Nd 040518

Wimberley’s substandard homes

Tiger lacrosse earns wins

page 2

Locals at Texas Relays

page 4

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News-Dispatch Volume XXXVIII No. 26

Serving Western Hays County, Texas since 1982

75¢ Thursday, April 5, 2018

More food trucks could be coming to U.S. 290

BY EXSAR ARGUELLO

PHOTO BY SAMANTHA SMITH

After months of deliberation and planning, more food trucks could potentially be coming to the property of 1005 West Highway 290 in Dripping Springs.

Dripping Springs Planning and Zoning Commission March 27 recommended the approval of five total trucks on the property and the addition of two more when site development plans are

approved later this year.

The item will now go before the Dripping Springs City Council April 24 for approval.

The proposed recommendation moves property owner Bill Warren one step closer to his vision of providing Dripping Springs with a food truck park, a dream that has been in the works for a few years.

And although Warren, owner of Pig Pen BBQ, has been able to operate

his truck and two independent trucks on his lot, the original plan was to have up to nine trucks on the property, a proposal previously shut down by council.

“The process has been challenging at best,” Warren said. “I’m doing this all out of my own pocket with minimal debt to my name and it’s been difficult to get a business started in the city.”

Anjali Naini, planning consultant for the city of

Dripping Springs, said at the commission meeting that city staff recommended postponing the vote for the food trucks until the April 24 meeting, pushing Warren back another month to fill his property with other food trucks.

According to the Dripping Springs code of ordinances, a Conditional Use Permit (CUP) is required for any mobile

FOOD TRUCKS, 6

PHOTO BY EXSAR ARGUELLO

Greg Plummer, owner of Suds Monkey in Dripping Springs, shows off a sample glass of his brew..

County breaks ground on Dahlstrom Preserve PHOTOS BY MOSES LEOS III

Hays County dignitaries, including several family members of the late Gay Ruby Dahlstrom, prepare for a groundbreaking ceremony of the Gay Ruby Dahlstrom Preserve. The preserve will provide limited public access to a conservation easement located on FM 967 near Buda.

BY MOSES LEOS III Plans for limited public access to part of a conservation easement owned by the late Gay Ruby Dahlstrom moved one step closer to completion Thursday.

By breaking ground on the Gay Ruby Dahlstrom Preserve, Hays County officials hope to eventually open the 384-acre project, located within the Dahlstrom Family Ranch on FM 967, by late summer 2018.

The preserve will feature a 3.15-mile walking trail, with .75 miles that is American Disabilities Act

(ADA) compliant. According to a press release, the preserve, once open, will be under management of the Hays County Parks Department.

Thursday’s groundbreaking is one of the final parts of a process that took roughly a decade to complete and involved a handful of entities and agencies.

Cecilia Dahlstrom-Barrantine, daughter of Gay Dahlstrom, said her mother loved the connection the family’s 2,254acre property gave to her heritage and the environment, of which she wanted to share and preserve.

While there will be public access to the preserve, officials will limit the number of persons on the land at any one time to minimize human impact, according to a Hays County press release.

“It’s a deeply held belief in our family that nature serves as a portal that

moves us from the rush of every day life to a world where time slows down,” Dahlstrom-Barrantine said. “In this fast paced life, we need the physical, emotional and spiritual refreshment and balance

DAHLSTROM PRESERVE, 2

Landowners worry about proposed trail system impact The potential use of the eminent domain law has led residents to resist a proposed regional trail system that could connect Austin to San Marcos.

Those opinions were gathered during a series of public meetings in San Marcos, Buda and Kyle March 27-29 on the Emerald Crown Trail. The meetings were meant to gather residents’ and landowners’ feedback on the trail, which is only proposed at this time.

Because the trail is still in the early stages, the

Who gets to sell the suds?

BY EXSAR ARGUELLO AND MOSES LEOS III

Emerald Crown

BY KATERINA BARTON

NEW BREW LAW

exact route of the trail is unknown. The San Marcos Greenbelt Alliance, which is spearheading the effort, anticipates the trail to start somewhere in Purgatory Creek in San Marcos and finish at the end of the Violet Crown Trail in Buda.

