APRIL 13, 2022 WARRIORS JOURNEY
HAYS CITY FORUM
Local verteran volunteers for mission to Ukraine with nonprofit
City of Hays holds forum for upcoming election.
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Vol. 128 • No. 5
Serving Hays County, TX
Kyle renews city manager contract extension
HAYS FREE PRESS FILE PHOTO
Buda City Council awards $10K to Crawfest BY CJ VETTER BUDA – On April 5, the City Council of Buda awarded a $10,000 reimbursement to Happy Hobo LLC for the advertisement of Buda Crawfest. The reimbursement is to assist with the cost of advertising the event, which will be hosted at the Buda amphitheater. As part of the Hotel Occupancy Reimbursement grant, or HOT, the organization was able to receive up to $10,000 in reimbursement to promote tourism, as well as enhance local hotel and convention industries. The amount awarded to Happy Hobo LLC was originally requested to be $7,500 for advertising and $2,500 for artist fees related to the performers that attended the event. However, the council voted to allocate the entire budget towards advertising; due to Texas law, there is a yearly cap on the amount of money that can be spent on art and culture from the city budget, in which the $2,500 would count towards. “When using occupancy tax, you can only use 15% percent of the tax on arts and cultures,” said Lysa Gonzalez, Destination Services Director. “We calculated it all out, but moving forward, if people are asking for artist fees, we have to consider it because there’s only so
CRAWFEST, 14
BY BRITTANY ANDERSON
Many voters have both their identification and last four SSN digits on their voter registration file. “We recommend entering both your Texas-issued ID and the last four of your Social Security Number on the
KYLE – With a 5-2 vote, the Kyle City Council approved the extension of city manager Scott Sellers’ contract through December 2025 on April 5. The vote included any amendments SELLERS made by the council Council members Yvonne Flores-Cale and Michael Tobias, the two dissenting votes, voiced their concerns with the contract, with both saying they felt the dais needed more time to review the contract. Mayor Travis Mitchell, however, said that the original draft of the contract was presented on March 1, and that council members were given the opportunity to provide feedback to Sellers in order to try to come to a consensus before voting. Two issues Tobias brought up were in regards to the contract’s policy on the city manager’s sabbatical leave and health insurance, and said that constituents had also mentioned these concerns to him as well. The contract states that in “recognition of the city manager’s extremely demanding work schedule … the council wishes to allow him extended leave time” by granting 90 days of continuous paid sabbatical leave during the contract period. During this time, the city manager will not be on call for routine business. An interim city manager will be authorized to act on his behalf, but the city manager will still be expected to be available to deal with any extraordinary situations that arise. Tobias said he was looking at the situation “very objectively” and not trying to discredit what Sellers has done for the city or employees. “The way I look at it [the sabbatical], why can’t you use earned sick/vacation/ holiday time for any of that like any other regular employee to be fair and equal on that end?” Tobias said. Sellers said that if it was council’s prerogative to make the amendment, it would be something he is willing to discuss. “I believe in the seven and a half years I’ve been here, I haven’t taken more than two weeks of vacation
VOTE-BY-MAIL, 14
KYLE CITY MANAGER, 14
HAYS FREE PRESS FILE PHOTO Diane Krejci, left, with her daughter Melissa, was the person to pitch the idea of a Wiener Dog Race to the Buda Lions Club back in the late 90s. Krejci persuaded the club to do it and promised to organize it the best she could. The race continues to be a success every year. Below, Mike Huckaby, Buda Lion and long-time emcee got to be known as the voice of the annual races.
On your mark for April 23
Buda Lions Club hosts 25th annual wiener dog race following lockdown BY CJ VETTER
addition, if you’re afraid that your pooch isn’t quite Buda – On April 23rd and up to snuff to be a purebred 24th, the Lions Club will be weenie dog for the onsite hosting its 25th annual Wie- veterinarians, there is also a mixed breed race available. ner Dog Race in Buda City No medical documents will Park with a grand prize of $500 for first place. This will be required on registry, but owners will be expected to be the first race since the COVID-19 epidemic began, provide them if necessary. There will also feature with the previous two years the Saber Guild, a Star Wars of races being cancelled inspired recreation group, due to the virus. and musical performances Registry for the event by The Merles and Western is currently active, with Express. In addition, the participation costing $25 event will also be an Interper dog, with a $5 late fee national Barbeque Cookers for registry the day of. For Association certified those whose dogs might contest. Food will be pronot have been on their vided by different vendors, a-game, there is an option for their dachshund to have alongside numerous arts & crafts booths. Parking will another shot; for $10, the hound can be placed into WIENER DOG RACES, 16 the next available race. In
Hays County implements new system for vote-by-mail ballots STAFF REPORT
injury to yourself, expected to give birth within three weeks HAYS COUNTY -County Election officials before or after Election Day and confined in a want voters to be aware of the new state vote-by- jail or civilly committed but otherwise eligible to mail ballots and process vote.” to ensure that every vote If a voter meets any of is counted. those criteria, Doinoff "To vote by mail said they can request that in Texas, you must her office send a votequalify under one of the by-mail ballot to their following categories," home address. She also said Jennifer Doinoff explained that one the (formerly Anderson), most important aspects elections administrator, of the new process is in a news release. voters need to fill out the "Eligibility includes being application completely. age 65 or older, disabled Example of a mail-in (or have an illness) in a ballot (photo provided by manner that prevents Hays County) you from entering a “New voting laws polling location without require a ballot by
FAREWELL
Newspaper legacy continues with new generation.
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DOINOFF SAID THERE ARE SEVERAL WAYS TO CORRECT A BALLOT ENVELOPE: • Go in person to your election office to certify your ID information within six (6) days after Election Day. • Go to www.votetexas.gov, and click “Track My Ballot” to certify your ID information within six (6) days after Election Day. • A voter may vote in person at any polling location, by cancelling their mail ballot.
mail voter to include their Texas-issued ID number, or the last four digits of their Social Security Number (SSN) on the Application for Ballot by Mail Form,” Doinoff said. “The numbers provided must match the numbers on the voter’s registration file to be accepted.”
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