SEPTEMBER 14, 2016 LOBO VICTORY
CRIME
Lobo football breaks losing streak with blowout game.
Suspect stands trial for kidnapping, aggravated assault.
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Hays Free Press ©Barton Publications, Inc.
Vol. 120 • No. 25
HaysFreePress.com
Serving Buda, Kyle and Northeast Hays County, TX • 75¢
Home prices rise roughly Buda takes 33% in past three years over bond projects BY MOSES LEOS III
news@haysfreepress.com
As the greater Austin area continues to see median home prices rise, Hays County is experiencing a similar effect. According to an August Austin Board of Realtors press release, the median price for single family home sales in Central Texas in July 2016 was $260,000, which was a 6.1 percent increase from last July. The Austin-Round Rock Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA), which includes Hays County, saw median home prices in July 2016 rise by 5.6 percent from the same time last year, according to the ABR. Meanwhile, the median home price in Hays County rose by 3.5 percent to $237,900.
INCREASING HOME COSTS, 4A
The rising cost of a home in the Buda/Kyle area Buda
August 2013 – $215,000 August 2014 – $247,000 August 2015 – $273,000 July 31, 2016 – $289,950
Kyle
August 2013 – $159,000 August 2014 – $183,000 August 2015 – $196,000 July 31, 2016 – $210,191
Increase from August 2013 to July 31, 2016 is
34%
Increase from August 2013 to July 31, 2016 is
32%
Passing bad gas rates?
TGS seeks rate increase in Central Texas A “major” rate increase proposed by a natural gas company could drastically affect the average monthly bill for nearly 1,500 Hays County residents. The rate increase request, made by Texas Gas Services (TGS), has prompted several area cities to pass resolutions to suspend rate increases for the time being. The cities of Dripping Springs and Kyle joined Austin, Westlake and other local municipalities in enacting rate suspension resolutions as a response to TGS. In June, TGS made an official filing with the Texas Railroad Commission to increase rates
Customers in Buda and Kyle could see a 23 percent jump in their monthly bills, while Dripping Springs customers would see their bills rise by 33 percent. for all customers in the Central Texas Service Area, according to an emailed response from Christina Penders, TGS communications manager. The TGS rate case is the company’s first since 2009. The CTSA includes approximately 430 households in Buda and Kyle, and roughly 1,000 homes in Dripping Springs. TGS requested a $4.49 increase for residential customers who live in city limits where TGS provides service. Residential
customers in Central Texas outside city limits could see a nearly $11 increase in their monthly bill. Customers in Buda and Kyle could see a 23 percent jump in their monthly bills, while Dripping Springs customers would see their bills rise by 33 percent. Commercial customers in Central Texas would see their monthly bills go down by $3 per month. One of the main reasons for TGS’s proposed increase is not enough revenue is collected from
COMING UP Fajita Fiesta & Cook- Off
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customers for infrastructure improvements, according to Penders. TGS has filed for yearly incremental gas rate increases through the Gas Reliability Infrastructure Program (GRIP), which allows the company to recover funds to replace pipeline and related infrastructure over a five-year period. Funds do not go to operation and maintenance for the pipeline or cost of the gas, which is passed to customers, according to Penders. After five years, TGS must file a rate case, which provides them a way to “make comprehensive changes to all customers.” That includes residential, commercial, industrial,
GAS RATE INCREASE, 4A
Hands and Paws for a Cause
Come out to GreggClarke Park in Kyle Sept. 24 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. for this Pet Parade and Fair benefitting the Hays-Caldwell Women’s Center. Enjoy a day of costume contests, petting zoos, food vendors and family fun. For more information contact HCWCHandsandPaws@gmail.com or Michelle Syltie at 512-645-9923.
Come out to Buda City Park Sept. 23 and 24 for the 3rd annual Fajita Fiesta. This year’s Fiesta introduces a Chihuahua Beauty Pageant on Sept. 24, and is open to both male and female Chihuahuas. Contestants will be judged on costume originality, personality, enthusiasm and over all Fajita Fiesta spirit. If you are interested in entering your Chihuahua or being a cook-off contestant or a vendor contact the Buda Area Chamber of Commerce at (512) 295-9999 or info@ budachamber.com.
INDEX
BY MOSES LEOS III
news@haysfreepress.com
News……………… 1-4A Opinions……………… 3A Sports……………… 1-2B Education………… 3-4B Community……… 1-4C
Proposition 3 includes $12.2 million in street improvements, while Proposition 4 includes $7 million in drainage fixtures, which voters approved in 2014.
BY MOSES LEOS III
news@haysfreepress.com
As Buda continues to mediate a dispute resolution with its 2014 Bond proposition project management firm, the city has chosen to oversee a subcontractor directly. Earlier this month, the Buda City Council unanimously approved an agreement that allows ECM International, Inc. to allow city staff to serve as project manager on all projects under Propositions 3 and 4 of the bond. As a result of the agreement, Buda now will directly oversee HDR Engineering, Inc., which had entered into an agreement with ECM in 2015 as a subcontractor. HDR is contracted as the engineering firm for the $12.2 million in street improvements, along with roughly $7 million in drainage fixtures associated with the bond, which voters approved in 2014. Street improvements include the widening of Main Street from Cabela’s Drive to Cedar Street, improvements on Old Goforth Road and improvements at the FM 967 and Main Street intersection. HDR will also complete drainage improvements in the West Goforth, Bluff Street areas, along with drainage issues in the Oxbow neighborhood, Lifshutz and near the Emergency Services District No. 8 station on FM 2770. Buda Mayor Todd Ruge said the city worked with ECM to transfer HDR “directly to us.” He said HDR’s roles and duties for both Proposition 3 and 4 did not expand or change. Ruge said the agreement allows the city to have a direct line to HDR and not have to go through ECM. “We really like HDR,” Ruge said. “And we
Best Bets…………… 4C Business…………… 1D Service Directory…..... 2-3D Classifieds…………… ...2D Public Notices……… 2-4D
“We really like HDR. And we wanted to make sure they stayed on board with us, regardless of what happens with ECM.” –Todd Ruge, Buda Mayor
wanted to make sure they stayed on board with us, regardless of what happens with ECM.” In July, the Hays Free Press reported Buda entered into dispute resolution with ECM over design issues with the city’s new municipal buildings on Main Street. Ruge said the city entered into dispute resolution as the scope of the project had “changed in a direction that we didn’t really like.” Issues extended to items added to the initial cost of the facility that were not originally listed. Ruge said city officials were not satisfied with the scope of the emergency management room, and had issues with a backup generator for the facility. Buda and ECM are continuing to work through dispute resolutions, Ruge said. No delay on any of the bond proposition projects is anticipated. “As of today, they (ECM) are still our project manager, but the sub-contractor is now working for us,” Ruge said.