August 22, 2018 Hays Free Press

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AUGUST 22, 2018 MENTAL HEALTH

C GRADE

Amid growth, county still lacks mental health providers.

Hays school district receives its accountability rating.

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Hays Free Press © Barton Publications, Inc.

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Vol. 123 • No. 21

HaysFreePress.com

Serving Buda, Kyle and Northeast Hays County, TX

A rough road ahead

Burleson Street project to take up to 18 months BY CARLIE PORTERFIELD

Once a nearly $7 million project to rebuild and widen north Burleson Street in Kyle kicks off this year, nearby businesses might have a hard time dealing with construction. The project will consist of rebuilding and widening North Burleson Street, along with the construction of an extension of Marketplace to I-35. A contract was approved with M.A.

The project will consist of rebuilding and widening North Burleson Street, along with the construction of an extension of Marketplace to I-35.

Smith Contracting Co. Inc., an Austin-based company, for an amount not to exceed approximately $6.9 million, a figure that includes a five percent contingency. The city anticipates work to begin after Labor Day

and last 15 to 18 months; the Burleson Street project is expected to be completed around spring 2020. Kim Hilsenbeck, Kyle communications specialist, said in an emailed response the contractor will provide access to businesses as best

they can, but access will be limited during certain times of construction. Utilities need to be moved, which will take time, and also lead to finding further issues to be corrected. “We will do what we can to mitigate the in-

convenience for residents and business owners, but the reality is, it’s a major construction project on a key road. It will be inconvenient. Folks will have to find new routes,” Hilsenbeck said in an email. “But everyone wants nice new, smooth roads, so it’s a trade off. When it’s all completed, it will be nice to drive on and safer.” Julie Snyder, CEO of

BURLESON PROJECT, 9

Buda eyes new use for old city hall BY MOSES LEOS III Turning Buda’s recently vacated city hall into a possible co-working space is something the majority of city leaders envision for the future of the facility. While there are still more decisions to be made, Evan Ture, Buda City Council Place 6, believes the possible new use could help spur interest in the downtown sector. Buda’s plan for the facility came after a months-long process, which involved the help of a senior-level architectural class at Texas State University, said Micah Grau, Buda assistant city manager. City officials asked students to consider possible future uses for the facility. Buda officials also utilized several examples from other cities, such as DeSoto, Addison and Dallas, where existing vacant structures were reused.

Kyle approves charter amends for Nov. election BY CARLIE PORTERFIELD Amid scrutiny from Kyle city leaders, six of the eight originally proposed changes to the city charter will be going to voters this November. The decision, made via a 6-1 vote on second reading Aug. 14, followed a second round of debate on the amendments. Daphne Tenorio, Kyle City Council, Place 6, cast the lone dissenting vote. Unlike in previous years, when a charter amendment committee would be formed by citizens who held public hearings to gather input, the proposed amendments were first presented to council Aug. 7, less than a week before council members were to vote on whether or not the carter amendments would appearance on the November

CHARTER AMENDMENTS, 2

Grocery Giveway PHOTO BY MOSES LEOS III

City of Kyle employee Debbie Guerra beams as she prepares to distribute several bags of brown rice into the trunk of a vehicle in Saturday’s Grocery Giveaway food distribution drive at Lehman High. Inset, several volunteers help to prepare produce and other goods needed for the Grocery Giveaway. Last weekend, hundreds of volunteers served rice, produce, meat and even some ice cream to roughly 4,000 people in the Grocery Giveaway, a free drive-thru food distribution drive put on by Life Unlimited Church and the Central Texas Food Bank.

OLD CITY HALL, 2

Hays CISD aims to curb cell phone problems with $10 fee By hitting the pocketbooks of secondary students and parents, Hays CISD leaders Monday approved a policy change they believe could curb cell phone distractions in the classroom. The change, approved by a 5-2 vote from the board of trustees, would

$10 fee to be paid by a student or parent if an electronic device is confiscated for violation of the district’s cell phone use rules. Money collected to that fee would go to charitable causes such as the food bank or district clothes closet.

require a $10 fee to be paid by a student or parent if an electronic device is confiscated for violation of the district’s cell phone use rules. Money

C.R.A.S.E.

Active shooter training offered to all.

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collected to that fee would go to charitable causes such as the food bank or district clothes closet. The change is expect-

INDEX

BY MOSES LEOS III

News………………… 1-5 Opinion……………… 3 Sports…………………… 6 Education……………… 7 Community………… 8-9

ed to go into effect when school begins Aug. 27, with the district offering a three-day “grace peri-

CELL PHONE CONTROL, 2

Business…………… 10 Church Directory…… 11 Classifieds ……… ... 12 Service Directory…..... 13 Public Notices…… 12, 14

Four vie for Kyle council seats BY MOSES LEOS III Two men and two women have tossed their hats into the ring for a pair of seats up for grabs on the Kyle City Council dais this November. That includes the race for the At-Large District 5 seat, which will have a new face after incumbent Damon Fogley opted to forgo a bid for reelection. In the running will be Robert Rizo, a property management supervisor, who in 2017 attempted to run for city council, but discovered he lived in a residence that was just outside of Kyle’s city limits. According to Rizo’s election filing, he has been living at 606 South Stagecoach Road, which is within city limits, for one year and one month. Rizo will face off against Rick Koch, who is the publisher of SMTX Magazine. According to his election filing, Koch has lived in Kyle for 10 years.

COUNCIL ELECTIONS, 2


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