JANUARY 16, 2019 FOOD TRUCKS
WHAT? WHEN?
County aims to update food truck restroom regulations.
Hays CISD finalizes 20192020 school calendar.
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Hays Free Press © Barton Publications, Inc.
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Vol. 123 • No. 42
HaysFreePress.com
Serving Buda, Kyle and Northeast Hays County, TX
Windy Hill water woes worry Kyle residents BY KATIE BURRELL
Concerns over the local water supply were raised Dec. 11 as Hays County residents questioned the contractual relationship between Goforth Special Utility District (SUD) and Houston-based water firm Electro Purification (EP). At issue was the Kyle Planning and Zoning Com-
Shelter cares for Buda bust animals
“This particular subdivision is being supplied with water from Goforth SUD. Goforth SUD does not have water. According to their own engineer’s report, they will have used 90 percent of their water supply by the summer of 2019.” –Lila Knight, Save Our Wells representative
mission taking up a preliminary plan for the Trails of Windy Hills subdivision, a DR Horton Project, that will receive water from
Goforth SUD. A development agreement involving Windy Hills had been reviewed by the Kyle City Council in 2018,
and was later brought to P&Z for additional approval. The P&Z granted the approval and the plan is scheduled to go back
before the council later this year. The planned development came before P&Z with recommendation for approval from Hays Coun-
BY MOSES LEOS III
PHOTO BY ASHLEY GREEN
Director Benjamin Murray (right) films Dripping Springs resident Preston Alkier (left) and Clayton Jones (center) during a take for “Clod,” a low-budget independent film shot in Central Texas. Read more about the film on page 6.
Groundwater conservation, broadband internet top Buda’s legislative priorities BY EXSAR ARGUELLO New groundwater conservation technologies and the possibility of cities providing broadband internet are two legislative items Buda city leaders could seek to advocate in 2019. On Jan. 16, the Buda City Council approved its list of legislative priorities. The city has partnered with Texas Solutions Group (TSG), a government affairs, public relations and
Buda officials are pushing for Buda is pushing for easing restrictions on Aquifer Storage and Recovery and are also advocating for lawmakers to craft a bill that would allow cities to provide fiber internet to citizens as a utility. business development firm, to draft its priorities for the 86th Legislative session, which began earlier this month. One item Buda is pushing for is easing
restrictions on Aquifer Storage and Recovery. ASR is the method of transporting surface or groundwater from source and storing it in an aquifer during times
of water abundance. The water stored can then be utilized during times of drought or slow recharge. In 2017, House Bill 3333, authored by now former House District 45 State Rep. Jason Isaac, died prior to Sine Die. That bill would have allowed cities such as Buda to store surface water in underground aquifers, such as the Edwards Aquifer. The Hays Free Press reported that
LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES, 8
Kyle prepares for future flooding hazards with possible stormwater fee increase BY KATIE BURRELL
Still reeling from the Oct. 31, 2015 flood, Kyle city leaders Saturday discussed the possibility of increasing stormwater fees to help pay for fixes for future events. Those talks were part of a Jan. 12 workshop on the city’s proposed Drainage Master Plan (DMP) update, which is expected to be complet-
ed in 2019. A timeframe for approval of the DMP has not yet been identified. Officials said increasing residential stormwater fees could help offset the cost of proposed drainage improvements, while also covering damages from the 2015 floods. City leaders said some parts of Kyle are still recovering, primarily areas east of Interstate
NEW TECH
Entities turn to new technology to meet water, aquifer needs.
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INDEX
NEGLECTED ANIMALS, 9
EP UPDATE, 6
Missing Kyle man found dead in Blanco River
Bright lights are back
BY KATIE BURRELL Months after being seized from a Buda-area home in late 2018, dozens of animals are still receiving treatment at the San Marcos Regional Animal Shelter. While shelter officials continue to deal with the fallout from the incident, they’ve also received assistance from the community at-large. When area residents heard the shelter was over capacity, volunteers and local organizations donated money and supplies that were used to feed and treat the animals. Toward the end of 2018, shelter staff had relocated care for more than 50 animals and was able to open the shelter’s doors again for intake. “It took quite a while (to return to normal shelter functions) with legal proceedings and other issues,” said animal services manager Kara Montiel. “We’re back to normal operations and as of two weeks ago, we were back to our regular intake policies.” Montiel said the majority of the animals
ty personnel and the Kyle city council. Kyle Mayor Travis Mitchell said the plan came before the council first instead of the P&Z because “the agreement had aspects that needed to be determined and agreed upon that were outside the scope of planning and
35. According to Kyle City Manager Scott Sellers and several city council members, neighborhoods including Steeplechase are still dealing with damage from the flood. Sellers said the city amassed 17 inches of rainfall within 24 hours during the 2015 flood event. Multiple flood events have happened since 2015, which is typ-
News…………………… 2 Opinion………………… 3 Sports…………………… 4 Education……………… 5 Community………… 6, 7
ical for the area, officials said. Kyle residents currently pay a $5 monthly stormwater fee, which could go up to as much as $8, if the plan is approved by the Kyle City Council. City leaders said flood problems in 2015 can be linked to a lack of funding on stormwater
STORM WATER FEE, 12
Obituary………………… 7 Business……………… 8, 9 Service Directory……… 9 Classifieds………………10 Public Notices…… 10-12
Authorities have identified a body found along the Blanco River in San Marcos Saturday as a Kyle man who had been MAYA-RANGEL missing since late December. San Marcos police and fire personnel recovered the body of Omar Maya-Rangel, 32, of Kyle, Jan. 12. According to a press release, San Marcos emergency crews responded to the 1800 block of River Road after a hiker discovered a body in the Blanco River. Authorities worked to recover the body, which was identified as Maya-Rangel by tattoos and identification in his pocket. Maya-Rangel was pronounced dead at the scene by Hays County Justice of the Peace Maggie H. Moreno, who also ordered an autopsy. On Jan. 4, the Hays County Sheriff’s Office reported Maya-Rangel missing as of Dec. 28; his vehicle was located on Dec. 31, 2018 in Caldwell County. According to a release, the initial missing person’s report said Maya-Rangel was having mental health issues at the time of his disappearance. The San Marcos Police Department Criminal Investigation is investigating the incident.