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SAN MARCOS BUDA KYLE EDITION
VOLUME 12, ISSUE 5 SEPT. 12 OCT. 9, 2022
ONLINE AT
Kyle calls for $294M road bond
IMPACTS
6
8 Total road projects the bond will address:
10.3
Complete mileage of the projects in the bond:
$0.0917
If approved, the bond would increase property taxes by
per $100 valuation
TO DO LIST
11
Marketplace Avenue will be reconstructed and extended as part of the 2022 road bond. (Zara Flores/Community Impact Newspaper)
BY ZARA FLORES
The $294 million bond is broken down into a number of ways: preliminary engineering, right-of-way acquisition, utilities, design, construction, and The Vybe integration and construction as well as general engineering consultant fees. “We are living through really tough times; I wanted to make sure the bond that we put out was the closest estimate we
In a 4-1 vote at the 11th hour Aug. 22, Kyle City Coun- cil o cially called for a $294,364,546 road bond election in November that is set to improve mobility and safety throughout the city. Council Member Ashlee Bradshaw was not present and Council Member Yvonne Flores-Cale pro- vided the dissenting vote.
TRANSPORTATION
13
CONTINUED ON 28
Texas is experiencing its second-dri- est year in 128 years, a ecting 23.9 mil- lion people across the state, according to the National Integrated Drought Information System. Central Texas may see increased drought restrictions in the future due to a lack of rainfall and high Drought leads to strain on Central Texas water supply BY SIERRA MARTIN & ERIC WEILBACHER
DROUGHT RECORD Due to the lack of rainfall and consistently high temperatures this summer, Texas is experiencing a record- setting drought.
temperatures. As of Aug. 29, Hays County was down about 11 inches of rain so far this year below the average, according to data from the National Weather Service. While local and regional water sup- pliers have diversi ed their supplies over the past few decades by mov- ing away from sole reliance on the Edwards Aquifer for freshwater, more than 2.5 million people depend on the water from Edwards Aquifer, which the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department named one of the largest and most unique aquifers in the world.
BUSINESS FEATURE
23
-DRIEST YEAR SINCE 1894 . 2ND Hays County is experiencing the
11.65
below average rainfall INCHES
SOURCE: NATIONAL INTEGRATED DROUGHT INFORMATION SYSTEM COMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPERS
CONTINUED ON 30
FIRST LOOK DINING
25
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SAN MARCOS - BUDA - KYLE EDITION • SEPTEMBER 2022
PAID ADVERTISEMENT
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COMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER • COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM
THIS ISSUE
ABOUT US
Owners John and Jennifer Garrett launched the rst edition of Community Impact Newspaper in 2005 with three full-time employees covering Round Rock and P ugerville, Texas. Now in 2022, CI is still locally owned. We have expanded to include hundreds of employees, our own software platform and printing facility, and over 30 hyperlocal editions across the state with a circulation to more than 2.4 million residential mailboxes.
HIGHLIGHTS FROM THIS MONTH
FROM HEATHER: In this issue, one of our front-page stories covers one of our most precious resources: water. The current drought is one of the worst we have seen in 128 years. As an avid kayaker, I know this has had a huge impact on our river ows. Heather Demere, GENERAL MANAGER
Community Impact Newspaper teams include general managers, editors, reporters, graphic designers, sales account executives and sales support, all immersed and invested in the communities they serve. Our mission is to build communities of informed citizens and thriving businesses through the collaboration of a passionate team. Our core values are Faith, Passion, Quality, Innovation and Integrity.
FROM ERIC: Residents of Kyle will be asked to vote on a road bond totaling nearly $300 million to address the city’s infrastructure needs, nearly eight times the amount of the last road bond in 2013. Reporter Zara Flores breaks down the details (see Pages 28-29). Eric Weilbacher, EDITOR
Our purpose is to be a light for our readers, customers, partners and each other.
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MARKET TEAM GENERAL MANAGER Heather Demere EDITOR Eric Weilbacher REPORTER Zara Flores SENIOR GRAPHIC DESIGNER Rachal Elliott ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE Adrian Martinez METRO LEADERSHIP PUBLISHER Travis Baker MANAGING EDITOR Wendy Sturges COPY CHIEF Andy Comer ART PRODUCTION MANAGER Lindsay Scott CORPORATE LEADERSHIP PRESIDENT & GROUP PUBLISHER Traci Rodriguez EXECUTIVE EDITOR Joe Warner CREATIVE DIRECTOR Derek Sullivan VICE PRESIDENT OF SALES & MARKETING Tess Coverman CONTACT US 16225 Impact Way, Ste. 1, P ugerville, TX 78660 • 512 989 6808 PRESS RELEASES sbknews@communityimpact.com ADVERTISING sbkads@communityimpact.com SUBSCRIPTIONS communityimpact.com/subscriptions
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SAN MARCOS BUDA KYLE EDITION • SEPTEMBER 2022
IMPACTS
Businesses that have recently opened or are coming soon, relocating or expanding
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Boot Barn
PHOTOS BY ZARA FLORESCOMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER
1984
beers on tap, a newly rebuilt live music stage, an expanded deck and a side-ser- vice window, co-owner Je rey Colasurd said. Along with a full co ee, beer and wine menu, the new Tantra Brewhouse will also serve cocktails. tantrabrewhouse@gmail.com RELOCATIONS 8 Maroni’s Pizza Kitchen is set to reopen in October at the Tanger Outlets, located at 4015 I-35, Ste. 320, San Marcos. Maroni’s was previously located in down- town at 117 E. Hopkins St., San Marcos, though it has been closed since October 2021. The shop will o er pizza, pasta and more. maronissmtx@gmail.com ANNIVERSARIES 9 Gray Horse Saloon , located at 1904 Old RR 12, San Marcos, will celebrate 15 years of business in the community in October. The saloon hosts a variety of events such as live music, karaoke, bingo, trivia and more. Other amenities include pinball, darts and billiards. 512-878-8080. Facebook: Gray Horse Saloon 10 Splash Coworking , 326 N. LBJ Drive, San Marcos, is set to celebrate its ve-year anniversary in October. Located down- town, Splash o ers a variety of member- ships for individuals and teams for access to desks, conference rooms, private o ce spaces and more. 512-667-0492. www.splashcoworking.com RENOVATIONS 11 Walmart , located at 1015 Hwy. 80, San Marcos, held a grand reopening
SAN MARCOS
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WONDER WORLD DR.
