JANUARY 20, 2021 FILLING BOWLS
LOBO WIN
Art center celebrates anniversary with Empty Bowls fundraiser.
Lobo girls soccer beats Del Valle 4-0.
– Page 2
– Page 8
© Barton Publications, Inc.
75¢
Hays Free Press HaysFreePress.com
Vol. 126 • No. 43
To prom or not to prom:
VACCINES
Hays County soon to receive COVID-19 vaccines for public
Hays parents conflicted
BY SAHAR CHMAIS
“Please reconsider your position. because if you allow athletes to play their these uncertain BY SAHAR CHMAIS contact sports and intermix times. without masks on the sidelines COVID-19 has robbed Prom and for photo opportunities… high school students of has been a then your position on prom for a second contradition for cancelling prom out of secutive year. This came American high “Gathering concern for safety is as upsetting news to some school students a large group of parents and their kids, since the 1920s, hypocritical and kids together who are while some were relieved. but all three Hays double standard.” Hays High officials state CISD high schools asymptomatic carriers of that they will not move for- are not taking the risk. COVID is a terrible idea. I ward with prom planning Just because the high am a health care provider due to the ongoing panschools have decided to and we are struggling demic. Maintaining student opt out of a prom it does with COVID. Stay safety and enforcing proper not mean that parents have home. That’s my protocols are not possible given up. There have been suggestion.” at an event with dancing parents who suggested and socializing, according to the school. While prom is cancelled, Hays CISD is still finalizing in-person graduation plans – but nothing is guaranteed in
creating their own prom. And in some cases, parents are fighting back with stern letters to their schools to
TO PROM OR NOT, 4
Dripping Springs growth demands park fees on new developments Fancy Restaurant
BY MEGAN WEHRING
DRIPPING SPRINGS — Population growth caused Dripping Springs to shift its focus to the city parks. City Council unanimously approved a proposed parkland dedication ordinance on Tuesday to update regulations, improve parkland quality and implement fees. The amount of the feein-lieu will be based on an appraisal. Staff originally proposed a park development fee of $983 per dwelling unit being submitted to the city by developers on new lots, based on the 2019 census that showed 3.03 people per household. City council only approved a fee of $648 per dwelling unit. Mayor Pro Tem Taline Manassian questioned what the park development fee would cover. Brent Luck,
Average $66.61 (Two entrees, two drinks, one appetizer and one dessert with a 15% tip. )
Prom tickets $50
Limousine
Minimum $510 ($85/hour for 6-hour min), average $600-$650.
pay when purchasing land “Both Founders and the sports park or residence. Price sources pressure right now “Now we are tacking have tremendous Manicure from U.S. Nails in Kyle; Clothes from Special Occasions in San Marcos; Flowers from on a whole other new fee Lutrick’s in Kyle; FoodLuck averaged said. from menu items in each category from Palmer’s Restaurant in from active useFlorist sports,” onSpa; topLimo of the existing fee,” Limousine San Marcos; Hair from Lyndee Martinez at White Stone Day from Austin Capital Purcell said. “Our drive to “With more development pressures some of our coming into the city, the use of those accommodate teachers and local folks that parks and the amenities are going to want to stay here in this town, we are driving them continue to grow. out. They can’t stay. They
are not going to be able to afford a home.” Council member April parks planning consultant to grow. … The money from Harris Allison said there for Luck Design Team, said the park development fee are other places that sports the fee would contribute to can also go toward trails or teams can use rather than a variety of development trail connectivity.” prioritizing a park dedicaoptions. The main goal of the park tion. “Both Founders and the development fee is for new “I do think it’s important sports park have tremeninfrastructure in the future to maintain what we do dous pressure right now like trails or sports fields, have,” Allison said. “But from active use sports,” Luck explained. I know from experience Luck said. “With more Council member Todd when there is no place deddevelopment pressures Purcell expressed his conicated for active sports, they coming into the city, the use cern for adding on more rent or lease out space at of those parks and the ame- fees on future lots that nities are going to continue residents will be required to PARK DEMANDS, 4 –Brent Luck, parks planning consultant
Observers welcome quiet opening to Texas Legislature BY CHRIS COBBLER
have access to high-quality healthcare, improving The Texas Legislature public safety, getting Texans opened quietly, which back to work and promotdelighted everyone after ing the state’s economic the violence inside the U.S. recovery. Capitol the previous week. Many other state orgaAt the Texas State Capitol, nizations announced their a variety of legislative agen- agendas, too: das took center stage at the • The Texas Farm Bureau start of the 87th session, outlined 11 priorities, startwhich will run 140 days. ing with protecting propGov. Greg Abbott’s goals erty owners’ rights under include ensuring Texans eminent domain law. Other
COUNCIL MEETINGS
Serving Hays County, TX
See stories from Tuesday night council meetings online at www.haysfreepress.com or www.haysnewsdispatch.com.
