The cities of Leander and Cedar Park are hosting a joint Juneteenth Block Party at Robin Bledsoe Park on June 19 from 5 to 9 p.m.

Before you go: The party will be free to attend and family-friendly, city communications staff said.

Parking will be available at the park and neighboring North Austin Pediatrics, according to the city of Leander’s website. When those lots fill up, overflow parking will be available at Camacho Elementary School, with transportation provided between the overflow parking lot and the event.

The event: A “fun zone” for kids, live art, food vendors and a basketball tournament will be open from 5 to 9 p.m, according to the website. The park’s pool and splash pad will also be open.

A series of musical performances and speeches by local elected officials will begin at 6 p.m.

Williamson County commissioners will appoint a new tax assessor-collector for the county following the retirement of Larry Gaddes.

The county is currently accepting applications for the position.

What happened: Commissioners accepted Gaddes’ resignation at a June 9 meeting, after nine years with the county. He is one of nine tax assessor-collectors in Texas to earn the designation of certified tax administrator, according to county documents.

Gaddes will take on a new role as deputy executive director of the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles, according to a county news release.

How it works: The commissioners will interview candidates and appoint a new person to fill the role until the November 2026 election. Those interested in the role can apply by sending a resume and qualifications to [email protected].

The executive committees of the local Democratic and Republican parties will vote to nominate an individual to place on the November ballot. Voters will then decide on a new Williamson County tax assessor-collector who will serve a term until Dec. 31, 2028.

Williamson County commissioners exempted the contract for transportation of deceased individuals from the county's standard competitive bidding process June 9, allowing the four Justices of the Peace to continue using Tranquil Mortuary.

What happened: The county's purchasing department flagged that annual spending on deceased transportation had reached almost $253,000 across the four districts, surpassing the $100,000 threshold that typically triggers a formal request for proposal process.

A competitive bidding is recommended to maintain compliance and protect the county from potential lawsuits from other vendors, County Purchasing Agent Joy Simonton said.

However, the four Williamson County JPs opposed an RFP process, requesting that the court use a local government code provision to grant a discretionary exemption for services necessary to preserve public health and safety.

Tranquil Mortuary, the county's current provider, is the only reliable 24-hour local option, the JPs said, and hiring an out-of-county provider would lead to extended response times.

Austin Watershed Protection is advising caution on some city lakes due to reports of potentially hazardous algae.

What's happening: Mats of blue-green algae, which may be toxic, were recently observed by city staff on Lady Bird Lake and Lake Austin, according to the watershed protection department. Samples have been taken from the lakes for testing.

The watershed department noted the algae may be present throughout both lakes and in other Austin waterways. Algae could spread amid hotter weather this summer. Residents and their pets should avoid any contact with algae mats, the city advised.

What else: Austin Watershed Protection previously initiated a five-year, $1.5 million pilot program to reduce algae growth, which involved applying lanthanum-modified clay to manage phosphorus in waterways' sediment. No treatments were applied this spring, as 2026 is a control year that'll be used to evaluate the pilot's effectiveness and cost benefits.