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SAN MARCOS RIVER
MCKINLEY PLACE DR.
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N TM; © 2022 COMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER CO. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
NOW OPEN 1 Boot Barn held a grand opening cer- emony in late August at its new location, 1050 McKinley Place Drive, Ste. 120, San Marcos. With more than 300 stores across the country, Boot Barn o ers men’s and women’s cowboy boots, denim and other country-style items. The shop also sells work and hiking boots. 737-266-4099. www.bootbarn.com 2 Buddy’s BBQ & Crepes opened in Au- gust at 350 N. Guadalupe St., San Marcos. The food truck o ers barbecue classics, like brisket, pork sandwiches, grilled chicken sandwiches and sides like street corn and jalapeno poppers. The truck also sells crepes with avors like strawberry and cinnamon sugar. 512-402-3041. 3 Marty’s Kitchen 281 opened in June at the Red Bus Food Park, located at
801 Chestnut St., San Marcos. The new business o ers fried sh baskets, burgers and sandwiches. There are also a variety of sides, including King Hawaiian Rolls and fried oysters. The food truck also o ers catering services. 210-723-3756. www.martyskitchen281.com 4 Mermaid Dental held a grand opening ceremony Aug. 25 at 1504 Aquarena Springs Drive, Ste. 110, San Marcos. The new dental o ce taps into the city’s history by paying homage to the mermaids of San Marcos. The o ce o ers routine ex- ams and cleanings, teeth whitening, dental llings and more including cosmetic and children’s dentistry. The o ce also o ers Invisalign consultations. 512-593-6342. www.mermaiddentaltx.com 5 Ruger’s Cajun Haus and Smoke Shack had its grand opening Aug. 4 at the Red Bus Food Park, located at 801 Chestnut St., San Marcos. The food truck serves a
variety of meats, such as pork spare ribs, pork belly and more, as well as po’boy sandwiches. The menu also includes plate combos and sides, such as basil dill slaw and rice. Facebook: Ruger’s Cajun Haus and Smoke Shack COMING SOON 6 Dutch Bros Co ee will continue to expand its footprint across the country with a new store to be located at 3920 I-35, San Marcos, though there is no exact opening date at this time. The Dutch Bros menu features co eehouse classics such as lattes and Americanos as well as its iced or blended Dutch Bros Rebel Energy Drink. www.dutchbros.com 7 Tantra Brewhouse , located at 217 W. Hopkins St., San Marcos, is slated to open in December. The former Tantra Co eehouse location will add eight
6
COMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER • COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM
COMPILED BY ZARA FLORES & ERIC WEILBACHER
REGIONAL IMPACT Paige and Ellis Winstanley, the couple behind the Tex-Mex restaurant El Arroyo , have partnered with Justin and Sara Holliday to open a second El Arroyo restaurant at the Rockin’ R River Rides in New Braunfels. The couple purchased El Arroyo, located at 1624 W. Fifth St., Austin, in 2012 and have a history of purchasing and revitalizing “distressed, historic restaurants,” Ellis said. The home of the second location will be located at 1405 Gruene Road, New Braunfels. The site is an approximately 7,500-square-foot, two-story building that will require extensive renovations, which are slated to begin in early 2023. The Winstanleys are aiming to open the second location in late 2023. 512-474-1222. www.elarroyo.com
7
Tantra Brewhouse
The Old Soul Exchange features 1990s apparel and retro items.
event Aug. 12 to celebrate the store’s recent renovations, which include additional self-checkout lanes, renovat- ed restrooms and more. Additionally, renovations were made to the exterior of the store as well. Walmart has over 600 locations in Texas and o ers curbside pickup, delivery and express delivery, which are deliveries made in under two hours. 512-353-0617. www.walmart.com CLOSINGS 12 Blue Rooster: Home & Garden closed its location at 4528 S. I-35, San Marcos, on Aug. 31 to expand its New Braunfels location, 25130 I-35, New Braunfels. The shop specializes in out- door decor such as unique pottery, signs, water xtures and more. 210-388-5479. Facebook: Blue Rooster: Home & Garden
FEATURED IMPACT NOW OPEN A new vintage and thrift shop called Old Soul Exchange held its grand opening celebration Sept. 3 at 123 S. LBJ Drive, San Marcos. Rachel McCartney founded Old Soul Exchange and has been open as a pop- up shop at various events throughout the Central Texas area from New Braunfels to Austin. Growing up in the 1990s, and with the resurrection of ‘90s style, McCartney said she has a good eye for pieces. She hand-picks everything in her shop for a curated collection of clothing and accessories.
