Tiger XC hopeful for state
Avian immigrants from Mexico
Clear bag policy for DSHS games
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News-Dispatch Volume XXXIX No. 44
Serving Western Hays County, Texas since 1982
page 6
75¢
Thursday, August 15, 2019
Landowner wins $230K Kinder Morgan settlement BY MOSES LEOS III
From the moment he purchased 53 acres of property in Blanco County two years ago, Matt Walsh knew that’s where he wanted to build his dream home. Those dreams quickly turned into a nightmare
when Walsh fought Kinder Morgan’s attempt to carve part of its 420-mile Permian Highway Pipeline (PHP) through his property. It was one of the first condemnation hearings involving the PHP in the Hill Country, a project that could impact Blanco, Hays and Caldwell counties.
While Walsh eventually won a $233,500 settlement Aug. 6 allowing Kinder Morgan to use the land – 11 times more than the firm’s initial appraisal – he is now looking to chase his dreams elsewhere. All the while, Walsh remains frustrated with Kinder Morgan, with whom he
felt lacked transparency in the process. However, Alan Fore, Kinder Morgan Vice President of Public Affairs, refuted claims of a lack of transparency, adding the company plans to appeal the settlement.
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“It was so unrealistic on how they (Kinder Morgan) determined compensation and they don’t take into account how many trees you lose, or a creek that might be destroyed or dealing with construction for two years.” –Matt Walsh, land owner in Blanco County
Wimberley council votes to dissolve Short Term Rental committee
Making 290 safe
Officials discuss regulating cell phone usage
BY EXSAR ARGUELLO After a year of work, the controversial Short Term Rental (STR) Committee in Wimberley will conclude its services after city leaders Aug. 1 voted 3-2 to deny a one-year extension and workshop. Council members Gary Barchfeld and Craig Fore both cast dissenting votes. Conceived in August 2018, the committee was formed and charged to draft an ordinance to bring out of compliance STRs into compliance. But the group’s work became the center of controversy as residents argued the committee was trying to solve a problem that did not exist. A year later, with $7,500 spent on drafting the ordinance and on legal counsel, the group will cease to exist without having a workshop with the council. Mayor Pro Tem Rebecca Minnick and Councilmembers Christine Byrne and Bo Bowman led the charge to not extend the committee and not schedule an Aug. 1 joint workshop. The committee helped update the STR ordinance, identify the eight noncomplaint STRs in the city, outlined a procedure for staff to follow to
STR COMMITTEE, 2
BY CAMELIA JUAREZ
Grit on the gridiron
PHOTO BY MOSES LEOS III
Dripping Springs High senior Chance Wylie (left) fights to escape from the grasp of teammate Jeremy Hack as they complete a drill Tuesday at Tiger Stadium. Earlier this week, Dripping Springs’ football team opened preseason practices in preparation for the 2019 season. More photos can be found on Page 3.
Local area farmers markets help generate $3.3M in sales BY CHRISTOPHER GREEN
More than $3.3 million in total sales was made during the first six months of 2019 by six different area farmers markets, including those in Dripping Springs and Buda. That metric, part of a report from the Texas Center for Local Food (TCLF), showed an economic impact from farmers markets in the Austin area. The $3.3 million derived from farmers markets in Sunset Valley, three in the Austin area, as well as markets in Buda and Dripping Springs. According to the report, there is roughly 17,192 acres of diversified farmland that’s in production by those who regularly attend farmers markets. However, Travis County loses nine acres of farmland every day to development. The six Austin area markets support 188 businesses over the course of the year. Farmers markets allow new and small businesses to enter the marketplace, according to the report. Sue Beckwith, executive director for the TCLF, said the six markets measured help bolster local and regional economies. “Every dollar that’s spent on locally grown food goes almost entirely to the farm-
Distracted driving, along with reducing speeds on U.S. 290, topped a list of resident traffic concerns discussed by State Rep. Erin Zwiener (D-Driftwood) and Hays County law enforcement leaders Aug. 8. One part of that conversation centered on strengthening Texas’ Hands-Free law, which prohibits drivers from texting or making calls on their phone while driving. However, Hays County Pct. 4 Constable Ron Hood said police are struggling to enforce the law because the language only prohibits texting or calling. A driver is exempt from a citation if a they are reporting an emergency
MAKING 290 SAFE, 6
PHOTO BY LAUREL ROBERTSON
A farmer displays his harvest at the Dripping Springs Farmers Market. In 2018, the Dripping Springs Farmers Market was named No. 1 in Texas for farmers markets, according to results of the Farmers Market Celebration, a contest organized by American Farmland Trust. Dripping Springs’ Farmers Market was also tabbed as 7th best in the nation.
“Direct marketing, from the farmer’s hand to the consumer’s, means the product is fresher, it means the money is circulating in the economy and shopping at a farmers’ market ramps that number up significantly.”
market ramps that number up significantly,” Robertson said. In a statement, Edwin Marty, Food Policy Manager for the City of Austin, said the Austin area has always been known for its great food and the farmers that supply the food are in great demand. –Laurel Robertson, “From the thousands Dripping Springs Farmers Market Manager of acres of Central Texager, said that farmers as land, they carefully er. Those famers are cultivate and protect, markets help people then spending that get products in a better to the thousands of money at their local jobs they create, we manner rather going stores, so that money must do everything through big corporastays here,” Beckwith possible to ensure our tions. said. “It’s as much as farming community is “Direct marketing, an eight times higher return when you spend from the farmer’s hand well supported,” Marty said. “There’s no better to the consumer’s, your money to supway to do that than means the product is port a locally owned by going to your local fresher, it means the business.” farmers market and money is circulating Laurel Robertson, putting your dollars to in the economy and Dripping Springs work.” shopping at a farmers Farmers Market Man-
County spends $1.5M to outsource inmates BY EXSAR ARGUELLO The continued practice of outsourcing Hays County inmates to nearby counties will continue even as the county so far has spent $1.5 million this year alone. Approved by the Hays County Commissioners Court on Aug. 6 in a 4-0 vote, a new agreement will now outsource prisoners to neighboring Travis County. Currently, Hays County houses inmates in Bastrop, Bell, Burnett, Caldwell, Fort Bend, Guadalupe, McLennan and Walker counties. This new agreement with Travis County could raise the amount spent on outsourcing inmates, which hit a new high in early August. From July 28 to Aug. 3, Hays County spent $83,921 outsourcing inmates.
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