VOLUME 102, ISSUE 27
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OCTOBER 24, 2012
Construction and Businesses
Business owners and customers around the campus voice their concerns about the construction at their front door. For more, visit UniversityStar.com.
CLEARING CONFUSION
Hays County road projects expected to come in under budget
Carlos Valdez, Assistant Photo Editor
Ranch Road 12 is one of several road construction projects expected to finish under budget. By Nicole Barrios News Reporter
Kristen Lefebvre, Staff Photographer
Sydney Williams, curriculum and instruction freshman, and Weddy Moore, biochemistry freshman, speak with state representative candidate John Adams Oct. 22 about early voting.
Candidates affected by Texas State’s electioneering guidelines By Natalie Berko News Reporter Electioneering guidelines have been sent to the Texas State community and candidates for local and state office for the first time in order to clear up any confusion about rules for campaigning on campus. Students, faculty and staff were emailed Texas State’s electioneering guidelines Oct. 15, one week before early voting began in the LBJ Student Center. Joanne Smith, vice president for Student Affairs, said the email was prompted after concerns were raised from both students and candidates during previous election cycles. Smith said some candidates were concerned during last year’s elections that they did not have adequate opportunity to talk with students in The Quad while campaigning. Two students complained they did not understand why the candidates were on campus. “This year we wanted to make sure that everybody knew that during this period of time there would be candidates in The Quad who may be trying to contact students, staff and faculty to talk about their platforms,” Smith said According to the email, individuals who will be campaigning on campus must submit an Electioneering Request Form to maintain the security, health and safety for person and property and campus. The restrictions include controlling pedestrian and vehicular traffic so free movement, entry and exit from university facilities are permitted. Smith said candidates are asked to set up their tables at the LBJ Student Center Mall or The Quad because those areas are where people typically go to express their platforms. Candidates are not allowed to set up at any other location on campus. Smith said some candidates have previously felt
restricted by the electioneering guidelines. Joe Ptak, manager of Planet K, said he witnessed an incident last year where candidates were being confined to staying behind their tables in the campaign areas. He said this rule was confusing to him. Joyce Cowan, Hays County elections administrator, said candidates can walk through the LBJ Mall or The Quad if they want to shake hands with students. “We cannot confine somebody and say ‘Here is your six foot space, and you cannot go anywhere else,’” Cowan said. According to the guidelines, the Dean of Students designates one or more places near the polling area where persons may place signs for or against any candidate, measure or political party. Signs must be at least 100 feet from the outside door of a polling place. The guidelines cite a University Policy and Procedure Statement that allows the Dean of Students to designate appropriate areas where signs may be placed during early voting this year. The designated areas are the LBJ Student Center Mall, LBJ Student Center Bus Loop and The Quad. “(The guidelines) give more access to the signs than they do to the candidates themselves,” Ptak said. Ptak said the electioneering guidelines deny candidate access to students who do not typically pass through the LBJ Mall or The Quad. ,Cowan said the 100 feet rule is a state law put in place to protect the security and privacy of an individual’s vote. “(The rule) is to maintain that you are not being harassed as you are going into the polling area,” Cowan said. Cowan said the rules are put in place to protect voters and not disenfranchise them all while maintaining a controlled facility.
Numerous projects approved by Hays County voters in 2008 have come in under budget, resulting in an extra $34 million for the county to spend on additional road projects. Commissioner Debbie Ingalsbe, Precinct 1, said nine road projects have been completed so far, and all have come in under budget except one. She said State Highway 21 at FM 2001 came in over budget by more than $18,000. Commissioner Will Conley, Precinct 3, said other projects including I-35, Ranch Road 12, Highway 21 and FM 1626 are anticipated to come in under budget. He said this is because said commissioners were able to take advantage of low interest rates and financing costs. Hays County is also expected to receive an extra $8 million from the state because commissioners agreed to take benefits if the projects came in under budget, Conley said. Under this agreement, the state will reimburse 14 cents on average for every vehicle per mile traveling on the improved roads. While reimbursement on some roads such as Hwy 290 has already begun to pay off quicker than expected, others on the payment plan have not been opened to the public yet, he said. Commissioners met with Texas Department of Transportation executives Oct. 12 to discuss how to spend the $34 million in extra funds. While Ingalsbe said the county has not yet made a decision on how the extra funds will be spent, commissioners are working toward choosing a project they can submit to TxDOT. Greg Malatek, TxDOT Austin district engineer, said commissioners discussed some areas of concern that were priorities to the county during their meeting. He said the commissioners want to pinpoint certain areas instead of a broad list of projects. “Our focus would be along the (Interstate) 35 corridor and how we can invest that money to help improve safety, mobility and create economic development opportunities along the corridor,” Conley said. Malatek said the extra money could possibly go toward just one project, but ideally would help fund several. He said commissioners will look at what the needs are around the county and what can be addressed by local, state and federal funds. Malatek said he plans to schedule a meeting with the commissioners and TxDOT staff to look at the situation from the district and county level. He said the commissioners and TxDOT will meet again around mid-November to discuss their options. “We want to submit something that would help spur economic development, ease our traffic congestion and improve our mobility,” Ingalsbe said. “So we want to really take a look at what project may do that.” Timing played a role in the projects coming in under budget, Conley said. Due to the recession, contractors were “hungry for work,” which lead to project bids being competitive, he said. Ingalsbe said studies done at Lime Kiln at Sink Creek and Post Road at Blanco River both came in under budget.
SH 130 resolution approved by commissioners court By Taylor Tompkins Assistant News Editor Hays County commissioners unanimously voted during their Oct. 23 meeting to adopt a resolution in support of adding local and regional connecting roads to State Highway 130. The resolution said connectors to sections five and six of SH 130, which opened Oct. 24, would provide safety, mobility and economic development opportunities in the county. The additions to the toll road span from Seguin to Georgetown. According to the resolution, the road will help relieve traffic congestion on Interstate 35 and improve
quality of life for Hays and Caldwell County residents. The state has plans for roads connecting to SH 130, which will be included in the Capital Area Metropolitan Area Planning Organization’s 2040 plan, said Commissioner Debbie Ingalsbe, Precinct 1. Ingalsbe said she has met with planners for Hays County and their counterparts in Caldwell County to determine which projects are worthwhile. “This is very important,” Ingalsbe said. “We have picked a couple of roads we would like to see extended. We support Caldwell County and their efforts also. This is important for our region, and I fully support it.”
The resolution supports additional north and south highways to relieve congestion through Central Texas on I-35. “I think that support of this resolution is very obvious in the interest of the people we represent and the interest of the region,” said Commissioner Will Conley, Precinct 3. Commissioners said this major infrastructure development will provide opportunities in the realms of economic development, change, traffic and mobility in the future. Connections and expansion to SH 130 will support economic growth in Hays County and provide jobs for residents in the area, Conley said. The roadways head-
ing east and west in Hays County will open up the region to house manufacturers, distributors and other kinds of industry. “It’s a good policy for us to have that connection,” Conley said. “We ultimately have the responsibility that we help create an environment in which businesses can be successful because that helps our citizens whether they live in Kyle, San Marcos or even Wimberley and Dripping Springs.” SH 130 is the fastest in the country, with a speed limit of 85 miles per hour, according to the toll road’s website. The addition spans 41 miles of the 91-mile road, and will house only electronic toll booths. The road costs approximately $1.35 billion dollars, according to the website.