By C.J. Vetter
BUDA - Micah Grau is now entering negotiations to become the new city manager of Buda.
The selection followed numerous closed-door meetings and negotiations handled by the city attorney.
“The City Council is confident that promoting Mr. Grau provides us with a unique chance to preserve stability within the organization while providing opportunities to make improvements in the operation,” Mayor Lee Urbanovsky said. “We are excited to be able to continue this relationship.”
Future Projects
The council also received a presentation from the Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization (CAMPO) in regards to existing programs and funding.
As a nonprofit organization, CAMPO seeks to help plan and coordinate transportation projects throughout Central Texas, such as the Regional Active Transport Plan that includes 539 different projects worth a combined $42.5 billion. The presentation, given by CAMPO executive director Ashby Johnson, suggested that during their last review of the Transportation Improvement Plan (TIP), additional funding might be left over and able to be used in other projects in 2023 throughout the counties it serves.
”The price of gas has gone up, and oil is being sold. Part of our funds come from gas. In a year or two, we’ve had more money than we thought we’d receive,” Johnson said.
As another action taken, P3 Works, LLC was brought aboard to help evaluate the Public Improvement District (PID) and Tax Increment Refinance Zone (TIRZ) application submitted by Milestone Community Builders – both of which are ways for the city to raise funds for specific projects in the area such as road connections and developments. While not necessarily guaranteeing the project would be approved by being brought in, the consulting firm would work with the city to evaluate it and the proposed financing. However, if the projects are approved, the firm would serve as the administrator of the PID and would manage the bonds, assessments and collections in cooperation with the city.
“I am glad to see the city taking meaningful steps that will enable the construction of the much needed arterial connection. Without this bypass the existing, very troubled FM 967 and FM 1626 intersection will remain congested,” said Garret Martin, CEO of Milestone Community Builders. “The bypass road we will build fixes this issue. Without good public private partnerships, roads never get built and we get the overwhelming congestion that results from growth without roads. Our partnership with Buda addresses that roadway issue for this area, at an unprecedented speed.”
