By Blake Rasmussen

Friday, 02 December 2011

As the editor of the Round Rock/Pflugerville edition of Community Impact Newspaper for more than a year now, I have a unique perspective on the bridge between these two cities that most never get to see.

There are some months I feel like we cover two very different communities, two places separated not only by Toll 45 and a county line, but also by different cultures, problems, solutions and people.

This is not one of those months.

An issue that has pushed, prodded and unsettled much of Central Texas takes center stage this month as both Round Rock and Pflugerville deal with the challenges that come with the explosive growth each have experienced in recent years. Round Rock and Williamson County grapple with providing transportation to a booming population while at the same time dealing with their growth impeding on wildlife.

Meanwhile, Pflugerville’s growth has in part run it into trouble with Monarch Utilities and water rates that could send some affected customers scrambling for “for sale” signs, affecting not only the perception of the affected neighborhoods, but their viability. And as Pflugerville ISD grows, it has been forced to address its funding disparity by joining with other districts in a lawsuit against the State of Texas.

These issues, in one form or another, are not going anywhere. If anything, as the cities continue to press up against their boundaries and plan for the future, growth will be front and center on the minds of city and county leaders for years to come.

Blake Rasmussen
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