October 19, 2022 Hays Free Press

Free Press

Lennar building practices cause concern Buda homeowner speaks out

BY BRITTANY ANDERSON

BUDA — Jack Zapata has lived in the Stonefield subdivision in Buda with his family for six years — but now, he is looking to heed warning to other potential homebuyers after experiencing problems with builder Lennar.

After the Zapatas signed for and purchased their home in 2016, they noticed one major problem before even moving in.

“I had initial concerns because they were pouring these foundations when we were having some really bad weather,” Zapata said. “The ground was soaked; [the] foundations were soaked.”

In spring 2020, Zapata began noticing things in and around his house that indicated foundation issues, such as doors not lining up and the staircase cracking in the exterior brick.

Zapata is not alone. Along with his next-door neighbor and three other homes around their block requiring foundation lifts, his neighbors across the street had been in their brand-new home for only about eight months before they started seeing cracks, which went all the way up their two-story wall.

“I understand a one-off,

but this is not a one-off,” Zapata said.

Lennar has faced similar problems in other subdivisions around Central Texas. A KXAN Investigates story in February 2022 found that across 11 years' worth of records, 49 homes at Lennar’s Bradshaw Crossing neighborhood in southeast Austin had city permits filed for foundation repair.

Zapata’s next-door neighbor lives next to a green belt hill, which often causes flooding between their two homes. His neighbor’s sump pump runs constantly, and Zapata even built a stone path to try and mitigate excess runoff, as he believed that could have contributed to the foundation issues.

Lennar first chose to implement several “financial alternatives” to a foundation lift such as putting in downspouts, gutters and regrading yards, which were unsuccessful.

Zapata’s foundation lift occurred in November 2020, lifting the rear of the home about seven inches and the front of the home about one inch.

Zapata noted that it took months to have the driveway, patio, sprinkler system and grass put back in place following

the lift, and that there is still work to be done to finish up the lift nearly two years on. The under-slab tunneling has also caused problems, including being able to hear a hollow echo underneath the house when walking and leaving part of the backyard unsafe for his children due to the large hole present.

In April, Zapata noticed mold along the baseboards

and in the towels and sheets of one of their bathroom linen closets. The mold was also found underneath the bathtub and up the surrounding walls. A mold remediation company was brought in, as well as a forensic company to investigate the cause of the mold, who determined that it came from the tunnels.

“Because of the

Hays CISD honors Lance Clary

BY MEGAN WEHRING

BUDA –The Hays CISD community honored the life of a longtime educator and coach.

On Friday, Oct. 7, the

Hays High School swim team and YMCA Camp Moody came together to unveil a plaque that celebrates the life of Coach Lance Clary – he was a beloved mentor, coach, family member and friend.

The Hays CISD community was struck with the unbelievable loss of Clary earlier this year.

The plaque is located near the entrance of the Camp Moody Natatorium. On hand to help

VOTER’S

temperature difference below the house, the open tunnels build up humidity underneath, so a lot of moisture and heat gets trapped in those areas where there’s no soil up against it to reabsorb that,” Zapata said. “[It is] the exact mixture to grow mold.”

With the bathtub and walls torn out, Zapata has now been left with

active construction sites both inside and out. The tunnels remain open — polyjacking might be the only solution — and while work finally began to put the bathroom back together in early October, it was still unusable for the entire summer. The lack of wall insulation made their electric bill skyrocket from

Les Goad celebrates 200th career victory

BY AMIRA VAN LEEUWEN

The Hays Hawks head football coach, Les Goad, earned his 200th career victory after a road win over Boerne Champion (34-29) on Sept. 22.

Goad said the focus was on winning a district game that could put the Hawks in a position to make it to the playoffs.

“That was the real excitement,” Goad said.

“Any time you win a game like that, it’s a lot of fun.”

As a head coach, Goad has been to the State Semifinals twice, once at Navarro and another time at Hays.

“Being able to win the region at two different places in a four-year span

PHOTO BY BRITTANY ANDERSON

After mold was found in the Zapatas' bathroom linen closet, the bathtub and walls were torn out to expunge the mold, but remains unfinished. The exposed wall and lack of insulation also affected their electric bill.

PHOTO BY BRITTANY ANDERSON

The open under-slab tunneling hole in Zapata’s backyard, which has rendered the area unsafe for his young children to play around and caused mold in his bathroom linen closet.

commemorate the plaque were Hays High assistant athletic coordinator Danny Preuss, Hays High head swimming and water polo coach Justyn Payne, as well as family and friends including wife Tracy Clary.

CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

A newly unveiled plaque hangs near the Camp Moody Natatorium in honor of Coach Lance Clary, who died earlier this year.

CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

Tracy Clary receives a hug from Danny Preuss, Hays High assistant athletic coordinator.

CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

Members of the Hays High School swim team, YMCA Camp Moody and family/friends helped celebrate the life of Lance Clary on Friday, Oct. 7.

PHOTO BY MOSES LEOS Superintendent Dr. Eric Wright, left, and football coach Les Goad hold up a congratulatory banner.

MUTTON BUSTIN’ AND BULL RIDIN’

Second Buda Rodeo draws a crowd

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at Pinballz Kingdom for the second year in a row. Put on by the Buda Area Chamber of Commerce, spectators filled the bleachers and lined up along the fence to enjoy the two-night event. Friday night’s festivities included mutton busting and a few rounds of “redneck olympics,” and Saturday night featured more button busting plus bull riding. A variety of local food trucks and vendors were also available on site.

HHSC encourages screenings during Breast Cancer Awareness Month

STAFF REPORT

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month and the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) is encouraging women to get screened regularly.

“Breast cancer screenings can save a woman’s life and mammograms are the best way to detect breast cancer early when it is easier to treat,” said Rob

Ries, HHS deputy executive commissioner for Family Health Services. “As we bring awareness to this issue, we’re urging women to make time for their health and to get screened regularly.”

The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommends that women ages 50 to 74 get a mammogram every other year. Women with extra risk factors could start annual screenings at 40.

The HHSC Breast and Cervical Cancer Services (BCCS) program helps fund clinics across the state to provide free breast cancer screening and diagnostic services such as clinical breast examinations, mammograms and breast biopsies to eligible women.

BCCS also provides funding for cervical cancer screenings and treatment for precancerous cervical conditions. In addition, local clinics help eligible women apply for the Medicaid for Breast and Cervical Cancer program that helps women get treatment for breast and cervical cancer.

Last year, the BCCS program helped more than 29,000 women. Of those women, more than 290 were diagnosed with breast cancer.

Uninsured and underinsured Texas women who have an income at or below 200% of the federal poverty level are eligible to apply for BCCS. Additional eligibility requirements can be found at https://www.

hhs.texas.gov/providers/ health-services-providers/ womens-health-services/ breast-cervical-cancerservices/bccs-clienteligibility.

This month, some breast cancer awareness observation dates include:

• Metastatic Breast Cancer Awareness Day –Oct. 13

• Breast Reconstruction Awareness (BRA) Day –Oct. 19

• National Mammography Day – Oct. 21

To learn more about the women’s health programs and services that HHSC offers, visit the Healthy Texas Women website (https://www. healthytexaswomen.org/) or dial 2-1-1.

PHOTO BY BRITTANY ANDERSON

Some

Friday night’s dust-kicking “redneck olympics” activities included running laps in inflatable tubes while trying to avoid being head-butted by a bull.

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PHOTO BY BRITTANY ANDERSON

PHOTO BY BRITTANY ANDERSON

Buda Area Chamber hosts candidate forum

BY AMIRA VAN LEEUWEN

HAYS COUNTY —

Several candidates on the November ballot gathered with residents at a public forum hosted by the Buda Area Chamber of Commerce on Wednesday, Oct. 12, at 6 p.m. to discuss issues important to the community.

Greeted by a full house, Hays County Commissioner candidates for Precinct 2, Dr. Michelle Cohen and former Kyle Mayor Mike Gonzalez, and Precinct 4 candidates Susan Cook and Walt Smith answered three questions related to water and transportation in the county.

WATER

Cook, who initially decided to get in the race due to her concerns about water resources, emphasized the need for a long-term water conservation plan and building homes to meet environmental challenges.

“Year after year, we try to imbed good, sound rainwater harvesting, it gets knocked down by the developer class,” Cook said. “We can’t listen to ‘Oh no, we can’t afford that.’”

Smith, who is up for re-election, said he had fought hard to get additional authority for the Hays Trinity Groundwater Conservation District (HTGCD) in the last two sessions. Still, counties are statutorily weak when it comes to water. He advocated for incentivizing developers on the front end to recoup initial county funding to incentivize homeowners in their development to do rainwater capture and wells through photoionization detectors (PIDS).

Cohen mentioned neighbors who complained about their water shutting off without notice. She would seek solutions and depend on

The

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the experts.

Gonzalez said there are two aspects to consider: affordability and availability. He advocated for a diverse portfolio of water sources.

TRANSPORTATION

As for transportation, Cohen was concerned about the Kyle Road Bond plan because it consists of several roundabouts –which is something that many residents have been anxious about.

Cook said the county needs “real” traffic solutions that are easy and inexpensive.

“We don’t need to be choosing roads on who gave a certain commissioner money [or] who built that road,” Cook said.

Smith said he was proud of the county’s master transportation plan.

JP CANDIDATES

Precinct 5 Justice of the Peace candidates Sandra Bryant and Karen Marshall shared their thoughts about individuals thinking that judicial races, like the Texas Supreme Court and Justice of the Peace, should be made nonpartisan positions.

Bryant believes the justice of the peace office should be nonpartisan and not reflect any party affiliation.

“As a judge, you’re going to serve each and every one,” Bryant said.

Marshall said this had been an ongoing issue since the 1800s.

“I believe the reason that Texas chose partisan positions for Justice of the Peace and other judges is because they wanted the people to elect versus having others in power, just putting someone in there that would benefit themselves,” Marshall said.

Marshall added that Judge Doyle was leaving the office in “very good shape,” but this was a “new era” for Precinct 5.She has served under

Texas Attorney Generals Ken Paxton and Dan Morales, and she will collaborate with law enforcement.

Bryant, who is passionate about her community, said she would work to move the docket effectively.

DISTRICT 45 REP.

State House of Representative candidates for District 45, Erin Zwiener and Michelle Lopez, answered questions related to school funding.

“We have to, as a state, keep our commitment to our kids, and we’re not,” Zwiener said. She supports passing a constitutional amendment to require the state to fund at least 50% of the cost of public schools. “That is fundamentally the only way to keep our property taxes from going through the roof year after year after year.”

Lopez, who works in higher education, said the

education system needs to consider how the state uses allocated funds. If elected, Lopez will focus on job growth, the economy and safety.

“We all have to learn to live within our means, and the Texas government, our state government, should do the same,” Lopez said. “We’ve heard earlier about the issues of fentanyl coming across our borders. Also, the issues of trafficking — all of the things that create safe neighborhoods for us are the areas that I would put my efforts toward as your state representative.”

Zwiener said she would restore reproductive freedom and advocate for common sense gun safety if re-elected.

“We need to get back on track focusing on Texas lives instead of picking partisan fights,” Zwiener said.

COUNTY CLERK CANDIDATES

County clerk candidates Linda Duran

Crossword and

sponsored by

Insurance agency

Hays County

Wimberley:

Springs:

and Elaine Cardenas responded to questions related to safety issues and voting issues.

Duran said she would focus on reopening satellite offices and changing business hours.

Cardenas, who is running for re-election, said she would advocate for better wages and prepare for financial difficulties.

Regarding safety measures, Cardenas said she would engage with the Department of Homeland Security for

security assessments to identify potential vulnerabilities.

Duran said she would remove access from employees' personal computers and ensure new hires have taken a state-mandated security awareness program.

Early voting begins on Oct. 24. Election day will be Nov. 8. For more information, visit www. hayscountytx.com/ departments/elections.

Puzzle

Elaine Cardenas

Michelle Gutierrez Cohen

Karen Marshall

Mike Gonzalez

Susan Cook

Erin Zwiener

Michelle Lopez

Linda Duran

Sandra Bryant

Walt Smith

Candidate question: What is the water plan?

Susan Cook, and Walt Smith were the only candidates that answered this week’s question:

Is there a Hays County plan to bring water infrastructure to all of the existing homesteads and subdivisions that are completely dependent on the aquifers during a multi-year drought? Only those living in cities in Hays County will be sure to have water during a multi-year drought. What is the plan for all of the rural well owners, and subdivisions that are not hooked up to a city water pipeline?

Susan Cook Precinct 4 County Commissioner Candidate

There is no county-

by David Patterson

wide plan to do this, but some  communities are already contracting with water suppliers like the West Travis County PUA, the GBRA or with other entities branching off from San Antonio's Vista Ridge pipeline.

State and federal funding, and development fees, would allow residents to install rainwater harvesting systems into their homes, and businesses.  This may be in addition to, or instead of current wells, or water

piped in from surface water or other non-local sources. These costs must be simply part of doing business in Hays County.

Embedding rainwater harvesting into our County Subdivision Regulations, so that all new construction is already equipped to fully utilize rainwater as either a sole source, or a supplemental water supply, is essential.

Walt Smith, County Commissioner Precinct 4

Your question is a great one that is more dictated by state law than to the county’s ability to force change. Currently under the “rule of capture’” in Texas, property owners have the ability to drill and

pump the water they need for residential use.  While the county can incentivize rainwater capture and limit certain lot sizes over the aquifer that are solely in the county, cities can promote more density and choose to do so regularly.

As a member of the Commissioners Court and a board member of the West Travis County Public Utility Agency I’ve worked hard with our residents to address these issues. They have to be addressed in several ways. The first is limiting the density of growth where we can and preserve the green spaces which serve as natural filtration for the aquifer. We can do this by promoting rainwater capture, less

impervious cover and monitoring the aquifer to see changes long before they become problems.

The second need is to ensure more water, from outside our aquifer, is available. We can do this by using an “all options” approach that includes both groundwater and surface water to be brought here to supplement our resources and prevent wholesale, continuous drilling into our supply and ensure new developments use these outside sources. Cities within the county must participate in order to make this successful.

The last point is having a clear understanding of what happens to that water once it is used and

Nobody like me

There is a mass of humanity on this planet, and like snowflakes and zebras, no two people are alike. There are identical twins that look alike but might be different in other ways. And then, there’s the belief that somewhere, you have a doppelganger, a complete stranger who looks so much like you that you’d swear some scientist cloned your DNA. I actually saw my doppelganger one day as I was walking to class at the University of Tennessee (Go Vols!) back in 1977. I saw this guy and he saw me, and we both had the same expression on our faces as we passed each other.

Even today, fortysomething years later, I wonder about this guy.

FROM THE CROW’S NEST BY CLINT YOUNTS

Where was he from? Where is he now? Were we related? And if we are, is he rich and generous with his money? Is he a brilliant writer or more like me? I also wonder at times, usually somewhere between my 3rd and 5th beer, if there’s anyone else walking on this Earth who’s just like me.

Does anyone else try to identify the species of roadkill as you drive by? I don’t know why I do this. Multiple therapists are still scratching their heads over my little quirk. And does

anyone else pull off onto the shoulder to look for a Lone Star beer bottle to place on a dead armadillo’s belly? Who else chooses a political candidate on the basis of whose advertising campaign is the least annoying? I’m not a big fan of Beto but Greg Abbott’s ads run ad nauseam. I woke up early Sunday morning to watch Sports Center and see highlights of Tennessee’s win over Bama. (Go Vols!) Abbott’s anti-Biden ad ran 5 times during the 90 minutes I watched ESPN. I don’t know if my headache was from his ad or my postgame celebration, but I had to turn off the TV and take some Tylenol.

Will any of y’all turn down a free beer if it’s one of those nasty light beers? I’d rather

drink out of the bird bath than drink a Michelob Ultra.

Speaking of adult beverages, who else can’t stand those seltzer drinks? Most taste like a mixture of club soda and Robitussin.

Does anyone else enjoy body surfing with the grandkids knowing good and well that you are likely to wake up the next morning stiff and sore? I recall my surgeon advising me of things I should never do again, but he never said anything about body surfing like a dang fool. Who else wishes all this construction and destruction will stop?

Small towns are turning into overcrowded cities, and our landscapes are now filled with apartment complexes and

neighborhoods cluttered with indistinguishable houses.

Does anyone else wish there were more radio stations that play real country music and not that hick hop music coming out of Nashville these days?

KOKE is good, but out here on my ranch, there’re only a few paces I can pick it up clearly on my truck radio? Who else has a hard time trusting weather forecasts? Those folks on TV seldomly get it right. Personally, if I want to know if it’ll rain, I look for tree frogs clinging below the eaves of our house. I saw one hunkered down beside our back door last night just an hour before it rained.

Have any of y’all ever attended a cousin’s wedding

Salt worth dying for in El Paso

Fearing for their lives after the murder of the Mexican political boss, the Anglo

TIPS

Texas History by Bartee Haile

residents of El Paso sent for the commander of the Texas Rangers Frontier Battalion on Oct. 24, 1877.

At first glance the killing of Luis Cardis looked like nothing more than the violent climax of a particularly nasty personal feud. But in reality the trouble in El Paso was all about salt.

Massive formations of the natural resource were located near Guadalupe Peak 100 miles east of Texas’ westernmost town. Under Spanish rule private ownership was forbidden making the highly coveted commodity free for the taking.

