ATX-LLH: Impact 10/21/2025

The city of Liberty Hill has chosen a new permanent city manager.

During an Oct. 16 special session, Liberty Hill City Council voted unanimously to appoint Thomas Hunter as the new city manager. Hunter will officially begin his new role on Nov. 17, according to a news release from the city.

The background: The search for a new city manager has been ongoing since July 24, when former city manager Paul Brandenburg resigned. Brandenburg had been in the position since 2022.

Leander residents looking for a sweet treat will be able to check out Ked’s Ice Cream when it holds its soft opening Oct. 22.

The details: The Dallas-based ice cream franchise offers a selection of more than 95 unique flavors, and takes inspiration from several South Asian and Middle Eastern desserts. In addition to ice cream treats like cones and sundaes, the franchise offers faloodas, crepes, waffles, boba drinks and refreshers.

The franchise has seven other locations throughout Texas, including spots in Irving, Plano, Allen and Frisco.

• Opening Oct. 22
• 15241 Ronald Reagan Blvd., Ste. 106, Leander

The city of Leander gave an update on the completion for the Leander Senior Activity Center.

Russell Alabastro, capital improvements project manager for Leander’s Public Works Department, gave the update during the Oct. 16 regular council meeting and said the city was targeting a Nov. 19 completion date for the project.

Alabastro said the final construction touches are going to be done in the coming week. The city is installing fire and sprinkler systems, laying network cable, and beginning to pour concrete for sidewalks and courtyards.

Early voting is now underway and local voters can cast their ballots in support of or against Austin's Proposition Q for a 20% city tax rate increase.

The local tax rate election, or TRE, is required after City Council passed a budget this summer backed by a tax rate above Texas' voter-approval rate. Proposition Q's passage would keep the budget and rate in place as approved, while its rejection would force city leaders to cut down their fiscal year 2025-26 spending plan and tax rate within the state cap.

The TRE would add about $110 million to Austin's general fund, which supports public-facing city services like public safety, parks, public health and housing programs. Council members dedicated tens of millions of dollars to their priorities in those subject areas during their summer budget deliberations.

Campaigns for and against Proposition Q are well underway, drawing tens of thousands of dollars for and against the TRE over the past several months.