RT Council Talks Sidewalks and Dark Skies

The Round Top town council met Monday at the spacious Rifle Hall rather than the much smaller town hall to allow for social distancing and Mayor Barry Bone said it went well. The mayor expressed condolences for the recent passing of Round Top Real Estate cofounder (and councilman Frank Hillbolt’s mother) Charlotte Hillbolt as well as that of Rene Diehl, wife of Pastor Mathew Diehl.

The town is starting the process of applying to TxDOT for funds to construct walking paths along SH 237 through town and along SH 1457 from the square to the edge of town. Bone said the town’s share of the funds (up to $300,000.) can be had through borrowing by the town’s Economic Development Corporation. “It obviously needs to go through public scrutiny on whether we want to do it,” Bone said. The next grant cycle is in April, 2021. In other business, the council approved a request for $500 in HOT funds for a sign by the Round Top Festival Institute. Bone said the lighting on the town square will become “dark sky” compliant with grant help from LCRA and other donations. The square lighting project will support the town’s application to become a dark sky city. The total project will cost in the $35,000 range. The town share would be about 30 percent.