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News-Dispatch Volume XXXVI No. 45
Serving Western Hays County, Texas since 1982
75¢
Thursday, August 18, 2016
City, developer enter reuse agreement STAFF REPORT
Dripping Springs is moving forward with an agreement to provide a mixed-use development roughly 300,000 gallons per day of treated effluent for reuse. According to a press release, the city will provide effluent to
Howard Ranch, a development a mile south of the FM 150 and Ranch Road 12 intersection. Erik Howard, developer of Howard Ranch, said in a statement he plans to reuse the city’s treated effluent for irrigation purposes within the development. He said the agreement is a chance
to “alleviate pressure on our irrigation system and the Dripping Springs water supply as we build out, as well as provide a model for future growth in the area.” “I have followed closely the discussion around the city’s plans to expand its wastewater system; beneficial reuse makes so much
sense to me, and I’m glad Howard Ranch is in a position to step up. We will certainly put it to good use,” Howard said in a statement. With the contract, the city estimates the total committed beneficial reuse to be approximately 600,000 gallons per day. According to the release, the
BY MOSES LEOS III
BY SAMANTHA SMITH
news@haysfreepress.com
ESD 9, 8
HOWARD RANCH, 7
County approves funds for FM 150 study
ESD 9 going to voters in Nov. election Creation of a ninth emergency services district (ESD) will be going to Hays County voters in November as the commissioners court unanimously approved it to go on the ballot. Commissioners voted 5-0 to call an election for the creation of ESD 9, which would provide EMS service for county residents who do not live within an existing ESD. ESD 9 would have a tax rate cap of six cents per $100 valuation, if voters approve the measure. But in order for the district to be feasible to the county, voters in Kyle’s extraterritorial jurisdiction (ETJ) must approve the measure on Election Day, according to the county’s resolution language. San Marcos Hays County EMS Chief David Smith said Tuesday boundaries for the district have been worked out. That included meeting with ESD 7, which services the Wimberley area, regarding setting service boundaries for neighborhoods west of Hugo Road and Ranch Road 12. Smith also said multiple municipalities, including Kyle and Dripping Springs, supported the ESD. But debate raged on the dais over feasibility of the district if the measure should fail with voters in Kyle’s and San
amount is “more than half of the capacity” of the city’s discharge permit of 995,000 gallons per day, which the city filed with the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality in October 2015. Dripping Springs is also planning to move
news@haysfreepress.com
Two dead in accident at U.S. 290, Holder Lane BY MOSES LEOS III
news@haysfreepress.com
Dripping Springs residents’ worst fears became reality Thursday as two people were killed and one person was left critically injured after a Volkswagen Jetta collided with a pickup truck hauling a travel trailer along U.S. 290 at Holder Lane. Richard Zavala, 34, and Ashley Puente, 25, both of Austin, were identified by authorities as the victims killed in the accident, according to Texas Department of Public Safety Sgt. D.L. Wilson. The accident occurred at 3:30 p.m. Thursday roughly
Thursday’s accident marked the third major collision to take place at the Holder Lane intersection and the second fatal crash to take place on U.S. 290 in the past six months. three and a half miles west of Dripping Springs. Wilson said the accident involved the Jetta, which was traveling west on U.S. 290, and a Ford F-350 hauling a travel trailer, which was heading east on the highway. Wilson said the Jetta was attempting to turn left onto Holder Lane, but turned in front of the path of the F-350.
Wilson said the Jetta did not yield to the right-of-way of the F-350. The Jetta was struck on the passenger side by the pickup truck, Wilson said. Zavala, who was the right front seat passenger in the Jetta, was prounced dead at the scene by Hays County Pct. 4
HOLDER LANE, 10
Dripping Springs may focus tax dollars on infrastructure BY MOSES LEOS III
news@haysfreepress.com
Dripping Springs is considering the use of a financial mechanism that could spur development and infrastructure improvements. With implementation of a Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone (TIRZ), which would be a first for the city, Dripping Springs could use monies generated to install infrastructure for future development the city may not be able to afford. “This is a good tool for the city to leverage to plan for the growth and put in infrastructure and improvements that we might not be able to afford right now,” Michelle Fischer, Dripping Springs city administrator, said. “It’s a proactive approach.” At their last council meeting, Dripping Springs city council members considered the potential impact of including nearly 3,000 acres within a new TIRZ. A TIRZ is created by cities to encourage development and infrastructure improvements within a designated area. Cities can include other political
WHAT’S A TIRZ?
A Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone (TIRZ) is created by cities to encourage development and infrastructure improvements within a designated area. Cities can include other political subdivisions, such as counties and emergency service districts. A part of the zone’s tax revenue is reinvested specifically for projects that will improve the future health of the TIRZ. Those include new roads, utilities, affordable housing units and parks.
subdivisions, such as counties and emergency service districts. A part of the zone’s tax revenue is reinvested specifically for projects that will improve the future health of the TIRZ. Those include new roads, utilities, affordable housing units and parks. Fischer said the city is trying to capture land that isn’t developed, and use a TIRZ to increase the value of the property. Ginger Faught, deputy city administrator, said the city is in the beginning stages of
Citizens remain divided on whether Hays County should be involved in the possible expansion of sections of FM 150 between Kyle and Dripping Springs to a 4-lane highway. Division continues as the company contracted to complete a corridor study on the roadway moves into its second phase. Joe Cantalupo, with K Friese and Associates, said at the August 9 Hays
FM 150, 7
Wimberley to explore effluent treatment options BY MOSES LEOS III
news@haysfreepress.com
exploring a TIRZ and looked at “as large an area as possible.” She said the city would more than likely whittle down areas for a potential TIRZ. What the city is looking for is the ability to pay for infrastructure needs, which extend to street improvements, Faught said. The city is also contemplating whether they should move forward with one TIRZ or multiple ones. She said the city is looking for other political subdivisions to “go in with us” on a possible TIRZ. The city, which has a team consisting of the city planner, city engineer and city attorney, put together a possible list of projects that could be included in a TIRZ. Possible projects, which have not been prioritized, include Old Fitzhugh Road, revitalization of the Triangle, public parking in the downtown area, which has been an issue, along with congestion in the area. Other possible projects include revitalizing the Stephenson Building, which is a vacant building owned by Dripping
Wimberley city officials continue to explore the possibility of Aqua Texas helping the city meet its future wastewater needs. At its last meeting, the Wimberley City Council voted 4-1 to hold a meeting with officials from Aqua Texas to discuss the city’s wastewater expansion project. Council member Bob Dussler voted against the measure. Debate raged, however, as officials differed on whether the city should hold a meeting with the company. Place 4 council member Sally Trapp brought the item forward after Aqua Texas requested a meeting with city officials on the scope of the city’s wastewater expansion project. In July, Wimberley’s wastewater ad hoc committee explored a trio of options, which included the city’s proposed 75,000 gallons per day wastewater treatment plant, along with a possible agreement with Aqua Texas. Wimberley Mayor Mac McCullough said Aqua Texas could potentially become a provider to take the city’s wastewater, or could take overflow from the city’s proposed wastewater
TIRZ, 2
WASTEWATER, 8