A new ordinance adopted by the Leander City Council has changed fees for some city services during its Oct. 1 board meeting. Among the changes are a fee waiver for homeowners seeking to demolish pools affected by alkali-silica reaction, or "concrete cancer."

Approved changes include:

• Eliminating the city's notary service fee since the city no longer offers public notary services

• Charging drivers who illegally pass school buses $25, regardless of whether the offense happens in a school zone or not

• Streamlining fire department fees

The ordinance also introduced a fee waiver for those seeking to demolish and rebuild pools affected by alkali-silica reaction, or ASR, which is a chemical reaction that causes cracks and structural problems in concrete.

A closer look: Since 2023, the city has issued 46 demolition permits involving pools, including 28 attributed to alkali-silica reaction.

Mayor Na'Cole Thompson recommended offering reimbursement for residents affected by ASR who have already paid for demolition or pool permits, which has been included in the approved ordinance.

Cashmere Board + Bar is now offering charcuterie and a mobile dry bar in the Liberty Hill community and beyond.

What they offer: Owner Lyndsay Blasienz, a realtor, launched the venture with her team, aiming to "celebrate people and events." Cashmere Board + Bar provides charcuterie, grazing boards, cups, boxes and baskets. The business also offers a mobile dry bar.

The business offers a variety of catering services for different types of gatherings, including weddings, baby showers and corporate events.

Quote of note: “We're not just a standard service,” Blasienz said. “We customize your table or your board or whatever you're wanting—your cups, your charcuterie—to the theme of [your event].” 

• 313 Smoke Signal Court, Liberty Hill

A data center in Hutto, additions to the Williamson County Regional Animal Shelter and a Dick’s Sporting Goods in Bastrop are among the five most expensive projects filed with the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation in the Austin metro this week.

1. Skybox Hutto 4 ($550 million): This project involves site improvements and construction of a new core and shell building with a future use as a data center.

2. Williamson County Regional Animal Shelter addition ($14 million): New additions are coming to the Williamson County Regional Animal Shelter, including first floor kennels second floor office space.

3. Menchaca Apartments ($13 million): This project involves the construction of a clubhouse for apartments in Austin.

4. Dick's Sporting Goods ($11 million): A 55,000-square-foot store is coming to Bastrop.

5. Gringo's Tex-Mex ($5 million): The Tex-Mex franchise is coming to Kyle.

The average annual insurance premium for a Texas homeowner rose 79% in six years, from less than $2,000 in 2020 to more than $3,500 this year, Texas Insurance Commissioner Amanda Crawford told state lawmakers Oct. 5.

The overview: The rise in home insurance costs has been caused by severe weather, high inflationary costs impacting home repairs and "the concentration of risk" in the insurance market, Crawford said.

Experts said hardening homes against severe weather could help reduce expensive losses from disasters, resulting in lower insurance premiums.

Zooming in: Proponents of home-hardening incentives have pointed to their success in other Gulf Coast states, such as Alabama. Texas consumer advocacy groups and the insurance industry backed proposals to create a similar grant program last year, according to previous Community Impact reporting, but those measures did not pass.

"Resilience helps homeowners long before it shows up in an insurance bill because a stronger home holds up better when the storm comes," said Chelsea Stallings, a regional vice president for the National Association of Mutual Insurance Companies.