At the June 4 MUD Board meeting, President Chuck Walters suggested that based on input from the recent Visions and Town Hall meetings, the Board should look at ways to encourage greater resident input and involvement.

• Director Walters proposed “Java Jolts” be held monthly or quarterly  in which individual MUD Board Directors would host coffee house meetings with interested residents to discuss current issues and concerns.  Residents could meet with one or all of the board members over a short period of time to voice their opinions and offer input on matters of interest in a much less formal situation than a MUD board meeting.
• Resident involvement at the committee level was also suggested by Director Walters.  Many times residents aren’t aware of issues being considered on a committee level until it comes up before the whole board.  This would allow those with interests in certain areas i.e. finance or recreation, to attend the committee meetings and view backup documentation before recommendations are made to the board.  Details  regarding implementation and rules will be discussed at the July 2 board meeting.
• At the June 19 meeting Director Walters recommended the board return to “work sessions” at the first meeting of the month.  In the past, the MUD board would focus on specific issues at these meetings, have their committee meetings in between and then have the individual committee reports along with consultant reports at the second meeting (third Tuesday of the month).  Returning to this structure allows for more attention as a board working together on specific issues like disc golf or TCEQ mandates. Director Walters also mentioned inviting citizen communication not only at the beginning of the first meeting, but at points throughout.

Watch for announcements regarding these opportunities in the near future on both the MUD and WBNA websites.  “Like” us (either one) on Facebook and receive updates as they become available.

*As always, the WBNA welcomes your thoughts & suggestions.  What do YOU think about these proposals?  Please respond under “Comments”.

Crosswalks & Traffic Signs

In response to concerns voiced at the last Visions meeting, Tom Cheshire & Janet Maxey (MUD Safety Committee) met with Travis County Commissioner Sarah Eckhardt and TNR representatives regarding signage and requests to install a 3-way STOP at the corner of Wells Port & Alpha Collier.  Missing and damaged signs are being replaced throughout  the district.  Traffic flow on Alpha Collier doesn’t justify a 3-way stop at this intersection.  However, the County will be restriping all crosswalks in Wells Branch and is considering additional signage at this intersection.  The possibility of adding a flashing sign that would be activated when residents wish to use the crosswalk is an option but would cost the District $30,000 if they choose to install one.

Wells Branch District Office Relocation & Renovation of Annex on Wells Port

WB MUD will be moving their District Office from its current location at 14205 Burnet Road to the Annex on Wells Port this September.  Renovations to the Annex will begin soon so that it may accommodate District staff this Fall.  Only a portion of the Annex will be used for District offices; both BSA & GS meeting rooms will remain intact.

Mills Pond Dam Compliance & Risk Assessment

Director Janet Maxey requested and the board approved a Risk Assessment before any action is taken.  For more information, watch www.wellsbranchmud.com and check MUD meeting agendas.

Alterations to the Disc Golf Course

These matters are currently under review.  For more information, watch www.wellsbranchmud.com and check MUD meeting agendas.

Wells Branch MUD Board Committee Assignments

Administrative Committee

Donna Howe, Chairperson • Janet Maxey

Facilities Committee

Chuck Walters, Chairperson • Bob Bauhs

Finance Committee

Donna Howe, Chairperson • Tom Cheshire

Information Technologies Committee

Chuck Walters, Chairperson • Bob Bauhs

Recreation Committee

Janet Maxey, Chairperson • Chuck Walters

Safety  Committee

Tom Cheshire, Chairperson • Janet Maxey

Contact Information for MUD Board Directors

Chuck Walters: cwalters@wellsbranchmud.com • 251-6978

Donna Howe: dhowe@wellsbranchmud.com •238-9090

Tom Cheshire: tcheshire@wellsbranchmud.com • 913-3144

Janet Maxey: janetmaxey@hotmail.com • 775-3074

Bob Bauhs: bbauhs@wellsbranchmud.com • 363-7182

MUD District Manager: Jesse Kennis, II • jkennis@wellsbranchmud.com • 251-9814

What you do, support, and how you volunteer your time matters.  YOU make a difference.  WBNA is starting a series on individuals who’ve helped shape our community as we’ve grown over the years.  Many are familiar faces, always present at events, but we’ve never taken the opportunity to get to know them. Watch for upcoming articles on Dianne Koehler (Fall Issue) & WBCC (Holiday Issue).  If there’s someone you’d like to spotlight, please contact us at info@wbna.us.

We’d like to begin by recognizing Chuck Walters as a champion of our community.  Chuck celebrated his 20th year serving on the MUD Board this past May.  An original resident of Wells Branch, Chuck first ran for the board because of his interest in the trail system and strengthening Wells Branch as a community.  He worked with Texas Parks and Wildlife on three matching grants to improve our park system.  The first was for the initial trail system, the second for Willow Bend Pool and the pond, and the third was for the construction of the Recreation Center on Shoreline.