She said her knowledge of the 1990s style pairs well with the population of college students from Texas State University as she can see what else is trending. The shop also sells other vintage and retro items aside from clothing. Instagram: OldSoulExchangesmtx
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7
SAN MARCOS BUDA KYLE EDITION • SEPTEMBER 2022
IMPACTS
Businesses that have recently opened or are coming soon, relocating or expanding
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BUDA
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Hill Country Board & Beam
Pabern’s Kitchen
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COURTESY HILL COUNTRY BOARD & BEAM
ZARA FLORESCOMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER
company specializes in woodworking and delivering custom work such as cabinetry, beams, doors and other built- in pieces to clients’ residential homes. The team can also create barn doors, mantels, oating shelves and other custom furniture. 512-585-5924. www.hillcountryboardandbeam.com 3 Hill Country Oral Surgery opened a new location in early September at 3310 B FM 967, Ste. A103, Buda. The o ce o ers a variety of general oral surgery procedures, such as wisdom teeth removal, teeth extractions, jaw surgery as well as dental implants. Hill Country Oral Surgery also has another location in Austin. 512-643-6066. www.hillcountryoralsurgery.com 4 MOD Pizza , which stands for “made on demand,” held a grand opening celebration Aug. 24 at 15550 I-35, Buda. The proceeds from the rst day of sales went to the Hays CISD Clothes Closet, which provides clothing, personal hygiene products, school supplies and more to HCISD students. MOD Pizza is known for its fully customizable pizzas made to the customer’s speci cations. The shop also has specialty pizzas that customers can choose from. The menu also features salads, garlic bread and chocolate cake. 737-770-3407. www.modpizza.com 5 A new food truck called Pabern’s Kitchen opened at the end of July at 210 W. Center St., Kyle. The truck special- izes in Filipino food, such as pork lumpia, chicken pancit, adobo, fried rice and more. The menu also features smoothies 2001 21
with boba pearls. 737-877-0957. Facebook: Pabern’s Kitchen
6 After a three-month closure for ren- ovations, PAWS Shelter of Central Texas held a grand opening celebration Aug. 27 at 500 FM 150 E., Kyle. The shelter has serviced Hays County through the Kyle and Dripping Springs locations for more than 30 years. Im- provements that have been made to the shelter over the months include a rede- sign and remodel of the main o ce; new gates on the dog kennels; and plumbing, electrical, heating, ventilation and air conditioning updates. 512-268-1611. www.pawsshelter.org 7 The rst brick-and-mortar location of Pizza Leon opened Aug. 15 at 147 Elmhurst Drive, Ste. 100, Kyle. The original location, a food truck, is located at 4749 E. Ben White Blvd., Austin. The new location has more items on the menu, such as fried dishes, as the shop has more space for equipment than the food truck. The menu features pizza, mozzarella sticks, wings, calzones and more. The new shop also serves cock- tails and beer. 512-262-7456. www.mypizzaleon.com 8 Ti ’s Treats held a grand opening cel- ebration Aug. 20 at 18840 I-35, Ste. 400, Kyle. The proceeds of the rst day of sales went to PAWS Shelter of Central Texas, a local nonpro t shelter that takes in cats and dogs from Kyle, Dripping Springs and surrounding areas. Ti ’s Treats is known for its delivery of warm cookies paired with milk, ice cream and other deserts. www.cookiedelivery.com
WINDY HILL RD.
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NOW OPEN 1 A new location of Dutch Bros Co ee opened Aug. 12 at 20325 I-35, Kyle. The new store features a drive-thru and walk-up window. The menu features co eehouse classics such as lattes and Americanos as well as its iced or blended Dutch Bros Rebel Energy Drink. The chain was founded in 1992 by brothers
Dane and Travis Boersma in Oregon. Dutch Bros has expanded its footprint over the past 30 years and now has more than 600 stores in 14 states. 541-955-4700. www.dutchbros.com 2 Hill Country Board & Beam opened June 1 at 385 CR 202, Kyle, after more than a year of being in business through a private studio. The
8
COMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER • COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM
COMPILED BY ZARA FLORES
11 Synchronicity Cryo and Wellness is set to open at 21150 I-35, Ste. E, Kyle, though there is no opening date yet. The new business will o er cold plunge cryotherapy, also known as cold thera- py; IV infusions; red-light therapy; and reiki and guided meditation. The new wellness center will also have a sauna. www.synchronicitytx.com RELOCATIONS 12 Black Oak BBQ food truck relocated to 2594 Windy Hill Road, Kyle. The truck originally opened in April at the Kyle Flea Market, located at 1119. Old Hwy. 81, Kyle. Black Oak BBQ serves brisket, pulled pork, nachos loaded with meat and cheese as well as other sides such as macaroni and cheese. The menu also o ers breakfast tacos and sandwiches with brisket, bacon and other meats. 512-605-7428. Facebook: Black Oak BBQ ANNIVERSARIES 13 Republic Veterinary Hospital at 154 Elmhurst Drive, Ste. C, Kyle, celebrated ve years of business in September. The clinic serves Kyle, Buda and South Austin with a sta that has more than 10 years of experience in veterinary medicine. The clinic o ers regular examinations, vaccines, surgery, dentistry, X-rays, microchips and more. 512-269-0738. www.kylepetvet.com
10
The Teacher Reuse has racks of books in a variety of genres for di erent reading levels.
