Neighbors oppose new village proposal

The proposal for a new village southwest of Austin out State Highway 71 is causing a stir with some residents who claim they knew nothing about it until a few days ago.

But proponents of it say they've been drumming up support for the Village of Spicewood Canyon since June

Now an election looms and voters must decide their future come Nov. 6.

That's why Craig Skidmore and his neighbors have been spending a lot hours holding up signs trying to round up support for his cause at the intersection of Hwy. 71 and Pedernales Canyon Trail. He says and his friends just found out last Tuesday that their little neighborhood is in line to become an incorporated village.

"As landowners in this neighborhood we'd just like a meeting with the responsible party to hear both sides," said Skidmore, "and just hear what this is all about."

The problem, they claim, is too many questions unanswered, there are too many unknowns. They say they've reached out to the folks proposing this new village, but they've gotten no reply.

'We can't even have a response to have a meeting," added Skidmore, "We can't get any kind of input about this so at this point I don't want to turn over my property to somebody who is already ignoring me."

Andrew Stack who also lives in the neighborhood says he's not necessarily opposed to incorporation but objects in the way the proposal has been carried out to this point.

"I am opposed to incorporation without representation," said Stack. "I'm opposed to something happening that I know nothing about that directly impacts me and my family."

KXAN reached out to representatives of the proposed village via their website, which lists a number of frequently asked questions as well as maps, facts and information they say is available for everyone to see. Stephen Aechternacht, the man who would become the village's first mayor, called back but was unavailable to speak on camera due to business travel.

Via phone Aechternacht said the motion to become an incorporation started by having 32 residents signing a petition. He said over the following months about 230 registered voters were sent notifications of the action. He added that incorporation doesn't mean new taxation or enforcement for the proposed village. Instead, he said it's a protection against future annexations, and that their process followed the law.

But all this fast-moving wave of a proposal is too uncomfortable for Skidmore and most of his neighbors who say all they're asking for is a face-to-face meeting before voting time.

"We're asking both parties to show up and let's all speak together as a community, not as a division," Skidmore said.