The nonprofit began after a local decorated veteran died by suicide, said Melody Burns, treasurer of the Fireside Chat Support Network.

“Our founder and president and several others felt like there was an important need to do something about the suicide rate and [to] reach out to the veterans and first responders to help them deal with their [post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)] and the stresses from their lives,” explained Burns.

Since then, the support network has hosted weekly fireside chats at 12 Fox Beer Co. in Dripping Springs, where veterans can participate in a peer-led discussion.

This event has been helpful for many, said Burns, but she also noted that alternative therapies have been used to treat PTSD, such as sound, light, vibration, yoga and more. So, when Burns, who is also a beekeeper, discovered bee therapy, she knew it was something she wanted to begin implementing.

Though not widely popular in the United States, she explained that it has been used in Europe through air inhalation and beekeeping, which provides something to look forward to, while using a calm attitude and precision to tend to the bees. Organizations, such as Hives to Heroes, have implemented some of these practices, but Burns wants to focus on inhalation of bee air in her sessions.

“The buzzing of the bees, the vibration of the bees and the breathing of the bee air — the propolis infused air — that is around the beehives in Europe, those things are used for alternative healings and the thought is that the frequencies are calming and help to induce relaxation and will help the veterans and first responders sleep better,” Burns said.

There are companies in the United Kingdom that can ship out facilities for this, she said, but the cost has instead led her to create her own.

Funded through donations, the sauna-like building will have windows to prevent claustrophobia, a ramp for wheelchair accessibility and be large enough to house two benches, which will be filled with bees.

The therapy will be primarily for veterans and first responders, with availability by 30-minute slots, but may be opened to the public for a donation. Because towels are needed to lay on the bench, they can be purchased for a small price, if the individual doesn’t bring their own.

The facility is currently under construction, with an expected completion in May. After, the Fireside Chat Network Support will announce details on its Facebook, which can be found at bit.ly/48oihAd, for the opening at a later date.

At the council meeting, Buda Parks & Recreation director Tony Host and director of Community Relations Lysa Gonzalez gave a joint presentation to city council focused on the sportsplex’s rebrand.

Host opened the conversation by speaking on ongoing onsite renovations. DCS Engineering has been making improvements to the sportsplex with city oversight since the council authorized construction to begin last year. The expansion project includes four new softball fields, more than 800 extra parking spaces, batting cages, a concession stand and improvements to existing fields.

Council member Evan Ture noted that there has been “phenomenal progress” on the renovations, adding that, “On the city side, we’re trying to support quick development.”

The project is expected to see completion late this summer, according to the city’s website. The improvements will double the team capacity of the sportsplex, which Gonzalez expects will serve as an economic driver for the city.

The community relations director pointed to the high field revenue and tourism impact of the expanded sportsplex. The cost to rent a field is $500 per day, which adds up across the eight softball fields.

A two-day tournament at the facility can host 56 teams, whose players, coaches and supporters will expectedly spend money at Buda’s hotels, restaurants and stores. With that in mind, Ture calculated that it would bring in $10,000 of tax revenue.

Gonzalez acknowledged that the impact “could be less. It could be more, but, that is the goal we are trying to bring to our community each time there’s a tournament.”

The focus of the expansion is to book three to five multi-day tournaments and build a pipeline of 20-50 tournament organizers in year one. By year two, Gonzalez hopes for a curated tournament experience and sees the sportsplex becoming a “plug and play” host that achieves 50% or more repeat bookings.

Gonzalez described the positive impact of the expansion as “why Buda wins.” She stated that the updated facility would “position Buda as a go-to Central Texas tournament destination,” one that is high-quality, easy to use and locally supported.

According to the presentation, the target market for the expansion is broad: the southern half of the United States. Gonzalez and Host highlighted the focus on baseball/softball, soccer, flag football and lacrosse, as these are the sports that the facility currently supports.

Gonzalez added that people coming for tournaments can explore Buda while they’re in town and staff is working to partner with local businesses to devise deals for attendees. They are also working to include city brochures at concession stands and hotel front desks.

As the presentation wound down, Host clicked to one final slide showcasing a new name and logo for the sportsplex. The new design read, “Buda Championship Park” and depicted the words alongside a soccer ball, baseball, football and Texas flag in front of a red home plate.

Host and Gonzalez both pointed to the difficulty in finding a name. Host said he ran previous iterations through ChatGPT, but ultimately decided that the word “championship” positions the facility as one with premier, tournament-level competition.

Gonzalez said that people are “looking for athleticism, looking for challenge, [and] looking for competition.” She stated that it was a hard balance to find a name that reflected this and also spoke to the Buda brand as a relaxed, friendly community.

