History of Wells Branch MUD

Since its creation in March of 1981, Wells Branch Municipal Utility District has been an innovator, boldly finding ways to make great things happen. The District's ambitious initiatives to deliver first-class services accelerated throughout the 1990s. The District won a landmark case to assure cost-of-service water charges from its wholesale water supplier. The District took advantage of legislation to allow MUDs to contract for community-wide solid waste disposal. The District negotiated with the Resolution Trust Company to acquire the area that would become known as Mills Pond, and it formed a consortium of local governments to improve a pedestrian tunnel under the busy Wells Branch Parkway. The District also reached out to involve citizens in parks planning, which was marked by the 1993 opening of the Wells Branch Community Center and several green initiatives, including curbside collection of compostable grass, limbs and brush. Because of the recognizable success, Milburn investments asked the District to annex 200 acres in Bratton Park and Willow Run, a proposal which was met with opposition. The District declared a successful win, resulting in a settlement that cleared the way for construction of hundreds of new Wells Branch homes. In the fall of 1993, the District hired its first District manager, and soon added staff to increase its recreational programming with regular events year-round. The District opened the Meditation Garden at Mills Pond, and hired its first aquatics manager in 1996. The same year it opened competition-quality Willow Bend Pool and in 1997 an era of expansion began. The District purchased a large residence on Shoreline Drive and converted it to the District office. The previous District office at the Community Center complex was then converted into a fire station operated by Travis County Emergency Services District No. 2. The old fire station was then converted to the Facilities Office. After years of planning, the District built its recreation center on Shoreline Drive and opened the facility in 2002. In 2003, the District acquired a building and property on Wells Port for recreation use by groups such as scouts and seniors. In 2004, the District revived the annual Pioneer Fest centered on the historic 19th Century Homestead in Katherine Fleischer Park. Today the District continues its quest to innovate boldly for the people it serves. The District is governed by a five-member board of directors elected to staggered four-year terms. Management of day-to-day affairs is vested in the District Manager and other supervisors and managers of the District.