Council hopefuls discuss bond, priorities
The famous Budweiser Clydesdales visited Dell Diamond in Round Rock last weekend as part of the horses’ “Hitch Schedule” across the United States. The horses, which hail from their namesake Clydesdale, Scotland, have been making appearances on behalf of the brewery since 1933.
Two incumbents and one newcomer are running for two seats on the Lakeway City Council on May 6. The Lake Travis View asked the candidates about their stances on the proposed Lakeway police station bond proposal and their priorities in running for the council seats.
Bridge Bertram, 54, who has been on the council since 2015, said she is big on the business community. She wants to make sure businesses in Lakeway have the resources to keep their doors open and is in favor of the city’s proposed police station bond.
“I’d encourage everybody to tour our police station to understand the lack of resources we have right now,” said Bertram, a partner/owner of Papa Murphy’s Take ’N Bake Pizza and Texas Wood Pellet Grills. “When an organization lacks resources, morale can suffer.”
Ron Massa, 68, has been on the City Council since 2015 and is in support of the police station bond.
“I looked at it from a cost standpoint,” Massa said. “I went through various aspects of the land and the rest of the costs associated with it ... and I came to the conclusion this is something that’s necessary, and it’s an investment I would make for my community.” Massa, former president of the A.O. Smith Water Products Company, said his council priorities are actively managing growth while keeping Lakeway’s trademark characteristics and keeping a “conservative financial position” in the city’s budget.
Tiffany McMillan, 48, said her priorities are transparency in government, more community input on city projects, finding traffic solutions and getting some amount of a property tax exemption for seniors in Lakeway. McMillan said she stands firmly against the police station bond because she believes the bond will financially hurt “young families” and those on a fixed income.
“It bothers me that projects get put forth without any community input,” said McMillan, an advocate, fundraiser and master grant writer. “By the time people find out, it’s too late to do anything. When our residents show up, they just ignore them. They have no respect — they’re just waiting for them to shut up and go home.”