Generations of poor Mexicans eked out a modest living hauling salt to El Paso and into the interior of Mexico. Following Texas independence and annexation by the United States, the practice persisted in open defiance of a new law which declared that the salt was no longer public

property.

Anglo arrivals did not learn of the existence of the salt until 1862, but the Civil War made private exploitation impossible. On the heels of the Confederate collapse, Radical Republicans took over in El Paso and elsewhere throughout Reconstruction Texas. They formed the secret Salt Ring in 1868 for the purpose of reaping enormous profits, but dissension in their ranks and fear of the Mexican reaction postponed seizure of the Guadalupe deposits. By 1872 the Republican machine was in shambles, wrecked by internal strife and the anti-Reconstruction backlash sweeping the state. Lawyer Charles Howard showed up that year in El Paso and in a matter of months became district attorney thanks to election rigging by Luis Cardis, an Italian whose dictatorial power was based on absolute control of the Mexican vote.

In the beginning, their alliance functioned smoothly and Cardis rewarded his obedient servant with an important judgeship. But the

relationship soon soured, and Howard was badly beaten two years later in a bid for reelection when the Mexican bloc vote went to his challenger.

Infuriated by the betrayal, Howard swore to take his former benefactor’s life. But the refined attorney found he did not have the stomach for cold-blooded murder and twice let Cardis live after beating him to a bloody pulp. He worked up the nerve in June 1877 to pull a pistol on his mortal enemy at the Fort Quitman stage station but could not bring himself to squeeze the trigger.

Meanwhile, Howard did what no one else had ever dared by acquiring legal title to the unclaimed salt. He was quickly confronted by enraged Mexicans, who forced him to sign a document relinquishing his right to their livelihood and promising his departure within 24 hours.

Howard, however, had other plans. Instead of heeding the threats and leaving town, he tracked down Cardis in one of his favorite haunts, the local dry goods store. Whether the political chief was actually

armed caused countless arguments for more than a century, but what happened next is no mystery. Howard killed Cardis with twin blasts from a doublebarreled shotgun. In the aftermath of the sensational slaying, the panic-stricken Anglo minority summoned Texas Ranger Capt. John B. Jones. The famed commander of the Frontier Battalion reached the volatile powder keg on Nov. 7 after spending three bone-jarring weeks on a stagecoach that went by way of Topeka, Kansas.

Ten days later, a sympathetic justice of the peace released Howard on bail. The sight of the Anglo assassin on the streets of El Paso incensed Mexicans on both sides of the border.

Capt. Jones, whose services were always in demand, hurriedly organized a local Ranger company under the command of John B. Tays and handed him a second lieutenant’s commission. Jones then returned to Austin leaving the raw recruit with a vague order to keep the peace.

Lt. Tays, his untrained

how to best recapture/ reuse it again and again. By eventually going to complete reuse and aquifer recharge for reuse water we can drop usage dramatically and reach sustainable goals for our area.

All that said, I’ve been proud to partner with other commissioners to create programs to measure and monitor the Onion Creek watershed and the Hays/Trinity Aquifer to get a clear view of where we are and continue to help lead efforts to plan for the droughts we know will come in the future. Without this continued effort the issues of water availability will just progress.

and kept tabs on the score of a football game while the lovely couple is exchanging vows? And has anyone stood up during the reception and sang Rockytop at the top of his lungs after watching the Volunteers beat Bama on discreetly hidden smart phone?

If any of y’all share any of these peculiar traits of mine, we might need to compare our DNA. We could be related somehow. Heck, one of y’all might be my doppelganger that I saw back in Knoxville. If you determine we are indeed related, let me assure you that I’m not rich and certainly not generous with what money I do have. But I will offer you a good beer and not a Topo-Chico.

LETTERS GUIDELINES

men and Charles Howard were surrounded in December by a bloodthirsty mob. After a siege of several days, Tays gave up and his entire company was taken captive, the only group of Texas Rangers ever to surrender.

A hastily assembled firing squad shot helpless Howard and mutilated his body with machetes. Two other Anglos suffered the same grisly fate before the rabble’s appetite for vengeance was satisfied.

Six suspected members of the mob were eventually indicted for the three killings. In spite of hefty rewards for their apprehension, none were ever arrested or brought to trial.

In an ironic postscript to the El Paso Salt War, the cause of the ruckus ended up in private hands. The haulers were soon out of business, and salt had to be bought over the counter like everything else.

“Murder Most Texan” is a must read for fans of true crime and Texas history. Order your copy for $24.00 by mailing a check to Bartee Haile, P.O. Box 130011, Spring, TX 77393.

CORRECTIONS

Any erroneous reflection upon the character, standing or reputation of any person, firm or corporation which may appear in the pages of the Hays Free Press will be cor rected upon being brought to the attention of the publisher.

DEADLINES

fied word advertising is noon Monday the week of publication, though we encourage readers and advertisers to observe the Friday deadline.

Early voting begins Oct. 24

Early voting in the Nov. 8 general election begins Oct. 24 and runs through Nov. 4. Applications for voting by mail must be received by Oct. 28, according to the secretary of state’s office.

Texans are eligible to vote by mail if they are 65 or older; sick or disabled; are expected to give birth within three weeks of Election Day; will be absent from the county where they vote during early voting and on Election Day; or are in jail but otherwise eligible.

If voting by mail, Texans are urged to carefully read the instructions before putting their ballot in the mail. More than 12% of mail-in ballots were rejected in the March primary for not complying with tighter voting regulations enacted in the last legislative session, according to kut.org.

Meanwhile, the latest poll shows the race between Gov. Greg Abbott and Beto O’ Rourke has tightened since the Sept. 30 debate between the two, the Corpus Christi Caller Times reported. The latest poll by Marist College shows Abbott’s lead has dropped to 4 percentage points.

As the race hits the homestretch, O’ Rourke reports having slightly more cash on hand in the latest three-month reporting period, which ended Sept. 29. He also outraised Abbott by a slight margin during the same period.

EPA sued over pollution from Texas coal plants

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has been sued by two national environmental advocacy groups for allegedly failing to ensure eight Texas coal-fired power plants are meeting approved emission

standards.

The Austin AmericanStatesman reported the suit was filed last week after the EPA missed a deadline to stop the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality from exempting the coal plants from regulations limiting particulate matter emissions.

An attorney with one of the groups, the Environmental Integrity Project, said the groups have been challenging the TCEQ exemptions since 2010.

“Essentially, Texas has these emission limits for particulate matter,” Clark-Leach told the American-Statesman. “Particulate matter is soot, it’s the black stuff you see coming out of smokestacks. It’s a bad idea if you’ve got people living nearby to emit in excess of those limits.”

The EPA’s website says that exposure to particulate matter can be harmful and is linked to lung and heart issues. Since being exempted by TCEQ in 2010, the plants have increased emissions as much as 33-fold. However, four of the plants have in recent years either switched to natural gas or shut down completely.

Drought conditions expected to return

A warmer and drier September and the continued presence of La Nina conditions mean drought conditions are likely to return to the parts of Texas that got some relief in August, according to Dr. Mark Wentzel, a hydrologist with the Texas Water Development Board.

At the end of September, drought conditions covered 61% of the state, Wentzel wrote, which was down 15 percentage points from the end of August.

However, the National Weather Service expects a third straight fall and winter of La Niña conditions, meaning below-average rain and above-average temperatures across Texas during the fall and early winter. Those conditions are expected to dissipate early next year, hopefully bringing drought relief and possibly complete recovery by the end of next spring.

Avian flu shows up in backyard poultry flock

The highly contagious avian influenza was recently detected in a backyard poultry flock in Dallas County, prompting health experts to recommend owners of domestic birds to limit all unnecessary contact with wild birds. The virus is easily transmitted not just by actual contact but through contaminated equipment, clothing and even shoes of caretakers.

Symptoms include diarrhea, incoordination, lethargy, coughing, sneezing and sudden death, according to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department.

Game bird hunters are urged to wear gloves when disposing of carcasses, and disinfecting tools with a bleach solution. Those who find birds who have signs consistent with avian influenza should contact their local TPWD biologist, whose contact information can be found on the agency’s website.

New ERCOT chief vows grid stability

The new CEO of the Electric Reliability Council of Texas said at a press conference

last week that one of his main duties is convincing Texans they can stop worrying about the electric grid.

“The key is going to be continued reliable execution,” Pablo Vegas said. “Achieving reliable operations over extreme weather conditions, that’s how you continue to build trust.”

He made the comments at a press conference held jointly with Peter Lake, chair of the Public Utility Commission. Both Lake and Vegas said improvements and operational changes made since the February 2021 freeze have made the grid much more reliable.

They pointed out there were no systemic outages during one of the hottest summers on record, which spurred a record demand for power, the Austin AmericanStatesman reported.

“We continue to be tested, (and) we continue to pass those tests,” Vegas said.

COVID-19 cases drop sightly

The number of COVID-19 cases reported in the past week in Texas by the Coronavirus Resource Center at Johns Hopkins University decreased slightly to 13,442, with 92 deaths reported. Texas Department of State Health Services reported 1,147 lab-confirmed COVID-19 hospitalizations across the state, also a slight drop from the previous week.

Gary Borders is a veteran award-winning Texas journalist. He published a number of community newspapers in Texas during a 30year span, including in Longview, Fort Stockton, Nacogdoches and Cedar Park. Email: gborders@ texaspress.com.

EAA declares return to Stage 4 Permit Reductions for San Antonio Pool

Stage 4 Permit Reductions in effect

HAYS COUNTY -

The Edwards Aquifer Authority (EAA) declared Stage 4 Critical Period Management permit reductions for counties within the San Antonio Pool including Hays.

On Saturday, Oct. 8, the daily mean spring flow for the previous day at Comal Springs was 92 cubic feet per second (cfs). The daily mean spring flow has resulted in a 10-day rolling average at Comal Springs of 99 cfs, which is below the threshold for Stage 4 within the San Antonio Pool.

The EAA Critical Period Management Plan for the San Antonio Pool requires Edwards groundwater permit holders in Atascosa, Bexar, Caldwell, Comal, Guadalupe, Hays and Medina counties to reduce their annual authorized pumping by 40%. These reductions apply to all Edwards Aquifer groundwater permit holders authorized to pump more than three

acre-feet annually. This includes industrial and agricultural users, as well as water utilities authorized to pump water from the Edwards Aquifer for delivery to its respective customers. All affected permit holders must also report their pumping totals to the EAA on a monthly basis.

Residents and businesses within those counties who receive their water from a public water system should follow their respective water provider's directives regarding water use practices.

The EAA does not enforce lawn watering activities or other general water limitations enacted. Any enforcement of such activities or limitations is enforced by a municipality.

The EAA does not regulate the general public, but instead regulates Edwards well owners with withdrawal permits authorizing their right to pump from the aquifer.

worship with us

CHURCH OF CHRIST

ASSEMBLIES OF GOD

Faith Assembly of God 1030 Main St., Buda

BAPTIST

First Baptist Church-Buda 104 San Marcos St., Buda

First Baptist Church-Kyle 300 W. Center St., Kyle Hays Hills Baptist Church 1401 FM 1626, Buda

Sledge Chapel Missionary Baptist Church 709 Sewell, Kyle

Southeast Baptist Church 5020 Turnersville Rd., Creedmoor

Manchaca Baptist Church Lowden Lane & FM 1626

Immanuel Baptist Church 4000 E. FM 150, 4 miles east of Kyle Center Union Baptist Church Goforth Rd., Buda Primera Mision Bautista Mexicana Kyle Baptist Church of Driftwood 13540 FM 150 W.

CATHOLIC

Santa Cruz Catholic Church 1100 Main Street, Buda St. Anthony Marie Claret Church 801 N. Burleson, Kyle St. Michael’s Catholic Church S. Old Spanish Trail, Uhland

CHRISTIAN

New Life Christian Church 2315 FM 967, Buda

Iglesia Israelita Casa de Dios 816 Green Pastures Dr., Kyle

Buda-Kyle Church of Christ 3.5 miles south of Buda on FM 2770

Southern Hills Church of Christ 3740 FM 967, Buda EPISCOPAL

St. Elizabeth’s Episcopal Church 725 RR 967, Buda St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church RR 3237 (Wimberley Rd.), Kyle St. Alban’s Episcopal Church 11819 IH-35 South

JEHOVAH’S WITNESSES

Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses FM 2770, Kyle Jehovah’s Witnesses South 10802 Manchaca Rd., Manchaca

LUTHERAN

METHODIST

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Capital Highlights by Gary Borders

Candidate forum held in Buda

County judge, treasurer and district attorney on the ballot

BY BRITTANY ANDERSON

HAYS COUNTY

Three hopeful county leaders gathered with members of the community to discuss their expertise and goals if elected to office.

The Buda Area Chamber of Commerce hosted a candidate forum during its monthly luncheon on Oct. 12. Participating in the forum were Ruben Becerra (incumbent) for County Judge, David Puryear for District Attorney and Britney Bolton Richey (incumbent) for County Treasurer. Jacquie Hollis Martinez served as moderator.

Commissioner Mark Jones, who is running for County Judge, Kelly Higgins, who is running for District Attorney and Daphne Tenorio, who is running for County Treasurer, were not present due to scheduling conflicts.

Jones is a Hays County native and has served as Pct. 2 County Commissioner since 2010. He is also a board member for CAMPO (Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization), vice president of the Capital Area Housing Corporation, vice president of the Hays County Food Bank and board member of the Hays County Education Foundation.

Becerra was elected county judge in 2018. During his tenure, his

priorities have included criminal justice reform, low tax rates and improving services to citizens. He has been recognized as a county leader in emergency management in dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic, has served on a variety of local boards and commissions and comes from a small business background.

“I’ve had the privilege of being your county judge against all odds,” Becerra said. “The job I have today as county judge is the best job I’ve ever had, because I’m impacting lives in ways I would have never imagined.”

Becerra’s goals, if re-elected, include maintaining his refined approach to community and emergency response and modernizing the justice system, noting that the county spends $15,000 a day to outsource inmates. He believes that regional communication regarding infrastructure and transportation in Hays County is important, and in being more mindful and conscientious of how the county uses water and protecting wells already in place.

The district attorney’s duties include representing the state in prosecuting felony criminal convictions, working with law enforcement officers in the investigation of criminal cases, presenting cases to the grand jury and representing victims

of violence and protective orders.

Higgins has practiced criminal law in Hays County courts for over 20 years. One judge urged him to run for the position, and he decided now is the time to “bring necessary reforms to Hays County.”

Puryear’s legal career spans nearly 40 years. He has served as a county and state prosecutor, and as a trial judge and most recently an appellate judge, for nearly 20 years in the Austin Court of Appeals.

“This is a critically important race for the people of Hays County. Your District Attorney is, without question, the most powerful office in the county,” Puryear said. “We all know that we are experiencing explosive growth, and unfortunately with that growth comes crime. … It is critically important that your DA have the requisite, background, experience and knowledge. I have that experience.”

Some of the top issues Puryear wants to address, if elected, include building the “most talented, professional and ethical” group of attorneys in the state, tackling the fentanyl crisis and working through a court backlog that is “unacceptable,” as there are pending cases that are sometimes up to seven years old. Puryear also said he believes the current line prosecutors are not as empowered

as they should be to deal with the cases that are assigned to them.

The county treasurer is the chief custodian of the county finances and is charged with the safekeeping of the investing of county funds, including the maintenance and reconciliation of all checking accounts under the care of the treasurer, and the disbursement of funds.

Tenorio, in a statement read by Buda City Council member Terry Cummings, said that as a former Kyle City Council member, she made “tough decisions” on the budget, consistently voting for lower budgets and sometimes being the only one to do so. She was elected the first

female president of the Association of Municipal Hispanic Officials, served on the Texas Municipal League board, and has experience as an accountant and small business owner.

“You work hard for your money, and you deserve to have somebody on your side,” Tenorio wrote.

In Richey’s 32 years of experience working in the Hays County Treasurer's Office, she has handled the county’s investment portfolio since 1996 and was elected as treasurer in 2018. She has instructed investments from the county to local governments in Texas for more than 20 years.

Some of Richey’s goals to address, if re-elected, include ensuring the county can earn money

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AWARENESS MONTH

in investments and safeguarding funds and liquid in case of recession, targeting fraud prevention and being transparent with residents.

“I’m a local girl; I’m not going anywhere. This is where I’m from, and to me, this is personal. This is our money, our family’s money, our friend’s money, and it is my job to keep it safe and liquid and able to use for your needs as the commissioners court designates,” Richey said. “I’ve done a very good job for you; I’m dedicated to it. I really care about it.”

Early voting begins on Oct. 24. Election day will be Nov. 8. More information can be found at www.hayscountytx. com/departments/ elections.

Silent victims: the impact of domestic violence on children

BY VALERIE GUTIERREZ, HCWC LEGAL ADVOCATE

October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month. The following article is part three of a five-week series focusing on raising awareness about domestic violence. One in three women will experience domestic violence in their lifetime. Locally, the HaysCaldwell Women’s Center serves victims of domestic and dating violence, sexual assault and child abuse. Last year, HCWC served 2,055 victims of abuse primarily from Hays and Caldwell counties, and 816 of those were victims of domestic violence.

intimate partner to another. According to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, “1 in 15 children is exposed to intimate partner violence each year… [and] 90% of these children are eyewitnesses to this violence.” Locally, HCWC provided services and shelter to 227 children that were living in homes with domestic violence.

self-esteem, self-blaming, and skipping school/lower grades. Other side effects include being withdrawn, depression, and anxiety. The impact on children is often the catalyst that leads the parent to seek help and safety for themselves and their children.

and children to help cope and potentially prevent long-term effects. If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence, contact the Hays Caldwell Women’s Center to learn more about our services.

