New coloring book features local talent
Cross country Tigers take off in new season
Dobie Home gets historical marker page 2
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News-Dispatch Volume XXXVI No. 46
Serving Western Hays County, Texas since 1982
75¢
Thursday, August 25, 2016
Litigation ahead for water boards? BY MOSES LEOS III
news@haysfreepress.com
Rallying for the Kids
PHOTO BY RAFAEL MARQUEZ
Amanda Weir, of Blanco, stands next to a 1930s Model A Ford during the 10th Annual Hill Country Rally for the Kids (HCRK), which took place in Dripping Springs on Aug. 20. Car, truck, hot-rod and motorcycle aficionados flocked to Mercer Street for the event, which raised funds for several kids’ charities in Hays County. Cody Reeves, president of the HCRK, said the group donated $120,000 to 501(c)3 kids charities in Hays County last year.
Litigation involving a water corporation, a water district and an activist group over an application to amend an existing permit to draw additional water from the Trinity Aquifer could be on the horizon. The Dripping Springs Water Supply Corporation (DSWSC) Aug. 17 threatened to contest a ruling by the Hays Trinity Groundwater Conservation District (HTGCD) to allow a prorated increase in pumpage
from the Trinity Aquifer. In May, the DSWSC applied with the HTGCD to amend its current operating permit, which draws a maximum of 625 acre-feet of water per year from the Trinity Aquifer. The corporation requested an additional 825 acrefeet of water, totaling 1,450 acre-feet with its existing permit, in order to meet the needs of the city. In a summary of the permit, the HTGCD calculated water demand would increase to 1,375 acre-feet per year by
the end of 2019. Staff recommended an increase of 399 acre-feet to be prorated over a three-year period for the DSWSC. The increased is viewed as a “balance between groundwater availability and economic growth,” according to the summary. In addition, the summary said conjunctive use of available surface water would provide “reasonable capacity” to support local requirements.
WATER LITIGATION, 8
PID? $237 million Hays County Annexation on hold for Heritage BY MOSES LEOS III
news@haysfreepress.com
Discussion continues between Dripping Springs and developers of the Heritage subdivision as city officials contemplate allowing the city’s first-ever Public Improvement District (PID). The most recent development occurred Aug. 16 when representatives for the developer of the proposed Heritage subdivision requested a postponement of an annexation public hearing by Dripping Springs for their 189-acre property located just north of Mercer Street. Their request was approved by the Dripping Springs city council by a 5-0 vote. Earlier this month, both the city and developers of the subdivision were working to bridge an impasse on how a possible PID would function within the subdivision, Dripping Springs City Administrator Michelle Fischer said. A PID is a district created by local governments to fund services and improvements beyond those normally provided by the municipality, according to the website Subregional Planning. The district is funded by
PID, 7
bond vote set for November Road bond workshop projects Project Description
Estimated Budget
PCT 1
$21,800,000
Old Bastrop Hwy from Centerpoint Rd. to Rattler Rd. reconstruction and safety improvements $2,000,000 Dacy Lane widening of sections $10,000,000 FM 110 at SH 123 intersection improvements $1,000,000 FM 621 safety improvements $3,500,000 SH 21 at FM 1966 safety improvements $800,000 SH 21 corridor improvements and ROW preservation $3,500,000 SH 80 at Military Dr. intersection improvements $1,000,000
PCT 2 Dacy Lane widening of sections FM 2001 from SH21 to White Wings Trl safety improvements Hillside Terrace safety improvements & ROW RM 967 safety turn lanes Buda Truck Bypass ROW preservation FM 150 (Center St) relocation of UP switching line
PCT 3 Centerpoint Rd. from IH-35 to Hunter Rd. safety improvements & ROW preservation Fischer Store Rd. at RM 2325 safety improvements FM 3237 safety improvements Lime Kiln Rd. safety and drainage improvements McCarty Ln from Hunter Rd. to IH-35 safety improvements and ROW preservation Winters Mills Pkwy at FM 3237 and RM 12 safety improvements
PCT 4 Darden Hill Rd. widening and turn lanes Lime Kiln Rd. safety and drainage improvements FM 150 from I-35 (at Yarrington Rd.) to FM 150 at Arroyo Ranch Rd. realignment US 290 West safety improvements (including Holder Ln, Martin Rd., Trautwein Rd., and Henly Loop intersections) US 290 West widening, ENV & ROW
