The San Marcos City Council voted to approve the payment of more than $500,000 last month for its smart metering initiative, but not before a couple councilmembers asked in detail why the payment was necessary.

San Marcos officials broke ground on Rio Vista Terrace improvements with ten good shovels on March 6. The event was the official start of a $9.3 million project that will provide new waterlines, wastewater lines, storm drains, sidewalk, curbs, gutters and streets to the neighborhood in the next two years.

The San Marcos City Council agreed last week to use a federal program to buy two homes for availability to low-income buyers. In one case, the city paid $4,200 more than the asking price, outbidding a private buyer.

Saying the spring break is the perfect time to deal with the intersection of Sessom Drive and LBJ Drive, city officials moved drainage and pavement work on the intersection up to this week.

Still waiting on a geological report by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, the San Marcos Planning and Zoning Commission has postponed consideration of a mixed-use plan for the Buie tract until April.