A Conversation with Bill Petty about Growth Congestion & Safety in Williamson County
Today, our Grassroots Spotlight features Bill Petty, County Commissioner of District 10 who is seeking reelection. The primary for this election is coming up in just a few months.
In a recent conversation, Bill discusses some of the most pressing challenges facing Williamson County residents.
Q: You’ve raised alarms about emergency response times in unincorporated parts of the county. What’s happening?
All of our fire and rescue service in the unincorporated part of the county is volunteer. In some cases, it has taken over 20 minutes for a fire truck to get to a fire, while the national standard is nine minutes or less.
We’re likely going to have to transition to paid staff because we’re having a very difficult time keeping volunteer firefighters. It won't be cheap—we’ll have to build new firehouses and hire 24/7—but public safety is the number one priority.
We have a very dedicated group of volunteer firefighters who put themselves at risk to protect our community. I greatly appreciate all they do for us. The reality is that if a volunteer is at work or home, it takes them time to even get to the station, not to mention the time it takes to get a firetruck to the fire from the station. As our county grows, we need better planning and more resources because in an emergency every second counts.
Q: Why is "hyper-growth" making the safety situation worse for residents?
I am aware of cases where a patrol car couldn't get through an intersection because it was gridlocked. Williamson County had 81,000 people in 1990. Now we’re close to 300,000.
Look at the Armistead project, with 832 homes and a motel, and we still have a two-way bridge on Highway 96. Or Mayes Creek and the Harlin project where residents are objecting because they didn't sign up for that density. I’m not anti-growth, but I am pro-lifestyle. Traffic is a huge issue, and I want to stop it from getting worse.
Q: What is the specific solution you are proposing to manage this expansion?
I think taxpayers in Williamson County deserve to know the kind of impact this is going to have on county infrastructure.
If you want to develop, you must provide an impact statement up front: What will this do to the fire department? The police? The schools? Etc?
If it’s going to overwhelm the neighborhood, you have to come up with a better solution. I’m trying to give the tax payers a say in whether an area gets annexed. If it doesn't meet our impact standards, we should be able to say no.
Q: How does the county’s current debt affect these safety and growth plans?
We have to be real about what we can afford. We have about $1.2 billion in debt because we built over half of our schools in a 35-year period using bonds.
We’re trying to recapture real estate transfer fees now. We give the state $28 million a year in fees and now we’re trying to get half of that back. That would be $14 million to start looking at the county as a corporation and charging for extra things so departments like Parks can come closer to paying for themselves.
Q: You’ve also pushed for more transparency in how these decisions are made. Why?
I co-sponsored a resolution, which is now official policy, to make sure every committee meeting is recorded from now on. We never recorded all of them before, only budget and planning. Without a record, you don't know what people said and there is no proof. Now we have it.
We are also asking the General Assembly to change the rules on hospital sale funds. That money is currently locked in a trust for medical services only, but the county owns it. I think we the people should have the flexibility to use that money where our debt is highest.
Q: Outside of the commission, how does your time volunteering connect to your work?
It’s about being involved in the community and helps me keep my finger on the pulse of our community and aware of the needs of my constituents.
My wife and I go to GraceWorks every Tuesday morning. I work in the pantry, unload trucks, and do construction work for them. It benefits anyone in our county struggling with food, rent, or utilities. I’m also an instructor for Guitars for Vets which is a program that helps veterans suffering from PDST.
Q: How can Williamson County residents help?
In my first year in office, I received exactly one personal email from my whole district. People often don't know what district they’re in or that we are the ones who set the tax rate and approve the budgets.
"Inadequate information" is our biggest hurdle. Getting factual about these things is not always easy, but it’s the only way to protect our lifestyle.
If you agree with me, please go to my website VoteBillPetty to learn more about how you can help my campaign.
The primary election this spring will be one of the most influential elections in years.
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