LAKEWAY BACKS POLICE STATION, CITY COUNCIL INCUMBENTS

Lakeway’s proposed $23 million police station bond eked by with 50.19 percent of the vote and City Council members Ron Massa and Bridge Bertram kept their seats in the city election held Saturday.

The razor-thin victory for the police station bond — it passed by eight votes out of 2,116 ballots cast — will allow the plans for a new Lakeway police station to start moving forward. The $23 million bond will bump up the average Lakeway property owner’s property taxes by $10.27 per month, by the city’s estimate, though details will become more clear once the bond sells.

“We’re very excited about the results and looking forward to the next step,” Lakeway Police Chief Todd Radford said after the final vote count was posted Saturday night. “I want to thank all those who went out and voted today and engaged in the democratic process. I’m excited we came out on top and we can move on with this much needed facility.”

The city pressed the bond and the proposed 31,000-square-foot facility to voters in a series of town hall meetings, using photos to emphasize the crowded conditions in the current police station. Even so, some residents questioned whether the city needed to spend $23 million for a new station, and City Council challenger Tiffany McMillan came out against the bond.

Both McMillan and “no” votes on the bond saw late Election Day surges. McMillan snagged 38.31 percent of the May 6 vote to Bertram’s 31.69 percent and Massa’s 30 percent (the top two finishers would win seats). Votes against the bond hit 55 percent on Election Day. But it wasn’t enough to put McMillan over the top, or to stop the station from being built.

All told, Bertram garnered the highest number of votes at 1,145, or 34.86 percent of the total vote. Massa won 34.52 percent of the vote with 1,134 votes, and McMillan got 1,006 votes, or 30.62 percent of the vote.

Council members serve three-year terms.

Bertram said she will continue to endeavor to help economic development in Lakeway.

“I’m very grateful,” Bertram said. “I wasn’t exactly sure how things were going to turn out, but I’m very pleased to continue serving my community.”

Massa said he was “honored” by the victory.

“We need to actively manage growth,” Massa said of his priorities for his next term. “We are growing, so we want the growth that fits the community and provides the services that people want and meets our values. That’s always been a top priority — making sure the city is fiscally responsible.”

Voters also re-authorized the city’s one-quarter percent sales tax supporting road maintenance by 76.34 percent.