The idea is to try to create a connected system of trails and bike-able paths using public parks, public right-of-ways and through willingly donated easements.

While some residents seemed excited about the trail system, others were visibly upset. A group of neighbors along Hilliard

Road posted comments on sticky notes on maps and feedback forms around the room disagreeing with the project.

During the meeting, Mark Taylor, former board president of the San Marcos Greenbelt Alliance, made a point to have all group members in the project agree that they would not build a trail where people do not want one.

Ruth Molina, a resident of Valley View Estates along Hilliard Road does not have a lot of trust in

EMERALD CROWN, 6

Overregulation concerns follow a new state law requiring large-scale craft breweries to go through third-party distributors to sell their suds.

But proponents of House Bill 3287, which was signed into law by Texas Gov. Greg Abbott in 2017, believed the law closes a loophole that might have benefitted corporate brew com-

panies.

HB 3287, authored

by State Rep. Craig Goldman (R-Fort Worth), requires breweries that produce more than 225,000 barrels per year to go through a third-party distributor to sell their alcohol.

The legislation came as a result of laws passed in 2013 that opened the market to craft breweries in Texas. Under the

NEW BEER LAW, 6

Questions linger on Wimberley funding of Visitors Center

BY MOSES LEOS III Questions about how much hotel occupancy tax (HOT) funds Wimberley could allocate to the city’s convention and visitors bureau for 2017 expenses led city leaders to table the matter March 15.

The decision continues the ironing out process of an agreement between the two entities.

The three-year agreement, which was approved by a split 3-2 decision Feb. 15, calls for the city to partially reimburse the city’s convention and visitors bureau expenses from the previous year with HOT funds. The reimbursement would only be valid if the bureau provides its annual expense report. Wimberley also approved a onetime $23,000 payment to the bureau to renovate its front offices.

In return, the Wimberley Valley Convention and Visitors Bureau, also known as the Visitors Center, would operate and maintain the city’s visitors center and provide information to visitors, including relaying information about local lodging options.

While the city council approved the initial agreement Feb. 15, city leaders did not commit funding at that time.

On March 15, the Wimberley Visitors Center requested HOT funds to cover 20172018 expenses, which received mixed reviews.

One of the primary issues was using HOT funds to cover a $27,000-plus future part-time staffing expense.

Mike Scott, Wimberley Valley Chamber of Commerce treasurer,

HOT FUNDS, 2

Page 2

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Wimberley continues to address damaged, substandard homes

BY MOSES LEOS III

EDITOR Moses Leos III

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Nearly three years after floodwaters devastated parts of Wimberley, city leaders continue to address abandoned and substandard homes damaged in the event.

Shawn Cox, Wimberley city administrator, said March 15 there are still a few properties that suffered damage from the 2015 Memorial Day flood and are in substandard condition. Cox said the homes are not abandoned at this time.

However, city officials have in the past received complaints regarding some properties that were abandoned after the flood event. Cox said reports of vermin, snakes and transients staying in the abandoned homes have been logged by the city.

The News-Dispatch reported in 2016 that Wimberley city leaders looked at homes damaged as a result of the flood, in order to mitigate any safety hazards.

Mac McCullough, Wimberley mayor, said the city has “shown” that leaders are apt to talk with owners, but not threaten them, in addressing damaged homes.

McCullough cited a cabin near the Ranch Road 12 bridge over the Blanco River that had become an eyesore.

“They needed a nudge and they worked on it and made it an asset,” McCullough said.

But Cox said there can be legal hurdles when dealing with abandoned properties. Those processes could come into play once the city’s Public Works Department inspects a damaged home and determines if it’s abandoned, not habitable or substandard.

Once a home is deemed substandard, property owners have a set of guidelines to come into compliance.