COUNTY WIDE Drainage and low water crossing improvements associated with county road system roadways, environmental mitigation and conservation in aid of roads, pedestrian walkway and bicycle transportation related to roads Safety and mobility projects, county and state system
TOTAL ESTIMATED BUDGET
$35,300,000 $10,000,000 $9,100,000 $2,600,000 $5,900,000 $6,200,000 $1,500,000
$21,000,000 $1,500,000 $1,500,000 $14,000,000 $1,500,000 $1,500,000 $1,000,000
$20,800,000 $1,500,000 $1,500,000 $11,800,000 $4,000,000 $2,000,000
$32,500,00
$22,500,000 $10,000,000
$131,400,000
In addition to planning specific projects, the Commissioners Court has indicated that use of bond monies would not include improvement of the following roadways except for shoulder improvements, turn lanes, environmental mitigation and conservation, pedestrian walkways and bicycle transportation improvements: FM150 from Arroyo Ranch Road to RM12 RM12 from Old Ranch Road 12 to FM150 FM3237 from RM12 to FM150 FM2325 from RM12 to the county line RM32 from RM12 to the county line
BY MOSES LEOS III
news@haysfreepress.com
Hays County voters will decide this November whether they’ll support a pair of bond initiatives that, if approved, would improve the county public safety facilities, including the jail, along with area infrastructure. During the course of a marathon 11-hour meeting, Hays County Commissioners Aug. 16 crafted a $237.8 million bond initiative, voting 5-0 to place on the November ballot. Within Hays County’s bond package is Proposition 1, which calls for $106.4 million to improve public safety facilities, if approved by voters. The money would go toward a colocated facility that would house a $62.4 million expansion of the Hays County Jail, along with $44.4 million for a 911 communications facility. Brenda Jenkins, a representative with ECM, said colocating the two facilities allows for a more cost effective design. “Even though we really would have liked to have seen the number lower … we at some point have to say these are things that are needed to make this jail work,” Hays County Pct. 1 Commissioner Debbie Ingalsbe said. She added the county’s decision to go forward with Option B for the bond allows for future expansion and avoids the issue of the jail being full on day one. “It would be irresponsible for us to consider a bond that doesn’t address any future growth (for the jail),” Ingalsbe said. Pct. 4 Commissioner Ray Whisenant said the bond allows the county to provide a facility that is “safe for people operating it and are being detained by it.” Commissioners spent hours whittling down their wish list for potential road improvement projects to be included within Proposition 2. Items within Proposition 2 would go expand or upgrade specific roadways in Hays County, as well as low water crossings, according to a Hays County press release. Funds would also go toward right-of-way acquisition for anticipated future roadways, environmental mitigation and conservation, pedestrian walkways and
“Even though we really would have liked to have seen the number lower … we at some point have to say these are things that are needed to make this jail work.” –Debbie Ingalsbe, Hays County Pct. 1 Commissioner
bicycle transportation improvements, and other transportation-related issues. The end result? Commissioners approved $131.4 million of their $326 million preliminary project list within the referendum. Included in Proposition 2 is $11.8 million that’s to go toward the realignment of FM 150 West from Yarrington Road to Arroyo Ranch Road. Hays County also selected $4 million in safety improvement of U.S. 290 West, including Holder Lane, Martin Road and Henly Loop, to go into the bond. The Commissioners Court selected five road projects in western Hays County that would see bond money go toward shoulder improvements, environmental mitigation and conservation and pedestrian walkway and bicycle transportation improvements. Included in that list was FM 150 from Arroyo Ranch Road to Ranch to Market Road 12 and FM 3237 from RM 12 to FM 150. Commissioners approved the bond after County Auditor Bill Herzog and financial advisor Dan Wegmiller showed the county could issue a $250 million bond without increasing the ad valorem tax rate, according to a county release.