Among the council, most were supportive of the new name. Council member Monica Davidson spoke positively of the changes, but showed concern regarding the logo, asking, “Why do we have a baseball, but not a softball?” pointing to the popular use of the sportsplex for the latter sport.

Conversely, council member LaVonia Horne-Williams was on board with the logo, but felt the name fell short of capturing ambitions for the facility.

“I think what you are about to accomplish is bigger than that name. I don’t think ‘Championship Park’ speaks to what you’re doing there,” said Horne-Williams.

Council member Greg Bowles was “concerned about people not pronouncing Buda right,” but otherwise in favor of the name.

Continuing the same sentiment of Buda’s identity, council member Kimberly Goodman was worried that the logo lacks something city-specific. Though, she joked, “I don’t know what that would be. You can’t just put a wiener dog on there.”

Ture noted that before its renovations, the sportsplex reminded him of the ‘90s and felt out of date. He described moving away from that feeling as “interesting” and was “tending toward yes” on the name.

Host and Gonzalez were open to reconsidering the name or taking specific suggestions from council to address their concerns. However, Davidson pointed to the urgency of moving forward from a marketing standpoint.

“Going back to the drawing board and trying to envision what we’re all trying to say is going to make us lose more time,” said Davidson.

Because of this, she was willing to settle with the softball-absent logo for time’s sake and put forth a motion to approve the name and logo as presented.

“I love it. Let’s go for it,” concluded Mayor Lee Urbanovsky.

The motion passed 6-0 — council member Matt Smith was absent.

Buda City Council will meet next Tuesday, May 5.

This marks the sixth consecutive year Texas Mutual is investing in nonprofit organizations dedicated to supporting working families and fortifying businesses. Over the past decade, Texas Mutual has invested more than $120 million to strengthen Texas communities, support businesses and help working families thrive, according to a news release.

“We’re proud to support the communities we serve and view this funding as a meaningful step toward a stronger Texas,” said Veronica Martinez, senior manager of impact and community partnerships at Texas Mutual. “By investing in organizations that remove barriers for working Texans, we’re helping create opportunities that reach beyond today and into the next generation. We’re honored to partner with these leaders as they strengthen families, fuel local economies and move our state forward.”

Texas Mutual will award funding through two community grant cycles, which will start this month. In the first grant cycle, Texas Mutual will seek to invest in initiatives that stabilize working households, so Texans can obtain and sustain employment and participate in economic opportunities. Funding will be awarded to projects that focus on:

•  Championing working parents by expanding access to quality early childhood education — ages 0-5 — or out-of-school time care for children, so that parents can obtain and retain stable employment

•  Prioritizing workforce wellness by ensuring working Texans are physically healthy through increased access to primary care

•  Enabling workforce advancement by facilitating access to essential basic needs, so that working Texans can obtain or retain stable employment, building a foundation for long-term economic mobility

Applications for the first grant cycle are now open and will close at 11:59 p.m. Friday, May 15.

The second grant cycle will bolster workforce development and safety training. Texas Mutual seeks to invest in organizations and initiatives focused on:

•  Developing a skilled workforce by preparing Texans for high-growth, high-wage middle-skill jobs through completion of apprenticeships or postsecondary credentials of value

•  Empowering small businesses by supporting initiatives that promote their resilience and the facilitation of new job growth

•  Reconnecting the disengaged workforce by connecting youth to supportive career pathways as a means of expanding the available labor force

Applications for the second grant cycle will open at 8 a.m. Monday, Aug. 10, and will close at 11:59 p.m. Friday, Sept. 11.

Grant amounts will vary by project needs and organization size. Applicants should request funding between $25,000 and $100,000 . To be eligible for grant funding, organizations must be a 501(c)(3) designated organization and demonstrate they are actively delivering assistance and services to Texas communities.

Visit www.texasmutual.com/communityfunding for more information.

Each year, Hays CISD recognizes the individuals who were named as their campus Volunteer of the Year for the efforts in helping their local school community. In addition, Hays CISD also honored those who were named as Mentors of the Year, Community Volunteers of the Year and Partnerships of the Year.

Hays CISD Superintendent Dr. Eric Wright applauded the efforts of the district volunteers, mentors and business partners whose efforts go a long way toward helping the district and its respective campuses. This year, Hays CISD has a grand total of 7,400 volunteers who have logged more than 14,000 hours of work — the volunteers have contributed more than $462,000 worth of time toward its students.

The 2025-2026 Hays CISD Volunteers of the Year are listed below.