ZARA FLORESCOMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER
Kids Tooth Team
FEATURED IMPACT NOW OPEN Retired teacher Shelly O’Donnell started The Teacher Reuse , a nonpro t organization that helps teachers and other nonpro ts, Aug. 1 at 21003 I-35, Kyle. The Teacher Reuse is a resource for teachers throughout Central Texas in need of items for their classrooms and students. The nonpro t is based on donations from the community; then, teachers from any public or charter school in the entire state can visit the site and take whatever they may need. O’Donnell said The Teacher Reuse helps alleviate some large problems in the
COURTESY KIDS TOOTH TEAM
COMING SOON 9 A location of Hotworx is set to open at 920 Kohlers Crossing, Ste. 520, Kyle. Hotworx o ers virtually instructed exer- cise programs for users in a heated studio. Classes o ered include hot yoga, hot Pilates and hot core workouts as well as high-intensity interval training workouts at 15 minutes a session. An opening date is not yet con rmed. www.hotworx.com 10 A new location of Kids Tooth Team is slated to open in December at 930 Kohlers Crossing, Ste. 600, Kyle. There are two existing Kids Tooth Team o ces, one in Buda and one in South Aus- tin, which specialize in pediatric dentistry through preventive, restorative and emer- gency care. www.kidstoothteam.com
community; items that would normally end up in a land ll are now being donated to those in need, and teachers no longer have to pay for supplies out of pocket. “We love community donations because this is the stu that teachers go out and buy on their own,” she said. www.theteacherreuse.org
35
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SAN MARCOS BUDA KYLE EDITION • SEPTEMBER 2022
CROSSWINDSTEXAS.COM
We’re Getting Our
Second Wind!
CHECK OUT OUR NEW AMENITIES: PLAYGROUND STRUCTURE, SPLASH PARK, AND SPORT COURT WITH PICKLE BALL
Out where gentle breezes blow across the rolling Texas prairie, there’s a place for families to connect in an active community with all the comforts of home. Crosswinds features a swimming pool, splash area, dog park, hike & bike trails and playgrounds – and even more exciting new additions coming soon to this beautiful master-planned community!
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NEW HOMES FROM THE MID $300s IN KYLE JUST SOUTH OF AUSTIN
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COMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER • COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM
TO DO LIST
September & October events
COMPILED BY ZARA FLORES
LIVE MUSIC CHEATHAM STREET WAREHOUSE 119 Cheatham St., San Marcos 512-353-3777 www.cheathamstreet.com SEPTEMBER Shows start at 8 p.m.
SEPT. 24
MARCH WITH THE MERMAIDS DOWNTOWN SAN MARCOS
OCT. 08
CELEBRATE THE FOUNDERS DOWNTOWN KYLE
15 Randy Rogers 16 JJ And the .45s 17 Blevins, SOHO, Scarin' Folks and Rated X 23 Shaker Hymns 24 Colten Jesse and The Hooligans 29 Jake Worthington 30 Ian Tonroy and The Twice Shy GRAY HORSE SALOON 1904 Old RR 12, San Marcos 512-878-8080 www.facebook.com/horse ies SEPTEMBER 28 Dead Tra c THE PORCH 129 E. Hopkins St., Ste. 110, San Marcos 512-392-9824 www.taproomsanmarcos.com/events SEPTEMBER 17 Dave Orr Band, 10 p.m. 20, 27 Dave Sims & The Hot Pipes, 9 p.m. 22, 29 Victor Green, 10 p.m. 24 B(eats), Chief & The Doomsday Device, 12 p.m. THE RAILHOUSE BAR 107 E. Center St., Kyle www.railhousebar.com SEPTEMBER 16 George Mercado Band, 9 p.m. 17 Sonny Wolf Band, 10 p.m. 23 Hair Metal Giants, 8 p.m. 24 Broken Arrow Band, 7:30 p.m. Shows start at 7 p.m. 14 Kasey Thornton 21 183 South Band
The mermaids of San Marcos return for the annual Mermaid Capital of Texas Festival honoring the guardians of the river. The event is hosted by the Mermaid Society SMTX, a local nonpro t dedicated to all things San Marcos arts, culture, nature and community. The Mermaid parade starts at 10 a.m., followed by a street faire at the Hays County Historic Courthouse. 10 a.m. Free (admission). The parade begins at the corner of CM Allen Parkway and Cheatham Street, San Marcos. 512-825-2819. www.mermaidsocietysmtx.com
The city of Kyle is set to host its annual Founders’ Parade in downtown followed by the city’s birthday celebration. The parade, honoring when the rst platted lots were sold, will start at Gregg-Clarke Park along Center Street and end at Front Street. The parade will be followed by the birthday celebration featuring music, cupcakes and Kyle Market Days—the monthly market full of local vendors. 10 a.m. Free (admission). Gregg-Clarke Park, 1231 W. Center St., Kyle; 101 S. Burleson St., Kyle. 512-262-3939. www.cityo yle.com
SEPTEMBER 17 HEAD TO HAWAII Riley’s Tavern in New Braunfels is set to host its annual Hawaiian Luau. Attendees are encouraged to wear their favorite Hawaiian-themed gear for Hawaiian pork plates and live music from Island Texas, a country, rock and reggae band. 5 p.m. Free (admission). 8894 FM 1102, New Braunfels. 512-392-3132. www.rileystavern.com 24 CLASSIC CARS FOR A CAUSE Hemphill Elementary School will be host to a classic car show with all proceeds going to Buda’s Brightside, a nonpro t aimed at empowering adults with disabilities. The event will feature live music, food trucks, a bike rally to and from Unchartered Adventures nearby and an after-party. 10 a.m. Free (admission), $35 (car registration). Hemphill Elementary, 3995 E. FM 150, Kyle; Unchartered Adventures, 395 CR 202, Ste. 17B, Kyle. 512-791-4543, 512-781-5370. www.budasbrightside.com 24 GET A TASTE OF THE WORLD Experience the culinary o erings from around the globe at the Taste the
