Young Tigers prep for next season
DSISD selects Teachers of the Year
Look who is graduating
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News-Dispatch Volume XXXIX No. 34
Serving Western Hays County, Texas since 1982
75¢ Thursday, May 30, 2019
DSISD still seeks input on one or more high schools BY EXSAR ARGUELLO
PHOTO BY TERRY RAINES A photo shows the aftermath of a large load vehicle that overturned on RM 150 at the Onion Creek low water crossings near Driftwood on March 2. Hays County officials are working with TxDOT to identify ways to prevent large load vehicles from traveling on the roadway in the future.
RM 150 repairs to finish by late July BY MOSES LEOS III
Late July is the timeframe state officials aim to completely repair, and possibly reopen, the RM 150 low water crossings over Onion Creek near Driftwood. In the interim, Hays County leaders are also identifying ways to prevent large load vehicles from traveling through the crossings, which they
In the interim, Hays County leaders are also identifying ways to prevent large load vehicles from traveling through the crossings, which they point to as a partial reason for the damage.
point to as a partial reason for the damage. Walt Smith, Hays County Pct. 4 Commissioner, said the Texas Department of Transpor-
tation (TxDOT), which owns that stretch of RM 150, plans to work with its current concrete contractors to repair the damage partially caused by flood-
ing in early May. TxDOT also plans to resurface the pavement at the low water crossing as well. It is unknown at this time the total cost for the repair. Smith said TxDOT and Hays County officials in recent weeks discussed ways to mitigate the issue, which included an option to possibly build a new
RM 150 CROSSINGS, 2
Mayor Pro-Tem selection on hold
Wimberley city leaders tank special called meeting BY EXSAR ARGUELLO Controversy swirled at Wimberley City Hall May 21 as plans to select a new Mayor Pro Tem ended after city leaders didn’t have enough participants to conduct a special meeting on the matter. The ensuing aftermath led to finger pointing among some city leaders who alleged the proposed special called meeting might have been illegal if it took place. Drama began during the election canvassing and swearing-in ceremony for the new city council members that were elected May 4.
“A special meeting requires three members of the council to notify the Mayor for need of the meeting. You must poll all members for their availability and show the reason and time for the meeting. None of this was done.” –Craig Fore, Wimberley council member
Christine Byrne, Rebecca Minnick and Bo Bowman were sworn in by Wimberley Municipal Court Judge Daniel Burns on May 14. In an unprecedented move, Mayor Susan Jaggers did not attend the ceremony. A mayor
has attended a swearing-in ceremony since the city was incorporated in 2000, according to multiple sources who attended the ceremony. The controversy continued when a special meeting to select a new
Mayor Pro Tem, as outlined in the Texas Election Code, failed to meet quorum. The meeting was scheduled to commence after the swearing-in ceremony, as outlined in the agenda. Mayor Pro Tem Gary Barchfeld and Councilmember Craig Fore attended the ceremony and canvased the election, but both left after congratulating the winners. At least four members of the council are required to be in attendance in order to meet a quorum, which is the required number of city
MAYOR PRO-TEM TBD, 2
County OKs treatment programs for veterans BY EXSAR ARGUELLO A new private/public partnership could aid Hays County’s efforts to tackle substance abuse for veterans, marking a new chapter in the county’s criminal justice reform saga. The partnership between the Hays County Veterans Court and Austin Recovery Inc. will provide short and long-term treatment programs for veterans fighting with substance abuse disorders. A letter agreement between the two entities was approved unanimously by the Hays County Commissioners Court on May
The partnership between the Hays County Veterans Court and Austin Recovery Inc. will provide short and longterm treatment programs for veteran’s fighting with substance abuse disorders. 21. “This is a program we can provide to our veterans through our veterans court,” said Precinct 1 Commissioner Debbie Ingalsbe. “I think it will be a great program to provide for our veterans.” Austin Recovery Inc. was founded in 1967 by Jim and Hazel Lavender. For more than 50
years, the company has provided counseling, housing and vocational training on the company’s farm in Buda. Some of the patients at the facility have been discharged from the Austin State Hospital for being “chronic inebriates,” according to the company’s website.
VETERANS PROGRAMS, 3
Questions still linger on what direction Dripping Springs ISD stakeholders plan to take for its secondary campuses. Armed with a new survey by Population and Survey Analysts (PASA), DSISD officials turned to parents and local leaders to chime on their vision for the district. PASA’s study, which provided insight on how the city is anticipated to grow in the next few decades, concluded that the district needs to take action on the future of its high school campus, whether that is in the form of one mega-high school or multiple campuses. At a May 23 longrange facilities planning committee meeting,
PASA’s study concluded that the district needs to take action on the future of its high school campus, whether that is in the form of one megahigh school or multiple campuses. Superintendent Bruce Gearing urged parents to use the summer as a brainstorming period to think about the district’s future. “Think about how this district has been
DSISD HIGH SCHOOLS, 3
Former mayor leads lawsuit against city of Wimberley BY EXSAR ARGUELLO The controversial Wimberley wastewater saga is now heading into the court system. On May 17, Wimberley resident and former Mayor Steve Thurber filed a lawsuit in Hays County District Court against the city, alleging a potential quid pro quo, or favor, and Texas Open Meeting Act (TOMA) violations. Those accusations relate to Wimberley’s acquisition of an easement needed for Aqua Texas to provide wastewater service to town. The suit also comes after investigations by the Hays County District Attorney’s office fizzled. At the center of the lawsuit is the de-annexation of Sabino Ranch, a 96-acre tract of land that was effectively removed from the city’s municipal control after council approval on March 21. The property, owned by Scott Johnson, is adjacent to the proposed boring site under Cypress Creek. Pipeline installed via the boring would transport raw sewage to Aqua Texas, a third-party wastewater provider, for the city’s wastewater services, pending approval from the Texas Water Development Board. Without the easement, the city could not send raw sewage from its new collection system to Aqua Texas’ treatment plant, according to the lawsuit. Because the city council did not notify the public of discussion on the easement, or take a formal vote on the matter, the suit alleges Wimberley’s City Council violated TOMA rules. “We’re alleging that the discussion in executive session included that discussion about the easement, which was not presented to the public,” Thurber said. “Although
At the core of the lawsuit is the deannexation of Sabino Ranch, a 96-acre tract of land that was effectively removed from the city’s municipal control after council approval on March 21. Without the easement, the city could not send raw sewage from its new collection system to Aqua Texas’ treatment plant. we don’t know what happened in the meeting, documents tell the story of what could have happened.” Thurber said the alleged favor was made apparent in Wimberley’s contract with Aqua Texas. Thurber argued city leaders granted the Johnson de-annexation in exchange for the Johnson easement in order to facilitate the plan to contract with Aqua Texas. His argument centers on a section of the agreement with Aqua Texas, where language was changed a day before the de-annexation took place. Language shifted from Aqua “plans to obtain” an easement on March 20 to Aqua “has obtained an easement” on March 21. “If so, council’s engaging in those easement
WIMBERLEY LAWSUIT, 2