by RAY HERNANDEZ
Kyle Chamber of Commerce
Signatures have been gathered and the election has been ordered. A group of area citizens, called the Better Business for Hays Committee has successfully gathered over 1800 signatures of Kyle voters to call an election this May 12. Now voters can vote to regulate our local alcohol sales laws through the public option initiative and level the playing field between the city of Kyle and neighboring communities along the I-35 corridor.
Under the 2004 law Kyle is already wet for off-premise beer/wine and spirits sales. Local retail shops sell beer and wine while liquor stores handle all three of these sales. The potential passage of the local public option proposition in the city of Kyle this May will attract new restaurants to the city and help our existing restaurants like Dickey’s BBQ and Koy Chinese restaurant to acquire a beer and wine license for less. Currently the law in Kyle requires all restaurants to purchase an expensive full bar license to serve alcohol. Many smaller mom and pop style restaurants can’t justify the cost of a full bar license. Finally, enhancing the 2004 law will allow the city of Kyle to have venues that feature live music, microbrewery and wine tasting-like businesses in New Braunfels and Gruene. More businesses means less property tax burden on the homeowner!
Save the date: Taste and Toast of Hays
In order to raise money to fund the get-out-the-vote campaign, the Better Business for Hays group is hosting Taste and Toast of Hays on April 18 at Texas Old Town in Kyle with guest speaker Glen Garey, General Counsel of the Texas Restaurant Association. This will feature some of the best restaurants and businesses in Hays County. Sponsorships and tickets are still available and any restaurants interested in participating can contact the Kyle Area Chamber Office at 268-4220 or go to www.HaysWins.com for more information.
Upcoming Events
March
• 17 NASCAR/Stock car racing at Thunderhill Raceway. 6 p.m.
• 22 Panhandler’s Pizza Ribbon Cutting. 4:30 p.m.
• 24 City of Kyle Community Visioning Forum, Historic Ernest Kimbro Building, Kyle Elementary. 9 a.m.-noon
• 27 Kyle Chamber hosts “F1, Circuit of the Americas” Luncheon. Historic Ernest Kimbro Building at Kyle Elementary. 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m.
• 30 & 31 2012 Fajita Fiesta & BBQ Cook-Off. City Square Park
• 31 Thundermower 500 & Carnival. State/National Lawnmower Racing Association races. Thunderhill Raceway. 9 a.m.
• 31 NASCAR/Stock car racing at Thunderhill Raceway. 6 p.m.
• 31 Live Music at Milt’s Pit BBQ. 7:30 p.m.
April
• 5 Kyle Chamber’s Ambassadors BASH. 6 p.m.-8 p.m.
For information on joining the Kyle Area Chamber please visit www.KyleChamber.org or email us at [email protected]. The mission of the Kyle Area Chamber is to promote, empower, and be a valuable resource to the business community and chamber members; and to position our community as a tourism location and ideal place to live.
