WB Civics Club Tax Talk Follow-Up

by Jon Klekman & Ben Williams

Thanks to everyone who came to the Property Tax Discussion.

Thank you to Travis County Chief Appraiser Mayra Crigler for attending and lending her considerable expertise!

Thank you to Leslie Little with the Wells Branch Community Library for getting us set up, promoting us, and letting our meeting run WAY long!

And thanks to Vicky Linsalata, a Travis County ESD #17 Commissioner (one of our taxing entities!) for joining us.

Also, be on the lookout for announcements from local taxing entities about their proposed rates for 2023, and see how they affect you directly!

Click HERE for Ben Williams’ PDF presentation on Property Taxes and follow the link below to the Video Replay with Live Presentation Deck synced with Ben’s talk.

We are so grateful for the folks who attended in person, those who expressed interest in this program and to the folks in the neighborhood who want to engage and shape the dialogue with our local institutions.  I also need to mention that wonderful hosting and  support from our very own gem, Wells Branch Community Library.  We will also look to potentially live stream some of these in the future.

The next session will be held at the Library on Saturday, August 6; the topic is in formulation— stay tuned shortly for the blurb.

Link to Zoom Recording of Property Tax Talk (Wells Branch Civics Club)

We hope to see you there!  – Jon & Ben

Water Restrictions In Effect

Effective June 6, 2022, Wells Branch is under Stage 1 drought response water restrictions.

  • Residential
    • Hose-end Sprinklers – two days per week – midnight to 10 a.m. and/or 7 p.m. to midnight
      • Even address – Thursday, Sunday
      • Odd address – Wednesday, Saturday
    • Automatic Irrigation – one day per week – midnight to 8 a.m. and/or 7 p.m. to midnight (Residential customers may also water a second day with a hose-end sprinkler)
      • Even address – Thursday
      • Odd address – Wednesday
  • Commercial / Multi-family / Public Schools
    • Hose-end Sprinklers or Automatic Irrigation – one day per week – midnight to 8 a.m. and/or 7 p.m. to midnight
      • Even address – Tuesday
      • Odd address – Friday

Water waste is prohibited and can be enforced at all times. Continue reading Water Restrictions In Effect →

$500 Reward for Information on Graffiti

Graffiti in Wells Branch MUD (the “District”) has increased so it is time to take a proactive approach. Graffiti and other property vandalism not only take away from the beauty and sense of security in our community, but are also very costly. In an effort to stop this activity in our community, the Wells Branch Municipal Utility District will offer a reward of up to $500 for information leading to the arrest and prosecution of any person committing a graffiti-related or vandalism offense within the District. This includes parks and park fixtures, signs, utility boxes, and fencing. Persons identified as committing these offenses within the District will be prosecuted to the fullest extent permitted by law. The District will also seek restitution and damages, including the cost of any reward(s) paid, from any person or persons convicted of these offenses within the District.

Please immediately report information related to the act of a graffiti-related or vandalism offense within the District to the Travis County Sheriff’s Office Tip Line at 512-854-1444.

If you spot graffiti in the District please let us know through our graffiti report / removal form:  http://wellsbranchmud.com/services/graffiti-report-removal

WB MUD Board of Directors Election

Board of Director elections are held on the uniform election date in November of every even-numbered year. In 2022, the election will be held on Tuesday, November 8, 2022.

A person that desires to be a candidate in the District’s next Director election must be qualified to serve as a Director and must timely submit an application for a place on the ballot to the District. To be qualified to serve as a Director, a person must be at least 18 years old, a resident citizen of the State of Texas, and either own land subject to taxation in the District or be a qualified voter within the District.

Three of the five Director positions are up for election this year. The first day to file an application for a place on the ballot is July 23, 2022. The deadline to file an application for a place on the ballot is 5:00pm on August 22, 2022.

If you are interested in becoming a Director, please visit wellsbranchmud.com for more information.

Collars & Tags & Microchips—OH MY!

by Mikella Maughan

Every year we see an increase in lost pets around the 4th of July, as they try to escape the noise and confusion of fireworks.  In addition to securing your pets, there are things you can do to help the chances of getting them back home should they somehow escape.

As your pet doesn’t have a voice, the easiest and most obvious option is a collar and ID of some kind.  Pet owners on a budget can find collars at local dollar stores.  Even without a tag a collar makes it easier for your pet to be safely caught by a good Samaritan so they can be returned to you or turned in to a shelter where you can be reunited.  If you are unable to get an ID tag at the moment, you can write your phone number on the collar with a Sharpie or other permanent marker.  This is also a great option for those pets who tend to always ‘lose’ their tags. You can also order collars and tags on Amazon or other online pet stores so you don’t have to go anywhere.

When a pet doesn’t have an ID tag or other identifying information, a microchip is an excellent backup plan. Microchips don’t fall off or get lost, and they don’t have batteries that die.  They simply sit silently under your pet’s skin until the information you’ve registered can be retrieved with a microchip scanner.

Travis County residents can get a free Microchip and/or a free ID tag for their pet by going to Austin Animal Services at 7301  Levander Loop between 11:00am and 7:00pm.  The shelter does not currently assist with chip registration so be sure to register your pet’s chip as soon as you get home.

Williamson County residents can get a free microchip and registration at the Williamson County Animal Shelter.  Just email wcras@wilco.org for more information and/or to schedule a microchip appointment.  These are provided free through a grant by the Petco Foundation.

You can also get a microchip for a fee from your pet’s veterinarian.

You should register the chip with the manufacturer at least once, but you can also register your chip at Michelson Found Animals Foundation (https://www.foundanimals.org/)  for free.  Just remember to update your information when you move or change phone numbers.

Now is the time, please don’t wait until your pet is lost and wish you had done something; it may be too late.  According to a 2009 study published by the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, a dog has a 52% chance of returning home if microchipped but only a 21% chance of returning home if not.  Cats have a 38% chance of returning home if microchipped; an astonishing 1% chance of returning home if not.

IF YOU FIND A LOST PET please call or text the Wells Branch microchip scanner volunteer at (512) 270-1026 for a free scan, or take the pet to your nearest vet office or shelter.  Some pet supply stores such as Petsmart, Petco and Tomlinson’s also have scanners.

Please also post lost or found pets on the Wells Branch Lost and Found Pets page on Facebook.