World Food Truck Festival at Buck’s Backyard. A host of food trucks will be rounded up for the event, o ering a variety of dishes and cuisines. The event will also feature live music, bounce houses, a pop-up petting zoo and more. Noon (VIP), 1 p.m. (general admission). $7 (general admission), $12 (general admission for 4), $10 (VIP), $22 (VIP for 4). 1750 FM 1626, Buda. atxfoodtruckfest@gmail.com Eventbrite: Food Truck Festival-Taste the World 30 BOOGIE IN A PALACE The Kyle Parks and Recreation department will host a Halloween-themed dance for people with disabilities at the Gemstone Palace. The event is open to all individuals with a disability, regardless of age, and will feature free snacks, drinks, and more. 6 p.m. Free (registration required). 1101 Bunton Creek Road, Kyle. 512-262-3939. www.teamsideline.com/kyle OCTOBER 09 CATER YOUR QUINCEANERA Visit a one-stop-shop for all things quinceanera at the Kyle Quinceanera Expo at the Gemstone Palace. The event
will feature various vendors such as DJs, photo booths, photography, videography, cakes, food and more. 12 p.m. Free (admission). 1101 Bunton Creek Road, Kyle. jason@quinceexpos.com www.quinceexpos.com 14 THROUGH 15 MOSEY ON DOWN TO THE RODEO The second annual Buda Bull Riding and Mutton Busting Rodeo returns to Pinballz Kingdom for a weekend of fun hosted by the chamber of commerce. There will be live music, food vendors, artisan vendors, bull riding and mutton busting.15201 S. I-35, Buda. 512-295-9999. www.budachambertx.com 15 FIGHT AGAINST HUNGER The San Marcos Rotary Club will be raising money and collecting food donations for Raise Against Hunger, School Fuel and the Hays County Food Bank. Community members can sponsor or volunteer to help ght against hunger. 9 a.m. $30 (sponsor food for a month), $90 (sponsor food for three months), $365 (sponsor food for a year). First Lutheran Church, 130 W. Holland St.,San Marcos. 512-665-8700. www.smtxrotary.com
Find more or submit San Marcos, Buda & Kyle events at communityimpact.com/event-calendar. Event organizers can submit local events online to be considered for the print edition. Submitting details for consideration does not guarantee publication.
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SAN MARCOS BUDA KYLE EDITION • SEPTEMBER 2022
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COMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER • COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM
TRANSPORTATION UPDATES
COMPILED BY ZARA FLORES
Stop signs added at new elementary school for safety The Hays County Commis- sioners Court approved the addition of three sets of stop signs near the newly opened Sun eld Elementary School in Buda on Aug. 16. There will be two-way stop signs on Sunbright Boulevard at the intersection with the entrance of the school. Another set of stop signs will be for a three-way stop at the intersec- tion of Vista Gardens Drive and Parkrose Drive. The nal set of stop signs recently completed are for a four- way stop along Sunbright at the intersection with Vista Gardens. Stop sign added on Windy Hill Road A four-way stop sign was added at the intersection of Shadow Creek Boulevard and Crosswinds Parkway on Windy Hill Road on Aug. 19 following discussions among Hays County commissioners. “Current conditions in that area are such that it is chal- lenging for people to leave and return to the Shadow Creek and Crosswinds neighbor- hoods,” Commissioner Debbie Ingalsbe said. The new stop sign is meant to alleviate tra c and congestion
ONGOING PROJECTS
SHERBARB ST.
35
Sun eld Elementary School
35
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Cabela’s Connector nearing completion At a City Council meeting Aug. 16, Buda Project Manager Kenny Crawford pro- vided an update to the Cabela’s Connector construction project. The project is set to improve mobility and expand the road network in Buda by creating a new road from Cabela's Drive to West Goforth Road and will help divert downtown tra c. The contract for the $1.1 million project was awarded to MA Smith Contracting Co. in April, and signi cant progress has been made since. The project is about 84% complete with 67 days of work in, Crawford said. How- ever, there have been some challenges along the way with delays in materials such as cement and concrete as well as some machinery. In addition to the material delays, crews uncovered more utility and electrical lines underground than anticipated when excavating, which have also resulted in delays. Despite the delays, Crawford said workers have reached substantial comple- tion. With the project almost completed, he added that the council should start considering names for the new road. Timeline: April-October Cost: $1.2 million Funding source: city of Buda
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Blanco Gardens improvements Drainage improvements will be made to provide new underground and open stormwater channels to alleviate the ooding this area experienced in 2015. Overhead power and utility lines will be moved underground. Concrete channels will be installed in alleyways and connect to stormwater pipes. Timeline: April 2022-fall 2024 Cost: $12.3 million Funding source: Community Develop- ment Block Grant
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All stops were requested by Hays CISD, according to agenda documents, to ensure safety and aid with tra c. Funding for these signs comes from the county’s transportation annual operating budget.
