Smithville council debates affordable housing, VFD fees

SMITHVILLE –– Affordable housing and refunds for fees collected to support the Volunteer Fire Department took center stage during a recent City Council meeting featuring a crowded agenda. The Oct. 13 session also included plans to replace utility meters and a transfer of water infrastructure. The meeting also revealed broader tensions over how Smithville should manage development, improve infrastructure and balance public needs against costs. RENTS ON THE RISE Though the council delved into a detailed discussion about affordable housing, members took no action. According to Councilman Brandon Dunham, the city should address the imbalance between local earnings and housing costs. He added rental housing in Smithville tends to be more expensive than in Austin. “Whenever I first made the decision to move back to Smithville, I was living in Austin, close to downtown.

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