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News-Dispatch Volume XXXIX No. 30
Serving Western Hays County, Texas since 1982
Dripping Springs greenlights expanded town center project BY EXSAR ARGUELLO The approval of pre-construction services related to the town center in Dripping Springs will pave the way for a project that is anticipated to expand the city’s downtown sector. On April 16, the Dripping Springs City Council voted unanimously to green-light an agreement to financiall assist the Tax Increment Reinvestment
“The vision is a mixed-use civic center that satisfies the needs of the stakeholders which are the city, public library, school district and county.” –Keenan Smith, TIRZ Project Manager
Zone (TIRZ) project team to implement a pre-construction strategy for the town center project. The agreement is not to exceed $15,000.
In addition, city leaders approved a resolution authorizing the transfer of funds from TIRZ No. 2 to TIRZ No. 1 for the project, which maximizes funding
options for the project. “The vision is a mixeduse civic center that satisfies the needs of the stakeholders which are the city, public library, school district and county,” Keenan Smith, TIRZ Project manager, said. “We need to all come together and help benefit the breathtaking heart of Dripping Springs.” While the moves were
TOWN CENTER PROJECT, 6
Founders Day
75¢ Thursday, May 2, 2019
Council member sues candidate for election violation EXSAR ARGUELLO A dispute over the legitimacy of a city council candidate’s residency has led to a lawsuit filed by an incumbent Dripping Springs city leader. Incumbent Place 5 council member Travis Crow is suing opponent Geoffery Tahuahua for an alleged violation of the Texas Election Code. Crow filed litigation on the grounds that Tahuahua falsified his application for candidacy and is ineligible to run for office. According to the Texas Election Code, a resident on the ballot must reside at a home within the corporate city limits for six months prior to the filing deadline. Candidates running in the May 4 city council election had to file by Feb. 15; a candidate would have been required to be living in a home within the city
Council member Travis Crow filed litigation on the grounds that Geoffery Tahuahua falsified his application for candidacy and is ineligible to run for office. limits as of Aug. 15. According to a News-Dispatch report, Tahuahua listed his residency on his candidate filing in the Founders Ridge subdivision, which is within the city limits. According to a Central Appraisal District (CAD) search, Tahuahua’s Founder’s Ridge home was deeded
ELECTION VIOLATION?, 6
County shoots down revolving door policy PHOTO BY EXSAR ARGUELLO
Members of the Dripping Springs High Hi-Steppers march through downtown during Founders Day Saturday. Hundreds packed Mercer Street for the annual Founders Day festivities.
Squabbles continue over proposed sewage plant location in Wimberley BY EXSAR ARGUELLO Debate over Wimberley’s wastewater issues continued this week as parties on all sides squabbled about the location of proposed treatment facilities. While proponents of an Aqua Texasoperated wastewater
facility worry that a city-owned plant would be built in Blue Hole Regional Park, those who back the latter plan refute those claims, citing documents that prohibit such a move. Supporters of the Aqua Texas wastewater facility have advocated against a wastewater plant in the middle of
the park believing that it could deter tourism and create a bad smell. However, an aerial view of Blue Hole indicates a city-owned plant would be located outside of the park boundaries. According to documentation, Wimberley is unable to use the park for
anything other than public recreation. A grant issued in 2004 by Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) to Wimberley for the purchase and development of Blue Hole Regional Park prohibits the city from using in perpetuity any
WIMBERLEY WASTEWATER, 8
Privacy woes grow over Wimberley STR software BY EXSAR ARGUELLO The purchase of a $19,000 short term rental software by the Wimberley City Council in March is causing heartburn for some STR owners who worry about data privacy. That purchase is part of the city’s mission to address noncompliant STRs in the city. At the forefront of the controversy was the recent adoption by Wimberley city leaders of the new STR ordinance in late April. But in order for Wimberley to address noncompliant STRs, city officials hopes the software will find these
“We have never had any contact with Host Compliance or the city on the specifics of how this software works. I have real safety concerns when a company I don’t know about has the address and precise location of my rentals. What if that data goes into the wrong hands?” –Jennifer Ober, STR owner and Wimberley resident
properties. The city is contracting with Host Compliance, a private organization tasked at addressing the issue. For Jennifer Ober, a local STR owner and Wimberley resident, the software purchase
comes at a time when data breaches and mismanagement are prevalent. Ober and her family worry about how the company operates. “We don’t know this
SHORT TERM RENTALS, 6
BY EXSAR ARGUELLO Lingering issues on a four-year plan aimed at limiting the involvement of former officials in county business led Hays County leaders to ultimately shoot down the proposed policy April 23. Instead, Hays County Commissioners will seek additional disclosure methods that will be introduced in the future. The diplomatic compromise followed two weeks of deliberation on the implementation of the policy, which was crafted by County Judge Ruben Becerra and Chief of Staff Alex Villalobos. The revolving door policy would have prohibited former county elected officials from conducting business with the county for four years, a measure Beccera said would promote transparency and a level playing field for contractors. However, commissioners scrapped the policy and instead opted for a disclosure form for any individual previously employed by the county. This disclosure form will provide the court with any potential conflicts of interests for the elected officials to take into account when deliberating contracts. Hays County Pct. 4 Commissioner Walt Smith addressed his concerns about the logistics of a revolving door policy. “I almost feel like we’re searching for a problem to find a solution at this point,” Smith said. Smith said there are previously elected officials who have in-depth knowledge with the intricacies of the county and argued their knowledge is a benefit to the taxpayer. “Yet, because of this, they are completely prohibited from being a
The revolving door policy would have prohibited former county elected officials from conducting business with the county for four years. part of the process and that’s a concern for me,” Smith said. Debbie Ingalsbe, Hays County Pct. 1 Commissioner, asked if the county had the authority to implement such measures. General Counsel Mark Kennedy said the court only has authority granted by the legislature and has limited authority compared to that of a home rule city. However, Travis County has adopted some similar measures that include limitations on discretionary contracts and its purchasing policy as part of its disclosure policy. Commissioners directed staff to draft a disclosure form that will be sent to the court for approval. This form would inform the commissioners of any potential conflicts of interest, which they can address on the dais. Hays County Pct. 3 Commissioner Lon Shell said disclosure is “not to say you can’t hire them,” but is to “be transparent of who it is.” “And if you believe there is a true conflict, if you believe there is something that does risk the taxpayer, then you know about it, so when you’re making those evaluations, you consider it,” Shell said.