By Eleni Himaras
reporter@ltview.com
The City of Lakeway has proposed a compromise that would leave the MUD intact, but would add two positions to their board of directors, to be appointed by the city.

“Citizens and MUD board directors have sought out the city to ask questions about many of the actions of the MUD board,” Mayor Steve Swan said. “Those issues are around government, transparency and representation.”
Swan said the city’s desire to understand those issues is why they got involved, not because of a desire to acquire land or assets. He said that if the MUD were to approve this compromise, they would not pursue the previously filed bill that would allow them to annex the MUD after a study.
“The reason hinges around representation. For many years, out of district water only customers, who represent 25 percent of the MUD’s customers, have no representation on the MUD board,” Swan said.
The new, local bill would expand the board to seven positions allowing the city to appoint two, one to represent out of district customers and one to represent the general population of Lakeway.
Councilman Alan Tye used the recent start of construction of the water storage tank on Lohman’s Crossing as an example. He pointed out that the tank affects not only the MUD taxpayers but its out of district customers and the citizens of Lakeway who will be driving by it each day.
“Us is them. Somehow they think they are completely separate from the city they serve,” Tye said.
Swan said the two new positions would have to be appointed because state law precludes the in-district customers from voting on an out of district representatives.
The local bill would also clear up confusion on the boundaries of the MUD, pulling the disputed boundary back from across the lake where it delves into Point Venture, according to the TCEQ. It would also pull back the boundary from where it overlaps with the Hurst Creek MUD. It would not however, change the boundary of the MUD that pushes into the Hills ETJ because there are currently customers being served there.
“If we don’t accomplish anything else out of this, I hope the citizens will come away with a better understanding of the issues and take more of an interest in the MUD,” Swan said.
MUD Officials met with Texas Sen. Kirk Watson Tuesday afternoon to discuss the compromise but as of press time Tuesday evening, had not released an opinion on it.
“We’re going to study it,” LMUD Board President Tom Rogers said. “It’s something I’ve got to get all our people together on. When I say our people, we will probably have a meeting Thursday afternoon with our consultants.”
He went on to say that the topic would be discussed at the next regularly scheduled board meeting on April 8.
Even though the deadline to file legislation has passed, Watson may still file this bill because of it is local. Since it is past deadline, the city must put up a public notice for 30 days before Watson may file it.