AUGUST 28, 2019 6.1% RAISE
CENSUS
Hays school district okays teacher pay raise.
Major funding at risk due to non-participation in census.
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Hays Free Press © Barton Publications, Inc.
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Vol. 124 • No. 22
HaysFreePress.com
Serving Buda, Kyle and Northeast Hays County, TX
County seeks diversity on election committee BY ANITA MILLER
Hays County Commissioners stopped short of naming an “all-inclusive” Community Elections Commission on Tuesday, opting instead for County Judge Ruben Becerra and Pct. 4 Commissioner Walt Smith to develop parameters intended to insure di-
versity among the group’s membership. An actual vote on the commission could come as early as next week. The idea for such a group grew out of a special called meeting on Aug. 19 at which dozens of community members spoke. The proposed committee would operate year-round, and would
The proposed committee would operate year-round, and would have a say in selecting some as-yet-undetermined locations for voting this Nov. 5, as well as other voting-related matters.
tion is the first time Hays voters won’t have to report to their specific precinct ballot box on election day, but instead can vote at any voting center county-wide. In addition to council races in Kyle and Buda, the election will include proposed amendments to the Texas Constitution. “This is a nonpartisan
have a say in selecting some as well as other voting-reas-yet-undetermined loca- lated matters. This November’s elections for voting this Nov. 5,
Kyle supports pipeline regulation resolution
BY MOSES LEOS III
Unfortunate run-in
PHOTO BY MOSES LEOS III
One person suffered serious injuries after their rental truck careened off of southbound Interstate 35 in Kyle and crashed into a portable building on the frontage road. The incident occurred just south of Kyle Crossing on the southbound I-35 frontage road. No one was in the portable at the time of the accident. A cause for the wreck is unknown at this time and an update on the injured person’s identity and condition was not made available as of press time.
SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL
Buda submits next proposal for Garlic Creek trail grant BY MOSES LEOS III
A proposed $3.5 million project aimed at creating a trail system in the Garlic Creek subdivision in Buda isn’t expected to affect nearby Hays CISD bus routes, said city staff in early August. But at the same time, Buda is now waiting once again to see if an application aimed at obtaining grant fund-
The proposed trail is expected to have a 10-foot wide shared use path, along with light fixtures, police call boxes and other items. The cost estimate for the project is $3.5 million.
ing that could partially pay for the trail passes muster. On Aug. 6, Buda City Engineer John Nett said Buda’s application for
Safe Routes to School (SRTS) funding, overseen by the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT), made it to the next round of the
screening process. Nett said the grant does not require a match from the city, which is atypical from other grants Buda has applied for. Buda had submitted an application for SRTS funding in early February, which then made it through two rounds of vetting. Buda submitted a more detailed view of the Garlic Creek trail to
BY CHRISTOPHER GREEN
More than 100 changes have so far been made on the construction process for improving Burleson Street, a project that is now more than a month behind schedule. Joann Garcia, Kyle project manager, said weather issues in the fall and spring slowed progress, requiring numerous changes to be made with the city’s contract with Cash
“There’s been numerous changes in the project because of the old infrastructure that exists on Burleson (Street) with water and wastewater and even gas lines that are very old.” –Joann Garcia, Kyle project manager
Construction, the contractor of the project. That included a rain event that stopped construction for an entire
DOWNTOWN VISION
Cohesive vision for downtown Kyle could spur better businesses.
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month. Garcia said work on Burleson Street is now about 40 days behind schedule. “There’s been
Little to no services associated with a proposed 1,400-acre unilateral annexation of land east of Kyle drew the ire of residents who are fighting a plan they feel has no benefit. Many who oppose Kyle’s proposal Aug. 20 also fear the city is rushing an attempt to forcibly acquire land before a new state law regulating such annexations goes into effect. According to city documents, eight parcels of land east of Interstate 35 were included in the initial unilateral, or forced, annexation proposal. Per a proposed municipal services plan, impacted residents and landowners would receive emer-
KYLE ANNEXATION, 4
Kyle Parks Director resigns BY KATIE BURRELL
numerous changes in the project because of the old infrastructure that exists on Burleson (Street) with water and wastewater and even gas lines that are very old,” Garcia said. Garcia said the changes have affected the city’s contract with Cash Construction. When it comes to the utility relocation process, water line installation from Miller Street
Accusations of bullying by a Kyle city leader could be the reason longtime Kyle Parks and Recreation Director Kerry Urbanowicz abruptly resigned his post in URBANOWICZ late July, according to some residents. While Kyle is now searching for its next Parks Director, Urbanowicz said in a statement he intends to stay on until Kyle finds his replacement. “I plan to stay on with the City of Kyle to ensure a smooth transition with a new PARD director, whomever that may be. My goal is to pass along any history and information that will help that person be successful and continue the good
BURLESON STREET, 11
KYLE PARKS DIRECTOR, 11
GARLIC CREEK TRAIL, 14
Burleson Street fixes fall behind
INDEX
PIPELINE REGULATION, 2
ELECTIONS COMMITTEE, 5
Residents say ‘no,’ fight annexation
BY CHRISTOPHER GREEN Kyle city leaders have now joined the Texas Municipal League (TML) in approving a resolution that aims to regulate pipeline routing through the state of Texas. Approval of the resolution, completed by a 7-0 vote at the Aug. 20 Kyle City Council meeting, was the result of TML officials approaching Kyle in its attempt to ask for more transparency in the pipeline routing process, said Kyle Mayor Travis Mitchell. The resolution was passed during a regular Kyle City Council meeting on Aug. 20. TML seeks to advocate on behalf of all cities in regard to pipeline routing. Mitchell said the resolution won’t have any effect on existing pipelines, but will bring awareness to people who oppose the pipeline approval process. Per the resolution, TML and those who support its resolution are vying for more regulatory process for pipeline routing. One primary component is offering affected communities and landowners more options to oppose a pipeline if it is planned to be routed through their community or private land. The resolution states that elected officials of munic-
effort to inform, inform, inform,” Becerra said, giving a nod to the League of Women Voters, who initially floated the idea of a commission at the Aug. 19 workshop. “This is a Hays County effort, as a whole court, to do the best we can.”
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Classifieds…………… 10 Service Directory…… 11 Public Notices…… 10, 12