Round Rock City Council is set to vote at its Nov. 6 meeting on a $20.45-million contract with Smith Contracting Co. to expand and reconstruct a stretch of Gattis School Road.

Two-minute impact: Segment 6 of the Gattis School Road project will widen the roadway to three lanes in each direction with a center turn lane, stretching from Westview Drive to Red Bud Lane. The work will include full pavement reconstruction, improved drainage, new sidewalks and upgraded traffic signals at Red Bud Lane, High Country Boulevard and Lake Forest Drive. 

Construction will take about two years and is scheduled to begin soon after contract approval, according to city staff. The expansion is designed to reduce congestion, improve traffic safety and prepare the corridor for continued growth in east Round Rock.

The Round Rock Fire Foundation will hold its first fundraising event Nov. 8 to raise money for the health, wellness and resilience of fire fighters and their families. 

What you need to know: The foundation will hold the Blazing Paddles Pickleball Tournament 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Nov. 8, at Cedar Ridge High School, 2801 Gattis School Road, Round Rock. 
Participants take part in competitive divisions, a youth clinic and a fire fighter exhibition match at the all-ages event. It will also include bounce houses, live music and food trucks. 

The details: Donations and registration fees will support the foundation in its mission to provide crisis relief, counseling and family support to the Round Rock Fire Department and families of its membership.

The Williamson County Homeless Coalition will conduct its annual point-in-time count, which occurs over the course of a single day in late January, to get a snapshot of the number of individuals and families experiencing homelessness in the county.

How it works: The PIT count covers all of Williamson County and takes place in two parts—a daytime count and an evening count—both on the same day.

During the day, volunteers go to locations where unhoused people might gather, such as food pantries, to count and speak with them in one-on-one interviews. In the evening, volunteers go out in groups, asking a specific set of questions to determine if individuals are unhoused.

Volunteers may also distribute items, such as blankets, socks or food donations. 

Get involved: The operation requires a large number of volunteers, typically around 50-100, though more volunteers can help cover wider areas.

As of press time, all 17 constitutional amendments on the Texas ballot were poised to become law. The state propositions with the most support would either expand property tax exemptions or prohibit new taxes, while voters also favored measures aimed at funding infrastructure and research.

The overview: Some of the state propositions on the ballot included:

• Proposition 1: new funding to support the Texas State Technical College System
• Proposition 3: tighter restrictions on when Texas judges can grant bail for felony offenses
• Proposition 4: $20 billion for water supply projects and infrastructure
• Proposition 9: a $125,000 property tax exemption for businesses
• Propositions 11 and 13: expanded property tax exemptions for Texas homeowners
• Proposition 14: $3 billion to create a state dementia research institute