The future of the Leander Municipal Athletic Complex is uncertain after the planning and design process identified significant water-related challenges, according to Ty Meighan, communications manager for the city of Leander.

Meighan said in an email those challenges include drainage, flood plain issues, and access to wastewater.

“Before the City of Leander commits to spending additional funding to address these issues, the city is evaluating to determine if there is a more fiscally prudent option for the park,” Meighan said. “The evaluation is continuing, and the city has not yet made a final decision on the project.”

The background: The plans for the park were approved by the Leander City Council in May 2023, with an expected 2025 opening.

The plans call for the park to be built along US 183 on the north bank of the south fork of the San Gabriel River.

Some Liberty Hill ISD students may be reassigned to attend a new campus next school year.

In August, LHISD will open Lariat Trails Elementary, Legacy Ranch Middle School and the official campus for Legacy Ranch High School. District officials provided an update on the district’s process to create new attendance zones at a Dec. 15 meeting.

The big picture: LHISD may continue using US 183 as the attendance boundary line for its high school campuses—with students east of the highway going to Legacy Ranch High School and west of the highway going to Liberty Hill High School, Superintendent Travis Motal said.

Under Plan A, Rancho Sienna and Tierra Rosa elementaries would feed into Santa Rita Middle School. Bar W, Santa Rita and Saddleback elementaries would attend Legacy Ranch Middle School.

With Plan B, the district could send students living east of Ronald Reagan Boulevard to Santa Rita Middle School. Students living west of Ronald Reagan Boulevard and east of US 183 would attend Legacy Ranch Middle School.

Pablo Serna became Williamson County’s new architect, overseeing the planning, design and construction of county facilities, Oct. 24. Serna sat down with Community Impact to discuss his previous experience and new role.

Why were you drawn to Williamson County?
When Williamson County came up, I saw that as a good transition over to [the] more local. What was attractive to me about that position is they were working on some really large projects.

What's the role of the county architect?
A liaison between the professional teams that are hired. ... Usually it's a hybrid architect-engineering company that we hire to do a lot of these large projects.

How can county facilities both preserve history and serve modern needs?
The way I see that [is] we, even at the county level, are stewards of this history. But a lot of times ... it’s understanding that these buildings have a life beyond their original purpose and intended use.

Check out the top trending stories from the Austin Metro Dec. 15-18.

1. 11,985-square-foot retail center to be built in Bastrop’s Adelton community

2. Austin Community College enrollment increases by nearly 10%

3. Melina neighborhood to bring 840 homes near Georgetown

4. Dozens of Lake Austin properties move to disannex; city to lose nearly $300M value

5. 320-unit multifamily development coming to Steiner Ranch area

6. Check out these trails and road projects in Round Rock

Central Texas counties could begin receiving up to $1.25 million each in state funding for flood warning sirens in the coming weeks and months, officials announced Dec. 16.

The overview: The funding comes less than six months after historic flooding hit parts of Central and West Texas over the July 4 weekend, killing at least 137 residents and visitors. During special legislative sessions this summer, state lawmakers approved requirements that 30 counties included in a July disaster declaration install flood warning systems with the help of $50 million in state grants.

Zooming in: Each county is expected to receive up to $1.25 million from the Texas Water Development Board. Counties seeking more money will need their requests approved by the three-member board.

Counties are required to submit detailed project plans to the TWDB and can use the grants to install physical infrastructure such as sirens, rain gauges, flood gauges and solar panels to power the warning systems. The money can also be used for local flood education, outreach and training programs, TWDB staff said.