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News-Dispatch Volume XXXVII No. 25
Serving Western Hays County, Texas since 1982
75¢
Thursday, March 30, 2017
Authorities warn of police impersonator BY MOSES LEOS III
news@haysfreepress.com
Hays County Sheriff’s Office officials are warning residents of a possible police impersonator who conducted illicit traffic stops on at least two residents in the Kyle area last week. According to a Hays
County press release, the two reported incidents involved a white or silver Chevrolet pickup truck with damage to the front left quarter panel. The most recent incident involving a police impersonator took place around midnight Thursday. A male driver was traveling along FM 2001
near Satterwhite Road east of Buda when a vehicle activated red and blue dashboard lights to pull the driver over. According to the release, the suspect took a “long time” to exit the pickup truck, causing concern for the complainant. The suspect then exited the pickup and shined a flashlight in a manner
that the complainant took as a command to exit his vehicle. The man did not see any law enforcement markings on the pickup truck and sped away, according to the release. The suspect vehicle followed the complainant as he turned on to Goforth Road. When the complainant pulled in to
a driveway of a residence, the suspect vehicle drove past him and left the area. Thursday’s report was the second police impersonator report fielded by law enforcement. The original incident occurred March 16 at 11:44 p.m., according to a county press release. A complainant, who was not identified, told authori-
Water war boils back up
Legislation may roll back groundwater protections BY MOSES LEOS III
news@haysfreepress.com
The fight over Hays County groundwater is bubbling once again after legislation in the 85th Texas Legislature has drawn the ire of a local state representative. At the center of the controversy is the 5,000-acre Needmore Ranch, located near Wimberley and owned by south Texas beer distributor Greg LaMantia. The property is within the jurisdiction of the Hays Trinity Groundwater Conservation District and the Barton Springs Edwards Aquifer Conservation District. The latter was added as a result of 2015 House Bill 3405, or the “Save our Wells” bill, which allowed the BSEACD to take over jurisdiction over previously unregulated portions of the Trinity Aquifer. As a result of HB 3405, Needmore LLC applied with the BSEACD for a regular production permit of 280 million gallons of water per year from the Trinity. But Senate Bill (SB) 2254, authored by State Sen. Jose Hinojosa (D-McAllen) this year, would remove the Needmore Ranch Municipal Utility District No. 1, which was created in 2013, from the districts. In addition, the bill would give the ranch powers under Chaper 36 of the Texas Water Code to operate as its own groundwater district. SB 1814, authored by Hinojosa, and HB 4122, authored by State Rep Kyle Kacal (R-College Station), would allow a property owner with more than 1,000 acres of land situated in two groundwater conservation districts to petition a trans-
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Four bills that could have an impact on Hays County groundwater authored by Juan Hinojosa (D-McAllen) The gist: SB 2254 would grant the Needmore Ranch Municipal Utility District No. 1 powers as a groundwater conservation district under Chapter 36 of the Texas Water Code if an election is held for such purpose. At that time, Needmore Ranch MUD No. 1 would also be removed from jurisdiction of the Hays Trinity Groundwater Conservation District and the Barton Springs Edwards Aquifer Conservation District.
Assault suspect still on the loose The search continues for a Dripping Springs man suspected of shooting and injuring a male family member earlier this month. Authorities are asking for the public’s help in locating Grosbin A. Sabillon, 30, of Dripping Springs, who fled the scene of a March SABILLON 8 aggravated assault case at a Dripping Springs residence. Sabillon is believed to be in the Austin or Dripping Springs area and driving a red Dodge pickup; he was last seen driving that vehicle from the residence of the shooting.
SENATE BILL 1814
authored by Juan Hinojosa (D-McAllen) The gist: SB 1814 would allow the owner of a parcel of land greater than 1,000 acres and included in the jurisdiction of two or more groundwater districts to petition to transfer their entire parcel of land into a single district.
SABILLON, 3
HOUSE BILL 4122
authored by Kyle Kacal (R-College Station) The gist: A companion bill to SB 1814, HB 4122 would allow the owner of a parcel of land greater than 1,000 acres and included in the jurisdiction of two or more groundwater districts to petition to transfer their entire parcel of land into a single district.
Warrant roundup brings in $17,000 in fines
HOUSE BILL 4045
filed by Phillip Cortez (D-San Antonio) The gist: HB 4045 would allow a district to issue permits to landowners with more than 1,000 contiguous acres of land that’s under two or more groundwater districts without notice or the opportunity for a hearing. A permit issued would be authorized based on the volume of groundwater on a per acre basis based on the greatest amount authorized by the district that receives the application.
Roundabout near Driftwood? A potential roundabout at the FM 150 and FM 3237 intersection near Driftwood could be considered within a character plan aimed at revamping the stretch of road between Kyle and Dripping Springs. The proposed roundabout was part of an update on the plan given to the Hays County Commissioners Court early last week. Joe Cantalupo, K-Friese and Associates vice president and FM 150 Character Plan project manager, said his team set out to understand the corridor and learn what nearby residents value about the road. Cantalupo said that this plan was slated for completion in November or December 2017, but residents of the
POLICE, 3
STAFF REPORT
SENATE BILL 2254
BY LOGAN MCCULLOUGH
ties she was traveling with a friend on FM 2001 near Goforth Road east of Kyle when a white or silver Chevrolet pickup truck activated red and blue interior lights on their vehicle. The woman told authorities she thought she was being pulled over by law enforcement in what ap-
“People instead of saying, ‘Why are you doing this?’ started saying, ‘Why are you taking so long? Let’s get this done.’” – Joe Cantalupo, K-Friese and Associates vice president and FM 150 Character Plan project manager
county spoke out to accelerate the project. “People instead of saying, ‘Why are you doing this?’ started saying, ‘Why are you taking so long? Let’s get this done,’” said Cantalupo. The FM 150 character plan seeks to gather input from the citizens of Hays County on how the span of road between Arroyo Ranch Road in Kyle and Ranch Road (RR) 12 in Dripping Springs should be approached for the future. Officials have said the road will eventually need more capacity to accommodate the
anticipated future growth in population of Hays County. This portion of the road is unique in that it features multiple water crossings and passes through a rural and underdeveloped portion of the county. The conception of this plan came in November of 2014. Improved include better intersections, widened shoulders in dangerous areas and the construction of a bypass road that could pass through the Rutherford Ranch.
ROUNDABOUT, 3
STAFF REPORT Over $17,000 in fines and fees relating to outstanding warrants were collected by Hays County Pct. 3 Justice of the Peace Andrew Cable’s office last week. The influx was a result of Cable’s office participating in the 2017 Central Texas Warrant Round Up, which was conducted along with Pct. 3 Constable Ray Helm’s office. The move was the first time the Pct. 3 court had participated in the collaborative effort, which involves multiple jurisdictions in the Central Texas area, according to a press release. Cable said it was a “resounding, huge success” in mitigating a large number of criminal cases pending on his docket. Helm’s office, along with the assistance of the McCreary, Veselka, Bragg & Allen, P.C. law firm, cleared by exception, which includes arrest, paid fines, set up a payment plan, 86 outstanding warrants from the Precinct 3 Justice of the Peace
WARRANTS, 5