WBNA Meeting:  Tax Appraisal Protest Info
Presented by Pam Wachholz, REALTOR®

Thursday, April 24 | 7:00-8:30pm
WB MUD Community Center | 2106 Klattenhoff

You’ve Received Your Property Appraisal Notice, Now What?

Learn why it is so important to protest your appraised property value every year – yes, even if you’ve had the Homestead exemption for 20 years! We will talk briefly about the Homestead exemption; the differences between the CAD and the actual taxing entities – and how they affect your property tax bill; talk about the pro’s & con’s of hiring a service and finally, the steps to take if you decide to protest your appraisal!

Don’t miss this jam-packed session that could save you money in the long run, if not this year!

Parking Safety Reminders for School Zones

We’ve recently experienced issues with the areas surrounding Wells Branch Elementary (Town Hill/Merrilltown, Town Hill/Donald and Town Hill/Robert I. Walker) and

Joe Lee Johnson Elementary (Sauls/Crissom, Crissom/Kissman)

Even if there isn’t a sign for it, please use common sense and courtesy when parking close to intersections or crosswalks. Thank you for helping keep our kids safe!

• Do not park within 30 ft of a stop sign.
• Do not park within 20 ft of the designated crosswalks.
• Do not park right up to the edge of an intersection as this prevents emerging traffic from having clear vision and safe entry into the intersection.
• Do not block the driveways of residents even if only for a moment.
• Do not leave cars running unattended.  Park your car.  Turn it off.  Set the brake. Lock it and take the keys with you.

Please remember that everything we ask of you is for the safety of our children and their families.

Avian Flu Awareness
and How You Can Help

On January 8th, the city of Austin shared a press release about the detection of avian flu in our area. As concerns grow about what this means for humans, pets, and wildlife, we’ve put together a few simple guidelines to help keep everyone safe:

• Avoid direct contact with sick or dead animals and their droppings, and please don’t bring sick wild animals into your home.
• Keep your pets away from sick or dead animals and their waste.
• For cat owners:
• Keep your cats indoors.
• Remove shoes before entering the home if you’ve been walking in areas with bird activity. There have been reports of cats getting sick from the avian flu.
• Texas Parks and Wildlife, along with Travis Audubon, recommends taking down bird feeders and bird baths for now. These can encourage birds to gather, potentially spreading the disease. The virus can be passed through the saliva, mucus, and droppings of infected birds.

If you notice sick or dead poultry, please report it to the Texas Animal Health Commission anytime at 1-800-550-8242.

You can also help wildlife in a positive way! Consider planting native plants in your yard. These support local insects, which in turn provide food for birds, especially during migration and breeding season. During spring, when water is plentiful, keep bird baths dry. But when the dry season hits, cleaning your bird bath regularly will help stop the spread of disease.

Also, if you’re interested in purchasing native plants for your yard, be sure to visit the Native Plant Sale at the Pioneer Festival on Saturday, April 26 from noon to 5:00pm!

Thank you for helping protect our birds and the environment!

Jill Douglass | Wells Branch Wild Conservancy
wellsbranchwild.org | 512-293-9022