Elementary School Volunteers of the Year

Elza Romero – Blanco Vista Elementary School

Erika Reyes – Buda Elementary School

Abigail Laake – Camino Real Elementary School

Michelle Schwartz – Carpenter Hill Elementary School

Nicole Miller – Cullen Elementary School

Martin Danner – Elm Grove Elementary School

Jennifer Lancaster – Fuentes Elementary School

Abby Tedlock – Tom Green Elementary School

Teresa Bullock – Hemphill Elementary School

Karine Zepeda – Kyle Elementary School

Melissa Haase – Negley Elementary School

Becki Robledo – Pfluger Elementary School

Amber Nelson – Ramage Elementary School

Laurie Stradling – Science Hall Elementary School

Cristyn Cordova – Sunfield Elementary School

Brandi Sanchez – Tobias Elementary School

Bertha Martinez – Uhland Elementary School

Middle School Volunteers of the Year

Abigail Campbell – Barton Middle School

Anastasia Skiles – Chapa Middle School

Casey Jensen – Dahlstrom Middle School

Fabiola Sanchez – McCormick Middle School

Jessica Gindlesperger – Simon Middle School

Tiffany Cortez-Machado – Wallace Middle School

High School Volunteers of the Year

Johanna Bergmann – Hays High School

Leslie Piggott – Johnson High School

Anastasia Skiles – Lehman High School

Craig Holloway – Live Oak Academy

Community Volunteers of the Year

Mary Gartner – Hays Clothes Closet

Debbie Condel, DLC Financial Service – HaysHope2Go

Mentors of the Year

Julie Barschow – Seedling Mentor Program

Tim Rigsby – Blanco Vista Elementary School

Marjie Kelley – Kyle Elementary School

Mary Kemp – Ramage Elementary School

Michael Ramirez – Chapa Middle School

Business Partnerships of the Year

Frost Bank

CORE Construction

Joeris General Contractors

Dunaway

Ally Medical

There are several Hays County-led projects that are currently ongoing within the area, resulting from a voter-approved 2024 road bond package. Though a Travis County district judge ruled that the package was void, claiming non-compliance with a public notice requirement, the Hays County Commissioners Court voted to move forward with the issuance of Certificates of Obligation (COs) to fund planning and design for 30 projects originally included in the bond, with eight of them funded through construction.

Two of the projects involve Darden Hill Road, with the first to widen the roadway from Ranch to Market (RM) Road 1826 to east of Sawyer Ranch Road, while also adding a roundabout at the intersection of Darden Hill and RM 1826. Construction would occur between mid-2027 to mid-2029.

The other — for which only the design is currently funded — would extend the widened road from east of Sawyer Ranch Road and have a new extension connect near Woods Loop and eventually tie into planned improvements at RM 150 and Ranch Road 12.

The need for these projects has been heightened with the growing population, as the county has seen the numbers go from 204,345 in 2016 to 256,100 in 2021 to 304,390 in 2025, said Precinct 4 commissioner Walt Smith, who held a presentation and question-and-answer session at the DHCS meeting. This remains true with projected growth, as the county expects to see thousands of families commute in the area once new school developments are complete within Dripping Springs ISD.

“When we talk about how much volume of traffic and how many residents we have in this area, this is what is driving us having to do additional projects and just general traffic safety when we do master transportation plans,” said Smith, who held a presentation and question and answer session at the DHCS meeting.

Other projects that are proposed for the area include:

• Sawyer Ranch Road: Widening the road to two lanes in each direction with four-foot shoulders, extend the 10-foot pedestrian walkway along the east side of the roadway from Meadow Creek Drive to Darden Hill Road and add striped crosswalks at key intersections

• Building a roundabout at RM 150 and RM 12, shifting the intersection to the south to avoid impacts to Phillips Cemetery

• Dripping Springs Southwest Connection: Provide an alternative to US 290 with two lanes in each direction with a median, shoulders on both sides, pedestrian and bicycle accommodations and water quality protection features

• Fitzhugh Road: Design and construct interim safety improvements and study additional enhancements along Fitzhugh Road

“What we anticipate, more than anything, is giving alternatives to 290 to our local residents. The fact is, right now, every resident on Darden Hill, if you want to go anywhere [on] Darden Hill — if you’re on 1826, if you are on 150 — you have to traverse either around one of the worst three corner intersections there is at 150 and Darden Hill or you have to go all the way to 290,” Smith emphasized. “If we can give our local residents alternatives, that’s what we are looking for.”

Despite the claims of increasing safety for those who live and travel in the area, some residents were still hesitant that the projects will do the opposite.

