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Residents urge Williamson County to reconsider proposed justice complex and jail site near schools
Summary
Residents from Carlson Place, Saddle Creek and surrounding neighborhoods told the County Commissioners on May 12 they oppose a planned justice complex and jail site they say is too close to schools and homes, and asked the court to pause financing votes, provide clearer public notice and consider alternative county-owned land.
Dozens of residents told the Williamson County Commissioners Court on May 12 they oppose the county’s planned justice complex and jail site near multiple elementary and middle schools and urged commissioners to pause financing and reconsider the location.
"I live in Carlson Place in Williamson County and live within a third of a mile of the proposed jail site for a 3,000 bed jail that has been purchased," said Courtney Cross, who identified herself at the meeting and said she signed up to speak on items 42, 44 and 45. "The land has been purchased without any feedback from the neighborhoods, any feedback from parents, from schools that are close by."
Residents repeatedly raised three connected lines of objection: safety for children, lack of earlier public notice, and the county’s fiscal decisions. James Hedrick, another Carlson Place resident, said the March 24 agenda contained a vote described as "assignment of commercial contract unimproved property, No price," but he told the court that the county later paid about $75,800,000 for 253 acres and that the agenda title gave no indication the purchase was for a jail. Hedrick said a May 6 letter to the county judge raised a possible Texas Open Meetings Act violation over how the purchase was presented to the public.
Several speakers also warned the courthouse plan could shift released inmates through nearby neighborhoods during magistration and release hours. "This overlap between inmates and school-aged children is not hypothetical," Abigail Brock said, citing nearby Mitchell Elementary, Wagner Middle School and other child-serving facilities.
Others pressed the court on process and timing. Matthew Grow urged commissioners to "pump the brakes" on authorizing $135,000,000 in reimbursement certificates while legal challenges to the land purchase remain pending. Multiple speakers asked for public information sessions held in the evenings to allow more residents to participate.
Not all speakers opposed the project: John Gomez, a resident who said he moved to Williamson County to be near well-funded law enforcement, told the court the county needs a strong justice system and that county jails historically sit in the county seat. But overall public sentiment in the morning’s comment period favored postponing final financing or taking more public input.
The court did not vote on the site during the morning session; the judge announced that items 44 and 45 were being pulled from today’s consideration and would be rescheduled (the meeting recessed to executive session and returned at 1:03 p.m.).
What happens next: commissioners instructed staff to continue interim planning for moves into the new Administration Building this summer and to prepare more detailed interim space plans for court-related offices; items tied to final financing were deferred for further consideration.
Votes and formal actions from May 12 referenced in public comment: - The judge announced items 44 and 45 were pulled from consideration that day and would be taken up later.
Ending: Residents said they plan to continue organizing at the city zoning stage and at upcoming court meetings if the county proceeds with the purchase and financing. The court proceeded to its regular agenda and presentations after the public-comment period.