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Domestic violence comes in many forms including physical assault, emotional/psychological abuse, intimidation, sexual abuse, and the systematic power of control perpetrated by one

Some of the adverse effects on children are well known and can have dire consequences. The age of the child and severity of what the child has not only witnessed, but the direct abuse they may have experienced themselves, shape each of these children either short or long term. Some common effects on children are thoughts of suicide, drug use, increased likelihood of child committing similar acts, risk of long-term physical and mental health problems, bed wetting, low

The consequences are unique to each child and situation, and it is vital that community members are encouraged to speak up against domestic violence to help create an environment where victims feel safe and supported.

The children growing up in violent homes did not choose the environment; they have little-to-no control over their living conditions. They are often silent victims, feeling helpless after witnessing the abuse of their parent.

Hays Caldwell Women’s Center provides free individual counseling services to both adults

If you need shelter, support, or resources due to domestic violence, please call our 24-hour HELPline at (512) 396HELP to talk to our advocates, all of whom are specially trained and educated to help you navigate abusive situations, both before and after leaving. To learn more ways to get involved with HCWC visit our website, www.hcwc.org for opportunities to volunteer, donate or get information on services. You can visit our educational website www.StopTheHurt.org for more educational tools on abuse issues and resources.

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Debbie Thames Insurance Agency

Ruben Becerra

Mark Jones

Britney Richey

Kelly Higgins

David PuryearDaphne Tenorio

Buda expands STAR transportation services

New driver, more hours implemented

BY BRITTANY ANDERSON

BUDA — Buda seniors will now have more options to help them get out and garner a sense of independence through a well-loved and muchused van ride service.

The Buda City Council unanimously approved to expand the city’s Seniors Taking a Ride (STAR) transportation program by extending its hours and hiring another driver.

The STAR program has been in the city since 2005, offering a van service to Buda residents who are 60 or older, or anyone with a disability, in order to help promote independence and enhance their quality of life. The program is free for seniors, and they can be taken to routine medical appointments, banks, grocery stores, shopping centers and more within the Buda, Kyle and San Marcos service area.

In 2021, the program saw 644 riders. That number has jumped to 1,128 riders this year, bolstering the need for more hours and driver accessibility.

A handful of residents

who utilize the program showed up to support the item, with one explaining that the population of Buda’s senior citizens is growing and that it is difficult to have to give up their vehicles and not be fully independent. This service, another said, offers freedom without having to depend on someone else for a ride.

The item initially offered two options. Option one would expand the van’s weekly hours from its current 18 hours to around 30-36, and hire another driver at an additional $8,600 a year — which is something that Mayor Pro Tem Evan Ture said could easily be found within the city’s Fiscal Year 2023 budget of $102 million.

Additionally, the city may be able to apply for a grant to get another van. The city of Buda is part of the CapMetro Austin Urbanized Area and eligible for Section 5307 funds, which makes federal resources available to urbanized areas for transit capital and operating assistance.

Option two was an OnDemand Rideshare program, using the Uber

Kyle $3.14 program as an example. However, council members Matt Smith and Paul Daugerau voiced some apprehension towards implementing a program like this and that it wasn’t quite necessary for Buda yet.

City clerk Alicia Ramirez suggested that the council implement the first option “incrementally,” giving staff the ability to assess the community’s need, although the dais felt that because funds were available now, extending hours and hiring another driver was a “no-brainer.”

“We want to be in front of the curve, not behind it,” council member LaVonia Horne-Williams said.

The van runs Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Rides can be reserved up to 30 days in advance, or at least a minimum of two business days’ notice. To schedule a ride or obtain additional information, contact STAR at (512) 523-1014 or complete the Registration/Request Form which can be found on the city of Buda website.

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County addresses mental health and opioid crisis Funds diverted for ISDs and sheriff’s office

BY BRITTANY ANDERSON

HAYS COUNTY — Hays County leaders are continuing to find ways to fund mental health initiatives for its youngest residents.

During the regular Hays County Commissioners Court meeting on Oct. 11, the court discussed using American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds for behavioral health resources in Hays County school districts.

According to the National Association for Mental Illness (NAMI), approximately one in five students (20%) in the United States experiences a clinical mental health disorder each year. However, it takes on average 11 years to identify a mental health condition for a child.

Eric Boehning of Ardurra Group, which serves as the program manager for the Hays County ARPA Program, said that $200,000 will be directed to Hays CISD, Wimberley ISD and Dripping Springs ISD to support both mental health services and

substance abuse services.

School districts will submit an application for grant funds to the county, which can be utilized for hiring mental health or substance use personnel, including fringe benefits, or to contract with a provider of mental health or substance use services.

“As noted by the U.S. Treasury, COVID-19 has exacerbated these behavioral health issues in schools, so this project is well within the lines of the American Rescue Plan,” Boehning said.

Pct. 4 Commissioner Walt Smith, who sponsored the item, said that funding will come from ARPA fund allocations made to Pct. 2 and 4 for Hays CISD, Pct. 3 for Wimberley ISD and Pct. 4 for Dripping Springs ISD.

“It was really important to me to try to address issues that are in our school districts prior to them becoming an issue,” Smith said, commending Dripping Springs ISD on establishing a mental health program prior to COVID, and Wimberley ISD for being adamant in looking to implement a mental health resource center.

LENNAR,

“These ISDs don’t have resources specifically for counseling,” Smith continued. “We’ve got families coming forward, and whenever they try to get a substance abuse counselor, they’re told that it’s going to be three, four months wait time before we can get those. … That’s the reason I wanted to include the flexibility in this agenda item to allow those school districts to mold and create a program of usage that they can administer in a thoughtful way to address their issues.”

Pct. 1 Commissioner Debbie Ingalsbe said that she would be reaching out to the San Marcos CISD superintendent about applying for the grant, saying she believes it’s important that every school has the opportunity to receive these funds. Smith agreed, noting that funding for San Marcos CISD would come from the Pct. 1 allocation.

The recent fentanyl crisis in Hays CISD has also brought the need for substance abuse counseling to the forefront. Later in the meeting, commissioners

around $120, at its usual maximum, to over $200.

Zapata’s concerns don’t end with his home. There are newer homes within the subdivision that suddenly changed to hardiplank instead of brick, which he believes will make it more difficult to notice foundation problems.

Lennar told residents at neighborhood meetings that this was done to “speed up” the building process.

Zapata and his neighbors also struggle with the idea of having to one day sell their homes, knowing that

unanimously approved funding to the Hays County Sheriff’s Office for education and outreach equipment and materials related to the opioid crisis.

In the last two months, four Hays CISD students have died due to fentanyl. Hays County Deputy Anthony Nipolito said that in September there were 10 overdoses, although no one passed away “thanks to the quick response of our first responders and EMS partners.”

According to the Sheriff’s Office, funding will be used for a variety of items such as:

• Create/purchase materials for PSAs.

• Purchase editing software for digital content.

• Purchase equipment to produce educational/informative digital content.

• Develop and produce a program similar to Shattered Dreams.

• Work with outside entities to develop peer-to-peer focus groups throughout the county.

• Work with elementary schools throughout the county to develop

they will have to take a large financial hit in order to make it appealing to potential buyers due to the amount of work that has been done.

Danielle Tocco, vice president of communications for Lennar, maintains that they hire “qualified licensed trades to perform work within industry standards.”

“That work is checked by a third party engineer in Texas (DPIS) and also checked multiple times by the relevant city and county inspectors,” Tocco said in

an emailed statement.

a drug education program.

“We’re trying to get in front of as many people as we possibly can to educate and inform our citizens about the poisonings,” Nipolito said. “Whatever we can possibly use this money for, [to] be creative to try and get this message out. … We know we’re not going to save everybody, but if we save one person at every presentation we go to, we’re doing a great job.”

Smith, who also sponsored this item alongside Pct. 2 Commissioner Mark Jones, said that they have identified grant funding that may be possible, but also spoke to the budget office to identify an offset for funding the program. The amount requested is listed as ‘not to exceed $20,000.’

“Obviously Hays County is our priority, but other areas within Central Texas have taken notice about what we’re doing down here in the Sheriff’s Office,” Nipolito said. “We’re doing what we can, and it’s being noticed throughout the region. With this funding, we want to continue this fight.”

Lennar did not respond to other questions asked regarding their site preparation process, communication process with homeowners, standard length of time to complete work such as foundation lifts, whether there are environmental features in the Stonefield area that would impact homes or information on the newer home design change.

For Zapata, the work is far from over. Roof repairs, brick repairs, the open tunnel and more are all yet

to be finished, and the lack of communication with no concrete plans on Lennar’s part has left him frustrated and distraught, especially with having young children in the house.

“It’s like pulling teeth. … You would think that they would want to make things right,” Zapata said.

“... It’s a culmination of a lot of stuff, and the support after is, ‘We’ll get to it if we get to it.’ You don’t live here. We do. … I’m hoping for more motivation and transparency. What else do we do? We’re stuck here.”

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was pretty exciting,” Goad said.

Goad developed his passion for sports at a young age, being inspired by the coaches that he looked up to growing up.

Now, he has coached for a total of 38 years and has been with the Hays Hawks for five years. Goad has also coached at Geronimo Navarro, Lockhart, New Braunfels Canyon, Liberty Hill and other schools in the Corpus Christi and San Antonio areas.

In addition to his on-the-field celebration, the Hays Hawks football team also rallied to surprise Goad on Oct. 4 in the school’s cafeteria.

Players surprised Goad with a banner commemorating his 200th victory, with several players presenting a crystal trophy to celebrate reaching the 200-win club. Goad’s family including his wife Elizabeth Goad, brother Lonnie Goad and son Ryan Goad were also in attendance.

“I must say, it was one of the biggest surprises I’ve ever had. They really got me,” Goad said.

He was also awarded the Coin of Excellence by Hays CISD Superintendent Dr. Eric Wright, making Goad the district’s first two-time winner of the award.

“It’s a great honor to be recognized by the school district,” Goad said. “I’m very appreciative of their support and recognition.”

PHOTO BY INHOUSE MEDINA

Head football coach Les Goad talks to his team during a timeout against Boerne Champion.

PHOTO BY MOSES LEOS

Les Goad holds a crystal trophy given to him by his players.

PHOTO BY MOSES LEOS

From left: Lonnie, Les, Elizabeth and Ryan Goad.

Residents can vote anywhere in county under new set up

Hays County is now a vote center county!  You may now vote at any open polling location in the county on both Election Day and during early voting.

EARLY VOTING

Early voting is convenience voting, allowing a registered voter to vote at any early voting location during a typically two-week period prior to Election Day.  For general information on early voting visit our voter registration and ballot by mail page.  Early voting schedules are posted on the

relevant election’s page, which will be hosted on the Current Elections page.

BALLOT BY MAIL

You may apply for a ballot by mail if you:

· will be away from Hays County on Election Day and during early voting;

· are disabled;

· are 65 years of age or older on election day; or

· are confined in jail.

The last day to submit an

application for ballot by mail is 9 days (11 days if Election Day is a Tuesday) before Election Day

ARE YOU REGISTERED TO VOTE IN TEXAS?

Check your voter registration before the election in which you wish to vote. Use My Voter Portal from the Texas Secretary of State to find out if you are already registered in to vote in Texas.

ARE YOU ELIGIBLE TO VOTE?

The Texas Secretary of State — the state’s election authority —

has ruled that you can register to vote in Texas if you:

* are a U.S. citizen;

* are a resident of the county where you submit the application;

* will be at least 18 years old on Election Day;

* are not a convicted felon (though you will be eligible to vote if you have completed your sentence, probation, and parole); and

* have not been declared mentally incapacitated by a court of law.

SCAN TO FIND YOUR POLLIING PLACE

CANDIDATES ON THE BALLOT

HAYS COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY KELLY HIGGINS

What or who inspired you to run for office?

Over the past few years, Hays County has grown from a sleepy rural county to the heavily populated county it is today. Unfortunately, crime has accompanied that growth, both from within and from the escalating criminal activity in Austin. A year ago, with strong encouragement from the law enforcement community, I decided to run for district attorney.

My 40 years’ experience as a prosecutor, trial court judge and appellate court judge make me the only qualified candidate in this race. Known, trusted and supported by our law enforcement, I will be tough but fair in holding criminals accountable.

What are some key issues that you are hoping to address if you are elected to office?

The main objective every day of my administration will be to protect the people of Hays County by aggressively prosecuting criminal activity. There are, however, additional key issues to address. A top priority upon assuming office will be eliminating the unacceptably high backlog of cases. Having 5–7-year-old cases is delayed justice and it is extremely unfair to victims, testifying officers, and defendants facing pending charges.

Developing effective and efficient policies for handling cases, along with proper leadership of the office, will be key in resolving this backlog. My many years of experience serving as a prosecutor and leading large offices of prosecutors gives me the necessary knowledge and skill to accomplish this. An additional and extremely troubling issue is the fentanyl crisis confronting our county. Being well known and trusted by every law enforcement group in the county means I can begin working with them Day One on a plan to present

to our community leaders to stop this terrible threat.

As a former prosecutor and judge, I have the necessary credibility to immediately collaborate with relevant community members and groups in implementing a plan to eradicate this menace to our community. Forming a special team of prosecutors dedicated to working on this issue will be another of my top priorities. Finally, the rising incidence of violent crime in our county must be addressed. Much of it is related to drug trafficking and use. The criminals inflicting this violence must be, and will be, aggressively prosecuted.

What challenges do you anticipate in this role and how will you face them?

A key challenge facing this office will be addressing the increasing crime in Hays County. Much of it originates within our county, but unfortunately a large and growing part of it is spillover from nearby Austin. An experienced and knowledgeable prosecutor is critical to addressing this effectively. That is why every law enforcement group in Hays County supports me. My decades of experience will be valuable in developing our office of relatively young prosecutors into a strong cohesive team of highly competent and experienced lawyers. I have led and trained countless young prosecutors in the past. My years as prosecutor, trial court judge and appellate court judge make me uniquely qualified and further, I am the only candidate with the necessary background and experience. My mission will be to build a team of highly competent professionals who effectively and efficiently deal with the growing crime in our county. I served as a judge on the Austin Court of Appeals for 18 years, with jurisdiction over Hays County, which means I was in regular contact with most Hays

County elected officials. Having those relationships already in place means I can start Day One working with them to address the needs of our county.

Are you a morning person or a night owl?

I frequently find myself up early and still working late. I often find that 16 hours of work time is not enough!

What are your leadership qualities?

I have been in leadership positions for 30-plus years of my legal career. I have successfully managed as many as 150-plus people at a time. I have a calm and encouraging style of leadership and have always been able to bring out the best qualities in my team members. My approach is to set forth a clear mission, successfully train and support the staff in accomplishing that mission, empower the team members to independently act in meeting the objective and to lead by example.

My leadership-by-example is demonstrated by the fact that I, supported by my team of lawyers, was recognized on more than one occasion by the Texas Office of Court Administration as the most productive appellate court judge in the state.

I believe that can be directly attributed to my having set forth clear standards by which team members should operate, empowering them to act independently, and continually recognizing and praising quality work.

What or who inspired you to run for office?

Judge Robert Updegrove first urged me to run for DA. I resisted the idea, but when the judge told me he thought I would do the right thing in office, I agreed to run. I realized that I would be able to bring needed change to Hays County, and a new sensibility to the office. The judge’s belief in me, and the vision of improvement for the county combined to convince me to run.

What are some key issues that you are hoping to address if you are elected to office?

The overarching issue is bringing Hays County’s criminal justice system into the present day. That effort has many aspects, from prosecutorial discretion to the creation of new divisions within the DA’s Office. I will create an Environmental Crimes Division and a Public Integrity Division to address the county’s astounding growth and the hazards that come with it. And I will help the courts clear their dockets more efficiently by diverting cases of simple drug possession into treatment programs, and by bringing serious cases to trial more promptly and with better results.

Importantly, I will not use the resources of Hays County to prosecute women or their families under Texas’ new antiabortion laws. Likewise, I will disregard AG KenPaxton’s opinion that families of trans youth are child abusers. Hays County taxpayers cannot be commandeered into a political witch hunt, and I will exercise prosecutorial discretion on their behalf to assure the proper use of resources.

I also intend to repair the low morale within the DA’s Office, which has seen the departure of Assistant District Attorneys for other counties. I will ensure that our ADAs are paid better, and given more latitude in their work in an effort to retain our legal talent.

Further, our DA’s Office has a poor record in diversity in hiring. I plan to recruit young lawyers from all backgrounds to provide the office with a more representative team of prosecutors.

And I will adopt policies reviewing the jail population on a daily basis, to ensure that nonviolent defendants are not held unreasonably before trial. Currently, our Sheriff houses inmates all over the state, and even in Oklahoma and Louisiana, all at tremendous expense to taxpayers. I will bring fiscal responsibility into line with Constitutional protections to improve this situation.

What challenges do you anticipate in this role and how will you face them?

I will face challenges from the Commissioners’ Court in funding some of my plans, and I intend to work closely with the commissioners to ensure that our prosecutors are better paid, and that the new divisions are funded properly.