If a property owner doesn’t adhere to those guidelines, the city could take steps to demolish a

PHOTO BY MOSES LEOS III

A resident works to clean debris left over in a Wimberley home near the Blanco River following the 2015 Memorial Day flood. Wimberley continues its quest to address substandard or abandoned homes damaged during the flood event.

home and put a lien on a property, Cox said. However, Cox said the city is hesitant to do that and tries to come up with a solution before legal remedies are needed.

Crafting a solution, however, is a lengthy process as the city attempts to contact “any and every

interested part” that has a stake in the property.

McCullough said he and former mayor and current city council member Steve Thurber have “gone the distance” with many property owners and have attempted to avoid coming across as “heavy-handed”. He add-

ed the city hasn’t had “a hardcore case we can’t solve.”

“When it comes down to it, a ‘come to Jesus moment’ happens and the homeowner says, ‘I’ve had a good run,’” McCullough said. “They have to turn it (the home) into an asset or do something with it.”

HOT Funds: City wants to wait until after hiring of tourism director Continued from pg. 1

said the inclusion of a parttime staff member would create a “more consistent product,” along with the ability to help the chamber’s full-time staff train volunteers.

Currently 75 volunteers help the chamber and visitors bureau, with training done by current management.

Scott said adding the part-time paid staffer could add an additional level of accountability.

However, the part-time position was not included in the chamber’s FY 2017-2018 expenses. The Visitors Center requested the city cover 100 percent of the $23,400 for staff wages, and cover $24,481 of the $97,924 for management salaries.

All told, the Visitor Center is requesting $76,030 of its $159,166 in expenses to be reimbursed via HOT funds.

Scott said if the chamber

and visitors bureau had the money, they would try to fund the part-time positions themselves.

“There are a few items that are new that we don’t have money for,” Scott said. “We can’t fund them in advance.”

Council member Allison Davis, who is also part of Wimberley’s HOT funds committee, felt the part-time position could be reconsidered after the city completes its hire of

a tourism director. However, Davis said she was “disappointed” to see the part-time position in the request packet.

“I understand we are reimbursing you for 2017, but we are going to have a tourism director soon,” Davis said. “That was one of the reasons some people in the HOT committee wanted to pause on that part and wait.”

Council member Gary Barchfeld believed the

Visitors Center request should go through the city’s HOT funds committee for recommendation prior to a final decision.

Barchfeld said other entities and events seeking HOT funds must go through the same process.

“The conciseness of the plan doesn’t appear to be there,” Barchfeld said. “We take to the HOT committee, this is what we like to do.

They pass judgement and bring it back to council.”

Dahlstrom Preserve: Opening soon with limited access Continued from pg. 1

found only when spending time outside.”

Frank Davis, director of

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land conservation at the Hill Country Conservancy, said Gay Dahlstrom was a

“true visionary” in coming up with the preserve concept.

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Davis said there is no conservation easement in the state that is overlaid with some public access.

“She was the one who told us from the beginning, ‘there must be some access on this ranch.

We must find a way to commune with nature in a way these folks are forgetting to do in these modern times,’” Davis said. “We are forever indebted in all she did and protecting and setting this vision for us.”

The preserve is also a reminder of what Hays County once was many years ago, Davis said. That includes its grasslands and recharge features into the Edwards Aquifer.

Davis said the ability to experience natural land is imparitive as 95 percent of Texas is privately owned.

“The Dahlstroms addressed that directly,” Davis said. “People can come out to a place like this and truly get a sense of being away and settling into the rhythms of nature and slowing down.”

Former Hays County Pct. 2 Commissioner Jeff Barton said he was approached in 2007 regarding the preserve proposal.

Barton said the Dahlstrom family had a vision of “doing something spectacular and special on this piece of land.”

While getting to the groundbreaking meant traversing a “tightrope” at times, including navigating legalities and financing, Barton said residents

are “seeing the harvest ripening from all that work.”

Barton also believed the preserve is a celebration of community as well.

“Gay decided she could trust this crazy patchwork quilt of people that could put this project together and that she could walk that tightrope with us,” Barton said.

