Tiger lacrosse takes down Reagan
Scout finds new way to play blues
DSES kids bring little libraries
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News-Dispatch Volume XXXVI No. 19
Serving Western Hays County, Texas since 1982
75¢
Thursday, February 18, 2016
Agreement reached on lighting plan ESD 9? STAFF REPORT The city of Dripping Springs and Dripping Springs ISD finalized an agreement on a mitigation plan that will reduce light pollution from school district facilities. The agreement comes after the school district sought two variances from the city’s Outdoor Lighting Ordinance for a new baseball and softball complex it is constructing. DSISD will install light structures with lighting levels necessary to comply with UIL
LAGNIAPPE Hays County Hunger Strike The Hays County Hunger Strike will be held Friday, Feb. 19 from 1-4 p.m. at Sunset Bowling Lanes in San Marcos. Hunger Strike is an annual bowling tournament benefiting the Hays County Food Bank. Visit www. haysfoodbank.org/ events/hunger-strike to register your team and for more information.
Give Kids A Smile!
Dripping Springs Presbyterian Church is hosting a “Give Kids A Smile” event on Saturday, Feb. 20 from 9 a.m. to noon at the church grounds (26650 Ranch Road 12 in Dripping Springs). Come out for free dental screenings and dental education. We will screen kids, teach kids proper hygiene and give the kids toothbrushes & floss. Our goal is target kids who do not have access to care.
Wild Game Dinner
On Feb. 20, the Dripping Springs Wild Game Dinner offers all you can eat wild game delicacies, homemade desserts, a kid zone, silent auction and more. The event begins at 6 p.m. in the main cafeteria and auditorium at the Dripping Springs High
LAGNIAPPE, 7
recommendations. The district applied for the variances, as the levels were greater than allowable by the ordinance. The Dripping Springs City Council granted the variances on Sept. 15, contingent upon the school district taking steps to shield, replace, or remove lighting pre-dating the ordinance on DSISD facilities in city limits. An inventory of exterior lights at the school district facilities within city limits was conducted at the city’s expense. It excluded
lighting for athletic fields. Once the inventory was completed, DSISD studied the potential impact and future cost savings of the suggested replacements and renovations to lighting fixtures. On Jan. 25, the DSISD Board of Trustees approved a resolution agreeing to the city’s full mitigation plan to be implemented over a 10-year period, finalizing the variances for the baseball/softball complex. As a result of the mitigation
LIGHTING, 8
Properties identified as needing lighting updates as inventoried by the city of Dripping Springs: • Dripping Springs Middle School • Dripping Springs High School
• Walnut Springs Elementary School • Dripping Springs Elementary School
• Transportation Center • DSISD Administration offices
Residents question ESD 1 tax election
Ninth county emergency district considered BY PAIGE LAMBERT
News-Dispatch Reporter
Emergency service officials are preparing to propose a new Emergency Service District (ESD) that would cover all the nooks and crannies of Hays County. The proposed ESD 9 will provide EMS services to the unincorporated areas of Hays County, said Jim Swisher, Hays County San Marcos EMS deputy chief. Those who would be in the new district will vote for its creation in May, he said. ESD 9 will cover a small portion in Dripping Springs’ southern extraterritorial
ESD 9, 8
BY MOSES LEOS III
News-Dispatch Editor
Dripping Springs residents Thursday got their first chance to speak out on an Emergency Service District’s intent to raise its tax cap by four cents. Various questions about North Hays County ESD 1’s proposal to raise the maximum amount of taxes it could levy left some residents wanting more information. ESD 1, which services 244 square miles encompassing Dripping Springs, Henly and Driftwood, held a public forum to gauge public response on a proposed tax cap election in May. The election, which costs the ESD $30,000, will ask voters to raise the district’s tax cap from 3 to 7 cents. If voters approve the increase, ESD 1 will raise the tax rate PHOTO BY MOSES LEOS III from 2.52 cents per $100 valuation to 5 cents for the next two years. An interested Dripping Springs resident holds up her hand as she hears Walt Krudop, president of the Emergency Service District No. 1 Board of Commissioners president Walter ESD 1 board of commissioners, Krudop field questions on the district’s want to hold an election to raise their tax cap four cents. Residents had the chance last week to give their first said the district is asking voters impressions on ESD 1’s proposed election. to increase the tax cap in order to