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WINDY HILL RD.
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ALL INFORMATION ON THIS PAGE WAS UPDATED AS OF SEPT. 8. NEWS OR QUESTIONS ABOUT THESE OR OTHER LOCAL TRANSPORTATION PROJECTS? EMAIL US AT SBKNEWS COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM. of the water line will be to support future developments in the area. Timeline: August 2022-winter 2023 Cost: $1.6 million Funding source: City of San Marcos Hwy. 21 water line installation About 9,000 feet of water line will be installed from Airport Drive to William Pettus Road o Hwy. 21. The addition
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in the mornings and afternoons. “We believe this option needs to be explored and studied to determine its e ectiveness,” Commissioner Mark Jones said. Funding for these signs comes from the county’s transportation annual operating budget.
13
SAN MARCOS BUDA KYLE EDITION • SEPTEMBER 2022
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COMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER • COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM
EDUCATION BRIEFS
News from Hays & San Marcos CISDs, Texas State University
QUOTE OF NOTE “I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT THAT WE CONTINUE TO TALK ABOUT THE FENTANYL CRISIS SO THAT PARENTS WILL HAVE THOSE CONVERSATIONS WITH THEIR KIDS.” ERIC WRIGHT, HCISD SUPERINTENDENT, REGARDING THE RECENT FENTANYL STUDENT DEATHS
TEA releases campus ratings after 2-year hiatus
BY ZARA FLORES
Each campus within a district received a ranking from A-F, though with the Texas Education Agency’s updated rankings, campuses that earn anything below a C receive a “not rated” score. Here is a breakdown of how each district performed for the 2021-22 school year. A FOR ACCOUNTABILITY
HAYS & SAN MARCOS CISDS The Texas Education Agency released its accountability ratings Aug. 15 for the 2021-22 school year for the rst time since 2019 as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Districts and campuses across Texas are rated by the TEA on an A F scale based on Student Achievement, School Progress and Closing the Gaps. Districts or campuses that received a rating below a C were labeled “not rated” with the passing of Senate Bill 1365. Student Achievement is measured by performance on the State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness; graduation rates; and college, career or military readiness. School Progress is measured based on academic growth and performance relative to other districts with similar levels of economically disadvantaged student populations. The nal criteria, Closing the Gaps, measures how well a district is meeting the needs of all student groups. As a district overall, Hays CSID earned a B rating with a score of 87 out of 100, three points better than in the 2018- 19 school year. SMCISD earned a C rating as a district overall with a score of 78 out of 100; the district improved by one point compared to the 2018-19 school year.
Overall score: Hays CISD
San Marcos CISD
B
C
Overall score:
School ratings:
School ratings:
A : 4 elementary, 1 middle, 1 high B : 7 elementary, 3 middle, 1 high C : 3 elementary, 1 middle, 1 high Not rated: 1 middle
A : 0 B : 5 elementary C : 2 elementary, 1 high Not rated : 2 middle
NUMBER TO KNOW
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Hays CISD Meets Sept. 19, 26 at 5:30 p.m. at the Historic Buda Elementary Campus, 300 San Marcos St., Buda 512-268-2141 www.hayscisd.net San Marcos CISD Meets Sept. 19 and Oct. 3 at 6 p.m. at San Marcos High School, 2601 Rattler Rd., San Marcos 512-393-6700 www.smcisd.net MEETINGS WE COVER and reduced meal program. HAYS CISD With the school year underway, there are 10 teacher vacancies, down from 27 at the start of the month, within Hays CISD, Superintendent Eric Wright said Aug. 29. There are two vacancies at the elementary school level and four vacancies at the middle and high school levels. HIGHLIGHTS TEXAS STATE UNIVERSITY O cials announced Aug. 23 that Texas State University hit a record-setting number of enrolled freshman for the 2022 fall semester at more than 7,590 students. The new number of enrolled freshmen surpasses the previously held record of 6,625 students last fall. SAN MARCOS CISD All schools within SMCISD will continue to o er free breakfast and lunch to all students regardless of their income, the district recently announced. Last school year, the U.S. Department of Agriculture temporarily expanded the free Aug. 15 as a one-time stipend for teachers who complete reading academy training. All kindergarten through third-grade teachers must complete a teacher literacy achievement academy by the end of the 2022-23 school year, according to the Texas Education Agency.
For an in-depth view of the ratings, visit tea.texas.gov .
SOURCE: TEXAS EDUCATION AGENCY COMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER
San Marcos CISD approves lower tax rate for 2022 23 scal year
NEW RATE Here is a breakdown of the new property tax rate in Hays CISD and where that funding goes.
Property tax rate: $1.3423 per $100 of assessed property value Maintenance and operations: $0.8546 per $100 valuation; funds the daily operations of the district Interest and Sinking: $0.4877 per $100 valuation; funds debt services
BY ERIC WEILBACHER
documents.
