Hays Free Press June 26, 2019

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JUNE 26, 2019 HIT THE ROAD!

PAY RAISE?

Texas ranked 5th best state for road trips.

Hays school board to decide on teacher pay raises soon.

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Hays Free Press © Barton Publications, Inc.

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Vol. 124 • No. 13

HaysFreePress.com

Serving Buda, Kyle and Northeast Hays County, TX

Kinder Morgan eminent domain lawsuit dismissed BY MOSES LEOS III

A Travis County District Judge Tuesday dismissed litigation aimed at halting Kinder Morgan’s $2 billion, 420-mile Permian Highway Pipeline (PHP). According to multiple reports, Travis County District Judge Lora Livingston dismissed all claims within the suit, which included an injunction meant to stop the routing process of the PHP. The suit also sought for the

Eminent domain “flows to the gas utilities” through the Texas Constitution and the Legislature, Livingston said in her ruling.

Texas Railroad Commission (TRC), which oversees the oil and natural gas industry in the state, to provide more oversight on the routing process for natural gas pipelines. However, Livingston

ruled the Texas Legislature doesn’t grant the TRC authority to oversee the eminent domain process. Additionally, Livingston ruled gas utility com-

LAWSUIT DISMISSED, 8

Kyle estimates $4.2 million overrun on road projects BY KATIE BURRELL

An estimated $4.2 million overrun is the amount Kyle is looking at for all five of its road bond projects. Despite the higher than expected costs, city leaders said improvements on Lehman Road, one of the more expensive and contentious projects on

The Burleson Street project is slated to be done by late 2020 and the Lehman Road project is 36% complete.

the docket, is nearing the halfway mark. Leon Barba, Kyle city engineer, said the road bond projects inthe $35 million 2013 bond is $4.2 million over budget. Bar-

ba said two of the projects, Lehman Road and Burleson Street, still have a long way to go before completion.

KYLE ROAD PROJECTS, 2

sons without U.S. citizenship. “These are our ideas for lowering the inmate population,” Shell said. “The goal isn’t just to save money, it’s to create a more efficient system.” Hays County does have a cite-and-release protocol. However, Hays County Chief of Staff Alex Villalobos said the county only reports a handful of cite-and-release cases annually. Shell said the county would investigate why police are not using this practice should the court vote to use the method as a

CRIMINAL JUSTICE FIXES, 2

BY EXSAR ARGUELLO

had a black handgun with a green stripe on the Authorities continue top of it. The baseball cap their search for a suspect the suspect was wearing who robbed in broad had an eight pointed star daylight a Wimberley with “Cannon” in blue bank at gunpoint June 20. embroidery. According to a Hays The suspect was last County press release, the seen running north suspect, described as a towards an adjacent field white man, entered the next to the bank. Broadway Bank on Ranch Anyone who might Road 12 and committed have information rean armed robbery. No garding this case should customers were in the contact the Hays County bank at the time of the Sheriff’s Office at 512robbery and none of the 393-7896 and speak with bank employees were the Criminal Investigainjured. tions Division or contact The suspect was wear- Hays County Crime ing a tan or grayish base- Stoppers at 1-800-324ball cap, blue jeans and TIPS (8477). was carrying a black bag. Residents can also subHe wore black gloves, a mit information electronflesh colored mask and ically from the link on the

Coming Up Red, White & Buda, July 4th Come celebrate Independence Day July 4th in Buda! A morning children’s parade filled with decorative bicycles, wagons, and unique kids’ floats take route on Main Street. Bounce houses and more family fun can be found at City Park. The celebration continues into the night with live music and a spectacular fireworks display.

Independence Day Parade in Wimberley

Wimberley will host its annual Independence Day parade downtown, beginning at 10 a.m. on Thursday morning, July 4th. Contact the Wimberley Chamber of Commerce for application information to be in the parade.

FUTURE OF DOWNTOWN

Kyle leaders hold downtown town hall meeting to receive input from citizens.

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INDEX

Finding ways to improve Hays County’s criminal justice woes could be forthcoming. Later this month, members of Hays County Criminal Justice Coordinating Committee (CJCC) expect to unveil their solutions as part of a criminal justice overhaul plan. Hays County Criminal Justice Coordinating Committee Chair and Pct. 3 commissioner Lon Shell has overseen several meetings in recent months to determine solutions to the county’s problems. The committee has two representatives from the commissioners court and

several representatives from across the county. “We’re figuring out the best way to move forward,” Shell said. “You can expect to see several items presented at the commissioners court meetings in coming weeks.” Shell said there are three main issues the committee plans to address in the coming weeks and will attempt to get those solutions approved by the court. The issues include implementing and enforcing cite-and-release practices, hiring another pre-trial supervision officer and collaborating with the Texas Indigent Defense Council to get qualified defenders for detained per-

PHOTO COURTESY OF THE HAYS COUNTY SHERIFF’S DEPARTMENT

Individual robs Wimberley Broadway Bank at gunpoint

Criminal justice solutions to be unveiled by end of month BY KATIE BURRELL

Bank robber still at large

Dripping Springs Fire in the Sky Jason and Carrie Isaac present Dripping Springs’ annual Independence Day fireworks show, Fire in the Sky at Dripping Springs Ranch Park. The fireworks display is free for the community to enjoy and begins at sundown.

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Hays County Crime Stoppers website or by using the free smartphone application from any smart phone. The application is P3tips.com. Information leading to the arrest and indictment of criminal suspect(s) may be eligible for a CASH reward of up to $1,000. All calls are confidential and callers will remain anonymous. You do not have to give your name and you will not have to testify in court. The Texas Bankers Foundation has offered a $5,000 reward for information that could lead to the arrest or indictment of the individual who robbed the Broadway Bank.

Buda green lights changes to water conservation rules SUBMITTED REPORT

Buda city leaders June 18 gave the green light to changes within its water conservation ordinance. Those changes, approved by a 7-0 vote, will go into effect immediately.

Business……………… 9 Service Directory…… 11 Public Notices……… 10 Classifieds…………… 10

Blake Neffendorf, Buda Water Resources coordinator, said in a statement the city made changes to Stage 2 restrictions after a review of water production data in 2018 showed no major

CONSERVATION RULES, 12


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