Resident Matt Walters shared that the community members who were informed of what was happening in their neighborhoods were in shock.

“They didn't realize that this beautiful, little rural road that they live next to is going to effectively be part of what is being proposed as a series of improvements, but when they're all done, become a cross-county freight and commuter corridor. Now, maybe that's an okay thing, but there are multiple intentions and problems being attempted to be solved by this because no world is perfect, of course, and we happen to have multiple problems,” Walters said.

He added that, while parents love to see that the plans include bicycle pathways for their students to commute to and from school, they don’t want it to be on a 45 miles-per-hour corridor, where “freight [trucks have] to engine brake at a roundabout. That sounds like death certificates.”

There is also an online petition that has received 442 signatures as of April 20 not in complete opposition of the widening of Darden Hill Road, but rather the current design of the proposed changes. Community members have suggested alternatives for the county to consider with the project, including a two-lane road with dedicated turn lanes, lower speed limit at 35 miles-per-hour, an established truck weight, removing the planned future extension and re-engaging the public before finalizing the design.

Learn more about the Hays County road bond projects at www.hayscoroads.com. To listen to the full Driftwood Historical Conservation Society meeting, visit bit.ly/4cFVFwm. The online petition can be found at www.savedardenhill.com.

This follows discussions amongst the Founders Day Committee on the allocation of vendor booths to political parties and candidates because of increased demand, but limited supply, leading city staff to do a legal review and draft a policy.

The purpose of the policy is to deal with the severely limited vendor booth space and demand from political candidates, in particular, said city attorney Aniz Alani, as that heavily outnumbers the spaces the city can accommodate. He noted that this year, there are approximately 23 applicants on the waiting list for vendor booths.

“Historically, there have been some political type [of], we’ll call them, vendors, using the vendor booths, but this year, for whatever reason, there are just more than supply allows,” he said. “So, the goals of this policy are to provide an orderly way of having clear rules and ultimately, having a fair allocation that distributes the limited event space in a neutral manner.”

This policy is limited solely to the 2026 Founders Day Festival and is not intended to carve in stone a policy for anything after this year’s event, Alani emphasized. However, council could request that staff look into extending or creating a policy that applies to other or future festivals.

It applies to vendor booths, political expression during the parade by approved and registered participants and conduct by city officials and representatives attending in an official capacity.

The policy proposes a limit on political expression vendor booths to no more than two booths, exclusively to qualified political party organizations — this means that no booths would be approved for any individual political candidates, political action committees, ideological advocacy groups, etc., said Alani.

“Essentially, the idea is that you can’t commandeer a political party’s booth to functionally be a candidate booth, but political candidates can participate, obviously, with the political party’s consent as part of their political booth,” he explained.

If more than two qualified political party organizations apply, available political expression booth spaces shall be allocated by lottery conducted by the city after the application deadline. However, that is a “moot point,” said Alani, as the deadline has already passed and there were not more than two applications.

Additionally, the application deadline has also passed for the parade, Alani said. He noted that only the candidates and parties who are registered would be allowed to engage in political expression in the parade.

As for the individuals who are attending the festival in an official capacity — such as city council members or elected leaders in other levels of government — there is an on and off toggle switch. This is for acting in an official capacity or as a private citizen.

“The way the policy is written, you are acting in an official capacity when you are representing the city and basically, you are using your position as an elected official or city official to have some enhanced platform that private citizens don’t have. That might be marching as part of a more official delegation in front of the parade … wearing official insignia,” Alani said. “At all other times, those folks are acting as a private citizen and they can do kind of as they would as any other private citizen can under the festival rules.”

Council member Sherrie Parks questioned if it is necessary for the city to move forward with this policy for this year, since the deadlines have passed for booth and parade applications.

“My understanding is because there are essentially one [or] two political candidates who have applied and would be registered in the parade and no one has told us that they would be wanting to attend in an official capacity in the parade. Strictly speaking, no, and that assumes that no one shows up or tries to insert themselves in an official capacity at the parade,” Alani responded.

The city attorney added that if someone were to try to insert themselves in an official capacity at the parade, the city could refer to the policy, saying they can not campaign in an official capacity because council approved such policy or appeal to their sense of common decency.

There are rules in place that registration and attending the parade meetings is required in order to participate, Parks said: “So, if some official last minute decided to call and say, ‘I want to be in the parade,’ based on those two things, they should be denied.”

Another council member, Geoffrey Tahuahua, agreed that the festival is coming up soon and the existing policy does give some reasonable wiggle room.

