MARCH 20, 2019 HEART OF GOLD
CHAMPIONS
Four-time Purple Heart recipient gives back to neighbors.
Lehman boys soccer team takes district title.
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Hays Free Press © Barton Publications, Inc.
75¢
Vol. 123 • No. 51
HaysFreePress.com
Serving Buda, Kyle and Northeast Hays County, TX
Aquifer district seeks more answers on proposed Permian Highway Pipeline BY MOSES LEOS III
Lingering questions about how Kinder Morgan’s Permian Highway Pipeline (PHP) could affect groundwater sources led Barton Springs Edwards Aquifer Conservation District (BSEACD) leaders to withhold judgment Thursday. While progress was made in gathering information, some district lead-
Kinder Morgan vice president of public affairs Allen Fore said there have been 150 routing adjustments made to the PHP so far based on environmental concerns and Kinder Morgan will continue to make adjustments moving forward.
ers sought more transparency on Kinder Morgan’s part. Kinder Morgan made a presentation to BSEACD officials earlier this month
which covered the scope of the PHP. BSEACD’s board of directors voted 5-0 to postpone a decision on the project. The PHP is a proposed
430-mile underground pipeline that will go from west Texas to near Katy. Roughly 31.5 miles of the
PIPELINE INFO, 11
BUDA ROADS UPDATE
PHOTO BY MOSES LEOS III
Allen Fore (left), Kinder Morgan vice president of public affairs, and Angela Williamson, a project manager with Kinder Morgan, listen to a resident’s question during the March 14 Barton Springs Edwards Aquifer Conservation District meeting.
What is the best transportation option for Kyle? BY KATIE BURRELL
PHOTO BY MOSES LEOS III
Night time traffic speeds along at the intersection of FM 967 and Main Street in Buda.
Heads up on area road closures BY MOSES LEOS III
on the road, however, led to unsafe conditions for Hazardous construction construction crews. conditions along Old San “Transportation and the Antonio Road near Buda contractor agreed to close is forcing Hays County ofthe road to all but local ficials to temporarily close traffic,” Scott said. Officials part of the thoroughfare. will allow access to homes Jennifer Scott, Hays along Old San Antonio County Pct. 2 administraRoad, as well as to YMCA’s tive assistant, said officials Camp Moody. The closure closed Old San Antonio is expected to last until earRoad at Manchaca Springs ly April if weather permits, Road to allow construction Scott said. crews to install culverts Work at the intersection as part of its project to is part of improvements improve the roadway. along Old San Antonio Originally, the county Road to accommodate the had planned to keep at opening of Buda Eleleast one lane open on Old mentary in August 2019. San Antonio Road during Improvements include culvert excavation and widening Old San Antonio installation. A high volume road to within the current of traffic going southbound 60 ft. right-of-way, as well
as adding a dedicated turn lane in front of the new Buda Elementary. Current construction costs are estimated at $1.5 million. Hays County Pct. 2 Commissioner Mark Jones said Hays County will work on the road from Buda’s city limits to Manchaca Springs. County officials received assistance from Hays CISD, which will fund the installation water lines along the roadway to connect to the new campus. Scott said work on Old San Antonio Road is expected to be completed by the start of the 2019 school year. Meanwhile, Hays County officials are waiting for the Texas Department of
Transportation (TxDOT) to give environmental clearance prior to construction on FM 2001. The 8.4-mile project ranges from Interstate 35 to State Highway 21 at the county line. Scott said TxDOT is handling both the bid process and construction of the improvements, which is broken down into three phases. The project calls for a total realignment of FM 2001 in order to reduce the number of 90-degree curves and to improve safety, Scott said. Construction is expected to impact various intersections along FM 2001 including at Satterwhite
BUDA ROAD PROJECT, 12
COMING UP Gearheads meet in slightly new location
Learn French, les mardis
Toddler story time
Commissioners Court meeting
Bring the kiddos to the Buda Public Library Tuesdays for story time, 10:30-11 a.m.
Learn to speak French at the Kyle Library Tuesdays, 10:30 a.m. to noon.
County officials meet Tuesdays, 9 a.m. at the courthouse on the square in San Marcos.
DOWNTOWN DOLDRUMS
Kyle officials contemplate ways to revitalize the city’s downtown center.
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INDEX
Now meeting every Saturday 5-9 p.m. Cabela’s in Buda, near location of new Maverick dancehall. Free to the public. Come out and look at vintage cars, and some spectacular new cars.
News…………………… 2 Opinion………………… 3 Sports…………………… 4 Education……………… 5 Community………… 6, 7
Ride sharing or public transportation are the choices to be debated by a subcommittee tasked with identifying the best way for Kyle residents to get around town. City leaders continue to learn what mode of transportation works best for their constituents as the population continues to swell. Council members Alex Villalobos and Daphne Tenorio said
they have their focus set on serving the economically disadvantaged community with this project. Using a regular bus route or a rideshare program like Uber and Lyft is still up for debate. On Jan. 31, Villalobos had a meeting with council member Rick Koch and city staff on how to address transportation issues in the city. At least two more subcommittee meet-
KYLE TRANSPORTATION, 9
Buda updates its strategic plan BY MOSES LEOS III Information technology and business services are two primary industries Buda plans to target over the next decade as part of an update to the city’s Economic Strategic Plan. Ann Miller, Buda Economic Development Corporation executive director, said plans to update came after the city successfully completed 40 out of 42 action items in the 2013 version of the plan. Buda city leaders unanimously approved the update in mid-February. “Our 2013 plan was supposed to be a 10year plan and we were a little more successful than expected,” Miller said. “The updated plan is supposed to last 10 years, but it could be done in fewer, depending on how things move forward.” The update was conducted by TIP Strategies, an Austin based firm, which Miller said did “extensive research” utilizing in-house and external databases. Miller said TIP also met
Service Directory……… 8 Business……………… 9 Classifieds…………… 10 Public Notices…… 10-12
Buda’s new plan outlines five primary goals that include business and real estate development, as well as small business growth and organizational alignment. with stakeholders and completed an online community survey to obtain resident input. Buda’s new plan outlines five primary goals that include business and real estate development, as well as small business growth and organizational alignment. The plan also outlines strategies and actions that can be taken to try to accomplish the more than 130 goals over the next 10 or so years. Tom Stellman, CEO
BUDA STRATEGIC PLAN, 9