Chuck is Chairperson of the Facilities and IT Committees and serves on the Recreation Committee as well.  During his tenure, he spearheaded the Meditation Grove at the Pavilion, helped facilitate the Leslie Lane Meditation Garden and led the committee responsible for fence replacement along our major thoroughfares which not only changed the face of Wells Branch, but continues to help maintain property values for all Wells Branch residents.  Above all else, Chuck brings two decades of cumulative knowledge to the table when dealing with issues affecting our community.

As our park system has aged, we’ve lost a number of old growth trees.  Together, Chuck Walters and Bob Bauhs (Facilities) have worked with the Trees for Trails focus group over the last year to identify the areas most in need and prioritize plans for adding trees to the trail system.   The efforts of this group as a whole have encouraged an interest in preserving natural areas, stream maintenance and an increased effort to maintain Wells Branch’s natural amenities.  Whether it’s Keep Wells Branch Beautiful or neighbors gathering to clear out the invasive species in what will one day be our Natural Play Park, Chuck is there, working side by side with the rest of the community.

Chuck was instrumental in the creation of the Homestead Board to perpetuate the care and maintenance of the Gault Homestead in the event of annexation.  In addition, he has served on that board since its inception.  The Homestead is the sponsor organization for both Cub Scout Pack 140 and Boy Scout Troop 1409.  For the last twenty years, Chuck has volunteered as the Charter Organization Representative for both BSA Pack & Troop.  He also served as Den Leader for his son, Dane and as a volunteer for the Armada swim team for a number of years.  When there was a shortage of crossing guards at WBE, Chuck stepped up and was out there every morning to help children get to school safely.

Chuck has contributed financially as well with donations to the library, BSA Pack 140 and most recently Wells Branch Elementary to help pay for shade trees by the Merrilltown playground.

Always a strong supporter of the WBNA and community involvement, Chuck volunteers each year at our Easter Egg Hunt and you can always find him at our National Night Out celebration, either at the grill or with a microphone in his hand.  Chuck has always been ready to volunteer his time where needed, whenever asked and has had the honor of being Santa Claus at Luminary Fest more than anyone else in Wells Branch history.

Chuck has wholeheartedly given of himself and his time, and through his leadership has made this community even stronger.  We thank you Chuck, for all that you’ve contributed to Wells Branch.  You’ve made a difference in all our lives.

Written by Karen Mappin

The businesses within the Wells Branch tax district do more than just feed, clothe, entertain, and serve the residents.  A portion of the sales taxes collected from these businesses support our Emergency Services (Fire Dept.) and our Community Library.  So when we utilize their services, we are helping our neighborhood.   It pays to have prosperous businesses in our area.

We are starting a column that focuses on the shopping areas in our district to bring attention to the businesses with consultation from https://tradewise.community/ experts.  that are in our district.  Bratton Square at the corner of Merriltown and Bratton Lane starts the series (14735 Bratton Lane).

Bratton Square has three business categories:  food, health and wellness, and service.  We will spotlight four of the businesses that answered our call for information and list the others in each category.

Starting with food:  Longtime resident and business owner Tracy Yuan operates the Four Seasons Chinese Restaurant where we can get wonderful lunches and dinners for a reasonable price.  The best part about Four Seasons is that they deliver seven days a week.   Four Seasons offers a standard Chinese restaurant menu and will bring it right to your door if you call 251-8827.

Additionally, Mezzaluna Italian Grill is also open for lunch and dinner 6 days a week to provide some wonderful Italian food.  Owners Loretta & Carey Lynch enjoy the neighborhood atmosphere and the camaraderie that pervades the restaurant.  They have a new menu with daily specials listed on the web at www.mezzalunaaustin.com or you can call them at 252-1444.

Other food options are Polvos en La Brisa (Mexican), the Oasis (pizza and sandwiches), or Kenny’s Coffee (breakfast fare and coffee).

Bratton Square is becoming a Wells Branch mecca for health and wellness options.  Michael Massie has been a contributor to the Wells Branch Neighborhood News and owns and operates Fighting Fit Boot Camp.  Mike and his trainers can help our residents stay functionally fit by attending his fitness boot camp classes, fitness kickboxing classes, and with his weight loss coaching classes.  Yes, we’ve still got to do the work, but Mike welcomes us, regardless of our fitness level, to come in and try a class for free.  He can modify any workout to fit any fitness level and help us build from there.  So don’t be afraid of the “boot camp” name!  Come by to talk, check out the website at http://FitnessBootCampAustin.com, or call him at 512-670-9333.