accommodate for future growth. According to a long-range plan While he understood the need commissioned by the ESD, the for increased services, he didn’t district is projecting population “understand how the growth won’t in Dripping Springs to double in make up for it.” a decade. Krudop said the district “If the community gets bigger, must operate at a 5-cent tax rate to there would, by necessity, be more maintain a level of service. people paying into the kitty,” Key ESD 1 currently operates with said. two ambulances that run 24 State Rep. Jason Issac (R-Driphours a day. If the district doesn’t ping Springs) believed the dollars increase its tax cap, it could lead are going to “be there” at the to an increase in “Level Zero” three-cent cap. conditions, along with While he wants a decrease in services. adequate EMS ser“If the square miles covered, “Level Zero” is when vices, Isaac said he encompassing Dripping both ESD 1 ambulancwas not convinced community Springs, Henly and Driftwood es are deployed, forcing “every stone has gets bigger, been unturned” the district to call San Marcos Hays County finding funding there would, on EMS for a third ambuopportunities. lance. by necessity, He said looking number of 24 hours Residents, however, toward commerbe more ambulances available questioned some elecial properties, ments from the ESD’s where property people presentation. Those values are highquestions ranged from paying into er, could be an the effect a tax rate option. Isaac said cost for the district the kitty.” increase could have on there was a need to have an election homeowners. Others to attract more –Mark Key, Dripping questioned why the businesses to the Springs citizen district was proposing area to relieve the The district wants a seven-cent increase, burden on homeapproval to raise rather than a five-cent increase. owners. the tax rate from Dripping Springs resident Stan “We can’t make it work with all Rech was concerned about a lack residential tax base,” Isaac said. He of information given on the disadded increasing the tax burden trict’s projections of future costs “affects the least among us more per $100 valuation to and expenses. than anything else.” ESD 1 based its need to increase Dripping Springs resident the tax rate on an 8 percent growth Deborah Stedman, who is a strong per $100 valuation rate per year. supporter of EMS services, said But Rech said he didn’t undershe would like to see the ESD “set stand “where the income is comthat rate higher.” The district wants ing from and where the expenses Stedman said ambulances approval to raise are.” services are “just as critical” as the tax cap from Rech said he wasn’t sure the the North Hays Fire Rescue when ESD took into account additional responding to incidents. development making its way into “What happens when the fire Dripping Springs. guys go down? Who’s going to per $100 valuation to Longtime Dripping Springs take care of them?” Stedman said. citizen Mark Key was concerned “With only two ambulances in that the ESD didn’t take into North Hays County, the number of account the rapid growth of the Level Zero calls didn’t surprise me. per $100 valuation area, which he believes could help I was a little surprised they didn’t the ESD. happen more often.”
ESD 1 by the numbers 244 2
$30,000
2.52 cents 5 cents 3 cents 7 cents
Voting begins in Hays Co. Below are the early voting locations for Hays County:
FEB. 16-18
Government Center Conference Room 712 S. Stagecoach Trail San Marcos, TX 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Hays County Health Dept 401 A Broadway St San Marcos, TX 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Hays County Pct. 2 Office 5458 FM 2770 at Crystal Meadow Dr. Kyle, TX 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Wimberley Community Center 14068 Ranch Rd. 12 Wimberley, TX 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Hays County Pct. 4 Office 195 Roger Hanks Pkwy Dripping Springs, TX 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Texas State University LBJ Student Center 700 Student Center Dr. San Marcos, TX 11 a.m.-7 p.m.
FEB. 19
Government Center Conference Room 712 S. Stagecoach Trail San Marcos, TX 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Hays County Health Dept 401 A Broadway St San Marcos, TX 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Hays County Pct. 2 Office 5458 FM 2770 @ Crystal Meadow Dr. Kyle, TX 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Wimberley Community Center 14068 Ranch Rd. 12 Wimberley, TX 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Hays County Pct. 4 Office 195 Roger Hanks Pkwy Dripping Springs, TX 8 a.m.-5 p.m.
FEB. 20
Government Center Conference Room 712 S. Stagecoach Trail San Marcos, TX 7 a.m.-7 p.m.
VOTE, 8