Apart from these fiscal concerns, I anticipate a short period of building trust with police agencies. I believe that this period will indeed be short, because I am not inclined to radical measures that would make police wary of change. The changes I intend to bring will be positively helpful to police, both in the field and in the courtrooms of Hays County.

Additionally, there will be political opposition to some of my policies.

I expect this in a society as sharply divided as ours is today. While the DA’s Office is not a public forum generally, still it prosecutes legal business in the name of the public, and political issues are part of the scope of the office. With this in mind, I will create a bi-weekly public meeting at the courthouse, which anyone may attend to share their concerns and thoughts regarding the policies of the office.

I will personally attend the meetings. Of course

it will not be a place for discussing particular cases, but for the public to be able to express itself directly to the District Attorney regarding the larger issues facing the county.

Are you a morning person or a night owl?

I’ve been a night owl most of my life, but over the years I’ve become more of a morning person.

What are your leadership qualities?

I bring clear moral vision, honesty, and integrity to the issue of leadership. I believe that the ability to communicate this clearly with subordinates, together with efforts to improve working conditions and therefore morale, will create a climate of higher productivity and muchimproved results in court.

Leadership in this office is about supporting prosecutors in their work, and providing the vision of justice that they will pursue in our courts.

Those qualities are wellknown to the prosecutors within the DA’s Office, since I’ve worked directly with all of them for years. I believe that that long experience will be instrumental in quickly creating trust and a shared sense of mission with the entire staff. I do not propose to lead soldiers into battle, or athletes on the field of play. I propose to lead prosecutors I know well into Hays County courtrooms I know well, in pursuit of justice.

Ultimately my leadership qualities come down to honesty and courage, both of which matter more to lawyers and judges than anything else.

HAYS COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY DAVID PURYEAR

KELLY HIGGINS

DAVID PURYEAR

In preparation for our 2022 Voter’s Guide, Barton Publications reached to all of the candidates for Hays County Judge, Hays County Commissioner (Precincts 2 and 4), District Attorney, Justice of the Peace Precinct 5, Kyle City Council (Districts 1 and 3) and Wimberley ISD Board of Trustees (Places 4 and 5).

All candidates were given the same deadline. Barton Publications did not receive responses from Ruben Becerra, Mike Gonzalez, Walt Smith, Amanda Stark, Will Conley and Chad Canine.

HAYS

What or who inspired you to run for office?

The most recent motivator was the COVID pandemic and the freeze of 2021. Watching families suffer due to illness, death, loss of a job, food and rent insecurities, access to vaccines and hospital expenses. I do believe that it must be the right office for an individual and that is what I have been waiting for. Being county commissioner keeps me close to the community that I care for and want to protect.

What are some key issues that you are hoping to address if you are elected to office?

Hays County is the fastest growing county in the nation and that growth has caused some significant issues in my precinct. The lack of proactive road infrastructure planning has caused major backup and delays for our residents.

Every intersection located on the east side has issues. As a county, I feel we handle most of our issues reactively instead of proactively.

We need more community infrastructure.

East Interstate Highway 35 does not have a community center or even a library. When we needed to provide basic resources to residents and the most vulnerable residents with water, food, COVID testing and COVID vaccines, we did not have the space.

When the freeze of 2021 happened, I remember how local officials were trying to figure out how to get water from the west side of IH35 to the east side. My organization stepped and passed out water and food to the east side.

The political climate has taken its toll on our local and county governments. We need to find common ground to move forward as a county for the good of all. We all need to assume this responsibility and stop with the blame.

What challenges do you anticipate in this role and how will you face them?

Every new elected official is under a microscope when they start their term. I am running for this office as a direct response to the disparities that exist in my community. I have lived in this county for a combined 30 years. My family still lives here, and I am genuinely running for the right reasons. I want to be that voice for our east side community that has historically underrepresented in every issue. With that said, it will be my responsibility to find ways to reach residents that have been discarded and bring them in.

Are you a morning person or a night owl?

I normally start my days at 4:00 AM. Running a campaign, planning events for my organization,

sending my daughter to school and getting ready for my regular workday has me working long hours.

What are your leadership qualities?  I received my doctorate in Organizational leadership which means I have a fascination with leadership and have a true understanding to what draws people to certain leaders. People are drawn to leaders that sometimes do not realize they are leading. Leadership is exhibited in many forms. There is still the great debate of whether leaders are born or can be taught. Honestly, you can argue both cases but to lead effectively there are tools you can learn to be a great leader. Effective leaders can inspire people to look beyond their own limitations.  I am a problem solver, a team builder, and organizer. I am a visionary thinker and am always thinking ahead. I do have a servant heart and lead that way.

HAYS COUNTY JUDGE MARK JONES

What or who inspired you to run for office?

William “Mo” Johnson, from junior high on, he was one of the most influential people in my life. I spent a lot of time with him and talking with him. He was the first Superintendent at Hays CISD and he was the only one who could of brought Buda and Kyle together.  He encouraged me to run for school board, the first office I ever ran for.

What are some key issues that you are hoping to address if you are elected to office?

Emergency Management, roads/ transportation infrastructure, and fully funding law enforcement

What challenges do you anticipate in this role and how will you face them?

The rapid growth in the county is the biggest challenge we face. I will work to improve infrastructure and mobility, working with developers to make sure we have high quality developments, and work to bring higher paying jobs in to the county so we have less commuters and more people who live here, work here. Making sure our law enforcement is fully funded and equipped to protect all citizens. The fentanyl crisis is a top priority and will take working with the schools and law enforcement to educate the community of the extreme dangers and to protect our children.

Are you a morning person or a night owl?

Both – whatever it takes to get the job done.

What are your leadership qualities?

I am experienced, I care about all people, I’m a hard worker, honest, who puts others before myself. Mo Johnson taught me what it means to be a servant leader and that you can be a leader without it being about you all while keep your Christian principles and values.

What or who inspired you to run for office?

SUSAN COOK

After many years of attending Commissioners Court, Hays Trinity Groundwater Conservation District meetings, and being a member of several local groups working towards responsible development and water resource protection, I came to the realization that I could best serve the interests of my neighbors, and my own land and water, by serving as a County Commissioner.

What are some key issues that you are hoping to address if you are elected to office?

As Commissioner, I would work to protect, preserve and defend our aquifers, creeks and streams. The People Who Live Here Now must be the primary focus when considering new development, or planning for new populations to be encouraged to move to Hays County.

Growth must pay for itself, and do no harm to our local economy, water resources, air and soil quality, social services, public safety, infrastructure or the small town way of life we enjoy here. It is our money, our water, our land and our future. The People must play a major role in in deciding how their own future unfolds.

Not all development is “progress,” some of it is simply growth, with little rhyme or reason, except someone making a profit at someone else’s expense. This is where government can provide oversight, by enacting ecologically sound incentives and guideline for how growth is managed, and enforcing them.

We have to embed limits to what can be built on top of our aquifer recharge zones into our County subdivision regulations. Subsidies/incentives for converting to rainwater catchment and/or to help people drill their wells deeper must be enabled, and fully funded. Solar should be encouraged, including both rooftop and community solar arrays.

We need to address the road issues we face today before spending millions to build roads that simply

open up new lands to vast residential development, with no regard for how those lands are being used today.

We have a healthy agricultural economic base in Hays County, and bulldozing that just to replace it with vast seas of rooftops, or yet another shopping mall may be short-sighted.

What challenges do you anticipate in this role and how will you face them?

Time and again, people have tried to do things like, for instance, embed rules that would mandate rainwater collection on all new construction, but the Developer Class, the Growth Industry, comes in with their outsized influence on our regulatory system and nixes these efforts. We have to make sure the voices of the people are given more weight in these negotiations than the businesses whose only goal is profit, and who may not really have our long-term best interests in mind.

Developers continue to push to make it easier, cheaper and more profitable to build homes and commercial buildings. But, instead, we end up with buildings that are not resilient, not “climate change ready,” do not have the ability to easily convert to rainwater and solar, utilize building practices like using better materials for construction, permeable pavers instead of pavement, less water dependent landscaping or adequate insulation to make them easier to heat and cool. We must make sure to minimize the impact development projects have on both our aquifer recharge capabilities and actual water use.

The challenge as I see it, with buildings, roads and all kinds of infrastructure, is that we have to make developers take seriously their responsibility to build better and smarter, and to bear the cost of making homes and other buildings, including the landscaping around them, more resilient. Development must require less water and energy, while still providing long lasting and reliable housing.

Development must create

WIMBERLEY ISD BOARD OF TRUSTEES, PLACE 5 LINDSEY DERINGER

What or who inspired you to run for office?

My kids inspired me to run for office. I wasn’t interested in politics until I had my daughter, almost 9 years ago. I realized how their lives were going to be affected by the decisions made by elected leaders. I became involved in politics and started supporting reasonable, kind, and transparent candidates. This time around, I felt like it was my turn to give back and serve. I hope my kids see the value in working hard to become elected as well as being an honest and service-minded candidate.

What are some key issues that you are hoping to address if you are elected to office?

If I am elected to the Wimberley ISD Board of Trustees, I hope to encourage unity in our community. I know that most, if not all, of our

Wimberley community has our kid’s best interests in mind. If we all believe that about each other, we can work together to mend political divides and get back to focusing on the kids. I would also like to build more support for our local teachers. Most weekdays our teachers spend more time with our children than we do. They have earned our trust and that should be evident in our decisions and discussion regarding them. One improvement that could be made regarding accessibility is WISD Board meetings being live streamed for caregivers not able to attend a 6 pm weekday meeting. A recorded version is available next day but it is hard to know who is speaking during the meetings and how each trustee votes without a video. We need to be constantly assessing our safety protocols & updating

them as needed. We also need to keep up with the most current information on school safety & know the lessons that have been learned from previous tragedies. Wimberley ISD has made several updates to their safety protocols since Uvalde happened at the end of May 2022. Some of the changes include a school resource officer at each campus, updating doors and locks, & updating visitor checkin procedures. I think that these improvements are making our schools safer for our students, however, keeping our students safe will be an ongoing process that will require the attention of the school board in the future. Finally, since the Texas legislature makes laws, it is important for them to hear about local needs from WISD community members, teacher, & the school board.

What challenges do you anticipate in this role and how will you face them?

I am aware of our political divide in Wimberley and in our country. In my opinion, misinformation is a huge problem. I believe that transparency and open communication between our community and the board help to combat that. Some people view diversity and differing opinions as a negative thing. I believe that it is actually an asset. When we are able to listen and respect people who have different opinions than us, we learn and our ideas can stretch and grow. Respect also fosters kindness. If we are carbon copies of each other, things do not improve, in fact, they might actually get worse. “A diverse mix of voices leads to better discussions, decisions, and outcomes for everyone.” –Sundar Pichai

Are you a morning person or a night owl?

I enjoy sleep but appreciate what I accomplish when I am up early. When evening rolls around, I’m ready for a quick show and bed!

What are your leadership qualities?

I believe that I am a good communicator. Through my previous work as a campaign manager and a member of several teams, I have developed strong communication skills. In these roles, I worked with a diverse group of people to communicate the mission and values of each job effectively. I am an empathetic & active listener. As a teacher and a mother, I have learned to value the opinions and ideas of others. I have learned the need for a listening space and a discussion space. I am also a servant leader. I believe that showing teammates

buildings and roads that are durable, lasting assets, not detriments, to the land they sit upon and the water beneath that land.

Are you a morning person or a night owl?

I have been a Night Owl my whole life.

What are your leadership qualities?

I have owned a small business for almost 40 years: hiring, training and supervising large and small projects. I know how to identify a problem, map out innovative design solutions, then with the right personnel and the right tools, find a way to overcome any challenges to getting that problem taken care of. I know how to stay within budgets, not cutting corners, even when trying to cut costs. Working with the right people, towards shared goals, is how we will solve our community’s problems as they arise.

Our community is rich with talent, good will and the resources to create and maintain our healthy, prosperous way of life in Hays County. Our County government should reflect the diversity , experience, talent and intelligence of our people.

We must protect our communities, and our natural resources, from rampant, uncontrolled growth that does not take into account the negative affects projects may have on The People Who Live Here Now. It is the land and water that nurture us, and make Hays County this great place to live, work and raise our families. We cannot risk losing that, and we must insist that people moving here, or wanting to do business here, take that as seriously as we do.

that you are willing to serve them and work alongside them builds a strong rapport. A trustworthy team will put in the hard work that is needed to do worthwhile work. Through juggling my many roles in my personal life and professional life, I have developed the ability to plan ahead and assure that all needs are met and that nothing is left behind.

MICHELLE GUTIERREZ COHEN

SUSAN COOK

MARK JONES

LINDSEY DERINGER

What or who inspired you to run for office?

I am passionate about the people I serve. I have been involved in my community for 15 years in various capacities and really enjoy giving back to the place I call home. Some of those areas I volunteer for are the Buda Lions Club, where our motto is “we serve,” After talking with several people in the community who asked me to run, speaking with my husband, and having a long conversation with God, I was inspired to run for Justice of the Peace. I thought this would be another way to help my community on a different platform.

What are some key issues that you are hoping to address if you are elected to office?

If elected as the Justice of the Peace, my top priority that I plan to address, is to continually move the dockets of scheduled hearings and trials through the court system, effectively and efficiently. Another important focus is to make sure the citizens are heard in a timely manner. I also plan to work with the Student Resource Officers and Counselor in the school systems to address various needs and concerns. Last, I plan to be available for inquest to certify the unfortunate deaths.

What challenges do you anticipate in this role and

how will you face them?

As with any job there are challenges entering into a new position.

However, my role as the new JP is to come in and learn from my team and others. I also think as a team, it’s important to assess what works and what doesn’t work and implement new processes if necessary. I also am aware of the Fentanyl crisis happening in schools. I want to join forces with Law Enforcement and School Officials to work on creating ways to combat this crisis.

Are you a morning person or a night owl?

I am an early bird. However, if a need arises in day or night, I plan to be available. I’m not driven by the time of day or night. I’m driven by the “Need.” I am mentally prepared for this new responsibility. I am committed.

What are your leadership qualities?

It is extremely important to have good leadership qualities in the role of Justice of the Peace, as it is the closest court to the people. I believe great leaders spend time with the people they serve. So, first I think the number “one” leadership skill is to listen to the people.

Another leadership characteristics that I possess is a high work ethic, I am a hard worker and a committed to excellence, Integrity and

Teamwork. There is a quote that says,” leadership is not a solo act, but a group effort.” If elected, I will be working with law enforcement from different agencies, clerks, School Officials, Parents, and individuals from all walks of life. Lastly, I believe in leading by example. I am a servant-leader. As the President and Past-President of several organizations (Homeowner Association and Hays CISD Council of PTAs/ PTSA), I had to make tough decisions that weren’t popular. It meant making fair decisions and doing the right thing but also making sure individuals understood why I came to that conclusion. Lastly, selfdevelopment is important, and I plan to concentrate on this but developing other is also important. So that too, will be a focus. We have to be fully prepared to serve the people we are called to serve.

What or who inspired you to run for office?

Serving the community has always been part of my character and family for generations. I believe if you fix one thing at a time, you will make the world much better. I’ve served on Simon MS PTA, participated in Kyle Police Citizens Academy, and advocated for my neighborhood HOA. I am proud to be from Kyle and proactive in my community, I enjoy the long-standing relationships with our local businesses. Because of my technical knowledge, experience in higher education, and community involvement I’ve decided to work at the next level to improve the future for Kyle.

What are some key issues that you are hoping to address if you are elected to office?

find opportunities to work with our city department and planning to build a community center for seniors and a public library for residents on the east of IH35. We also need to look for creative solutions to sustain and support our community health programs to provide resources and training programs for our residents. This will enrich our residents and provide a talented workforce for business and employers.

What challenges do you anticipate in this role and how will you face them?

What or who inspired you to run for office?

I’m a proud seventh generation Texan and come from a lineage of public servants who served Texans, such as Deputy Sheriffs and Texas Rangers. Serving is what we are about. They instilled and inspired me to serve others through their love for people. That is why I also chose a career that wasn’t about me, it’s about you.

I’ve served you for over 26 years as a public servant and now want to serve you as Justice of the Peace.

What are some key issues that you are hoping to address if you are elected to office?

To implement a Teen Court to help teens stay out of trouble and deter them from future unlawful offenses. It’s an alternative program allowing teens to make restitution through community service. It’s been highly successful in other precincts across the State. For accessibility and process improvement, I would like to make the court more accessible to you. I plan to give you information at your fingertips. Forms and guidelines will be available on our website to help

empower you before coming to court.

What challenges do you anticipate in this role and how will you face them?

This is a new era for Precinct 5. We are experiencing an explosive growth in population, traffic, crimes, and now a deadly drug crisis. As an experienced liaison, I will collaborate with law enforcement, prosecutors, and community leaders for solutions to address these important and serious issues. My strong leadership skills and work ethics will allow me to manage the increasing caseload and administer the court at optimum efficiency. I would like you to help me shape the Justice of the Peace office for this new era. I want to hear from you. My door will always be open to hear your ideas. Let’s shape it together!

Are you a morning person or a night owl?

I can be both. I love sunrises and I love seeing the stars at night.

What are your leadership qualities?

