A frequently asked question is how Mueller residents can better relate to our adjoining neighborhoods? There are several answers to this question, including of course the obvious ones about being hospitable
and welcoming others to Mueller area parks, the pool, and our events.
My frequent answer is this: Seek out things to do with and for our neighbors beyond our borders. Find out what they need, and help them. A good example would be our aid in keep the Dottie Jordan Recreation Center alive and well.
A more recent and perhaps better example involves the voting precinct we share with Windsor Park. The traditional precinct location on Cameron Road was recently found not to be easily accessible to the handicapped.
Last week a meeting was held with various officials to determine what needed to be done to fix the precinct problems. Our own Dennis Mick’s work with the Texas Ramp Project gives him some expertise, which he gladly shared with the group. By that afternoon Dennis had already secured the necessary
materials. He completed the work on Monday morning.
What do the Windsor Park people think? Well, they were previous out of sorts about this problem. Now, they are elated. Two neighborhoods joined forces to address something that affects both.
Not too long ago Don Dozier observed that we have many talented people at Mueller and that we should be aware of this and call on them more frequently. I totally agree with Don’s assessment and recommendation.
This leads to a second thought I have. We should recognize efforts like those of Dennis in our public meetings and on our listservs. We should also perhaps be thinking about some sort of annual recognition
awards for the excellent volunteers in our community--both the ones who help us internally and the ones who work to connect us to our larger environment.
Just to clarify - The County Clerk's office says that Dell Children's Hospital will be the Precinct 135 polling place for the July 31 Primary Runoff.
The County Clerk's office has not yet determined all voting precinct locations for the November 6, 2012 elections. However, they are working with Messiah Lutheran to return it as the polling place.
To further clarify, I sat through two meetings with all relevant election and administrative officials from the county and those responsible for enforcing the handicapped access rules. Having learned what was at issue in the first meeting, I invited Dennis to the second meeting where we again went over the shortcomings of the election site, the time requirements on a decision for the November election, and the specific work tasks to be accomplished. We met at the site and inspected everything that was to be done. A strong, direct verbal assurance was given: if the specified work was done within two weeks, the church would again be approved as the voting location. The Messiah Lutheran church administrator was present at the second meeting. the work was done by the following Monday.
I voted at the Promiseland Church site in May and it was a scorcher. NO AIR CONDITIONING. I consider that to be unbearable not only for voters but also for poll workers who have to spend 12 hours or more there. If that is not fixed, I hope the location is changed for November.
As Rick indicates, Dell Children's is the location for July 31. All the mail I know of says this (and this was assumed at the meeting I attended). Beyond that date, the clearly stated intention is to return to Messiah Lutheran in November.
I called the County Clerk's office and for the 2nd day in a row they said Precinct 135 will vote at the Treehouse Lobby at Dell Children's for the July 31st runoff. I scolded them for the confusion and said they better have signs at the curb on Tuesday at PromiseLand noting the new location.
Better yet, tomorrow is the last day for early voting. Go to Travis County Airport Blvd Offices, 5501 Airport Blvd. 7 am – 7 pm.
I will say that the interest for a very limited Primary Runoff is inspiring! I have worked such elections in the past and had 3 voters for the entire day.
The Precinct 135 May Primary election was at Promiseland. The July 31st Primary Runoff will be at Dell Children's Hospital. We received postcards announcing both those sites. For the November General Election, Travis County voters will be able to vote at ANY of the 200 or so precinct sites on election day.