Current Pct. 2 Commissioner Mark Jones thanked taxpayers who approved the county’s 2008 Parks Bond. In 2010, Hays County, with help from the Hill Country Conservancy, Texas Parks and Wildlife, and the city of Austin, purchased three conservation easements to preserve the entire Dahlstrom property.

Jones said he hopes Hays CISD takes advantage of the preserve to show elementary school students the history of the land.

“They have 384 acres to walk on. For some of those kids, that may be the only acre they’ll see outside of the city,” Jones said.

Jones said in a statement the county is “honored” the Dahlstrom family is placing its trust in Hays County to manage and develop the preserve.

“The Dahlstrom vision of repurposing part of their ranch as a place for environmental education and nature experiences is a testimony for their love of the land,” Jones said.

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Page 3

Sports

Lady Tiger soccer advances to area playoffs

BY SHANE SCHOLWINSKI

Dripping Springs flexed its muscles with a dominant 2-0 bi-district playoff round soccer victory over Austin McCallum March 28 at Tony Burger Stadium.

The Tigers claimed the win in what was a physical battle from start to finish.

“Finally through the first one so we can kind of breathe,” Lady Tigers head coach Bailee Perrine said on the bi-district win. “You’ve gotten the first few girls that have never played in a playoff game and we’ve got them through a playoff game now.”

The Lady Tigers fresh-

man duo of Sofia Picucci and Georgia Irons came up huge in the first half of play as they gave Dripping Springs the early 1-0 lead only 20 minutes into the game.

Picucci placed a nice ball into the box where Irons fought multiple McCallum defenders to gain control of the ball.

Once Irons secured possession, she launched a shot towards the goal, which then was deflected off the goalkeeper’s hands and into the back of the net.

“They didn’t relax for sure, I think my team gets anxious until they score,” Perrine said. “Once they score they start playing like they know how to. I

Although the Lady Tiger defense didn’t give up many opportunities to the McCallum attack, sophomore goalkeeper Eli Jones came up with two huge saves in the game to keep her team afloat.

think my team steps up in the second half after they’ve talked to each other, they’ve communicated a little bit, I’ve told them things I’ve seen.

They tend to calm down a little more in the second half and play better.”

Dripping Springs continued its physical style of play into the second

half with their mid-fielders and defenders not allowing the Knights to possess the ball on the back half of the field.

“I think my defense played phenomenal,” Perrine said. “They cleared it out of the back; and good center-back leadership from Jane Atwood and Avery Da-

vis. It got pretty physical towards the end, and I think us staying in it mentally honestly it might have motivated us a little more towards the end.”

Sophomore Caroline Luttrull extended the Lady Tiger lead in the second half to 2-0 with a 25-yard laser shot into the top left corner of the goal with 23:23 left in the game. Dripping Springs’ defense played smart and physical ball the rest of the game to secure the first round playoff victory.

Although the Lady Tiger defense didn’t give up many opportunities to the McCallum attack, sophomore goalkeeper

Eli Jones came up with two huge saves in the game to keep her team afloat.

“I told them at the beginning of the game, these are the games that you might not have a shot for thirty minutes and then you have one on you,” Perrine said.

“You have to be mentally focused, yell at your teammates, do whatever you need to do to stay mentally in the game the whole time.”

Dripping Springs continued its postseason march Tuesday against San Antonio Highlands.

An update to Tuesday’s area round playoff game can be found online at haysnewsdispatch.com.

Lady Tiger softball blasts Matadors 5-0

BY LISETTE LOPEZ

The Dripping Springs Lady Tigers blasted the Seguin Matadors 5-0 at Tiger Stadium March 29.

It was an early start for the Tigers when they took a 2-0 lead at the end of the first inning. The Tigers got on the board first when a base hit scored Dripping Springs’ Camille Corona. After a pitching error from the Matadors, Ryann Campbell made it home for the second run.

Adept pitching from Tiger Logan Hulon kept the Matador offense in check for the entire game.

