NOVEMBER 17, 2021 Adopted Hays County Commissioner Precincts
PRECINCTS REZONED Hays County commissioners pass controversial precinct map.
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Hays Free Press HaysFreePress.com
Vol. 127 • No. 34
Serving Hays County, TX
Name, attendance zone needed for new elementary school
KYLE CITY COUNCIL, DIST. 5
Rick Koch
Daniela C. Parsley
BUDA CITY COUNCIL, PL. 3
LaVonia HorneWilliams
Emily Jones
Kyle, Buda runoff elections set for Dec. 7 A runoff election between Kyle City Council District 5 incumbent Rick Koch and challenger Daniela C. Parsley, and LaVonia Horne-Williams and Emily Jones for Buda City Council At-Large Position 3, will take place on Tuesday, Dec. 7, with voting from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Early voting begins Nov. 22 and ends Dec. 3, excluding Nov. 25 and 26 for the holidays. More information for voting in both Kyle and Buda, including a list of polling locations, dates and times, can be found on the city of Kyle website at www.cityofkyle.com/election or on the city of Buda website at https://ci.buda. tx.us/DocumentCenter/ View/9346/2021-1109Vote-Centers-Nov-2021Kyle---Buda-RO
RICK KOCH, KYLE Incumbent Council Member and Mayor Pro Tem Rick Koch has lived in Kyle for 13 years and is the publisher of SMTX Magazine. When asked why he should be re-elected, Koch said, in part, “I am continuing to beautify Kyle to attract top retailers like Costco and recruit qual-
RUNOFF ELECTIONS, 12
BY BRITTANY ANDERSON
PHOTO BY SAHAR CHMAIS James Fort measures the depth of the water in his sump pump at his house in Whispering Hollow. Fort says his house is unsellable because of the water runoff that enters his property.
Hopes float away as homeowners deal with swampy foundations BY SAHAR CHMAIS
As this long standing issue proves difficult to fix, council gave direction to staff to put together a committee to further investigate the issue. This committee will involve consultants, residents and city staff.
the electric and cable box and into the street’s In this Texas home, storm drain. This alone the grass is always has caused him power green, even though outage issues. the lawn has not been Even after pumping watered since 2008. and watching the water The trees sprout long dry up, as soon as the and high, a rose bush pump is turned off, the reaches the roof and water resurfaces within the green beans grow the hour. strong. The Forts are not There is a house in alone in this situation, no longer close propgan getting inquiries to Whispering Hollow in but their home is the erly, as they cannot fit sell his home, but once Buda that sits on evinside their ever-moving the situation is assessed, most severe case. Just er-flowing spring water, frame. next door to the Fort realtors call back and which may sound like a home, their neighbor Tape markings cling say “no way can we sell goldmine for residents to the walls and ground this home unless you fix Paul also purchased in Central Texas. this home as part of his to track the expansion it,” James said. “That’s Instead it has created of old cracks and mark the key; it’s not fixable,” retirement plan. a nightmare for James Paul would live off of the new ones. he added. and Debra Fort, as they his 401K for a few years, And in one of the To help manage sleep and awaken to then sell his two-story hottest housing marthe problem, sump loud bangs and wahome and live in somekets, the Forts cannot pumps were installed ter-flood alarms. Like thing more manageable. sell their 13-year-old, at the homes experia living and breathing But his house has cracks two-story, stone cul de encing water issues, being, the house shifts, all over, inside and out. sac home. but James pumps so moves and cracks. “We bought the home much water that he has There is a significant “Do you remember for about $250,000, I put gone through five sump gap between Paul’s what happened to the home and driveway, and $100,000 down, so my pumps due to overcondo in Florida,” James equity is way up there,” in the masonry work, use. He decided to get referenced the Surfside there is a large crack James, the home’s a heavy-grade pump, condominium collapse. original owner, said. which pumps 80 gallons from all the shifting. “That’s what I’m afraid Long gone is Paul’s “Then I started having of water a minute, or will happen here.” plan to sell. problems. Now do you 4,800 gallons per hour. Photos cannot be In 2001, after the know what my equity When the pump is on, hung on the mantle as property was annexed is? Goose egg. Zero. It’s it creates a loud humthe movement causes common sense, you ming accompanied by a for development but them to fall. The granite don’t build over water, before the homes were vibration. stone in the kitchen built, a geologist from eventually it’s going to The water drain, has a traceable crack the Barton Springs come back to haunt which was installed by running through it. you.” the city, drains water Doors inside the house Recently, James beover his lawn and onto SWAMPED, 12
Coming Up SHINY RIBS THIS WEEKEND
Everyone is invited to take part in the Buda Fall Concert Series. This Saturday’s concert features the Shiny Ribs from 3 to 5 p.m. at the Buda Amphitheater located in Buda City Park.
RUNOFF ELECTIONS
Kyle, Buda to hold runoff elections. See details on pa.
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BUDAFEST
The 41st annual Budafest will be taking place downtown Buda December 3 through 5. There will be lots of holiday shopping, food, live music and merry-making in general. Visit Budafest. org for more information.
The Hays Free Press Barton Publications, Inc. The Hays Free Press (USPS 361-430) published weekly by Barton Publications, Inc., P.O. Box 339, Buda, TX 78610. Periodicals postage paid at Buda, TX 78610 and additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Barton Publications, Inc., P.O. Box 339, Buda, TX 78610. ISSN#1087-9323
Final details are being made for Hays CISD’s 15th elementary school, scheduled to open in August 2022. The school was approved by voters in the 2021 bond. In August 2021, the board impaneled a 14-member Attendance Boundary Rezoning Committee to create an attendance zone map for the elementary school. During the regular board meeting on Nov. 15, HCISD Chief Communications Officer Tim Savoy presented the board with Map Plan C, the committee’s finalized attendance zone map recommended in an 11-0 vote on Nov. 2. Map Plan C addresses issues with previous map plans A and B, most notably by balancing the projective explosive growth at Tom Green Elementary and Camino Real Elementary, and allowing the new elementary school to open with a smaller population to allow for potential growth and time to troubleshoot issues such as traffic patterns. Other caveats with Map Plan C include allowing affected students entering 5th grade to be grandfathered to stay at their current school, should they choose; and that remaining affected students be given first priority for transfers to remain at their existing campus if they do not wish to attend school at their new campus. The full rezoning process can be found at www.hayscisd.net/ rezone. The board will vote on the map at its next meeting on Dec. 13. Additionally, the HCISD School Naming Committee is asking the community to assist with naming the new elementary school. Schools can be named for historical or geographical sites or communities, subdivisions, significant local, state or national figures (living or deceased), people who have made significant contributions to education in the district (living or deceased), local, state or national historical events or places, or people who have donated land or
MAP PLAN C, 4