“[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
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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.
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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
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SAN MARCOS - BUDA - KYLE EDITION • SEPTEMBER 2022
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