In the third frame, the Tigers had two outs be-

fore Campbell came up to the plate. Campbell drilled a solo home run on a 3-1 count, adding another run on the scoreboard for the Tigers, which led 3-0.

The Tigers continued their offensive onslaught in the fourth frame when Danielle Northrup smashed a solo home run on a full count pitch to give Dripping Springs a 4-0 advantage.

Hulon again had a fast one, two, three outs in the top of the fifth to keep the Matadors off the plate.

Heading into the bottom of the fifth, the Tigers had their final run of the game.

PHOTO BY ALBERT SANCHEZ

Dripping Springs Tiger senior Ryann Campbell keeps her eye on the ball after she smacked what ended up as a solo home run in the third inning of the team’s March 29 game against Seguin.

With base runners on second and third and with one out, Matador pitcher Vanessa Garza threw a wild pitch. Paige Leschber came home and Dripping Springs was now in the lead 5-0.

Hulon tallied up 16 strikeouts against the Matadors and only had one hit against her all night. She said she did it all for her teammates and is proud to be a Lady Tiger.

“I think we did extremely well,” Hulon said.

“I think we should just keep doing what we’re doing, just continuing to win and being a team together.”

The Lady Tigers had six hits for the night, and executed on each play.

Head coach Wade Womack said his team went out there ready to play their game.

“Go out there and execute and make every routine play, we pounded the strike zone with our pitching staff and were selective at the plate,” Womack said. “They did a good job of keeping us on balance, but we still did what we needed to do.”

Dripping Springs is currently in second place in district behind Lockhart. With a solid game against the Matadors, Womack believes his team can be better.

“We can still be more consistent at the plate, our intensity level was kind of even keel tonight, but we have to be more intense than that,” Womack said. “Seguin is a good ball club and for us to win 5-0 and not quite be there mentally, we can’t have that especially Tuesday against Lockhart.”

PHOTO BY ALBERT SANCHEZ

Dripping Springs High pitcher Logan Hulon keeps a foot on the ground as she tosses a pitch in the team’s district game against Seguin.

March Madness gains momentum at event The annual Dripping Springs ISD March Madness event was a big hit as Special Education students from all schools enjoyed a variety of basketball activities. Regular education students helped coordinate the event and hosted the activity stations. Left, special education students march in during the opening ceremonies. Right, students show other students some fundamentals of free-throwing.

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Page 4

News-Dispatch

Thursday, April 5, 2018

Sports

Tiger lacrosse earns two more varsity wins SUBMITTED REPORT

As the regular season winds down, the Dripping Springs High lacrosse team last week notched wins over Bowie High and San Antonio Reagan.

Finding themselves down 8-3at the end of the third quarter to Bowie, the Tiger offense flipped the switch and went on an 11 point scoring run in the fourth quarter to defeat the Bulldogs 14-8.

Gabe Reno, Connor Jamail, and Nic Austin all had hat tricks, with additional points scored by Cristian Reno, Logan Heinchon, Charles Pouland, and Ryan Thomas. Defensively, Jakob Joy had three positive turnovers, two defensive stick checks, and four ground balls. Dripping Springs’ junior varsity team soundly beat the Bulldogs 11-1.

The Tigers split games on Saturday as they hosted San Antonio Reagan. The Varsity Tigers bested Reagan 13-5 with scoring effort by eight different Tiger players.

Leading the scoring was Brayden Glass and Gabe Reno each with three goals and an assist. Also contributing offensive points was Logan Heinchon, Cristian Reno, Ryan Thomas, Sean O’Connor, Charles Hunt, and Caden Louthan. Joseph Guzaldo and Ethan Hooks stood out on defense.

Prior to the varsity squad taking the field, the junior varsity team lost to Reagan 4-8.

Currently, the Tigers have a season record of 9-3, with a district record of 4-1.

Three district games remain in regular season: April 7 vs Cedar Park at home, April 14 vs Westlake away, and April 18 vs Austin High at home.

