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LTISD settles eminent-domain dispute for Hamilton Pool Road easement; district holds Bee Creek Road site purchased during prior bond work
Summary
The Lake Travis ISD board approved a $105,000 settlement to acquire utility easements needed for the Hamilton Pool Road elementary site after earlier negotiations and an appraisal. Trustees also reviewed bond and capital-project spending, including prior expenditures on a Bee Creek Road site the district continues to own.
The Lake Travis Independent School District board approved a resolution on June 9 authorizing a settlement and purchase of a real-property interest required for a future elementary site on Hamilton Pool Road.
District counsel and staff told trustees the board had previously authorized pursuing eminent domain after negotiations with the landowner failed. The parties later reached a negotiated settlement for $105,000 to acquire permanent utility easements, staff said; the board voted to authorize the settlement and purchase.
Pam (district finance staff) told the board the district’s appraisal of the property had valued the acquisition at approximately $55,220, but the owner’s counter-offers and perceived damages to the remainder of the commercial parcel pushed the parties to a higher negotiated price. "We did not settle on their price… we came to this final resolution of $105,000," Pam said. The parties concluded the settlement without exercising a formal condemnation judgment; staff characterized the agreement as a negotiated compromise reached after eminent-domain filing and continued negotiation.
Trustees also reviewed the district’s capital-project financial statements. Pam reported that the district had spent about $7.5 million on the previously planned Bee Creek Road elementary site (identified in the 2018 bond work) for property acquisition and preparatory design work; the district still owns that property but is not actively building there because alternative school-site needs shifted. Trustees noted the property remains an asset the district can hold for future growth.
Board staff described ongoing work on 2023 bond projects and the start of Lake Travis High School renovations; officials said LTMS wastewater expansion is online and awaiting final sign-off from LCRA to close out payments. Financial staff said a budget amendment will be brought to the board at next month's meeting to adjust revenue and interest estimates and reflect tax-collection timing.
The board voted to authorize the settlement and acquisition of the easement interest to secure rights needed for future site infrastructure. Staff said the district would continue to evaluate the owned Bee Creek Road parcel for future needs and that any decision to sell would be brought to the board.
