Here are three government stories affecting the Lake Travis-Westlake area.
1. Bee Cave announces new dispatch provider for area emergency services
After two decades of partnership, an agreement has been approved for the city of Bee Cave to transition police dispatch services from the city of Lakeway to the city of Marble Falls, as stated in a news release.
The city of Bee Cave’s police dispatch costs have doubled in the last seven years with an increase from $285,000 in fiscal year 2018-19 to almost $570,000 in FY 2025-26, according to the news release.
The city of Bee Cave reviewed call volume data, operational capacity and long-term cost controls for six months before the Bee Cave City Council approved an agreement with Marble Falls, which will provide equivalent dispatch services at an annual cost of approximately $330,000.
The new agreement will go live Oct. 1.
2. Local cities call mayor, council seat elections for May 2
Three local cities will have seats on the ballot in the upcoming May 2 election.
For the city of Bee Cave, the positions include the mayor and two council members, which are currently held by Kara King, Kit Crumbley and Andrea Willott, respectively.
In West Lake Hills, the seats up include mayor, Place 2 and Place 4. These seats are held by James Vaughan, Brian Plunkett and Darin Walker, respectively.
There are three council seats up for election in Lakeway, which are currently held by council members Kelly Brynteson, Matt Sherman and Jennifer Szimanski.
The election is set for May 2, with a voter registration deadline of April 2.
3. $29M grant brings high-speed rural internet access
The Texas Broadband Development Office awarded the Lower Colorado River Authority a $29 million grant that will expand high-speed internet access and improve flood-monitoring infrastructure throughout Central Texas.
Acting Texas Comptroller Kelly Hancock announced the award Jan. 20.
“This is exactly what smart infrastructure investment looks like,” Hancock said in a news release. “The July 4, 2025, floods were a sobering reminder that real-time data and reliable communications save lives.”