Hill Country Village surveying residents about potential City Hall bond project

Hill Country Village officials confirmed Nov. 17 that the city is mailing a questionnaire to 300 local households asking residents to help determine what should happen with possible efforts to develop a new City Hall complex.

City Council on Nov. 17 discussed the city’s questionnaire, which contains facts about the current 42-year-old municipal facility and surrounding property at 116 Aspen Lane, officials said.

Officials added that the questionnaire seeks residents’ input on where a new City Hall facility should be built.

The survey follows multiple public meetings in which elected leaders and residents have pondered the fate of the existing municipal complex and whether the current structure should be simply modified and expanded or entirely replaced on Aspen Lane, or should it be built anew on a city-owned tract at West Bitters Road and South Tower Drive.

City Administrator/Police Chief Frank Morales said the questionnaire only contains known facts and pros and cons that have been provided about each City Hall and location scenario in previous city meetings.

The questionnaire does not bolster any specific viewpoint or direction about a potential City Hall project, Morales said, adding that city attorney Marc Schnall had vetted language in the survey.

“This was written with intent of being neutral,” Council Member Thomas Doyle said.

Local officials said they hope to receive questionnaire responses at City Hall by mid-December. According to the state’s 2023 election calendar, the city has until Feb. 17 to decide whether to add a City Hall bond vote to the May 6 election ballot.