PHOTO BY LISA TRESSLER

Several Dripping Springs Tiger lacrosse players celebrate after scoring a goal in a game against Bowie.

PHOTO BY MOSES LEOS III

PHOTO BY MOSES LEOS III

PHOTO BY CYNDY SLOVAK-BARTON

Dripping Springs Tiger senior Justin Wright leaps over the second to last hurdle in the Boys 110-meter hurdle event at the 91st annual Clyde Littlefield Texas Relays in Austin.

Dripping Springs’ Bobby Holt (4775) receives the baton from teammate Parker Alford in the Boys’ Sprint Medley. DS’ Sprint Medley team took 10th place with a time of 3:35.53.

Wimberley Texan track athletes Rhyan Masur, Jasmine Pate, Brina Jonesa and Myla Edwards pose before competing in the Division I Girls 4x200-meter relay at the Texas Relays.

Texas Relays 2018 PHOTO BY ALBERT SANCHEZ

Sofia Picucci hands off to Ziba Payer in the Girls 4x100 Division II Relays.

Athletes from across Hays County hit the track at Mike A. Myers Stadium for the annual Texas Relays in Austin Thursday through Saturday.

PHOTO BY CYNDY SLOVAK-BARTON

Drippings Springs athlete Hannah Biggs finished the 100 meter hurdles with a time of 15.65 at the Texas Relays.

Tigers trample Knights Dripping Springs teammates (left) congratulate Andrew Spiegel (22) on his goal to tie the Knights 1-1 against McCallum in a bi-district playoff game on March 29 at House Park. The Tigers advance to the area round of playoffs with the 5-2 win.

Right, a McCallum player protects himself as Juan Galindo controls the ball with his knee.

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corner of RR 12 & Post Oak in Dripping Springs

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Public Notices

Employment REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS

CSP 18-001 Dripping Springs ISD High School & Middle School Tennis Court Repair & Resurfacing Project: Dripping Springs ISD is requesting competitive sealed proposals for the Dripping

Springs ISD High School & Middle School Tennis Court Repair & Resurfacing Project (CSP 18-001).

Proposals shall be addressed to Michelle Lyons, Purchasing Specialist, Dripping Springs Independent School District, 510 W. Mercer

Street, P.O. Box 479, Dripping Springs, Texas 78620, and must be received by 2:00 P.M. (CST) on May 1, 2018.

There will be a pre-bid meeting on April 16, 2018, at 1:00 P.M. (CST) at Facilities and Construction located at 200 Peabody Lane, Dripping

Springs, Texas 78620, behind Dripping Springs Middle School. Immediately following will be a site visit. Attendance is highly recommended.

The CSP package may be obtained at the at the District’s website at www.dsisdtx.us.

Dripping Springs Indepen-

dent School District reserves the right to accept or reject any and all proposals, to waive any formalities and irregularities in the proposals received, and will accept the response(s) determined to be in the best interests of the District.

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Page 6

News-Dispatch

Thursday, April 5, 2018

Dripping Springs in top 5 for health living challenge

BY MOSES LEOS III

Dripping Springs finished in the top five for cities in its population size for the annual It’s Time Texas Community Challenge, presented by H-E-B. The initiative promotes competition among communities in Texas to encourage healthy lifestyles such as eating healthy and working out.

The challenge began Jan. 8 and ended March 4.

“The city spearheads it and works with community programs to get people in the city involved,” Parks and Community Services Director and Chair for the It’s Time Texas initiative Mariana Espinoza said.

Community members logged points in the competition by registering, eating healthy, taking healthy selfies, doing group activities, utilizing the fitness tracker, among

“I personally love the H-E-B community challenge because it is an effort that encourages people to make those daily small healthy choices, that not only benefit them but earn points for the community with the potential to earn grant money.”

–Mary Jane Hetrick, vice chair of the Mayor’s Health and Fitness Initiative and a Dripping Springs ISD board of trustees member

other activities to earn points.