Leadership comes naturally to me. I’ve earned a reputation of being a successful leader and

commonly been sought after to lead high-level enterprise projects. Using my strong leadership skills, I’ve led many successful projects including creating a disaster preparedness and emergency continuity plan for our state’s higher education, leading process improvement plans in the legal arena, implementing strategic plans to help keep our Texas roads safer, and conserve the natural and cultural resources of Texas. Additionally, I managed the audit of converting over a million physical legal case files to electronic media. Another important leadership quality I have is in relationship building and the ability to bring people together and mutually respect one another.

Because of our rapid growth we have many challenges, and we must continue to focus on the infrastructure because this directly impacts every resident. Infrastructure includes repairing our old roads and making sure new roads are wide enough and have adequate sidewalks. We also need to keep updating our wastewater plant, and repair drainage pipes, and retention pumps. With increased development our water resources are under more stress and homes in potential flood areas. We must have leadership that can work with planning and zoning and developers to ensure the safety of our homes and residents aren’t compromised. A second priority is to increase business development by attracting and offering incentives to businesses that will result in good paying jobs and decrease our tax burden. Our downtown also needs to be revitalized and improved upon so that more local businesses can open in that area, we should improve the older buildings downtown and focus on creating a family-oriented environment in that area.

Our small business owners have personal relationships in our communities, and they help support our neighborhoods and schools. We should manage the budget and increase funds for small grants and low interest loans to help local business owners increase services or hire more staff. Third priority, there are undeveloped areas of our city that lack amenities for the residents such as the east of Kyle. I would

East of Kyle: We need more retail businesses and community centers, but to support this we need additional streets and wider roads with sidewalks. As far as downtown, we need to repair older buildings and fill vacant areas by attracting retail, restaurants, and small businesses. A challenge in downtown is the CB1 and CB2 zoning requirements as well as the noise from the train and limited parking. We need to work with everyone to find the best solution for the residents and our downtown. West of Kyle, we are faced with environmental areas, and large apartment buildings, so smaller homes in that area are appropriate. We must expand the manufacturing and retail business and larger developments along both sides of Interstate Highway 35. To pay for infrastructure we need to increase our sales tax revenue. By investing strategically with the right rebates or incentives we can attract more businesses and collect more sales tax revenue. We should apply for more federal and state money to help create a progrowth manufacturing and technological workforce around the IH35 corridor. We also need to partner with surrounding cities to leverage our finances to preserve resources and to help attract and grow our local economy throughout the county. By working with developers and our economic development team we can find provide for more mixed-use zoning to diversify our businesses and enrich our amenities. I would like to see us invest in more opportunity zones for startups and entrepreneurs so they can lease space that is affordable and allow them to have an office and location to help their start-up flourish along IH35. If we develop in

comprehensive manner, we will be able to have a sustainable city that will attract businesses to all parts of our community.

Are you a morning person or a night owl?

I have two kids and a golden doodle, so it’s harder to stay up late so clearly, I am no longer a night owl.

What are your leadership qualities?

I am a leader that is open to all forms of communication and understanding and approachable to all residents. I believe in respect, hard work and education and that you must lead by example and be a voice for everyone regardless of where someone lives or comes from. As a council member you have a responsibility to be visible in the community and aware of what the resident’s needs are and what they are facing. I encourage communication, research, and town hall dialogue because that is the best way to resolve conflict and misinformation. I will be transparent and accountable to the residents and will do my best to have all the correct information before I make a vote. I believe tax dollars needs to be safely guarded and residents be informed of how money is spent and how a vote was made. I aim to be transparent and work to strengthen the relationship between our city’s departments, our residents, and local businesses. I am leader that is constantly learning and improving, sets achievable goals and will get things accomplished.

I believe our city needs new council members that listen to all residents and can move us forward together. I am asking the voters to invest in change so we can pivot to areas of our community that need more resources and development. I want to help make the best future for our city and more inclusive to help improve the quality of life for everyone.

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HAYS COUNTY JUSTICE OF THE PEACE, PCT. 5 KAREN MARSHALL

KAREN MARSHALL

SANDRA BRYANT

MIGUEL ZUNIGA

What or who inspired you to run for office

I have served 3 years as a City Council Member, (currently) as Mayor Pro Tem. I have been involved in numerous projects as a TASK Force Member, helped design various parks, and the Public Safety Center. My background in commercial construction and property management, allows me to work with local businesses, large and small. Three decades of service in the community, working with non-profits, budgets, sitting on various boards, programming, and planning events.

Continuing to serve my community of Kyle is the main reason I am running for reelection.

What are some key issues that you are hoping to address if you are elected to office?

Public safety is priority number one, continuing to bring the new Public Safety Center online, and creating recruiting opportunities for new officers.

Infrastructure: identifying funding resources will be my top priority to help bring the road projects forward and allowing new development to contribute towards

KYLE CITY COUNCIL, DISTRICT 3 ROBERT RIZO

infrastructure as well.

Economic development: businesses are now showing high interest in Kyle with 28 new restaurants, promoting Kyle’s Restaurant Incentive Program and increasing sales tax revenue.

What challenges do you anticipate in this role and how will you face them?

First, an extensive background in commercial construction and property management, working with large and small businesses. Providing crucial knowledge for viewing development plans and blueprints.

KYLE CITY COUNCIL, DISTRICT 1 NEAL BREEN

What or who inspired you to run for office?

After running a business and dealing with the city council in Austin, I decided to be the change I wanted to see in the world. Austin doesn’t care about small business. I will not let that happen to Kyle.

What are some key issues that you are hoping to address if you are elected to office?

Kyle is growing, whether we like it or not. Austin blew it when it came to anticipating and preparing for growth. We have three primary concerns to address as we anticipate this growth.

Keeping the cost of living down for current residents. This cost-of-living increase is a result of a low supply of housing, and foreign investment absorbing the housing we DO have. I’d like to do my due diligence to encourage and invite housing developers into our city. In addition, I’d like to hike the homestead exemption to an agreeable amount – with the potential to save the average resident as much as $2,000 per year.

Encouraging small business development. The charm of any small city rests within its small business community.

I’d like to reroute tax incentives from big business to small and see the culture of our city keep

pace with its growth.

Infrastructure. We all know we need it. I believe it to be one of the key jobs of government, and we need to expand upon the roads and utilities in our city to prepare for the inevitable expansion. I believe this needs to be done as efficiently as possible, however. Writing a blank check or taking out a massive bond is all well and good, but I won’t force anyone to swallow that pill without first providing as much transparency as possible – as the government ought to do in all endeavors.

What challenges do you anticipate in this role and how will you face them?

As a freshman councilmember, I know I will face a strong learning curve as to how our city operates. We have 2 ears and 1 mouth for a reason, and I will keep that in mind during my early days as councilmember. Those ears will be spared to all that will speak to them. I will be hosting a monthly forum to hear the concerns of all citizens of our city – and take them to the dais. City council is a conduit between the population and the city staff, and I harbor no delusions of grandeur that there is anything more to the job. I feel that my goals may seem lofty to some, but I can assure

you I will do all I can to accomplish them – and find compromise with my fellow councilmembers.

Are you a morning person or a night owl?

Both. I find I get the most work done between sunrise and lunch time, or midnight and 3 a.m.

What are your leadership qualities?

I’ve been forced into a leadership role in every facet of my life for as long as I can remember; between my fraternity, my pool teams, the bars and restaurants I’ve managed, or as a logistical assistant at my church. I try to listen more and say less. Understanding your audience is the most important aspect of leadership – and I spend a majority of my time learning as much about them as possible, in order to facilitate the most successful and agreeable result.

Three decades of service in the community, working with non-profits budgets, sitting on boards, assisting with programs, planning events, and organizing personnel.

Finally, three years as a City Council Member and a year as Mayor Pro Tem obtain crucial knowledge of the job. I have been involved in numerous projects as a TASK Force Member. I helped build and design various parks (Mary Kyle Hartson Park, Hero’s Memorial Park, soon-to-be complete La Verde Park) and the Kyle Public Safety Building.

Our rapid growth

has created many infrastructure challenges; my experience will help bringing much needed road improvements to fruition.

Are you a morning person or a night owl?

I start my day at 5:30 a.m. and in the past three years, city council meetings can last till midnight or 3 a.m. Night Owl/morning.

What are your leadership qualities?

In the past three decades, I have served in many leadership roles, several nonprofits, church boards, Youth sports

KYLE CITY COUNCIL, DISTRICT 1 BEAR HEISER

What or who inspired you to run for office?

My wife Erin, my kids, Charlotte and Nolan, and members of the community have been the biggest inspirations to me on this journey. I’ve spent over 40 hours knocking on doors all over Kyle in the last seven weeks, and I’ve met so many amazing people who have felt comfortable enough to be vulnerable and share their struggles, their hopes and their dreams for our great city. People want to believe that local government can work for them, and I am going to do everything in my power to make sure that happens.

What are some key issues that you are hoping to address if you are elected to office?

When accelerated growth is taking place, it’s hard not to see everything as a priority - but it’s a balance. I think it’s important that we do everything we can to preserve Kyle’s unique culture and community, proactively plan for the projected future growth that is happening, while ensuring that Kyle is an affordable place to live and raise a family.

Our community is growing and we must adequately prepare for that growth while ensuring that we do not pass on the

financial burden to the people in Kyle who already pay more than fair share in property taxes. Right now, Kyle residents are feeling the pain that comes with growth, and we, as a city, need to do everything in our power to make this transition more tolerable for everybody.

What are some key issues that you are hoping to address if you are elected to office?

I will work with county, state and federal elected and appointed officials to secure funds that address the infrastructure gap in Kyle - transportation (road availability, road quality and traffic issues), water quality and availability.

I will find ways to grow our local economy by promoting existing small businesses while lowering the barrier to entry for new small businesses to take shape. This is especially relevant right now in Kyle due to an influx of chains moving in.

I will stress the importance of making Kyle more family friendly - which includes having more green spaces, adding more sidewalks while improving the ones we already have and providing parents more places for their kids to learn and play (how does Kyle not have a Public Library on the east side of Interstate Highway

35?).

What challenges do you anticipate in this role and how will you face them?

There always will be challenges in life, no matter what you’re doing. As long as there’s collaboration between council members, there’s no challenge we can’t get past for the betterment of the community.

Are you a morning person or a night owl? With two young kids (7 and 5), it really depends on the day.

What are your leadership qualities?

People don’t want to be led; they want to be represented. People want to be heard. People want to be empowered. People want to be supported. That, I believe, is the best way I can serve the people of Kyle.

What or who inspired you to run for office?

Having the desire to serve is just an inherent part of my nature.  Doing for others is simply part of what my heart is made of.  That being said, however, I’ve always felt like something has to be fundamentally wrong with a person if they WANT to run for office.  I’ve been a part of several campaigns over the years, and I know how grueling they can be.  When Dex’s seat came open, I was with my best friend about to leave town for a 3 day weekend.  We were discussing who would be good for that spot.  He asked why I don’t run, and I was basically “voluntold” from there.  It was time for me to give back to the city that has given me so much for so many years, and I’ve been 100% committed ever since.

What are some key issues that you are hoping to address if you are elected to office?

It’s no secret that Kyle has seen a significant level of unanticipated growth recently.  With that has come both increases in tax revenue and demands on our infrastructure.

We have to make sure we are reinvesting in our roadways, in the most

financially responsible and transparent way possible.

We work too hard for these tax dollars to have them wasted.  We also need to do more to bring retail businesses to Kyle.  It’s imperative that we increase sales tax revenue so that we aren’t solely reliant on property taxes.  That way we can afford to give relief to homeowners, preventing them from getting taxed out of their homes.  I want to create a city environment where we can live, work, and play; and afford to stay in for a long long time.

What challenges do you anticipate in this role and how will you face them?

I’m a very goal-oriented person, and from what I’ve seen, government bureaucracy is going to be very frustrating.  I’m the only candidate running for City Council that has attended every meeting since filing, and in these meetings, I’ve learned how slowly things can progress.  It’s going to take some patience on my part to work at the pace that government moves.  Agenda items like stop lights at Bunton Creek and Lehman, that sound like no-brainers, are delayed over duplicitous surveys and legal red tape.  Meanwhile, traffic

right by the school has a heightened level of danger.

Are you a morning person or a night owl?

I am definitely more of a night owl.  That morning coffee is a lifesaver!

What are your leadership qualities?

As I said earlier, I’m a very goal-oriented individual. I do whatever it takes to achieve results.  Quite often, that requires in depth discussions, negotiations, and effective compromise.  I have an innate ability to view a problem from others’ perspective and develop a solution that is mutually beneficial. Having the ability to have empathy and compassion for others, and resolving their needs, is one of the highest levels of leadership.

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ROBERT RIZO coach, PTA, Clean Air Coalition vice chair, Hays County Food Bank board of directors, three years as a council member and currently as mayor pro tem.

KYLE CITY COUNCIL, DISTRICT 1 MARC MCKINNEY

NEAL BREEN

MARC MCKINNEY

BEAR HEISER

TUPIKOV

What or who inspired you to run for office?

I was blessed with a daughter 2.5 years ago. She is the person that inspired me to run for city council. I want to raise my daughter in a city that is family focused and loves her town just as much as I do. Kyle is a wonderful place to live, I want to make sure that it continues to be so lovely. I am not a political person. I just want to improve our city for present and future generations.

What are some key issues that you are hoping to address if you are elected to office?

Kyle was named one of the fastest growing towns by census in 2020. We have seen that growth in our neighborhoods, schools and community amenities. Kyle is not slowing down. We need to make sure to provide our growing city with a place that improves the quality of life. This includes growing our community amenities- such as parks, playgrounds, spaces for families, public and private businesses, family dining establishments and so much more.

With the increase of people in our city, there is an increase of cars. Our roads are currently not equipped to accommodate that. We really need to revisit and reevaluate the infrastructure goals and focus on traffic flow (including maintenance), road access and location of buildings. With the growth, we have to make sure the basic physical and organizational structures and facilities (e.g. buildings, roads, power supplies) are in place to continue smooth operation of our city.

One of the tough goals that is easier said than done is to reduce the burden of property tax for residences. We have a growing community with schools being built almost every other year. This goal would include the involvement of businesses, school district, developments and residents to sit down and complete an itemized budget audit to see big picture and reevaluate. Another solution is to bring in more businesses to increase the revenue

from sales tax. This would both provide residents with amenities and release the burden of property tax.

Continue to take care of our seniors in Kyle by staying active with KASZ (Kyle Area Senior Zone).

KASZ has been working hard reaching out to the community to raise money for a new establishment on the east side of I35.

Supporting them will benefit everyone in the community and provide the appropriate place to gather.

What challenges do you anticipate in this role and how will you face them?

One of the biggest challenges I anticipate is that Kyle’s infrastructure won’t be able to keep with the growing population of the city. This leads to another challenge that I believe we’ll have to face.

Getting something done takes so much time and red tape. I understand the necessity of checks and balances so I hesitate to propose sweeping change. Instead, it would be more constructive to establish good relationships with the people involved.

I have also observed the different priorities people have during different seasons of their lives.

Homeowners worry about property taxes.

Parents worry about their children’s education.

Teenagers and young adults seek entertainment and job opportunities.

Business owners seek greater opportunities.

Balancing the needs of the city and prioritizing one above the other will certainly prove to be an interesting challenge.

Are you a morning person or a night owl?

I am actually both! I love waking up early and getting a head start to my day but I also stay up pretty late. My parents used to tell me to dream big but to also get up and go do something about it!

What are your leadership qualities?

With the many hats that I have worn in my lifestudent, wife, mom, leader, community member, teacher, researcher, professional - I have had many opportunities to learn and develop skills that makes me a great

addition to the city council. Some of the qualifications and skills that qualify me for this position include:

With my training in math and having an analytical mind, I love looking at data, budgets and making decisions based on facts.

Communication: Being able to communicate and listen to community members and communicating it to the appropriate personnel. I believe in professional transparency. That means, being open about what is going on and communicating appropriate information quickly and clearly.

Coordinating events and festivals- being involved in a local community church, I have had the opportunity to organize and run events for the community. Knowing all the components of creating and effectively running an event will benefit the city by having someone look out for the details and how to improve social occasions.

Teamwork: I have worked in many different types of teams. Working with all different types of people, I have learned the importance of collaboratively working together to achieve a common goal.

Leadership: I have had many opportunities in my careers where I had to lead individuals to help the company/individuals grow and succeed. With that experience, I have learned the importance of motivating, advocating, problem solving and navigating personal to well-rounded success.

KYLE CITY COUNCIL,

NICK MADSEN

What or who inspired you to run for office?

I was inspired to run for office because I didn’t see anyone else running that really encapsulated my values and priorities for Kyle. Too many folks are trying to change Kyle to be more like Austin. I want to Kyle to keep its identity as a safe and traditional hometown as it grows.

What are some key issues that you are hoping to address if you are elected to office?

My platform has four cornerstones that I think speak to the key issues that we will face in the coming years. The first of these is managed growth. Kyle is going to grow no matter our desire, however the way that we grow will dictate the type of city that Kye turns into.  Limiting tax-incentives, and allowing goods and services to compete in a free market will make sure that the residents of Kyle are surrounded by businesses that benefit them. It will allow small and medium sized business to compete alongside box-stores and chains. Secondly, we need to maintain fiscal responsibility and suspend tax increases. Increases in assumed home prices have drastically risen the amount that Texans pay in taxes and the city should do what it can to not overburden residents. Next, we need to make sure that we are being proactive and planning for our population growth in regards to transportation infrastructure. Specifically, we need to make sure our roadways are connected and that we pre-plan widening. Finally, we need to support our first-

responders to make sure that Kyle doesn’t succumb to spillover crime and stays a safe place to raise a family.

