Megan Navarro
DRIPPING SPRINGS — Dripping Springs City Council approved a special event and temporary road closure permit application for a single-day concert and crawfish festival, Swampy Tonk: Mudbugs & Music, at its Tuesday, March 3, meeting.
This follows council’s decision to table the same application at its previous meeting, due to several concerns related to the chosen location at Pig Pen BBQ and the anticipated 1,000 people in attendance. Due to council’s hesitations, the item was pushed back to allow for further review by the applicant, city staff and emergency personnel.
At the March 3 meeting, community events coordinator Johnna Krantz presented several updates to council.
Consistent across the dais was a concern that the emergency services districts (ESDs) had not reviewed the site plans prior to the original submission of the application. However, the application was brought forward at the Feb. 19 Emergency Management Committee meeting, Krantz explained, and ESD 1 had since shared its satisfaction with the emergency access route during the event.
“There is a location just off of 290 where … in an event of an emergency, they would be able to bring an ambulance in, pick up any injured parties or address any issues and if needed, make an easy circle back toward the highway and address the situation,” she said.
It was also presented at a Feb. 20 meeting with the Hays County Precinct 4 Constable and ESD 6 — North Hays County Fire Rescue — which was attended by council member Travis Crow. The ESD implemented the following:
Breakaway fencing to allow for additional exits in case of an emergency
Emergency exit signs will be lit and visible
Parking attendants will wear reflective vests and use directive flashlights
North Hays County Fire Rescue will inspect all electrical equipment and temporary structures during set up of the event
Fire Marshal Dillon Polk will be on-site during the event
Additionally, Hays County law enforcement recommended there be two off-duty officers and one vehicle, along with two private security guards, for a total of four, to match the same ratio as what is required at Dripping Springs Ranch Park for this event size. They also recommended that there would be an LED message board installed on US 290 to inform drivers that there may be detours or slow traffic ahead — this would be provided by the city, if the applicant can’t find one to rent themselves.
Mayor Bill Foulds requested that the city check with Hays County to see if there could be a message board also on Ranch Road 12, along with US 290: “[Ranch Road] 12 is going to be a problem area and let’s go ahead and get some messaging up there to let people know to expect delays [and] maybe direct people to Village Grove Parkway, actually, and get it far enough back so they can turn and not come up to 290.”
Krantz said that she would reach out to the county in regards to installing an additional message board.
Council member Geoffrey Tahuahua said at the Emergency Management Commission —of which he is a member — meeting, there was some discussion as to whether or not the city would close or limit through traffic on Bluff Street because it is used as a passthrough when traffic gets backed up on Ranch Road 12.
“One of the concerns that was expressed by one of our constables was if we leave Bluff open, you run the risk of someone going down Bluff and realizing they can’t get across to [Ranch Road] 12 and then, they would have to do a [U-turn] and it turns into a mess on Bluff,” he said, asking if it came up at the meeting with law enforcement and emergency personnel the next day.
Crow responded that it was brought up and the constable addressed that Bluff Street will be closed off.
Ultimately, council unanimously approved the special event application, along with the temporary road closure permit application for portions of Hays Street and South College Street beginning March 27. The event will be held March 28 at Pig Pen BBQ, located at 301 US 290, Dripping Springs.
Dripping Springs City Council meets next at 6 p.m. Tuesday, March 17.
