November 24, 2021 News-Dispatch

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NOVEMBER 24, 2021 RENT RELIEF

WINE TIME

Hays County helps tenants even as it risks losing money.

Buda to host international wine competition.

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News-Dispatch

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HaysNewsDispatch.com

Vol. 42 • No. 9

Serving Hays County, TX

Dripping Springs may extend building moratorium BY MEGAN WEHRING

will use the pause on development to update DRIPPING SPRINGS — land use regulations On Monday, the Dripping and address wastewater Springs City Council will availability. consider extending the “This is not a moradevelopment moratoritorium that is going to um. shut down construcUnder the moratorition,” said Mim James, um, the city will not acchair of the planning cept permit applications and zoning commission. for new development in “We estimated that there the city limits or extraare probably over 5,000 territorial jurisdiction rooftops that are in the where a waiver has not mill with various develbeen approved. The city opment agreements and

Under the moratorium, the city will not accept permit applications for new development in the city limits or extraterritorial jurisdiction where a waiver has not been approved. The city will use the pause on development to update land use regulations and address wastewater availability.

ongoing projects. This is a timeout that we are calling to take a look at

that’s going to come in.” Exceptions can be made, city attorney Laura Mueller explained. These include projects where wastewater capacity is not impacted and no land use change is requested and projects that have received a Grandfather Status. Waivers would be granted within 10 days of the request. The city council could also grant waivers for development projects

our Comprehensive Plan and plan for our future in regards to new growth

DS awards $31,000 to Pound Farmstead

STATE NEWS

Extreme weather could still threaten grid Capital Highlights by Gary Borders

The state’s power grid could still be at risk under extreme winter conditions, according to the Electric Reliability Council of Texas, but should operate fine under normal conditions. The Seasonal Assessment of Resource Adequacy, issued Friday, said the grid can meet normal and even moderately challenging weather conditions but could break down if the state faces winter storms such as occurred last February. During Winter Storm Uri, much of the state experienced prolonged blackouts. “We expect there’s a 10% chance that demand will exceed what ERCOT considers to

STATE NEWS, 5

that are considered to not detrimentally affect the city. At its Nov. 22 meeting, the city council will vote on extending the moratorium for 90 days. The moratorium is set to take effect on Nov. 18 and it will end on Nov. 27 if the council does not approve the extension. For more information, please visit https://www. cityofdrippingsprings. com/moratorium.

Kyle to receive final Kinder Morgan gas pipeline payment BY BRITTANY ANDERSON Kyle is set to receive its second and final payment of $1.35 million from Kinder Morgan for the Permian Highway Pipeline. The 430-mile long, 42-inch natural gas pipeline goes through Hays County, including the south side of Kyle. Allen Fore, Vice President of Public Affairs for Kinder Morgan, presented city council with information on the settlement

In addition to the total $2.7 million payment to the city, Kinder Morgan is not allowed to convert the pipeline from natural gas to crude oil. during the regular city council meeting on Nov. 16. The pipeline was initially met with safety and environmental concerns from both the council and Hill Country residents when the process began in late 2018. In response, the settlement

agreement between the city and Kinder Morgan provides protections to the city regarding how the pipeline affects existing infrastructure and future development projects. In addition to the total $2.7 million payment to the city, Kinder Morgan is not

Coming Up CHRISTMAS ON MERCER STREET Come on out to the 17th Annual Christmas on Mercer Street, Saturday, Dec. 4 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. It will be a holiday festival with live entertainment, pictures with Santa Claus and plenty of kids activities. The evening portion will include the town tree lighting with caroling and more.

A CHRISTMAS CAROL IN WIMBERLEY

Tom Mula’s play, Jacob Marley’s Christmas Carol, opens on the Wimberley Players stage November 26 and runs through December 12. An entertaining twist on Charles Dicken’s A Christmas Carol, this

tale is written from his business partner’s point of view. Marley, a mean, sour, pruney old man, is condemned to eternity with a malicious little hell-sprite named Bogle. But Marley is given a chance to free himself. If he can redeem Scrooge, a man he knew to be worse than he was, he can save himself. And so begins a journey of laughter and terror, redemption and renewal during which Scrooge’s heart is opened but not before Marley, in this irreverent, funny, and deeply moving story, discovers his own. There will be nine performances, both live and streaming. Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 p.m., Sundays at 2:30 p.m. Tickets are available at wimberleyplayers.org or by calling 512 847-0575.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS The Hays Free Press and News-Dispatch offices will be closed until Monday, Nov. 29.

allowed to convert the pipeline from natural gas to crude oil. The city received its first payment of $1.35 million in December 2020; during the meeting, Fore said that the other $1.35 million payment is being sent. Funds from the settlement have gone towards local park improvements. Fore commended council members and city staff for being “engaged and assertive” in understanding

PIPELINE PAYMENT, 10

BUDAFEST Budafest is the place to be for holiday fun with the whole family. Come on Friday night as the festival kicks off with a tree lighting ceremony and a small ornament market. Then come back Saturday to explore all that Budafest has to offer from craft vendors to family-friendly activities like a snow area to a night parade with a firework show. Visit Budafest.org for more information.

MUSIC AND FUN FOR THE HOLIDAYS

Mars Beads, Fourth Rock Records and 2 Moons Art Loft in Dripping Springs open their doors to the public on Dec. 3, 6 to 9 p.m. for in-store performances by local bands. Samples of local cheese, chocolate and wine will also be served.

The News-Dispatch Barton Publications, Inc. The News-Dispatch (USPS 011-401) published weekly by Barton Publications, Inc., P.O. Box 339, Buda, TX 78610. Periodicals postage paid at Buda, TX 78610 and additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Barton Publications, Inc., P.O. Box 339, Buda, TX 78610. ISSN#1087-9323

“We haven’t had galas and we haven’t been able to do field trips because we haven’t been open. We didn’t have our normal income. So this would be very much appreciated and would really give us a boost to keep us going.” –Betty Meyer, board president of the Dr. Pound Farmstead

BY MEGAN WEHRING DRIPPING SPRINGS — To help the nonprofit recover from the negative impact of the pandemic, the city of Dripping Springs is investing American Rescue Plan Coronavirus Local Fiscal Recovery Funds (CLFRF) in the Dr. Pound Farmstead. The city council approved a resolution on Nov. 16 to authorize $31,375 to be allocated to the Dr. Pound Farmstead to offset lost revenues in 2020. Located adjacent to Founders Memorial Park, the farmstead is considered to be one of the city’s most important historical landmarks Because tourism took a major hit, the organization reported an approximate $79,000 in lost revenue last year and it received about $16,250 in relief aid from other grants. The remaining deficit is $62,750. “We haven’t had galas and we haven’t been able to do field trips because we haven’t been open,” said Betty Meyer, board president of the Dr. Pound Farmstead. “We didn’t have our normal income. So this would be very much appreciated and would really give us a boost to keep us going.”


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