D.S. candidate elegibility questioned
Decision on wine warehouse postponed
Recouping HazMat costs
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News-Dispatch Volume XXXIX No. 28
Serving Western Hays County, Texas since 1982
Resident outcry over an increase in respiratory illnesses caused by controlled burns near the Heritage subdivision in Dripping Springs has pushed some to question regulatory authority over the practice, primarily near populated areas.
The issue involves controlled brush burns conducted by Meritage Homes, which is clearing land south of Founders Park and U.S. Highway 290 for future development.
The issue involves controlled brush burns conducted by Meritage Homes, which is clearing land south of Founders Park and U.S.
Highway 290 for future development. Several neighbors who spoke during public comment at the April 9 Dripping Springs
City Council meeting demanded the city halt the burning. They cited several instances where residents have been transported to
the hospital where they were diagnosed with bronchitis, laryngitis, severe allergies and headaches. Teresa Tautfest, a resident in the Heritage subdivision, said she was recently diagnosed with laryngitis as a result of
PUBLIC HEALTH CONCERNS, 2
STATE BOUND TIGERS
COURTESY PHOTO
Georgetown’s Birklebach Field is the destination for the Dripping Springs Lady Tiger soccer team after the program clinched a berth in the UIL state tournament by virtue of two wins at the Region IV, 5A championships in Corpus Christi last weekend. Dripping Springs (22-4-3) accomplished the feat by defeating Gregory-Portland 4-2 in penalty kicks in the regional semifinals. The Lady Tigers then outlasted Alamo Heights 3-1 in penalty kicks in the Region IV final. The Tigers advance to play Mansfield Legacy April 18 at noon. The winner takes on either Dallas Highland Park or Humble Kingwood Park in the state final Saturday at noon. Be sure to check haysnewsdispatch.com for updates.
$27K-plus contributed to Wimberley candidates BY EXSAR ARGUELLO More than $27,000 in campaign contributions have been collected by six candidates vying for a trio of Wimberley City Council seats up for grabs May 4, according to 30-day campaign finance reports. Roughly $21,000 of that has been raised by Rebecca Minnick, Christine Byrne and Bo Bowman, who all are running on platforms opposing proposed plans for Aqua Texas to operate the city’s wastewater treatment system.
WIMBERLEY CANDIDATES, 3
Paper or plastic?
County to consider hybrid voting machines BY EXSAR ARGUELLO
ballot before going to a second station, where A statewide push for the voter scans the paper a paper trail at the ballot ballot in a machine that box has gained traction in counts the votes electronHays County as officials ically. The paper is filed consider making the in a sealed box under the switch to a hybrid voting machine. machine. Voting officials said this Residents got a first system allows the votes look at how these hyto be filed in two separate brid machines work and locations. In May, Hays operate during an April 11 County Commissioners League of Women Voters are expected to discuss event. For citizens who the possibility of purattended the event, the chasing hybrid voting technology was refreshing machines. Lon Shell, Hays and easy to manage. County Pct. 3 CommisHybrid voting masioner, said it might be chines are typically split time for the county to into two separate stamove on from its ditions. At the first station, a rect-recording electronic resident casts a vote via a (DRE) machines, which touch screen panel. Once have been in service for the ballot is complete, a more than a decade. sheet of paper will print “It’s still very prelimthe ballot. inary, but we’re waiting The voter will then for the Texas Legislature double check his/her to finish out this session
PHOTO BY EXSAR ARGUELLO Commissioner Debbie Ingalsbe (center) and Hays County Elections Administrator Jennifer Anderson test a hybrid voting machine. Hays County Commissioners are expected to discuss buying new voting machines in May, pending any legislation from the Texas Legislature.
before we sit down and make a decision,” Shell said. “We know that the paper trail is important to people, so we will looking at our options.”
Neighboring jurisdictions like Travis County have recently transitioned to a hybrid system. In
VOTING MACHINES, 8
Early voting begins Monday STAFF REPORT
Voters can start taking to the polls Monday as the start of Early Voting begins for the May 4 general election. In Dripping Springs ISD, Kara Mayfield, Rob Satterfield, Marisa Grijalva and Joanna Day are vying for a pair of at-large trustee seats. The top two candidates who receive the most votes will be seated. Meanwhile, the city of Dripping Springs will hold its first election based on a new place system, which was approved via ordinance in January. In the race for the Place 1 seat, incumbent Taline Manassian faces
candidate Anthony Aristar. Meanwhile, Place 5 incumbent William Travis Crow squares off against challengers Geoffrey Tahuahua and Steve Randall. In Wimberley, a trio of city council seats are up for grabs this May. Candidates Rebecca Minnick and Tim Dodson square off in the race for the Place 1 seat, while current Mayor Susan Jaggers takes on candidate Christine Byrne in the Place 3 race. Incumbent Erik Wollam takes on challenger Bo Bowman in the race for the Place 5 seat. Early voting starts Monday and ends April 30. Election Day is May 4.
75¢ Thursday, April 18, 2019
D.S. residents having health problems, claim burning by developers is the cause BY EXSAR ARGUELLO
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EARLY VOTING LOCATIONS FOR DRIPPING SPRINGS AND DSISD ELECTIONS • Hays County Pct. 4 office 195 Roger Hanks Parkway Dripping Springs • Sunset Canyon Baptist Church 4000 Highway 290 Dripping Springs
EARLY VOTING SCHEDULE FOR DRIPPING SPRINGS AND DSISD ELECTIONS Monday, April 22: 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday, April 23-Friday, April 26: 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, April 27: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday, April 29: 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday, April 30: 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, May 4 (Election Day): 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Diplomatic victory for short term rentals in Wimberley BY EXSAR ARGUELLO. A grueling two-hour debate on the future of short term rentals (STRs) in Wimberley ended in a diplomatic victory for proponents and critics alike. It now sets the stage for Wimberley’s city council to consider a new STR ordinance with caveats. On April 12, the Planning & Zoning Commission recommended 6-1 to approve changes to the STR ordinance with the amendment to remove the annual Conditional Use Permit renewal process. That process could have added a yearly fee of up to $500. Commissioner Craig Reitz was the dissenting vote. The ordinance was drafted by Wimberley’s STR Committee, which has spent 10 months working on the changes. Proposed changes, however, have been controversial among STR owners and residents alike in the city. Many raised concern over proposed CUP renewal fees. Wimberley City Attorney Charlie Zech said a new ordinance was needed because the city’s current STR ordinance needed to be cleaned up. “Yes (the ordinance) could be revenue generating,” Zech said in response to concern by the commission over renewal fees. “But it must be revenue neutral. You can’t use it to make a profit, but enough revenue to cover services.” Despite the fees, Zech argued that the current STR ordinance needed to be reworked. Although commissioners approved a new ordinance, six of the seven members did not agree with the CUP renewal process and associated fees. Commissioner Rebecca Minnick said no other CUP in the city requires to a yearly renewal process. “If we open ourselves up to annual renewal of the CUP, what about the other CUPs,” Minnick said. “I still have an issue with that, renewal fee aside.” Commission Sara Dishman echoed Minnick’s concerns, calling the renewal fee “steep.” The proposed CUP renewal fee was meant to help pay for city’s STR software by Host Compliance, which will give the city a database of STRs operating in and out of compliance. The $19,000 a year software, which is paid quarterly and can be canceled by the city, was approved by city learders in 2019. However, Zech said the software was already approved and was not the topic being discussed by the commission. Commissioner Peter Lingamfelter voiced major concerns, specifically the committee’s charge to push the ordinance quickly through the
STR DEBATE, 3