SEPTEMBER 11, 2019 NEW ERA
CLOSE WIN
Johnson High celebrates first football game, victory
Rebels stun Tigers in 22-21 squeaker
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Hays Free Press © Barton Publications, Inc.
75¢
Vol. 124 • No. 24
HaysFreePress.com
Serving Buda, Kyle and Northeast Hays County, TX
Kyle council amends pipeline ordinance BY ANITA MILLER
officials withheld documentation relating to any Broad based revisions possible revisions until concerning regulations print deadline. and permitting involving On Sept. 9, the Kyle pipelines are thought to City Council voted 6-0 to be part of changes made “engage in discussion as by Kyle city leaders to an discussed in executive existing ordinance. session” relating to possiHowever, the Hays Free ble revisions of the city’s Press was unable to review pipeline ordinance, which those changes as city had been passed in June.
The ordinance addresses how close to existing utility infrastructure pipelines could be placed and requires that pipelines be buried no less than 13 feet deep.
However, city leaders did not discuss in open session what revisions were
made. The revisions broadly concern regulations and
permitting involving pipelines and the city’s right-of-way, as well as roadway and utility infrastructure. But on Tuesday, the city withheld release of the document, characterizing it as not an “existing” document, said Kim Hilsenbeck, Kyle communications manager.
As originally approved, the ordinance set limits on pipeline placement in an effort to protect the city and its residents from damages that might be incurred during the construction and operation of the 42-inch pipe in the Permian Highway
PIPELINE ORDINANCE, 2
Former Kyle city leader supports mayor recall BY MOSES LEOS III Citing concerns with governance on the dais among other issues, a former Kyle elected official is supporting a resident’s initiative aiming to recall the city’s mayor. Shane Arabie, a former Kyle city council member who stepped down from his seat in February, said he is supporting resident Peter Parcher’s petition to recall Mayor Travis Mitchell and city council
PRIDE PARADE
PHOTO BY MAXFIELD BAKER
Banners, balloons and beads were the order of the day on Saturday when San Marcos held its annual Pride Parade. Wimberley will host its first-ever Pride Parade on Sept. 21 in downtown beginning at 7 p.m.
Kyle seeks options on fixing west side traffic problem Congestion caused by stop signs on Rebel Drive at Silverado is leading Kyle officials to contemplate ways to fix the issue, including the possibility of a roundabout. The topic came up Sept. 3, with city leaders
directing City Manager Scott Sellers to present options to mitigate the problem and to determine how much each would cost. Sellers said traffic flow issues on Rebel Drive at Silverado have been discussed for “some time” at staff level after
they realized stop signs caused significant delays. Those issues have been magnified since Hays CISD students returned to classes in mid-August. The Kyle City Council approved installation of the stop signs in May as a way to address an increase in traffic detouring
off of Burleson Street into the Silverado subdivision and onto Rebel Drive. The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) installed the signs in July. City staff felt “confident” that a traffic control device was needed
FM 150 ROUNDABOUT, 4
County offers trial run of new voting equipment STAFF REPORT As municipalities gear up for the Nov. 5 elections, Hays County is offering residents a chance to try out new voting machines before they hit the polls. Hays County Elections Administrator Jennifer Anderson said in a statement the new Hart
Intercivic Verity Duo, a hybrid electronic and paper ballot voting system, is “easy to use,” but is different than what voters are used to. Since 2004, Hays County has used Direct Recording Electronic (DRE) machines for its elections. In late July, Hays County Commissioners voted 4-1 for the Hart
ON THE ROAD AGAIN Improvements to downtown Buda intersection to begin in January..
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INDEX
BY MOSES LEOS III
Intercivic hybrid devices, with Hays County Judge Ruben Becerra casting the lone dissenting vote, the News-Dispatch reported. Hays County leaders budgeted $2 million for the new machines, which were approved by the Texas Secretary of State’s office. The new machines
NEW VOTING EQUIPMENT, 4
News……………… 2, 4, 5 Opinion Page………… 3 Sports…………………… 6 Education……………… 7
member Rick Koch. Both men worry Mitchell and Koch don’t have the city’s best interests at heart, based on a variety of decisions made in recent months. The Hays Free Press reached out to Mitchell and Koch for comment on this story. Mitchell declined to comment, while Koch did not immediately respond to a request for an interview. Parcher said he began thinking about getting a
MAYOR RECALL, 4
Victims question handling of pit bulls following attack BY MOSES LEOS III A Kyle family is searching for answers after three pit bulls reportedly broke into their backyard in late July and killed their family pet. The family is now trying to understand why authorities allowed the pit bulls, later deemed by authorities to be dangerous, to avoid quarantine in an animal shelter after the attack, with the possibility they could remain in the owner’s possession. However, officials said it will be up to the judicial system to determine if the dangerous animals will remain on site. The incident, which occurred around 7 p.m. July 29 in the 200 block of Covent in the Kensington Trails subdivision, occurred weeks before a separate Aug. 31 attack involving two pit bulls that broke into the backyard of a home and killed a smaller dog in the Steeplechase subdivision. Eric Gordon, whose pet was killed July 29, said it happened three days after his family moved into their cur-
Community…………… 8 Business…………… 10 Classifieds………… 12-13 Public Notices…… 12-13
New Kensington Trails resident Eric Gordon said his son was in the backyard with their poodle terrier, when three pit bulls from a neighboring yard broke through the fence, killing the small dog. rent home in Kensington Trails. Gordon said his son was in the backyard with CJ, their poodle terrier, when three pit bulls from a neighboring yard broke through the fence. While Gordon’s son narrowly made it back inside the home, he was unable to grab their dog before the pit bulls began attacking it. Shonte Gordon, Eric’s wife, said the three dogs
DOG ATTACK, 5