What challenges do you anticipate in this role and how will you face them?

There will certainly be a myriad of challenges facing the Kyle City Council in the coming years. These challenges will come from internal sources and external sources. Internally, Kyle is understaffed at present, which is affecting the city from efficiently managing itself. I plan on working to find qualified candidates to fill these roles so that Kyle will have the dayto-day management it needs. Furthermore, this summer has shown us that water management, treatment, and sourcing are all issues that need to be addressed with forethought so that we do not end up in a crisis in a few years. Externally, there will be pressure on the council from an unending amount of development projects. It will be up to those that have been elected to ensure that development proceeds in a way that benefits businesses and residents alike and that Kyle maintains its hometown appeal. Walkways, parks, green spaces, and mixeduse areas should all be used as tools to create a vibrant and appealing city that maintains its sense of community.

Are you a morning person or a night owl?

I think I would rather be a night owl, but my children have definitely turned me into a morning person. What are your leadership qualities?

NICK MADSEN

I have many leadership qualities that have been achieved through decades of hard work and experience. As an officer in the U.S. Army, I had the opportunity to go through extensive training in how to lead from the front and work with your fellow soldiers to accomplish difficult goals. I was able to put into practice all of that training when I deployed to Iraq for 15 months in 2008. During my deployment, I was responsible for hundreds of combatlogistics patrols that put my leadership skills to the test. Since coming back stateside, I have continued to take leadership roles in my employment, my community, and my city. As a small-business owner and as an attorney, I lead my team on a daily basis to help folks in central Texas. As a volunteer, I help my church and various nonprofit programs. I do this because I know that you can’t be a leader if you won’t do what you expect others to do. Finally, I work as a member of the board of my neighborhood’s homeowner’s association. I do this, because I certainly wouldn’t trust anyone to help run a city if they weren’t willing to help with their own community.

MARINA TUPIKOV

SAMPLE BALLOT

Classifieds

CITY OF KYLE, TEXAS REQUESTS FOR PROPOSAL (RFQ)

DESIGN BUILD SER VICES FOR GREGG CLARKE PARK SKATE PARK: RFQ 2022 12 PARD

SPECIFICATIONS AND GENERAL PROPOSAL REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DESIGN CON STRUCTION FOR THE CITY OF KYLE GREGG CLARKE PARK SKATE PARK

NOTICE TO RE SPONDERS:

The City of Kyle is accepting proposals for the selection of a Design Build firm/team for the design construction of one (1) skate park located at Gregg Clarke Park as stated in this RFQ and posted on our website: www.cityofkyle.com. The City of Kyle invites quali fied companies to submit proposals to provide complete architectural and engineering design and construction cost estimates for the con struction of a new skate park at Gregg Clarke Park. The city is seeking a company with skate park experience as well as experience working with public municipal agen cies. Proposals marked DESIGN BUILD SERVICES FOR GREGG CLARKE PARK SKATE PARK: RFQ 2022 12 PARD are to be submitted to:

Mariana Espinoza City of Kyle, Director of Parks and Recreation 700 Lehman Rd Kyle, TX 78640 (512) 262 3939

REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL DEADLINE: 5:00 PM, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 2022

All proposals received will be reviewed by City Staff. The staff’s recom mendation will go to the Kyle City Council for final approval.

To complete RFQ can be found at: https://www. cityofkyle.com/recreation/ design-build-servicesgregg-clarke-park-skatepark-rfq%E2%80%90202 2%E2%80%9012%E2%8 0%90pard

CITY OF KYLE, TEXAS REQUESTS FOR PROPOSAL (RFQ)

GREGG CLARKE PARK SPLASH PAD: RFQ 2022 11 PARD SPECIFICATIONS AND GENERAL PROPOSAL REQUIREMENTS FOR THE GREGG CLARKE PARK SPLASH PAD

NOTICE TO RE SPONDERS:

The City of Kyle is ac cepting proposals for the selection of a vendor for design, furnishing, permit ting, delivering, and installing one (1) splash pad located at Gregg Clarke Park as stated in this RFQ and posted on our website: www.cityofkyle.com.

The City of Kyle invites qualified companies to submit proposals to pro vide complete architectur al and engineering design and construction cost esti mates for the construction of a new splash pad at Gregg Clarke Park.

The city is seeking a company with splash pad experience as well as experience working with public municipal agencies.

Proposals marked GREGG CLARKE PARK SPLASH PAD: RFQ 2022 11 PARD are to be sub mitted to:

Mariana Espinoza City of Kyle, Director of Parks and Recreation 700 Lehman Rd Kyle, TX 78640 (512) 262 3939

REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL DEADLINE: 5:00 PM, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 2022

All proposals received

will be reviewed by City Staff. The staff’s recom mendation will go to the Kyle City Council for final approval.

The complete RFQ can be found at: https://www. cityofkyle.com/recreation/ gregg-clarke-park-splashpad-rfq-2022-11-pard-0

CITY OF KYLE, TEXAS REQUESTS FOR PROPOSAL (RFQ)

DESIGN BUILD SERVICES FOR PARK RESTROOMS: RFP2022-10-PARD

SPECIFICATIONS AND GENERAL PROPOSAL REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DESIGN CON STRUCTION FOR PARK RESTROOMS IN THE CITY OF KYLE

NOTICE TO RE SPONDERS:

The City of Kyle is accepting proposals for the selection of a Design Build firm/team for the design construction of five (5) park restrooms located at city parks in the City of Kyle as stated in this RFP and posted on our website: www.cityofkyle. com. The City of Kyle in vites qualified companies to submit proposals to provide complete archi tectural and engineering design and construction cost estimates for the construction of a new restroom at the following locations: Gregg Clarke Park, Steeplechase Park, Waterleaf Park, Lake Kyle Park, and Mary Kyle Hart son City Square Park. The city is seeking a company with restroom experience as well as experience working with public munic ipal agencies. Proposals marked DESIGN BUILD SERVICES FOR PARK RESTROOMS: RFP2022-10-PARD are to be submitted to: Mariana Espinoza City of Kyle, Director of Parks and Recreation 700 Lehman Rd Kyle, TX 78640 (512) 262-3939

REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL DEADLINE: 5:00 PM, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 2022

All proposals received will be reviewed by City Staff. The staff’s recom mendation will go to the Kyle City Council for final approval.

The complete RFQ can be found at: https://www. cityofkyle.com/recreation/ design-build-servicespark-restrooms-rfp-2022pard

PUBLIC NOTICE

By order of the Hays County Commissioners Court, notice is hereby given that on Tuesday, October 25, 2022 at 9 a.m. in the Hays County Courthouse, 111 E. San Antonio Street, the Hays County Commissioners Court will hold a public hearing to consider:

ESTABLISHING A 4-WAY STOP LOCA TION ON CROSSWINDS PARKWAY AT THE INTERSECTION WITH GULFSTREAM TRAIL IN CROSSWINDS SUBDIVI SION.

NOTICE OF SALE

Morningstar Storage wishes to avail them selves of the Texas Provi sion of Chapter 59 of the Texas Property Code by conducting a Public Sale to the highest bidder for cash on their premises. This sale is listed below:

Date: October 27, 2022 Time: 10:15 am

Location: StorageAuc tions.com Unit 2057-Gregg Ga mez-appliances, dishes, blankets, mattress, boxes Unit 1115-Florin Ghiocel - Suitcase Unit C317-Augusta Giles Ð couch, bookshelf, rolling chair, bike, fan, misc. furniture, boxes Storage reserves the

PUBLIC NOTICES

right to refuse any bid or to cancel any public sale advertised. The property contents of these unit(s) are sold “as is” “where is” for CASH. Announce ments made the day of the sale takes precedence over any printed materi als.

INVITATION TO BID

Separate sealed bids addressed to the City of Kyle, ATTENTION: CITY ENGINEER, will be received until 11:00 a.m. on November 15, 2022 at the City of Kyle Public Works Building located at 520 E. RR 150 in Kyle, Texas, 78640 at which time they will be publicly opened and read aloud, for furnishing all labor, material, tools and equip ment and performing all work required for:

CENTER STREET AND SOUTH STREET, including:

Center Street: Con struction of Raised Median (166 ft.), Curb and Gutter (71ft), pavement structure, striping, and signage.

South Street: Construc tion of Raised Median (166 ft.), non- mountable curb (135 ft.), pavement structure, striping, and signage.

Misc.: Traffic Control and flagging as shown on drawings.

Copies of the Specifica tions and Bid Documents will be on file by October 19, 2022 and may be examined at the following locations:

- City of Kyle website (www.cityofkyle.com)

- Builders Exchange, 4047 Naco Perrin, San Antonio, Texas 78217

Complete Contract Documents have also been provided to Civ Cast USA for immediate download.

Please go to https:// www.civcastusa.com/.

The Project ID is “Rail road Quiet Zone Im provements”. Prospective Bidders shall address written inquiries through the project’s CivCast website. Hard copies of contract documents are not available.

A non-mandatory prebid virtual conference will be held on November 2, 2022 at 11:00 a.m. Please follow the link to attend the pre-bid conference. A link to attend the meeting will be posted on City of Kyle website (www.cityofkyle.com) and on www.civcastusa. com.

Bidders should care fully examine the plans, specifications and other documents, visit the site of work, and fully inform themselves as to all conditions and matters which can in any way affect the work or the cost thereof. Should a bidder find discrepancies in, or omissions from, the plans, specifications or other documents, or should be in doubt as to their mean ing, bidder should notify the Project Engineer via www.civcastusa.com.

Obtain clarification prior to submitting any bid, but no later than 5:00 p.m. No vember 4, 2022. Answer to the questions

Station, and Erosion Con trol Improvements. Sealed Bidsshould be addressed to Pulte Group, Inc., on behalf of Crosswinds Mu nicipal Utility District (the “District”), Attn: Stephen Ashlock, 9401 Amberglen Blvd., Bldg. I, Suite 150, Austin, Texas 78729. Bids will be received at the office of the Project Engineer, Attn: Patrick Sullivan, P.E., Carlson, Brigance & Doering, Inc. (CBD, Inc.), 5701 W. Wil liam Cannon Dr., Austin, TX 78749 until the date of Tuesday, November 22, 2022, for a public bid opening at 2:00 p.m.

Proposals will be publicly opened and read aloud. Any Proposals received after the closing time will be unopened.

Bid documents for this project will be available for purchase from the office of the Project Engi neer-CBD, Inc.

A non-refundable purchase fee of $125.00 will be charged. The link will contain CAD files, pdf set of plans and bid documents. Make checks payable to Carlson, Brigance and Doering, Inc. Bid documents may be viewed at the office of CBD by scheduling a time with Susan Martin smar tin@cbdeng.com.

A Mandatory Pre-Bid Conference will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Tuesday, October 25, 2022, at the offices of CBD, Inc. The Pre-Qualification Statement included in the proposal packet and as required by Crosswinds M.U.D. shall be completed in its entirety and submitted as part of the proposal. Any proposal lacking the Pre-Qualification State ment will not be consid ered.

All questions, clarifi cations, requests must be received in writing to Patrick Sullivan, P.E. and Chuck Corbett via email to patrick@cbdeng.com and ccorbett@cbdeng. com and received no later than noon, Friday, November 18, 2022. Any requests received after that time and date will not be addressed.

A Cashier’s Check, Certified Check, or Bid Bond payable to Cross winds M.U.D. and Pulte Group, Inc. in an amount not less than 5% of the total bid must accompany each Bid as a guarantee that, if awarded the con tract, the bidder will within 10 days of the award of the contract, enter into a contract and furnish an acceptable Performance and Pay ment Bond in the amount of 100% of the Contract price. The Bidder’s surety will be forfeited and be come the property of the Owner should the bidder fails to enter into a con tract and furnish bonds acceptable to the Own er within 10 days after award of the contract.

Proposals shall not be withdrawn for a period of 90 days after the opening of the bids. The Own er reserves the right to reject any or all Bids and to waive all defects and irregularities in bidding or bidding process except time of submitting a Bid. The Successful Bidder, if any, will be the respon

applicable to this project. REQUEST FOR STATEMENTS OF QUALIFICATIONS SOLICITATION #23-012

GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEERING AND CONSTRUCTION MATE RIALS TESTING SER VICES

Sealed statements will be received by the Purchasing Manager of the City of Buda for the above referenced solicita tion. This RSQ is to solicit interest from prospec tive firms for an on-call contract for geotechnical engineering and materials testing services. The proj ects may be funded whole or in part with federal grant resources and thus may be subject to the re quirements of 2 CFR 200 and other federal procure ment requirements.

The solicitation pack age may be obtained online at one of the fol lowing bid services: www. publicpurchase.com & www.bidnetdirect.com

Statements shall be delivered in a sealed envelope to City of Buda, City Hall Purchasing Bid Box, 405 E. Loop St., Bldg. 100, Buda, Texas 78610. Write “SEALED STATEMENT OF QUAL IFICATIONS” with the RSQ Number, Name, and Due Date on the outside of the shipping package.

Statements will be accepted until 2:00 p.m. local time, November 10,

2022. Questions may be directed to the City of Buda Purchasing Office via email at purchasing@ ci.buda.tx.us

Charles Oberrender, CPPB

Purchasing Manager City of Buda

INVITATION FOR BIDS IFB # 23-030

SOUTH LOOP 4 UTILITY RELOCATIONS FOR ROADWAY RECON STRUCTION

Sealed bids will be received by the Purchas ing Manager of the City of Buda for the above ref erenced solicitation. The City is seeking to enter a contract with a qualified contractor for furnishing all labor, materials, and equipment for the reloca tion of approximately 123 linear feet of water pipe, 217 linear feet of force main pipe, and 155 linear feet of electrical conduit line.

The estimated project budget is $236,000.00. This project will be feder ally funded using ARPA funds and must comply with federal regulations under 2 CFR 200.

A non-mandatory prebid conference will be held at Buda City Hall, 405 E. Loop Street, Buda, Texas 78610 at 2 PM Lo cal Time, Monday October 20, 2022, in the Multipur pose Room 1034.

Bids shall be delivered to City of Buda City Hall, Attn: Purchasing Bid Box, 405 E. Loop St., Bldg.

Public Notice Notice of Public Hearing

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN TO ALL INTERESTED PERSONS, THAT:

The City of Kyle shall hold a public hearing on a request by Al Carroll, P.E. (Z 22 0109) to rezone approximately 4.01 acres of land from ‘A’ (Agriculture) to ‘RS’ (Retail Services) for property located 23451 IH 35 in Hays County, Texas.

The Planning and Zoning Commission may recommend, and the City Council may consider, assigning any zoning district which is equivalent or more restrictive.

A public hearing will be held by the Planning and Zoning Commission on Tuesday, November 8, 2022 at 6:30 P.M

A public hearing will be held by the Kyle City Council on Tuesday, November 15, 2022 at 7:00 P.M

This is a meeting taking place at Kyle City Hall, 100 W. Center Street, Kyle, Texas 78640; Spectrum 10; https://www.cityofkyle.com/kyletv/kyle 10 live

Owner(s): Winn Family Limited Partnership Andrew C Winn PO Box 1727 Wimberley, TX 78676

Agent: Al Carroll, P.E 155 Riverwalk Dr. San Marcos, TX 78666

Publication Date: October 19, 2022

100, Buda, Texas 78610. Write “SEALED BID” with the IFB 23-030 South Loop 4 Utility Relocations for Roadway Reconstruc tion Opens Nove 3, 2022” on the outside of the shipping package. Bids will be accepted until 2 PM Local Time, Thursday November 3, 2022. The contract will be awarded to the bidder that provides the best value.

Contract solicitation documents including bid proposal forms, plans sheets, and specifications for the Project may be viewed and downloaded free of charge (with the option to purchase hard copies) at www.civcastu sa.com. Printed copies of the Contract Documents may also be viewed at the Engineer’s office. The solicitation package with plans and specifications are further available electronically at the pro curement websites www. bidnet.com and www.pub licpurchase.com. Addenda will be published only through these websites.

An acceptable bid bond in an amount of not less than five percent (5%) of the total bid shall accompany each bid as a guaranty that, if awarded the contract, the bidder will promptly enter con

GARAGE SALES

NEIGHBORHOOD YARD SALE

Time:

tract with the City of Buda and furnish bonds on the forms provided.

Bidders are expect ed to inspect the site of the work and to inform themselves of all local conditions. The success ful bidder or bidders will be required to furnish a performance bond and a payment bond, as stipu lated in the specifications. No bid may be withdrawn after the scheduled closing time for receipt of bids for at least sixty (60) calendar days.

The City reserves the right to reject any and/or all bids, waive any and/or all formalities, and award the bid as it appears most beneficial to the City of Buda.

Questions may be directed to the City of Buda Purchasing Office via email at purchasing@ ci.buda.tx.us

NOTICE OF SALE

In accordance with the provisions of State of Texas law, there being due and unpaid charges for which the undersigned is entitled to safety an owner and/or manager's lien of the goods hereinaf ter described and stored at the Storage King USA

location(s) listed below, and, due notice having been given to the owner of said property and all parties known to claim an interest therein, and the time specified in such notice for payment of such having expired goods will be sold to the highest bid der or otherwise disposed of at a public Auction to be held online atwww.