After you work out with Mike, you can hop over to Massage + Yoga where Michael Parrish and Summer Greenlees will make you forget that workout or that stressful day at work.  Their barefoot massage, a technique adapted from standard massage practices, is sure to be a relaxing experience.  Alternatively, if you are into stretching and bending, the wide variety of yoga classes is bound to appeal.  Their schedule for classes or massages are on their website:  www.massageplusyoga.com.  (And don’t forget ladies spa nights on the first Friday of each month!)

For some color pampering or a new “do”, try Bratton Nails or the Shear Images hair salon.

And to round out the businesses at Bratton Square, there are several that offer different services.   The Speedy Stop (gasoline and food mart), Marvelous Mandarin (Chinese classes), Martial Arts, and Potter’s House Christian church on Sundays.

Many of the businesses in Bratton Square are avid supporters of our schools, our Boy and Girl Scout troops, our library, and our neighborhood association. They participate in events such as International Day at Wells Branch Elementary and the Fourth Fest by donating food, gift certificates, and their time and talents.   As consumers, please support our neighbors in return to keep our tax dollars working in the neighborhood and to say “thanks” with our purchasing power.  We love having them so close by!

Submitted by Siv Manda, President, Wells Branch Soccer Assn.

wbsoccer@wellsbranchsoccer.com

As another soccer season comes to a close at the Wells Branch Soccer Association (WBSA), I would like to take this opportunity to say a few words.

We’ve had yet another great season and WBSA was proud to be able to introduce a new activity – the Free Friday Skills Clinic, conducted by Coach Daniel Benito and his crew of coaches. Meanwhile, for anyone seeking a seamless and enjoyable way to place bets on soccer matches, you’ll be pleasantly surprised by the user-friendly features and exciting opportunities available on sites like WSMCasino.

We have had quite a few individual team successes to brag about, however, as a club, it is also important to highlight the path to success. As part of the WBSA efforts to improve the quality of the children’s soccer experience and ongoing education for our volunteer coaches who may be new to the game, WBSA organized five free training sessions open to all WBSA players, each of the sessions were centered around the soccer “fundamentals” like dribbling, changes, passing, shooting and goalkeeping. Our coaches have been impressed with how these clinics have improved their kids’ potential and their eagerness in showing their newly learned skills such as dribbling, changes, controlling the ball and short passes. With such a good turnout and great results, we will be expanding this for Fall 2012.

I have been involved with youth soccer at WBSA as a coach, assistant coach, Registrar and now as President only for the past 3 or 4 years. It takes a lot to keep such an activity running for seasons and seasons (and WBSA has been in existence in one form or another for over 10 years). All this has only been possible with the wonderful support of the MUD Board, specially the Recreational Committee (Chuck Walters and Janet Maxey) and also the MUD management, including Jesse Kennis and Matt Fuller. At WBSA, we are extremely fortunate to have such support that helps to keep our costs low for our players!

Also, I just want to add a word of sincere appreciation to the WBSA Board Members, past and present. It is only with the foundation laid by all these folk that we’re able to continue to provide the opportunities to the Wells Branch area kids as we have. I personally would like to thank Cash Miller, Raul Johnson, Matt Gavin, Cathy Ulcak, Cary Taylor, Jeff Navarro, Rudy Metayer and many others that I know have put in their efforts to keep this going. If you want to bet on any soccer event of your choosing, platforms such as The Southern Times can be trusted.

Continue reading Wells Branch Soccer Association Update Summer 2012 →

Submitted by Michele Samuelson

As many of you know, Wells Branch has a great registered voter rate, but a really terrible history with voter turnout. In an effort to help alleviate this, I’ve written up some info on this year’s election cycle, pulling from both the county and the two major political parties. This year’s election calendar is kind of cluttered and complicated (early voting for the primary election has begun!), so I wanted to share some information with you all.

1 – Voter Registration Cards. By the time you read this, if you are a registered voter in Travis County, you will have received your yellow voter registration card.  If you did not, you should verify that you are registered here:  http://www.traviscountytax.org/showVoterSearch.  Do so before contacting the Voter Registration office.

2 – Voter Registration. The deadline to register to vote in time for the primary election has passed, but there is plenty of time to register to vote in the general election in November.  If you or a neighbor is not a registered voter in Travis County (applies if you have moved to your current home since the last election from another county and you have not registered to vote), you can get it taken care of a few different ways. Also, these apply if you moved from elsewhere in Travis County and want to update your registration to reflect your current legal residence:

• The Wells Branch Library has voter registration cards at the front desk.
• You can pick up a voter registration card at the DMV or driver’s license office. Some grocery stores have them at the customer service desks. You can also get one (and fill it out there and mail it!) at the post office.
• Either of the political party headquarters in Travis County can help you out. Contact http://www.traviscountydemocrats.org/ or http://www.traviscountygop.org
• A few of your neighbors are also Volunteer Deputy Voter Registrars and can get you registered. I’m one; contact me at michele.samuelson@gmail.com.