In the previous year’s competition, the city won first place and an $1,800 grant, which was used for map improvements and trail markers for Dripping Springs Ranch Park. This year Smithville took first place in the category.

“We’re hoping to come back and reclaim our title next year,” Espinoza said.

“We’re definitely looking

forward to next year and coming back strong.”

Mary Jane Hetrick, vice chair of the Mayor’s Health and Fitness Initiative and a Dripping Springs ISD board of trustees member, worked closely with the school district for the challenge.

“This challenge dovetails beautifully with efforts already underway in the school district,”

PHOTO COURTESY OF THE CITY OF DRIPPING SPRINGS

The Mayor’s Health and Fitness Council that was established as part of the It’s Time Texas Initiative includes (left to right) Mariana Espinoza, Michelle Fischer, Mary Jane Hetrick, Mayor Todd Purcell and Rachel Goodnight.

Hetrick said.

“I personally love the H-E-B community challenge because it is an effort that encourages people to make those daily small healthy choices, that not only benefit them but earn points for

the community with the potential to earn grant money,” Hetrick said. “It’s still fun even if you don’t win grant money, it still benefits all the participants, but in terms of trying to win the title again next year, I think advance

preparation is key.”

Espinoza said the city wants to create a new marketing campaign, have more local events, and partner with more local businesses to get more people in the community involved next year.

Emerald Crown: Worried residents don’t want use of eminent domain laws Continued from pg. 1

the project; she and her neighbors are still worried about eminent domain.

“I feel like a lot of the parties involved have a hidden agenda, they are making nice up front, and they’re trying to make San Marcos into another Austin or San Antonio, and we’re not. We’re losing a lot of the character that makes our town what it is,” Molina said.

Molina added she is “all for green spaces on future developments,” but felt developers of the trail shouldn’t place green space on private property.

Joyce Milburn, Molina’s neighbor, said she felt that they didn’t get enough information about the trail

system at the presentation. Other neighbors were worried about the road infrastructure being unable to handle more traffic, as well as a rise in crime rates associated with trails.

Kerry Urbanowicz, director of parks for the city of Kyle, said that he is not aware of any studies that show an increase in crime rates with the development of trails.

Urbanowicz also thinks the trail system, even if just an outline, will help him make a plan for future developments and green spaces in Kyle.

“I can’t make developers build parks and trails without having a plan.

So, this plan is important

The Emerald Crown Regional Trail Work Group is made up of the San Marcos Greenbelt Alliance, Hays County, the cities of Buda, Kyle and San Marcos. Also part of the Work Group is the Meadows Center for Water and the Environment at Texas State University, the Guadalupe-Blanco River Trust, the Hill Country Conservancy, the Texas State University Geography Department and Take-a-Hike San Marcos. for future development.

Whether we like it or not, development is coming,” Urbanowicz said. “So we can make a park land dedication ordinance if we’ve got a plan.”

Katherine Sturdivant,

park specialist with the Hays County Parks Department, liked the idea of a connected trail system in the county and believes it can even be a draw for future homebuyers.

But she also under-

stands why some are against the idea.

“They shouldn’t feel obligated to share their land with us in any way, I just am really hoping that we can talk to some of these land owners and show them some of the benefits of having a trail on their property and the benefits of getting people on trails,” Sturdivant said.

Sturdivant believed “there’s a way” an agreement can be struck to where everyone can be happy.

The idea of the trail is based on the Violet Crown Trail in Austin, and even named after it. The Violet Crown trail took roughly 20 years to complete and

the group is looking at a similar, if not longer, timeline.

The group came up with the idea July 2017 and applied for support from the National Park Service.

Justin Bates with the National Park Service Rivers, Trails, and Conservation and Assistance Program is offering services to help plan the trail.

“This is a really longterm effort. We’re at the stage of getting ideas of what the concept is and we’d love for people to help us shape what they want their experience to be, what the trail heads should look like,” Bates said.

universally seen as a money grab,” said Jeffrey Stuffings, owner and founder of Jester King Brewery. “But these big distributors have the political capital to make it happen.”