legislative priorities include protecting landowners and agricultural producers’ rights to surface water and groundwater; legalizing reasonable chemical controls for feral hogs and maintaining all current legal methods of controlling feral hogs; and supporting efforts to install broadband and cellular infrastructure
STATE NEWS, 4
HAYS COUNTY – The COVID-19 vaccine will soon be dispensed to the Hays County Local Health Department (HCLHD). The county will receive a small allotment of the doses to vaccinate residents. While residents in Hays County have already received more than 5,275 COVID-19 vaccines, these were only given through personal medical providers or vaccine hubs in Travis or Bexar counties. The first option residents have is to speak with their personal medical provider to determine if they are eligible to get the vaccine at a participating medical facility, including pharmacies, that provides the vaccines. The second option would be to pre-register for the vaccine through
MEDICAL CONDITIONS INCLUDE: • Cancer • Chronic kidney disease • COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) • Heart conditions, such as heart failure, coronary artery disease or cardiomyopathies • Solid organ transplantation • Obesity and severe obesity (body mass index of 30kg/m2 or higher) • Pregnancy • Sickle cell disease • Type 2 diabetes mellitus
the state’s hub system. “We are coordinating with Austin Public Health in Travis County,” said Tammy Crumley, HCLHD director,
COUNTY VACCINATIONS, 2
Critical drought stage is close BY MEGAN WEHRING Drought restrictions could soon be declared, as monitoring wells are approaching critical levels. Enforcement procedures and strategies were discussed by the Barton Springs Edwards Aquifer Conservation District on Thursday, Jan. 14, as the Lovelady Monitor Well levels slowly approach a Stage III Critical Drought. “With the current rate of decline here at Lovelady, without any rain, we could cross over into that critical Stage 3 as early as next month,” Hydrogeologist Technician Justin Camp said. The district’s board previously declared a Stage II Alarm Drought on Oct. 8, 2020, as Lovelady passed below its drought trigger late September. The district is nearing Stage III Critical Drought levels and the public is encouraged to continue conserving water. District General Manager Vanessa Escobar said the main objective is to work with permittees, find a middle ground, and help them identify solutions to reach their curtailments. “This is the second full month of expected drought compliance in curtailments,” Escobar said. “Each month that we are in drought,
The Hays Free Press Barton Publications, Inc. The Hays Free Press (USPS 361-430) published weekly by Barton Publications, Inc., P.O. Box 339, Buda, TX 78610. Periodicals postage paid at Buda, TX 78610 and additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Barton Publications, Inc., P.O. Box 339, Buda, TX 78610. ISSN#1087-9323
“With the current rate of decline here at Lovelady, without any rain, we could cross over into that critical Stage 3 as early as next month.” –Justin Camp, hydrogeologist technician for BSEACD
we take a look at their compliance success and meter readings and their monthly pumpage to see if they met their targets for the monthly allocations.” Staff generates a list of non-compliance permittees based on permitted volume and percentage overpumped: Tier One permitted pumpage is less than 12,000,000 gallons per year, Tier Two is between 12,000,000 and 120,000,000 gallons, and Tier Three is 120,000,000 gallons. Drought management fees will be assessed after two full months of drought, starting in February, Escobar explained. These would only apply to permittees with two million gallons or more.