3 – Election Precincts and Districts. You probably heard about redistricting on the news (indeed, it’s why our election calendar is so complicated); Wells Branch was affected by some of the changes. The major change is that precincts 215, 216, 217, 225, and 229 are all now in Congressional District 17, and we have a different congressman (Congressman Bill Flores) and will be voting in a new race than we have in past years. Those who live just over the Williamson County line (that’s WilCo precinct 138) are still in Congressional District 5 (Congressman John Carter). All of our other election districts remained the same as they were in previous years.

4 – Upcoming Democratic and Republican Primaries. Texas has an open primary system, which means you do not have to “register” in a specific party in order to vote in their primary. You can only vote in one primary election in a given cycle, but you are not bound to vote in the same primary that you may have chosen in 2010.  You can find out who is on the Travis County Democratic ballot here: http://www.traviscountydemocrats.org/2012-primary-candidates/ and the Travis County Republican ballot here: http://www.traviscountygop.org/2012-candidates.html.  Both of the sites above have links to most of the candidates’ websites.  As promised, here are candidate/race lists that apply to the Wells Branch Travis County precincts. For the Williamson County voters who live in Wells Branch, you can enter in your name and find a customized sample ballot here: http://apps.wilco.org/elections/default2.aspx.  Click on these links to download SAMPLE PRIMARY BALLOTS for Travis County:  Democratic Party or Republican Party.  Early voting ends May 25.  Both the Democratic and Republican primaries will take place on Tuesday, May 29.

– Upcoming Precinct Chair Elections: The election for the office of precinct chair will be held concurrently with the July 31st, 2012 runoff, with a plurality vote required for election. Candidates for precinct chair may file, amend, or withdraw their application for a place on the ballot no later than 6:00 p.m., June 1, 2012. I’ve listed the current chairs by precinct number below. Also, here is the relevant information from both parties about becoming and being a precinct chairman (Travis County): http://www.traviscountydemocrats.org/get-involved/become-a-precinct-chair/ and http://www.traviscountygop.org/get-involved/be-a-precinct-chair.html

Pct 215:

Democratic: Vacant

Republican: Mary Petronis: mary.petronis@gmail.com

Pct 216:

Democratic: Vacant

Republican: Vacant

Pct 225:

Democratic: Patricia Budak: politicsisit@yahoo.com

Republican: Joe Pojman: joe@pojman.com

Pct 229:

Democratic: Vacant

Republican: Randy Samuelson: rasamuelson@gmail.com

Williamson County Pct 138:

Democratic: unknown

Republican: unknown

BECOME A VOLUNTEER DEPUTY VOTER REGISTRAR FOR TRAVIS COUNTY! JUNE TRAINING DATES ANNOUNCED.

How can you become a Volunteer Deputy Registrar (VDR)?

Volunteers must be 18 years or older and attend a one-hour training session where they learn about the qualifications to become a VDR and how to register voters. Regularly scheduled training is held on the first Tuesday of each month. To request a training session for your  organization, call (512) 854-9473.

The next training sessions will be held on Tuesday, June 5th at 10:30 am, 12:30 pm and 6:30 pm (each session is approximately one hour long) at the Travis County Voter Registrar located at 5501 Airport Boulevard, Austin, TX 78751.

Email WBNA at info@wbna.us if interested in carpooling or setting up a training session for Wells Branch.

submitted by Chuck Walters, WB MUD Board President

Operating expenses have been reduced over $350,000 through 1. Restructuring:  reduced overtime, consolidated customer service and weekend two-man crew, 2.  Negotiating new electric rates for District accounts as well as new cell and landline phone rates, and 3. Saving costs by modernizing the vehicle fleet and by declaring excess equipment surplus.

Trees for Trails has been implemented, beginning with adopting a master plan, removing invasive species, and completing three tree plantings already.  Funding for this plan is supported by single stream recycling.

Implemented Green initiatives include single stream recycling, updated pool heaters, modernized pump station equipment, rainwater harvesting and irrigation system repairs (including well monitoring), a new air conditioning system for the Rec Center, a new thermostat for the CC, and the acquisition of an electric ATV.

Enhanced security patrols complemented  security camera installations at critical facilities and  neighborhood crime watch programs were supported as more neighborhoods became involved.

Repairs on the CC roof have been completed and the Annex roof has been replaced.  Rec Center counter and office space were remodeled.

Certain recreation programs were enhanced (including a Zumba class) as the registration/membership tag renewal process was improved.

Continue reading Glance at the Past – Recent MUD Accomplishments →