Marc Woffenden, owner of Two Wheel Brewing in Buda, said HB 3237 could hurt the margins for larger independent brewers who want the capability to sell directly

to customers.

Woffenden also worries the new law could lead to tighter regulations down the road.

“If you’re going to have to pay a distributor for that, it’s going to affect those guys. Ultimately, it could affect all of us,” Woffenden said.

“It could start trickling down and that number (of barrels) could become smaller and

smaller.”

Despite regulation concerns, Woffenden said the craft brew industry continues to thrive in Central Texas.

Woffenden cites a “go local” mentality that’s transferred from Austin into the beer industry.

“More people are wanting to buy their beer in town or right down the street from them,” Woffenden said.

New Beer Law: Who gets to sell the suds?

Continued from pg. 1

2013 laws, brewers can sell up to 5,000 barrels per year in their own taprooms and beer gardens, provided they obtain a brewpub license from the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission (TABC).

In addition, Senate Bills 515, 516, 518 and 639 allowed small breweries to distribute their own product directly to retailers.

Proponents of the bill, however, cite instances where large brewing companies purchased smaller ones, allowing them to become sellers and retailers, while saving money.

In 2015, Ballast Point Brewing Company was bought for $1 billion by Constellation Brands, which owns Corona.

Since 2011, Good Island has been a beer branded by Anheuser-Busch InBev, which is owned by Budweiser. These were

independently owned craft breweries before being bought out by big alcohol.

In Texas, these larger beer distributors could save by buying smaller breweries to stay within the confinement of 5,000 barrels a year.

Rick Donley, president of the Beer Alliance of Texas, said in a Texas Tribune article that once local brewers grow to a certain point, they are no longer the new tenants in the marketplace.

“When you get to a certain point, you’re no longer the little guy that needs the incentives,” Donley said.

In Hays County, which has seen growth in the alcohol industry in the past decade, none of the seven small breweries produce enough at this point to be directly affected by HB 3237.

But brewery and brewpub owners worry

the new legislation could start a slippery slope for more regulation.

Greg Plummer, owner of Suds Monkey in Dripping Springs, said self-distribution allows small breweries to protect themselves by saving money not having to go through a distributor.

“It’s dirty politics. If you produce that much beer, you shouldn’t have to sell to a distributor if its coming back to your own taproom,” Plummer said. “We have time before this could affect us, and we’re just grateful we have protection from other brewers.”

Plummer said he is afraid the Texas Legislature could potentially lower the limit from 225,000 barrels to whatever they want, which could impact growth for smaller brewers.

“I can’t speak for other brewers but it is

Food Trucks: DS rules are changing Continued from pg. 1

food vendor that intends to operate for more than 10 days in the same location.

Warren said he partners with small business owners who can’t afford to open a full restaurant, looking at alternatives such as food trucks to test the waters of the food industry.

But since the city requires a CUP for every food truck added, Warren has to wait to hear an approval from the city before other small businesses can operate at the park, which he said is money lost for him.

Mim James, Planning and Zoning commission chairperson, said he wants to help Warren succeed as a small busi-

“I want as many trucks as the city will allow me to have that comply with the ordinances.”

–Bill Warren

ness owner and work out a compromise so he can continue to operate his food truck.

“I do believe that P and Z was trying to help me and you can tell they don’t want to hurt a small business from operating,” Warren said. “It’s just hard when the city’s ordinances don’t call for a smooth process with food trucks.”

The staff report and engineering study by the city cited concerns about traffic in and out of the food truck lot and space for proper mobility.

One of the compro-

mises for CUP permit recommendation was for Warren to provide the same amount of parking space as called for nine food trucks. According to city documents, Warren is required to provide 27 parking spaces on the 0.85-acre lot.

“I want as many trucks as the city will allow me to have that comply with the ordinances,” Warren said.

“The goal is to provide an environment where people can come and hang out, eat and support small businesses and I want the city to see that too.”

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