Pockets of land in Hays County landlocked by a city’s extraterritorial jurisdiction (ETJ), also known as “donut hole” parcels, can cause trouble for residents and cities alike.

In the 1980s, the city of Austin began expanding its ETJ, slowly encroaching on Hays County residents.

More than 30 years ago, those residents had a choice – join Austin, Dripping Springs or be left in an unincorporated area of the county.

One example of this limited regulation occurred in the Rim...