The deadline for filing to run in one of the three spots up for grabs on the city council has expired and only one contested race will be up to the voters this May. Four-term city councilman Larry Espinoza will defend his spot against restaurant owner Troy Streuer for the Place 5 seat.

“I care about Smithville,” Espinoza said in February. “I’ve been here for 48 years. I am the voice of the working people.”

Streuer, owner of Pocket’s Grille, says he felt like it was a good time to run for office. “Smithville is moving in a good direction and I want to be part of that,” he said.

Early voting begins on April 26 and runs until May 4. Voting hours are from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. with the exception of April 30 and May 4, when the hours will be 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

In other business, Bastrop County Judge Ronnie McDonald visited the council to introduce a draft of the final plan of the Bastrop County Comprehensive Transportation Plan.

The document incorporates plans developed by the cities of Bastrop, Elgin and Smithville and takes into consideration existing plans from school districts, TxDOT, utility companies and emergency services. The plan also coordinates with regional planning from the Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization (CAMPO).

The plan received significant public input during its research phase, a result that pleased county officials and regional and state planners.

Public response indicated that half of the residents of Bastrop County work in Travis and Williamson counties, which explained why responders were keen on improvements to roads and highways throughout the county.

“Our population is expected to double in the next 10 years,” McDonald said. “People want Bastrop County to stay a beautiful, liveable community.”

The plan outlines road projects that are deemed as the most important for the future of the county.

“Now we have a document that tells where we want to go,” McDonald said. “It’s a vision of the community, from government to cities to schools.”

Because the plan outlines priorities for the area, it’s a valuable tool for county commissioners and local governments who plan for the future of the county, McDonald said.

The draft plan will be open for public comments from March 8 through April 19. The project team will continue to update city councils in the county about the plan and a public hearing on adopting the plan will be held at the county courthouse on April 7 from 4-7 p.m.

The council also made donation to the Smithville Community Gardens organization by offering them two plots of land that have been on the tax roles since 2005 and have remained unsold. The land will be exempt from property taxes henceforth.

Municipal court judge Ronald Jones said the donation fits his vision for a community and health corridor along Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd.

“On one end of MLK we will have the community gardens, a permanent home for the food pantry and a shelter for the farmers market,” Jones said. “On the other end of MLK we have the community health clinic.”

Jones said it would be good to see activity on that side of town.

“I have a feeling it will grow,” he said.

In other business the council:

• Approved the reinstatement of a curfew for minors under the age of 17 with changes to the hours. Curfew is set from 11 p.m. on any  Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday until 5 a.m. the following day. Also from 12:01 a.m. until 5 a.m. on any Friday or Saturday and 2 a.m. until 5 a.m. on any Sunday.

• Denied the proposed name change for North Street to Webster Street or Webster-Powell Street.