SAN MARCOS CISD The board of trustees approved the property tax rate for scal year 2022-23 at a meeting Aug. 15. The assessed property value, lower than the FY 2021-22 tax rate set at $1.170782. While the actual rate new tax rateis set at $1.133782 per $100 of is lower than last year, due to compression—or lowering tax rates as property values rise—it actually amounts to a 7.28% increase in taxes, according to district
“It goes back to our compression factor. As we move up in property value, our M&O rate is compressed,” said Mike Doyle, director of state and federal programs for the district. The board also approved the certi ed property values from Hays, Caldwell and Gua- dalupe appraisal districts with a notable 19.24% increase in total certi ed values, up to $9.11 billion, according to agenda documents.
SOURCE: HAYS CISD COMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER
Hays CISD adjusts tax rate as county property values rise
BY ZARA FLORES
same as last year’s.
HAYS CISD The board of trustees approved the tax rate for scal year 2022-23 at a meeting Aug. 29. The new tax rate is set at $1.3423 per $100 of assessed property value, lower than the FY 2021-22 tax rate set at $1.3597. The new tax rate is $.0174 less than the FY 2021-22 tax rate, according to agenda documents, and has decreased by $.1954 over the past several years. However, the inter- est and sinking portion of the tax rate remains the
Agenda documents indicate the new tax rate will raise more mainte- nance and operations taxes than last year’s rate. Additionally, the board approved the certi ed property values from Hays, Caldwell and Travis appraisal districts with a notable 35.21% increase in total certi ed values, according to agenda documents. The total certi ed value of all three counties is $11.71 billion; the FY 2021- 22 total was $9.82 billion.
NEW RATE Here is a breakdown of the new property tax rate in San Marcos CISD and where that funding goes.
Property tax rate: $1.133782 per $100 of assessed property value Maintenance and operations: $0.8646 per $100 valuation; funds the daily operations of the district Interest and sinking: $0.269182 per $100 valuation; funds debt services
SOURCE: SAN MARCOS CISD COMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER
15
SAN MARCOS BUDA KYLE EDITION • SEPTEMBER 2022
CITY & COUNTY
News from San Marcos, Buda, Kyle & Hays County
Kyle city manager resigns following investigation
the incentive deal that secured Costco, contributing to the Pie Capital brand and more,
SETTING THE TAX RATE City Council adopted a property tax rate of at least $0.593 on Sept. 6. At its Sept. 20 meeting, the council could opt to add a penny to the tax rate. That would keep it at the current rate while adding funding slated for public safety sta ng. If the rate stays the same, a home valued at:
Home valuation
Property taxes*
PAYS
$100,000
$593
PAYS
$250,000
$1,482.50
PAYS
$300,000
$1,779
BY ZARA FLORES
KYLE City o cials announced Kyle City Manager Scott Sellers resigned e ective Sept. 6, according to a press release. Sellers was previously placed on administrative leave pending an internal investi- gation, three months after his contract was extended. “After thoroughly investigat- ing, the city found no unlawful harassment or discrimination. However, considering all factors both internally and externally, Sellers has decided to resign,” o cials said in the release. Sellers was appointed the city manager in early 2015 after serving as the city man- ager for Kilgore for three years. He also worked on a variety of large projects during his time as Kyle city manager, including
Scott Sellers
SOURCE: CITY OF SAN MARCOS COMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER *WITHOUT TAKING INTO ACCOUNT ANY HOMESTEAD OR OTHER EXEMPTIONS
according to the release. Assistant City Manager Jerry Hendrix has been acting as interim city manager since July, where he will remain for the time being. Mayor Travis Mitchell declined to comment on the investigation but did comment on the future of the city. “Mr. Sellers has played an important role in Kyle for many years, and I wish him the best as he moves forward,” council and executive team are ready to begin the process of recruiting a new city manager who can build upon the city’s strong momentum.” Mitchell told Community Impact Newspaper. “Our
Council holds rst budget, tax rate reading
BY ERIC WEILBACHER
The proposed tax rate at $0.593 is lower than the current rate of $0.603 and expected to generate $41.74 million. While lower, the taxable assessed value has continued to increase year over year, according to the budget proposal, generat- ing more money for the city and could be costing residents more in property taxes. The $0.593 rate passed with Council Member Shane Scott dissenting. The $0.603 rate might be brought up at the Sept. 20 meeting. Both the budget and tax rate will come before the council Sept. 20 for nal adoption. If the council keeps the current rate of $0.603, an additional $700,000 is slated for public safety to hire additional o cers.
SAN MARCOS City Council held public hearings Sept. 6 on adopting the city’s 2023 scal year budget and tax rate. The proposed budget represents a 14% increase over the 2022 budget—about $37 million—totaling $297,440,593. Water, wastewater and electric utility rates will remain the same while stormwater rates are set to increase by 6.5%, according to city documents. The budget is set to generate 14.4%, or $5,451,606, more in revenue from property taxes compared to the 2021-22 scal year. It was passed 4-3 with Council Members Max eld Baker, Alyssa Garza and Saul Gonzales voting against it.
