000 in combined impact fees for the fire station, which is located on Swindoll Lane off FM 1660.

Hutto Fire Rescue broke ground on the Vic Stern Fire Station—Hutto’s second fire station—on Aug. 23. The fire station is expected to open and be operational by late spring or early summer 2019.

Earlier in the night, council declined to bring to a vote a resolution expanding the city manager’s powers to waive impact fees himself.

The ordinance would have revised the city’s code so that waivers or reductions to water and wastewater impact fees could be approved by the city manager with a council vote. Hutto city code outlines those proceedings must go in front of City Council.

“It gives flexibility to the city manager,” Helen Ramirez, assistant city manager for Hutto, said Thursday night. Ramirez stated that the city has received an impact fee waiver request from Hutto ISD in addition to the waiver requested by Hutto Fire Rescue.

But council ultimately rejected the notion, with several council members stating the change is unnecessary.

“Ultimately it’s our decision whether or not to waive fees,” Hutto Mayor Doug Gaul said.

After a motion from Council Member Tom Hines, the item failed to gain a second motion. The resolution will not move forward to a second reading.