By Andy Ross
Special Correspondent

It looks like Bastrop County will officially be taking a seat at the table of the Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization.

After years of eyeing the possibility of joining CAMPO – the transportation planning organization that encompasses Travis, Williamson and Hays counties – Bastrop County commissioners on Monday unanimously approved a motion to support membership.

The move comes after the recent decision from CAMPO to offer membership to both Bastrop and Caldwell counties.

Bastrop County Precinct 2 Commissioner Clara Beckett, who has served as an ex-officio member of the CAMPO Transportation Policy Board since last August, told commissioners Monday that she supports joining due to voting powers on the CAMPO board being set in a fair manner.

“It’s my opinion that the membership voted on by the policy board is more than fair as it represents voting powers around the region,” Beckett said. “Travis County showed a commitment to regional transportation.”

According to reports from Beckett, the CAMPO board will include 19 voting members with the addition of Bastrop County. Although Bastrop County only represents 4 percent of the population within CAMPO boundaries, it will have a voting strength representing six percent of the transportation policy board.

CAMPO’s decision to expand its boundaries comes as the planning organization is developing a long-range 2035 plan for transportation projects and recognizing the rapid outward population growth from Austin.

According to Beckett, the decision makes sense considering over 50 percent of working residents in Bastrop County are already commuting into Travis, Williamson or Hays counties for work.

Other commissioners also agreed. “I think this is a step in the right direction for the county and enforces the concept of regionalism,” said Precinct 4 Commissioner Lee Dildy. The final step for Bastrop County’s inclusion to be finalized is approval from the Joint Powers Agreement Committee, which includes the City of Austin, Capital Metro, TxDot and Travis, Williamson and Hays counties. Following the unanimous approval for joining CAMPO, a separate motion was approved to appoint Beckett as Bastrop County’s representative to the CAMPO Transportation Policy Board. County Judge Ronnie McDonald was appointed as the alternate representative. In other action taken Monday:

• A request to the Texas Water Development Board to extend the contract deadline to March 31 for the work currently being performed as part of the Flood Protection Planning Contract between the TWDB and Bastrop County was approved.

• A motion to submit forms and/or support letters to Texas’ Congressional representatives requesting Congress to appropriate funding to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for the continued funding of the Lower Colorado River Basin drainage/flood study was approved.

• A contractual agreement was approved for the Cedar Creek Park to be used for the 21st, 335th and 423rd judicial District Community Supervision and Corrections Department, Community Service Restitution Program. • An interlocal agreement between Bastrop County and LCRA to implement the S u p p l e m e n t a l Environmental Project # 2 0 0 8 – 1 7 9 0 – M W D – E between TCEQ and LCRA was approved. The project involves electronic cleanup efforts.

• A proclamation recognizing International Women’s Day was approved.

• A proclamation supporting a Vietnam Veterans Memorial Education Center was approved.