StorageTreasures.com, which will end on October 27th, 2022 at 9:00AM. At store 072, 19580 S IH 35, Kyle TX 78640, ph# 737.404.5020. Joseph Williamson, TV/furniture/ boxes. Jessica Kelsey furn., boxes. Dorothy Crayton totes, misc. large appliances/totes/misc.

Ruby Romo, totes,misc. Ricardo Ramos, tools, ladders, machines. Ricar do Ramos, TV, washer/ dryer, misc. boxes misc. Taylor Wright, lawn mwr, tool/tool chest. Christo pher Mercer, tv, boxes.

Lance Andre Brite, air hockey table, smoker, furn, misc. Mary Hudson, totes/ bxs/ sm table. John Gould, table/chairs. Dustin Saulsbury, fridge, boxes, chairs. Luis Davila, fish tank, furn, totes/boxes. Rueben Contreras ap pliances, misc. Stephen Owen, furn, misc.

DIRECT CARE COUNSELORS

Provide positive role modeling, structure, and supervision to adolescent boys. No exp. required, We train comprehensively. Pay starting at $12 per hour for flexible 8 & 16 hr shift schedules.

Health/life/dental insurance after 60 days. Min. requirements: Must be 21 yrs old, HS/GED, clean TDL, clean criminal histor y, pre-employment TB skin test, and drug screen. Growing (20+ year old) non-profit organization. www.pegasusschool.net. Call (512)432-1678 for further information.

City SeCretary Wanted

The City of Hays’ City Secretary is appointed by and answers to the Mayor and the City Council. The position provides administrative support to the Mayor, City Council, and any Committees, Boards or Commissions created by the City Council. The individual must work effectively with elected officials, the general public, and government agencies on all levels. Work shall be performed at City Hall unless there are unforeseen circumstances. Equipment, files and documents shall remain at City Hall at all times. If interested and for more details, please see full description at Texas Municipal League’s website: tml.careerwebsite.com (Search Job ID: 65619516.)

NOTICE TO OFFERORS

is contingent upon release of funds from the Texas Water Development Board. Any contract or contracts awarded under this Invitation for Proposals is/are expected to be funded in part by a loan or grant from the Texas Water Development Board. Neither the State of Texas, nor any of its departments, agencies, or employees are or will be a party to this Invitation to Offerors or any resulting contract.

All procurements by the OWNER are subject to the OWNER’s Historically Underutilized Business (HUB) Program. The Program provides HUBs full opportunity to participate in all of the OWNER’s contracts. Goals for HUB participation are stated for each solicitation. Information on achieving the goals or documenting good faith efforts to achieve the goals are contained in the Proposal Documents and other Contract Documents. When a HUB participation goal applies each Offeror is required to complete and return a HUB Participation Plan with its Proposal. If a HUB Participation Plan is not submitted with a Proposal, the Offeror will not be accepted for consideration. The successful Offeror will be required to document compliance with their HUB Participation Plan with each monthly pay application.

Each Proposal must be accompanied by a Bid Bond on the furnished form, in an amount of not less than five percent of the total Proposal, as specified in Form 00 21 14, Instructions to Offerors Performance and payment bonds when required shall be executed on forms furnished by the OWNER. Each bond shall be issued in an amount of 100% of the Contract Amount by a solvent corporate surety company authorized to do business in the State of Texas and shall meet any other requirements established by law or by the OWNER.

The OWNER reserves the right to reject any or all Proposals and to waive any minor informality (one that does not affect the competitiveness of the Proposal) in any Proposal or in the solicitation process

Inquiries from Offerors regarding this Invitation must be submitted through CivCAST. If an Offeror contacts any officer or employee of the OWNER, or any other representative of the OWNER, during the period beginning on the date this Invitation is issued and ending on the date of contract award or rejection to all offers by the OWNER, any offer submitted by the Offeror is subject to rejection by the OWNER

NOTICE OF ELECTION FOR PUBLICATION (AVISO DE ELECCIÓN PARA PUBLICACIÓN)

To the registered voters of the City of Kyle, Texas: (A los votantes registrados en la Ciudad de Kyle, Texas:)

Notice is hereby given that the polling places below will be open from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. on November 8, 2022 for voting in a special election to consider the following proposition: (Por la presente se da aviso que los lugares de votación a continuación estarán abiertos de 7:00 a m a 7:00 p m el 8 de noviembre de 2022 para votar en una elección especial para considerar la siguiente propuesta:)

PROPOSITION A “Shall the City Council of the City of Kyle, Texas be authorized, in accordance with applicable law, to issue and sell one or more series of general obligation bonds of the City, in the aggregate principal amount of not more than $294,000,000 with such series or issues of bonds, respectively, to mature serially or otherwise within not to exceed 40 years from their date and to be sold at such prices and bear interest at such rates (whether fixed, floating, variable, or otherwise, but in no case at a rate that exceeds the maximum rate per annum authorized by applicable law at the time of any such issuance), as shall all be determined within the discretion of the City Council, for the purpose of making permanent public improvements or for other public purposes, to wit: designing, demolishing, constructing, renovating, improving, reconstructing, restructuring and extending streets and thoroughfares and related land and right of way sidewalks, streetscapes, collectors, drainage, landscape, signage, upgrading technology and traffic signals, acquiring lands and rights of way necessary thereto or incidental therewith and installing related public art, with priority given to the following street projects:

Bebee Road Bunton Creek Road Center Street Center Street (On System)

Kohler’s Overpass Kyle Parkway (Lehman Extension)

Marketplace Avenue

Old Stagecoach Road Windy Hills Road

and in providing for the above public improvements, the City Council shall have the option to utilize other funds available for such purposes and, after making due provision for the improvements listed above or determining that the public improvement project will not proceed for a reason heretofore described, the City Council may, in its discretion, use any excess funds for constructing, reconstructing, restructuring, and extending other streets and thoroughfares and related land and right of way sidewalks, streetscapes, collectors, drainage, landscape, signage, acquiring lands and rights of way necessary thereto or incidental therewith; and shall the City Council be authorized to levy and pledge, and cause to be assessed and collected, within the limitations prescribed by law, annual ad valorem taxes on all taxable property in the City sufficient to pay the annual interest and sinking fund to pay the bonds at maturity and to pay the costs of any credit agreements executed in connection with the bonds?”

PROPUESTA A

pero bajo ningún caso a una tasa que exceda la tasa anual máxima autorizada por la ley aplicable al momento de la emisión), y se deberá determinar todo de acuerdo a la discreción del Consejo Municipal, con el propósito de hacer mejoras públicas permanentes o para otros fines públicos, a saber: diseñar, demoler, construir, renovar, mejorar, reconstruir, restructurar y extender calles y vías públicas, y terrenos, y aceras con derecho de paso, paisajes urbanos, colectores, drenaje, paisajismo, señalización relaciona dos, mejora de tecnología y señales de tránsito, adquisición de terrenos y derechos de paso necesarios o relacionados con los mismos y la instalación del arte público relacionado, dando prioridad a los siguientes proyectos de calles:

Bebee Road Bunton Creek Road Center Street Center Street (En el sistema) Kohler’s Overpass Kyle Parkway (Extensión de Lehman) Marketplace Avenue Old Stagecoach Road Windy Hills Road y en la provisión de las mejoras públicas antes mencionadas, deberá el Concejo Municipal tener la opción de utilizar otros fondos disponibles para dichos propósitos y después de disponer lo necesario para las mejoras listadas anteriormente o determinar que el proyecto de mejoras públicas no procederá por alguna razón hasta ahora descrita, el Concejo Municipal puede, a su discreción, hacer uso de cualquier fondo excedente para construir, reconstruir, restructurar y extender otras calles y vías públicas, y terrenos y aceras con derecho de paso, paisajes urbanos, colectores, drenaje, pai sajismo, señalización relacionados, adquirir terrenos y derechos de paso necesarios o relacionados con los mismos; y deberá autorizarse al Concejo Municipal para imponer y comprometer, y hacer que se calculen y recauden, dentro de las limitaciones prescritas por la ley, impuestos anuales ad valorem sobre toda propiedad gravable en la Ciudad de manera suficiente para pagar el interés anual y el fondo de amortización para pagar los bonos a su vencimiento y pagar los costos de cualquier contrato crediticio cel ebrado en relación con los bonos?”

HAYS COUNTY (El Condado de Hays)

Hays County participates in the Countywide Polling Place program under Section 43.007, as amended, Texas Election Code. Registered voters will be able to cast their Election Day ballots at any of the polling places listed on the Hays County website in addition to the above polling places. (El Condado de Hays participa en el Programa de Lugares de Votación del Condado bajo la Sección 43.007, según enmendada, del Código Electoral de Texas. Los votantes registrados podrán votar el Día de la Elección en cualquiera de los lugares de votación listados en el sitio web del Condado de Hays, además de los lugares de votación mencionados anteriormente). Broadway (Christus Trinity Clinic), 401 Broadway Street, #A, (San Marcos); Brookdale San Marcos North, 1720 Old Ranch Road 12, (San Marcos); Calvary Baptist Church, 1906 North Interstate 35 Frontage Road, (San Marcos); Centro Cultural Hispano de San Marcos, 211 Lee Street, (San Marcos); Dunbar Center, 801 Martin Luther King Drive, (San Marcos); First Baptist Church San Marcos, 325 West McCarty Lane, (San Marcos); Hays County Government Center, Conference Room, 712 South Stagecoach Trail, (San Marcos); LBJ Student Center, Texas State University, 601 University Drive, (San Marcos); Promiseland Church, 1650 Lime Kiln Road, (San Marcos); San Marcos Fire Department Station #5, 100 Carlson Circle, (San Marcos); San Marcos Housing Authority / C.M. Allen Homes, 820 Sturgeon Drive, (San Marcos); San Marcos Public Library, 625 East Hopkins Street, (San Marcos); Sinai Pentecostal Church, 208 Laredo Street, (San Marcos); South Hays Fire Department Station #12, 8301 Ranch Road 12, (San Marcos); Stone Brook Seniors Community Center, 300 South Stagecoach Trail, (San Marcos); Buda City Hall Multipurpose Room, 405 East Loop Street, Building 100, (Buda); Hays Hills Baptist Church, 1401 North FM 1626, (Buda); McCormick Middle School, 5700 Dacy Lane, (Buda); Southern Hills Church of Christ, 3740 FM 967, (Buda); Sunfield Station, 2610 Main Street, (Buda); Upper Campus, Buda Elementary School (Kunkel Room, Historic school site), 300 North San Marcos Street, (Buda); Arnold Transportation Building HCISD Admin, 21009 Interstate 35 Frontage Road, (Kyle); Austin Community College Hays Campus, 1200 Kohlers Crossing, (Kyle); Kyle City Hall, 100 W. Center Street, (Kyle); Live Oak Academy High School, 4820 Jack C. Hays Trail, (Kyle); Main Office, HCISD Transportation, 2385 High Road, (Uhland); Precinct 2 Office, Hays County, 5458 FM 2770, (Kyle); Simon Middle School, 3839 East FM 150, (Kyle); Tobias Elementary School, 1005 East FM 150, (Kyle); Wallace Middle School, 1500 West Center Street, (Kyle); Yarrington Hays County Transportation Department, 2171 Yarrington Road, (Kyle); Cypress Creek Church, 211 Stillwater Road, (Wimberley); Texan Academy at Scudder Gym, 400 Green Acres Drive, (Wimberley); VFW Post #6441, 401 Jacobs Well Road, (Wimberley); Wimberley Community Center Blanco Room, 14068 Ranch Road 12, (Wimberley); Belterra Centre, 151 Trinity Hills Drive, (Austin); Dripping Springs Ranch Park, 1042 Event Center

Broadway (Christus Trinity Clinic), 401 Broadway Street, #A, (San Marcos); Brookdale San Marcos North, 1720 Old Ranch Road 12, (San Marcos); Calvary Baptist Church, 1906 North Interstate 35 Frontage Road, (San Marcos); Centro Cultural Hispano de San Marcos, 211 Lee Street, (San Marcos); Dunbar Center, 801 Martin Luther King Drive, (San Marcos); First Baptist Church San Marcos, 325 West McCarty Lane, (San Marcos); Hays County Government Center, Conference Room, 712 South Stagecoach Trail, (San Marcos); LBJ Student Center, Texas State University, 601 University Drive, (San Marcos); Promiseland Church, 1650 Lime Kiln Road, (San Marcos); San Marcos Fire Department Station #5, 100 Carlson Circle, (San Marcos); San Marcos Housing Authority / C.M. Allen Homes, 820 Sturgeon Drive, (San Marcos); San Marcos Public Library, 625 East Hopkins Street, (San Marcos); Sinai Pentecostal Church, 208 Laredo Street, (San Marcos); South Hays Fire Department Station #12, 8301 Ranch Road 12, (San Marcos); Stone Brook Seniors Community Center, 300 South Stagecoach Trail, (San Marcos); Buda City Hall Multipurpose Room, 405 East Loop Street, Building 100, (Buda); Hays Hills Baptist Church, 1401 North FM 1626, (Buda); McCormick Middle School, 5700 Dacy Lane, (Buda); Southern Hills Church of Christ, 3740 FM 967, (Buda); Sunfield Station, 2610 Main Street, (Buda); Upper Campus, Buda Elementary School (Kunkel Room, Historic school site), 300 North San Marcos Street, (Buda); Arnold Transportation Building HCISD Admin, 21009 Interstate 35 Frontage Road, (Kyle); Austin Community College Hays Campus, 1200 Kohlers Crossing, (Kyle); Kyle City Hall, 100 W. Center Street, (Kyle); Live Oak Academy High School, 4820 Jack C. Hays Trail, (Kyle); Main Office, HCISD Transportation, 2385 High Road, (Uhland); Precinct 2 Office, Hays County, 5458 FM 2770, (Kyle); Simon Middle School, 3839 East FM 150, (Kyle); Tobias Elementary School, 1005 East FM 150, (Kyle); Wallace Middle School, 1500 West Center Street, (Kyle); Yarrington Hays County Transportation Department, 2171 Yarrington Road, (Kyle); Cypress Creek Church, 211 Stillwater Road, (Wimberley); Texan Academy at Scudder Gym, 400 Green Acres Drive, (Wimberley); VFW Post #6441, 401 Jacobs Well Road, (Wimberley); Wimberley Community Center Blanco Room, 14068 Ranch Road 12, (Wimberley); Belterra Centre, 151 Trinity Hills Drive, (Austin); Dripping Springs Ranch Park, 1042

PUBLIC NOTICES

NOTICE OF ELECTIONTO THE RESIDENT, QUALIFIED ELECTORS OF DRIPPING SPRINGSMUNICIPAL UTILITY DISTRICTNO. 1:

Take notice that an election will be held in said District on November 8, 2022, between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. at such polling places on Exhibit '"A". The following propositions shall be submitted to the resident electors of the District: Voting in the election for the propositions shall be by the use of electronic or paper ballots which shall show the propositions in both English and Spanish and which shall conform to the requirements of federal law, including the Help America Vote Act, and the Texas Election Code, as amended. The order of the propositions on the ballot shall be in accordance with the Texas Election Code. The ballots used in the election shall contain the following:

DRIPPING SPRINGS MUNICIPAL UTILITY DISTRICT NO. 1 PROPOSITION A ( ) FOR ) ( ) AGAINST )

CONFIRMING CREATION OF DRIPPING SPRINGS MUNICIPAL UTILITY DISTRICT NO. 1.

DRIPPING SPRINGS MUNICIPAL UTILITY DISTRICT NO. 1 PROPOSITION B ( ) FOR ) ) ) ( ) AGAINST )

AN OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE TAX FOR THE DISTRICT NOT TO EXCEED ONE DOLLAR ($1.00) PER ONE HUNDRED DOLLARS ($100) VALUATION OF TAXABLE PROPERTY

DRIPPING SPRINGS MUNICIPAL UTILITY DISTRICT NO. 1 PROPOSITION C ( ) FOR ) ) ) ( ) AGAINST )

THE ISSUANCE OF $116,150,000 BONDS FOR WATER, WASTEWATER AND DRAINAGE SYSTEM FACILITIES. TAXES SUFFICIENT TO PAY PRINCIPAL OF AND INTEREST ON THE BONDS WILL BE IMPOSED.

DRIPPING SPRINGS MUNICIPAL UTILITY DISTRICT NO. 1 PROPOSITION D ( ) FOR ) ) ( ) AGAINST )

THE ISSUANCE OF $49,400,000 BONDS FOR ROADS. TAXES SUFFICIENT TO PAY PRINCIPAL OF AND INTEREST ON THE BONDS WILL BE IMPOSED.

DRIPPING SPRINGS MUNICIPAL UTILITY DISTRICT NO. 1 PROPOSITION E ( ) FOR ) ) ( ) AGAINST )

THE ISSUANCE OF $174,225,000 BONDS FOR REFUNDING WATER, WASTEWATER AND DRAINAGE SYSTEM FACILITIES BONDS (INCLUDING REFUNDING BONDS ISSUED THEREFOR) ISSUED PURSUANT TO SECTION 59, ARTICLE XVI OF THE TEXAS CONSTITUTION. TAXES SUFFICIENT TO PAY PRINCIPAL OF AND INTEREST ON THE BONDS WILL BE IMPOSED.

