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Liberty Hill streetscape nears finish; pole relocations and storefront protections remain unresolved
Summary
City staff said Phase 1 of the downtown streetscape is nearly complete — trees have been planted and benches are on order — but relocation of utility poles will require coordination with PEC and AT&T, may cost roughly $237,000–$248,000, and has the potential to affect new sidewalks and business storefronts; a downtown property owner urged preservation of a stamped sidewalk and repair of a damaged brick arch.
Phase 1 of Liberty Hill’s downtown streetscape is nearly finished, city staff told the Downtown Revitalization Committee on June 24, but utility pole relocations and storefront protections still require coordinated work and time.
James, a city staff member overseeing the work, said the wayfinding signs along Highway 29 and Main Street have been installed but some were placed incorrectly and the city’s street department will correct them. He described progress on the downtown streetscape: "The tree started going in today. They'll continue. Should be completed tomorrow with the trees," and said shrubbery and benches are expected to be placed once contractors and staff confirm siting.
The committee heard a detailed update on pole relocation. James described coordination with Pedernales Electric Cooperative (PEC) and AT&T and warned that the work cannot proceed until both utilities complete their parts. He said PEC’s relocation estimates came down slightly during negotiations from roughly $248,000 to about $237,000 and that AT&T had suggested a timeline "anywhere from 2 months to 6 months" for removing its lines, making the overall schedule contingent on AT&T’s availability. "Nothing's gonna be underground," James said, adding that continued overhead poles were chosen because undergrounding would be cost-prohibitive.
DRC members pressed staff on site protection and impacts to parking and accessibility behind buildings; staff said they would supply location plans and work with public safety on traffic plans if street closures are needed and would include tree protection and site-protection measures around new infrastructure.
A downtown property owner, Lisa McKinnon, said she and her husband own 918 Main Street and asked that a stamped lumber-yard imprint in the sidewalk be preserved and that planters and an architectural brick base damaged during earlier sidewalk work be addressed. James responded that "the stamp that's in the ground there... is going to stay," and that the city will inspect the brick base and coordinate repair options; he told McKinnon the city would work with contractors or its insurance if construction caused damage.
Staff noted that later streetscape phases (phase 2 and phase 3) will proceed as funding is secured; McKinnon’s property was identified as part of phase 3, which is pending grant funding or other allocation.
What’s next: staff will share pole-location plans and timeline estimates with the DRC, continue coordination with PEC and AT&T, and communicate timing for bench installation and final plantings; construction impacts and any needed repairs will be assessed and addressed after site inspection.