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COMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER • COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM
“[RESIDENTS] WILL LIKELY PAY THE SAME QUOTE OF NOTE
Commissioners approve $644K for women’s center
BY ZARA FLORES
MAKING UP FOR LOST TIME The grant funding, awarded as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, will go toward day-to-day operations of the Hays-Caldwell Women’s Center, such as:
AMOUNT IN THE FORM OF HIGHER INSURANCE RATES.” SAN MARCOS FIRE CHIEF LES STEPHENS ON THE NEED FOR
HAYS COUNTY The Commissioners Court unani- mously approved $644,000 in American Rescue Plan Act funds for the Hays-Caldwell Women’s Center at a meeting Aug. 9. The HCWC is a nonprofit based in San Marcos that offers free and confidential services to victims of family or dating violence, sexual assault or child abuse; its services are offered to those who live, work or attend school in either Hays or Caldwell counties. The commissioners received a presentation from Eric Boehning, senior project manager of design firm Ardurra, on Aug. 2 regarding the impact the COVID-19 pandemic had on the women’s center and its eligibility to receive the ARPA grant funding. The Ardurra presentation calls out a variety of issues over the past few years that have negatively affected the HCWC, namely the COVID-19 pandemic as well as recent inflation and supply chain issues in Texas and across the country. “The revenue loss and the decrease in donations and the need for an increased response to domestic violence are all eligible [for ARPA funding] underneath the public health and negative economic impacts eligible use
THE $0.6030 TAX RATE TO HIRE MORE FIREFIGHTERS
SOURCE: HAYS COUNTY/COMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER payroll
rent inventory utilities interest on loans
San Marcos City Council Meets Sept. 20 at 6 p.m. at 630 E. Hopkins St., San Marcos 512-393-8000 www.sanmarcostx.gov Buda City Council Meets Sept. 20, Oct. 4 at 6 p.m. 405 E. Loop St., Buda 512-312-0084 www.ci.buda.tx.us Kyle City Council Meets Sept. 20, Oct. 3 at 7 p.m. 100 W. Center St., Kyle 512-262-1010 • www.cityofkyle.com Hays County Commissioners Court Meets Sept. 20, 27 and Oct. 11 at 9 a.m. 111 E. San Antonio St., San Marcos. 512-393-2205 www.co.hays.tx.us MEETINGS WE COVER SAN MARCOS The council approved the appointment of Elizabeth Treviño as city clerk at their Aug. 16 meeting. Treviño has served as the interim city clerk since May. She also has more than 15 years of service with San Marcos. NUMBER TO KNOW the number of confirmed monkeypox cases in Hays County by the Hays County Local Health Department, as of Sept. 7 11 CITY HIGHLIGHTS KYLE City Council held a special meeting Aug. 22 to officially call for the $294 million road bond election in November. The bond will be the second but largest road bond in the city’s history with almost 16 miles of new, reconstructed or widened road projects. BUDA The council voted to establish the policy for automatic license plate readers to be used by the Buda Police Department on Aug. 16. The cameras will not be watched or monitored and will not be used for traffic enforcement. They will be reviewed after the fact, in the event of an incident involving criminal investigations. All data stored will be purged after 30 days and will not be subject to open record requests.
category,” Boehning said. The report also states the pandemic exacerbated the impacts of domestic violence, sexual assault and human trafficking. The funding provided by the county will go toward day-to-day operation costs and expenses of the women’s center. “It’s unfortunate that we have to provide these types of service, but it’s a reality. ... It’s wonderful to know that we have a great organization that provides these services in such a caring way. I’m extremely happy that we are able to fund this through our ARPA funding,” Commis- sioner Debbie Ingalsbe said.
Abortion investigations will not be prioritized
LOCALLY OWNED EATERIES The owners of two existing restaurants in Hays County will receive financial incentives tied to performance agreements for two new restaurants that will be located in downtown Buda. 1. JParks Saloon & Standard 404 Main St., Buda 2. Taste 116 Main St., Buda SOURCE: CITY OF BUDA/ COMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER
1
BY ERIC WEILBACHER
SAN MARCOS City Council members and the public learned Aug. 2 from Chief of Public Safety Chase Stapp that the San Marcos Police Department will not devote resources or officers to investigate local abortions. Stapp said Police Chief Stan Standridge issued an administrative directive that states the police department will not investigate elective abortion-related crimes since the United States Supreme Court ruling in Dobbs v. Jackson earlier this summer. “Unless an abortion or attempted abor- tion causes the [loss of] life or serious injury of the expectant mother unrelated to a lawful medical procedure, [the police department will not proceed with investigations or charges],” Stapp said. Much of the discussion also centered around how to implement some of the policies of the Guarding the Right to Abortion Care for Everyone Act—an ordi- nance passed by Austin City Council on July 21 to limit the enforcement of state abortion laws—within San Marcos. While no action was taken, a commit- tee of Mayor Jane Hughson and Council members Maxfield Baker and Alyssa Garza was formed to explore the matter.
967
BUDA
2
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Buda approves local business agreements BUDA On Aug. 16, Buda City Council approved performance agreements for two new restau- rants that are set to be located in downtown. The agreements come with capital investment, tax revenue or jobs. Jeff Parks, owner of MudBugs A Cajun Joint located at the Buda Mill & Grain Co., will expand his footprint in downtown with BY ZARA FLORES
JParks Saloon & Standard. The owners of Hays City Store & Ice House in Driftwood, Travis and Tamra Tindol, will also be expanding into the Buda area with Taste, a steak and seafood restaurant. JParks Saloon & Standard and Taste will receive $102,000 and $226,500, respectively, from the BEDC.
incentives paid for by the Buda Economic Development Corp. The BEDC has a variety of incentives for new or existing small businesses in the city to help with growth, expansion, renovation and more. The BEDC also offers incentives on a larger scale for businesses that would bring in
17
SAN MARCOS - BUDA - KYLE EDITION • SEPTEMBER 2022
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