DRIPPING SPRINGS MUNICIPAL UTILITY DISTRICT NO. 1 PROPOSITION F ( ) FOR ) ) ( ) AGAINST )

THE ISSUANCE OF $74,100,000 BONDS FOR REFUNDING ROAD BONDS (INCLUDING REFUNDING BONDS ISSUED THEREFOR) ISSUED PURSUANT TO SECTION 52, ARTICLE III OF THE TEXAS CONSTITUTION. TAXES SUFFICIENT TO PAY PRINCIPAL OF AND INTEREST ON THE BONDS WILL BE IMPOSED.

Each voter shall vote on the propositions by placing an "X" in the square beside the statement indicating the way he or she wishes to vote.

Voting in the election for the permanent directors of the District shall be by the use of electronic or paper ballots, which shall utilize both English and Spanish and which shall conform to the requirements of federal law, including the Help America Vote Act, and the Texas Election Code, as amended. The ballots used in the election for the permanent directors shall have the names of five temporary directors appointed by the Commission, or their replacements as follows:

( ) Josh Arnold ( ) Austin Carrasquillo ( ) Shawn Connolly ( ) Danny G. Hubbard ( ) Wade Lombard

The voter may vote for none, one, two, three,four or five persons for director by placing an "X" in the square beside the person's name. If the District has received an application by a write in candidate, the ballots shall have blanks after the names of the temporary directors for a voter to write in the name of any write in candidate. The order of the election of permanent directors shall conform to the Texas Election Code, as amended.

Oral assistance in Spanish shall be made available to all persons requiring such assistance. Any person requiring oral assistance in Spanish should contact the presiding judge or the early voting clerk.

The early voting ballot board presiding judge and the alternate presiding judge shall be appointed in accordance with the Election Agreement and the Texas Election Code.

Early voting in the election by personal appearance shall be conducted at the times, dates and polling places as determined by Hays County, Texas (the "County") and such polling places are hereby established and designated as set forth collectively in Exhibit "B" to this Notice and this exhibit is incorporated by reference for all purposes. Exhibit "B" shall be revised and finalized, if necessary, as directed by the Hays County Elections Administrator as applicable and appropriate Jennifer Doinoff is the Early Voting Clerk

Applications for ballots by mail for voters in Hays County should be sent to the Hays CountyElections Department, 712 South Stagecoach Trail, Suite 1012, San Marcos, Texas 78666-6294. Additional contact information for the Early Voting Clerk is provided below for purposes of compliance with Section 83.010 of the Texas Election Code: Phone Number (512) 393-7310; E mail address: elections@co.hays.tx.us Website: https://hayscountytx.com/departments/elections/

Solely for the purposes of compliance with Section 3.009(b) of the Texas Election Code, set forth in Exhibit "C" is the information required in a bond election order (the "Order").

A copy of the entire Order is on file with the District's General Counsel, Armbrust & Brown, 100 Congress Ave., Suite 1300, Austin, Texas 78701.

All qualified resident electors of the District shall be entitled to vote in the elections.

AVISO DE ELECCIÓNPARA LOS VOTANTES CALIFICADOS RESIDENTES DEL DISTRITO DE SERVICIOS PÚBLICOS MUNICIPALES NRO. 1 DE DRIPPING SPRINGS:

Se notifica que se celebrará una elección en dicho Distrito el 8de noviembre de 2022 en el horario de 7:00 a.m. a 7:00 p.m. en cualquiera de los lugares de votación indicados en el Anexo "A". Las siguientes proposiciones presentarán a los electores residentes del Distrito.

La votación por las proposiciones en la elección será mediante el uso de boletas de votación electrónicas ode papel, las cuales mostrarán las proposiciones en inglés y en español y cumplirán con los requisitos de la ley federal, incluidos la Ley Ayude a América a Votar y el Código Electoral de Texas y sus enmiendas. El orden de las proposiciones en la boleta de votación será de acuerdo con el Código Electoral de Texas. Las boletas de votación a utilizarse en la elección incluirán lo siguiente:

DISTRITO DE SERVICIOS PÚBLICOS MUNICIPALES NRO. 1 DE DRIPPING SPRINGS PROPOSICIÓN A

A FAVOR

EN CONTRA

A FAVOR

EN CONTRA

PROPOSICIÓN C

LA EMISIÓN DE $116,150,000 EN BONOSPARA INSTALACIONES DEL SISTEMA DE AGUA, AGUASRESIDUALES Y DRENAJE. SE IMPONDRÁN IMPUESTOS SUFICIENTES PARA PAGAR EL CAPITAL E INTERÉS SOBRELOS BONOS.

DISTRITO DE SERVICIOS PÚBLICOS MUNICIPALES NRO. 1 DE DRIPPING SPRINGS PROPOSICIÓN D

A FAVOR

EN CONTRA

LA EMISIÓN DE $49,400,000 EN BONOS PARA CAMINOS. SE IMPONDRÁN IMPUESTOS SUFICIENTES PARA PAGAR EL CAPITAL E INTERÉS SOBRE LOS BONOS.

DISTRITO DE SERVICIOS PÚBLICOS MUNICIPALES NRO. 1 DE DRIPPING SPRINGS PROPOSICIÓN E ( ) A FAVOR ) ) ) ( ) EN CONTRA ) ) ) ) ) ) )

LA EMISIÓN DE $174,225,000 EN BONOS PARA REEMBOLSAR BONOS PARA INSTALACIONES DEL SISTEMA DE AGUA, AGUAS RESIDUALES Y DRENAJE (INCLUSO BONOS DE REEMBOLSO EMITIDOS PARA ESO) EMITIDOS EN VIRTUD DE LA SECCIÓN 59 DEL ARTÍCULO XVI DE LA CONSTITUCIÓN DE TEXAS. SE IMPONDRÁN IMPUESTOS SUFICIENTES PARA PAGAR EL CAPITAL E INTERÉS SOBRE LOS BONOS.

DISTRITO DE SERVICIOS PÚBLICOS MUNICIPALES NRO. 1 DE DRIPPING SPRINGS PROPOSICIÓN F

) A FAVOR ) ) )

) EN CONTRA ) ) ) ) )

LA EMISIÓN DE $74,100,000 EN BONOS PARA REEMBOLSAR BONOS PARA CAMINOS (INCLUSO BONOS DE REEMBOLSO EMITIDOS PARA ESO) EMITIDOS EN VIRTUD DE LA SECCIÓN 52 DEL ARTÍCULO III DE LA CONSTITUCIÓN DE TEXAS. SE IMPONDRÁN IMPUESTOS SUFICIENTES PARA PAGAR EL CAPITAL E INTERÉS SOBRE LOS BONOS.

Cada votante votará por las proposiciones colocando una “X” en la casilla junto a la declaración que indique la forma en que desee votar.

La votación por los directores permanentes del Distrito en la elección será mediante el uso de boletas electrónicas o de papel, las cuales estarán tanto en inglés como en español y cumplirán con los requisitos de la ley federal, incluidos la Ley Ayude a América a Votar y el Código Electoral de Texas y sus enmiendas. Las boletas de votación que serán utilizadas en la elección de directores permanentes tendrán los nombres de cinco directores temporales designados por la Comisión, o sus sustitutos, de la siguiente manera:

) Josh Arnold ( ) Austin Carrasquillo

) Shawn Connolly ( ) Danny G. Hubbard ( ) Wade Lombard

El votante puede votar por ninguno, uno, dos, tres, cuatro o cinco personas para director colocando una “X” en la casilla junto al nombre de la persona. Si el Distrito ha recibido una solicitud de un candidato por escrito, las boletas de votación tendrán espacios en blanco después de los nombres de los directores temporales para que un votante escriba el nombre de cualquier candidato por escrito. El orden de elección de los directores permanentes cumplirá con el Código Electoral de Texas y sus enmiendas. Habrá asistencia oral en español disponible para todas las personas que la requieran. Toda persona que requiera asistencia oral en español debe comunicarse con el juez presidente o el oficial de votación anticipada.

Se designará al juez presidente y al juez presidente alterno del consejo de boletas de votación anticipada en conformidad con el Convenio Electoral y el Código Electoral de Texas.

La votación anticipada en la elección por comparecencia personal se llevará a cabo en los horarios, fechas ylugares de política según lo determinado por el Condado de Hays, Texas (el "Condado") y, por la presente, se establecen y designan dichos lugares de votación como se indican en conjunto en el Anexo “B” de esta Orden y este anexo se incorpora por referencia para todos los fines. El Anexo “B” será revisado y finalizado, de ser necesario, según lo indique el Administrador de Elecciones del Condado de Hays, según corresponda y sea apropiado. Christopher J. Davis es el Oficial de Votación Anticipada. Las solicitudes de boletas por correo para votantes en el Condado de Hays deben enviarse al Departamento de Elecciones del Condado de Hays 712 South Stagecoach Trail, Suite 1012, San Marcos, Texas 78666 6294.. La información de contacto adicional para el Secretario de Votación Anticipada se proporciona a continuación para fines de cumplimiento con la Sección 83.010 del Código Electoral de Texas: Número de teléfono (512) 393-7310; Dirección de correo electrónico: elections@co.hays.tx.us; Sitio web: https://hayscountytx.com/departments/elections/

Únicamente para los fines del cumplimiento de la Sección 3.009 (b) del Código Electoral de Texas, establecida en el Anexo "C" es la información requerida en una orden de elección de bonos (la "Orden").

Una copia de toda la Orden está archivada en el Consejo General del Distrito, Armbrust & Brown, 100 Congress Ave., Suite 1300, Austin, Texas 78701.

Todos los electores residentes calificados del Distrito tendrán derecho a votar en las elecciones.

EXHIBIT "A" (ANEXO "A")

ELECTION DAY POLLING PLACES (LUGARES DE VOTACIÓN DEL DÍA DE ELECCIÓN) November 2022 Election Elección de noviembre de 2022

See schedule provided by Hays County appearing at the end of this notice.

Favor de mirar la lista proporcionado por el Condado de Hays que aparece al final de este aviso.

Subject to Change Sujeto a Cambios

EXHIBIT "B" (ANEXO "B") EARLY VOTING SCHEDULE (HORARIO DE LA VOTACION ADELANTADA) November 2022 Election Elección de noviembre de 2022

See schedule provided by Hays County appearing at the end of this notice. Favor de mirar la lista proporcionado por el Condado de Hays que aparece al final de este aviso.

Subject to Change Sujeto a Cambios

EXHIBIT "C"

INFORMATION REQUIRED PURSUANT TOSECTION 3.009(b) OF THE TEXAS ELECTION CODE1

In accordance with the provisions of 3.009(b) of the Texas Election Code, it is hereby found and determined that:

(1)The proposition language that will appear on the ballot is set forth in Section 5 of this Order.

(2)The purposes for which the bonds are to be authorized are set forth in Section 4 of this Order.

(3)The principal amount of the bonds to be authorized is set forth in Sections 4 and 5 of this Order.

(4)As set forth in Sections 4 and 5 of this Order, if the bonds are approved by the voters, taxes sufficient to pay the principal of and interest on the bonds may be imposed

CONFIRMAR LA CREACIÓN DEL DISTRITO DE SERVICIOS PÚBLICOS MUNICIPALES NRO. 1 DE DRIPPING SPRINGS

DISTRITO DE SERVICIOS PÚBLICOS MUNICIPALES NRO. 1 DE DRIPPING SPRINGS PROPOSICIÓN B

A FAVOR

EN CONTRA

UN IMPUESTO DE OPERACIÓN Y MANTENIMIENTO PARA EL DISTRITO QUE NO EXCEDA DE UN DÓLAR ($1.00) POR CADA CIEN DÓLARES ($100) DE TASACIÓN DE PROPIEDAD GRAVABLE.

DISTRITO DE SERVICIOS PÚBLICOS MUNICIPALES NRO. 1 DE DRIPPING SPRINGS PROPOSICIÓN C

FAVOR

CONTRA

LA EMISIÓN DE $116,150,000 EN BONOS PARA INSTALACIONES DEL SISTEMA DE AGUA, AGUAS RESIDUALES Y DRENAJE. SE IMPONDRÁN IMPUESTOS SUFICIENTES PARA PAGAR EL CAPITAL E INTERÉS SOBRE LOS BONOS.

DISTRITO DE SERVICIOS PÚBLICOS MUNICIPALES NRO. 1 DE DRIPPING SPRINGS PROPOSICIÓN D

FAVOR

LA EMISIÓNDE $49,400,000 EN BONOSPARA CAMINOS. SE IMPONDRÁN IMPUESTOS SUFICIENTES PARA PAGAR EL CAPITAL E INTERÉSSOBRE LOS BONOS.

(5) Based upon the bond market conditions at the date of adoption of this Order, the maximum interest rate for any series of the bonds is estimated to be 5.00% as calculated in accordance with applicable law. Such estimate is based on the Preliminary Engineering Report for Water, Wastewater & Drainage Facilities dated August2022and the Preliminary Engineering Report for Road Improvements dated August2022and takes into account a number of factors including issuance schedule, maturity schedule and the estimated projected tax rate. The estimated maximum interest rate is provided for informational purposes only in accordance with Section 3.009(b)(5) of the Texas Election Code and could be affected by material changes in the assumptions used, including future economic and legal changes that are beyond the control of the District. The estimated maximum interest rate provided herein is not a limitation on the interest rate at which the bonds, or any series thereof, may be submitted to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality for purposes of approval of issuance of the bonds or the interest rate at which the bonds, or any series thereof, may be sold. Such estimate is not a part of the proposition to be voted on and does not create a contract with the voters.

(6) As set forth in Section 4 of this Order, if the bonds are approved by the voters, the bonds may be issued in one or more series to mature serially over a period not to exceed 40 years.

(7) The District has not previously issued any bonds; therefore, there is no outstanding principal on any bonds of the District as of the date of this Order

(8) The District has not previously issued any bonds; therefore, there is no outstanding interest on any bonds of the District as of the date of this Order

(9)There is no ad valorem debt service tax rate in the District at the time of this Order.

This information is provided solely for purposes of compliance with Section 3.009(b) of the Texas Election Code and is for illustration purposes only. The information is not a part of the proposition to be voted on and does not create a contract with the voters.

ANEXO “C”

INFORMACIÓN REQUERIDA EN CONFORMIDAD CON LA SECCIÓN 3.009(b) DEL CÓDIGO ELECTORAL DE TEXAS1

De acuerdo con las disposiciones de la Sección 3.009(b) del Código Electoral de Texas, se halla y determina por la presente que:

(1) El lenguaje de la proposición que aparecerá en la boleta de votación se establece en la Sección 5 de esta Orden.

(2) Los propósitos por los cuales se han de autorizar los bonos se establecen en la Sección 4 de esta Orden.

(3) La cantidad de capital de los bonos que se han de autorizar se establece en las Secciones 4 y 5 de esta Orden.

NOTICE OF ELECTION

(4) Como lo establecen las Secciones 4 y 5 de esta Orden, si los votantes aprueban los bonos, se podrán imponer impuestos suficientes para pagar el capital y el interés de los bonos.

Según las condiciones del mercado bursátil a la fecha de adopción de esta Orden, la tasa de interés máxima para cualquierserie de bonos se estima en 5.00% como secalcula deacuerdo con la ley aplicable. Dicho estimado se basa enel Informe Preliminar de Ingeniería para Instalaciones de Agua, Aguas Residuales y Drenaje fechado en agosto de 2022 y en el Informe Preliminar de Ingeniería para Mejoras deCaminosfechado en agosto de 2022 y tiene en cuenta una serie de factores, incluidos el programa de emisión,elprograma de vencimientos y la tasa de impuesto proyectadaestimada.

tasa de interés máxima estimada se provee a título

de acuerdo con la Sección

PUBLIC NOTICES

La

(4) Como lo establecen las Secciones 4 y 5 de esta Orden, si los votantes aprueban los bonos, se podrán imponer impuestos suficientes para pagar el capital y el interés de los bonos.

(5) Según las condiciones del mercado bursátil a la fecha de adopción de esta Orden, la tasa de interés máxima para cualquier serie de bonos se estima en 5.00% como se calcula de acuerdo con la ley aplicable. Dicho estimado se basa en el Informe Preliminar de Ingeniería para Instalaciones de Agua, Aguas Residuales y Drenaje fechado en agosto de 2022 y en el Informe Preliminar de Ingeniería para Mejoras de Caminos fechado en agosto de 2022 y tiene en cuenta una serie de factores, incluidos el programa de emisión, el programa de vencimientos y la tasa de impuesto proyectada estimada. La tasa de interés máxima estimada se provee a título informativo únicamente de acuerdo con la Sección 3.009(b)(5) del Código Electoral de Texas y podría verse afectada por cambios significativos en las suposiciones usadas, incluidos cambios económicos y legales futuros que están fuera del control del Distrito. La tasa de interés máxima estimada que se provee en el presente documento no es una limitación sobre la tasa de interés a la que los bonos o cualquier serie de estos podrían presentarse a la Comisión de Calidad Ambiental de Texas a efectos de la aprobación de la emisión de los bonos o de la tasa de interés a la cual los bonos, o cualquier serie de estos, podría venderse. Dicho estimado no forma parte de la proposición sometida a votación y no crea un contrato con los votantes.

(6) Como se establece en la Sección 4 de esta Orden, si los votantes aprueban los bonos, se podrán emitir los bonos en una serie o más, para vencer en serie

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