Coupland Incorporation--What Next?

Jack Piper, Co-Chair of the Coupland Incorporation Committee, reports the following info:

First of all, thank you to the Coupland community for allowing us to maintain the right to decide the appropriate path for Coupland. We can now make the decisions for our citizens to ensure we remain a small farming and ranching community.

The first step is to elect the city officials; this includes the mayor, five aldermen, and a marshal. The election has been set for May 11. Without this step, nothing else can officially happen.

Several members of the Incorporation Committee along with any and all concerned citizens can meet and discuss issues which will affect Coupland’s future. Several that come to mind are:

• Zoning

• Ordinances

• Taxes

• Other revenue opportunities

Hopefully, we can come up with a document to present to the newly elected officials, as a recommendation only. We would like to start this committee and begin meeting in February.

Coupland Civic Organization annual meeting January 28

The Coupland Civic Organization will have its official annual meeting on Monday, January 28, in the Coupland fire station.  (Please note:  This meeting is in the fire station, NOT St. Peter's Church, because of the ongoing renovation at the church.)  Pie and coffee will be served at 6:30 p.m., and new directors will be elected at 7 p.m.  Jack Piper, co-chair of the Incorporation Committee, will report on the incorporation election and what steps will come next.  Cecilia Prieto, outreach coordinator of the United Way of Williamson County, will discuss the assistance that is available to help people with their tax form preparation.

Texas Tribune publishes Trans-Texas Corridor recap

Aman Batheja of the Texas Tribune has written a recap of the Corridor fight and has described how its tolling component can affect Texas highways into the future.

http://www.texastribune.org/texas-transportation/trans-texas-corridor/tolling-texans-impact-trans-texas-corridor-lingers/

The accompanying photo was taken by Coupland resident Dawn Fischer of her daughter Libby and of Caleb Ging on the Ging farm--near ours.  The article quotes me and also Ralph Snyder, who with his wife Marcia, fought the Corridor in the Holland (Bell County) area.

Coupland news in Taylor Daily Press

The November column of Coupland news is in today's Taylor Daily Press.  It covers the incorporation election, cooking class, school and church news, and more.
http://www.taylordailypress.net/lifestyles/article_c774e6f2-3459-11e2-94f0-001a4bcf887a.html

Incorporation Committee co-chair Jack Piper shows a map of surrounding cities advancing toward Coupland at the Oct. 29 Coupland Civic Organization meeting.

 Buz Garry buys a new custom-designed Coupland tote bag from Fundraising chair Ruby Wabbel.

Master Chef Peter Wabbel teaches the Oct. 27 cooking class in the beautiful outdoor kitchen of Cole Barton.

Coupland votes to incorporate

Coupland voted to incorporate, with 96 for and 19 against.  This was a huge turnout, considering that there are approximately 200 residents (all residents--registered voters, non-voters, children) within the proposed Coupland city boundaries.  Incorporation Committee Co-Chair Jack Piper said, "Thank you to the citizens of Coupland who voted to maintain our identity as a peaceful, small community."

To paraphrase Benjamin Franklin, who said, "We've given you a Republic, if you can keep it," today's Coupland citizens say to their descendants, "We've given you a close-knit, rural, beautiful community, if you can keep it." 

Coupland votes on incorporation tomorrow, Nov. 6

Over the past two years, the Coupland Civic Organization presented a series of meetings on the expansion of surrounding cities toward Coupland.  To keep Coupland from  being taken over by another city, the Coupland Incorporation Committee was formed.  They raised money, hired a surveyor, and arranged for the issue of incorporating Coupland to be on the Nov. 6 ballot.  Co-chair Jack Piper said, "We have obtained large maps of the proposed city limits for Coupland and posted them at the depot. There are three black & white maps showing the different sections of the total 2 square miles, which are inside the dark black lines. There is a large color map, thanks to Tony Prete with Waeltz & Prete, Inc., (Civil Engineers), showing the entire 2 square miles with all boundaries, including the ETJ, clearly marked."

Other points  from the Incorporation Committee are:

• Only qualified voters of Williamson County who reside within the geographic area described in the Application to Incorporate shall be entitled to vote in the incorporation election.

• During the November 6 election there shall be one election precinct for the election. The polling place for such election shall be the Coupland School, 620 S. Commerce Street.

Jack also notes:  "Due to the recent redistricting, on November 6th, some people will be required to vote at their assigned voting location for the general election and vote at the Coupland School for the incorporation election."

"Your vote will help determine the future for our community. We are fortunate to have a choice at this time. Do we want to remain a small farming and ranching community with the ability to make decisions for our citizens? Do we want to abide by another entity’s policies? The choice is yours! The Coupland Incorporation Committee believes it is of the utmost importance that we maintain the right to decide for ourselves the appropriate path for Coupland! Vote YES on November 6!"

Coupland's National Night Out on Aug. 7

The Coupland Civic Organization (CCO) hosted the annual National Night Out on August 7 at the Depot. Residents enjoyed a hot dog supper with all the fixin’s. Deputy Matt Kreidel from the Williamson County Sheriff’s office spoke about crime trends and how homeowners can protect themselves. Deputy Bryan Jordan also attended.


Pct. 4 Commissioner Ron Morrison visited with attendees and spoke about county efforts to help protect residents. Fire chief Tracy Gardner and other Coupland Volunteer Fire Department firefighters also attended. The children enjoyed exploring the fire trucks that the firefighters brought to the event.

National Night Out is part of the Neighborhood Watch program. The CCO maintains a Neighborhood Watch email list. If you are a Coupland-area resident and want to receive email notices about crimes reported in our area, email Jennifer Dollins at jennifer@couplandtx.org to be added to her list.