Liberty Hill ISD leaders offered insight into the district's workforce of roughly 1,460 employees during its Sept. 14 board meeting.

“Not only have we done a lot of heavy lifting with new programs … we also onboarded 365 new employees because we opened up two and a half campuses this year,” Rebecca Owen, executive director of human resources for LHISD, said. “It was a pretty big lift, but we got through that.”

At a glance: The district’s workforce is nearly split evenly between teachers and support staff, according to the presentation. LHISD employs about 700 teachers and 760 support employees.

Staffing rates across the district remained variable as more than 93% of positions for general education teachers, district police and nutritional staff were filled.

Positions for maintenance jobs were 60% filled, which Owen said remains a “priority for the district.”

Keep in mind: The district has also applied for and received several opportunities to raise revenue to support staff, including $1.1 million through the Texas Teacher Incentive Allotment program.

A new eye care business is coming to Leander.

America's Best Contacts & Eyeglasses is slated to begin construction in Northline in February, according to project filings from the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation.

What they offer: The business offers eye exams, contact lenses, glasses and sunglasses. While America's Best Contacts & Eyeglasses accepts many major vision plans as well as HSA and FSA funds, clients do not need insurance.

Construction on the Leander location is expected to wrap up in March, according to project filings.

• 408 E. San Gabriel Parkway, Leander

Williamson County commissioners approved the allocation of $10.4 million for capital improvement projects for the next fiscal year during a Commissioners Court meeting Sept. 15.

The projects include facility repairs, public safety upgrades and long-term infrastructure needs.

The setup: The county had $23.45 million available for capital projects in fiscal year 2026-27. This includes $16.9 million in new funding with the recently passed budget and about $6.5 million left over from previous projects, County Auditor Julie Kiley said.

About the projects: Projects and funding amounts for the FY 2026-27 CIP include:

• $2.5 million for civil infrastructure improvements at the North Campus

• $2 million for internal asset management software

• $1.39 million for infrastructure improvements at the Northeast Inner Loop Yard

• $1.2 million to replace jail HVAC systems

• $1.2 million for building dehumidification

• $1.2 million to replace soil and stabilize ground around the Emergency Services Operations Center

The Williamson County Art Guild, a 200-member group of artists and art-appreciators, is celebrating its 50th anniversary.

The details: Since starting in 1976, the art guild has become a “bigger presence” in the community, past President Lynn Kessel said. The guild participates in a number of projects, often partnering with local businesses to create artwork around town. They also host art events and exhibitions throughout the county, she said.

The guild opened a gallery on Rock Street in Georgetown in October 2023. The addition of the gallery builds stronger relationships between members and stronger ties into the community, Bradstreet said.

The celebration: To celebrate half a century, the guild is taking it back to the 1970s with a disco party 6-9 p.m. Sept. 26. Named the “Peace, Love & Art Affair,” the festivities include music, refreshments, a silent auction and a quick-draw artist.

One more thing: To commemorate the long line of people involved with the guild, the guild is showing the “Legacy Exhibit.” The 100-piece exhibit, opening Nov. 14, will be shown both at the Georgetown Public Library and the Williamson County Art Guild Gallery.

The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality must stop issuing new permits for data centers, Gov. Greg Abbott said Sept. 21.

The overview: His order expands an existing pause on data center development in the state amid consistent public criticism of the booming industry. Abbott, who is running for a fourth term as governor, has recently moved to slow the growth of data centers after calling Texas “the epicenter of AI development" last year.

The context: Hundreds of proposed data centers are currently being audited by the Electric Reliability Council of Texas, which operates the state power grid.

Some developers may be able to get around the ERCOT pause by building in-house power infrastructure that is not connected to the grid, experts have said.

However, any construction project impacting at least 1 acre of land requires permits from TCEQ.

What they're saying: "As Texas faces increasing pressure on our water supplies and electric grid, we need to ensure that data centers operate efficiently and sustainably," said Luke Metzger, executive director of Environment Texas.