He shared that he has attended Founders Day consistently for the last four years and has worn campaign shirts, participating in political expression, while also being asked questions related to his official duties as a city council member. However, he noted his concern of changing the rules less than 20 days out.

“There needs to be a larger look overall at how we handle the processes and yes, maybe political is a part of that in some extent, but it’s maybe 8% or 10% of the conversation. Whereas, I really do think the bigger issue is how we look at it overall because I can tell you today, I don’t think vendor booths in general are being assigned fairly,” Tahuahua stated.

Mayor Bill Foulds asked for clarification if a council member wearing a city of Dripping Springs logo in violation. It is in violation, only if they are doing so while campaigning, Alani responded.

Further along in the discussion, council member Travis Crow shared that it feels like a lot to consider for one meeting and that this should have been on the agenda four or five months ago.

“To do this right, I don’t want to put a Band-Aid on it; instead of missing out on some information ... have the [Founders Day] Committee look at it, report back to us, give us recommendations and we go from there,” Crow said. “This is a lot, I think, for us to process on the dais tonight.”

The Founders Day Committee has looked at this draft policy twice and provided recommendations, the mayor clarified, but Crow said that he would have liked to have had the chance for council to provide its own feedback, as well.

It’s a good idea to figure out a standard way to address the limited number of booths that are available, council member Taline Manassian said, while also acknowledging that there could be an argument made to let Founders Day be a community event to take some steps to “depoliticize the activity there.”

Ultimately, council voted 4-1, with Tahuahua dissenting, to approve the policy.

The full discussion of the meeting can be found at the city of Dripping Springs’ YouTube page at www.youtube.com/@cityofdrippingsprings9597.

Following the indoor presentation, families and staff moved outside for a demonstration by the Hays County Sheriff’s Office K-9 Unit.

The 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization is committed to serving the community with compassion in times of crisis, offering support and resources that restore hope, and protecting those that matter the most. This includes rescuing dogs, an idea which started in February 2025, when Neill worked to help find Heidi, a 16-year-old missing dog in Dripping Springs, after seeing a Facebook post.

She worked to make signs and flyers to display throughout the area, while also sharing resources, like a local pet tracking option with access to thermal drones, with the family, according to previous reporting by the Hays Free Press/News-Dispatch.

“It took the Austin groups several days to come out to send a drone and that's really all they did,” Neill recalled. “They really didn't help with much else because we never had any sightings of her, but I made signs for them, I put out flyers on people's doors and mailboxes and we just tried to get the word out. We never found that dog.”

Now, Neill and Hill Country Rescue & Recovery are partnering with local fire departments and other groups to install community microchip scanning stations across the county.

The organization has previously partnered with Prevent a Litter (PALS) of Central Texas to host microchipping events in the community. The scanning stations would be an extension of that work, Neill explained, as it has brought up questions, such as if people want to get their pets microchipped and where they go to fulfill that need.

Along with helping reunite lost pets with their families faster, the goal is also to reduce shelter intake — even if it’s just by 5% — and empower the community to take an active role in animal rescue, Neill continued.

“Let's create this community system where if somebody sees a dog running down the road with a collar on, that animal is probably owned. It probably isn't dumped. It's probably not just a stray. Is somebody more likely to stop and pick that animal up if they can and take it to get the chip read if they have one and reunite it? It creates less of a burden on animal control, the shelters, all of that helps keep animals safe and off the roads if people are more likely to pick them up,” she said. “If I know the shelters are full and I can't take this dog home and I see a dog running down the street, what do I do? I mean, nothing. I can't. If I have problematic dogs at my house and the shelter is going to tell me ‘no’ or I have to wait for an intake appointment, people just aren't going to try to help those dogs. This is a resource, so that people feel like they have an option to try to get this dog back to where it belongs.”

Microchips are all registered with the companies that they are provided through, so when a person uses one of the readers or scanners, it will bring up the number for the company, who then has the contact information for the pet’s owner.

In order to protect the owner’s information from the public, the chip company will contact them and help reunite the pet with their family.

“When the public calls in, which will be the instance with these chip stations, the company will then take the finder's information, they will contact the owner and say, ‘Hey, we were contacted by this person who believes they have your pet, microchip number XYZ.’ So, that information is always protected and then, the owner will contact the finder,” Neill explained.

The initiative is fully funded by donations to Hill Country Rescue & Recovery, with each scanning station at approximately $500 each.

Neill shared that currently, the organization is in the first phase of getting 14 sites in the county, partnering with host sites to include North Hays, Buda and Kyle fire stations, as well as Fitzhugh Brewing, but the ultimate goal is to have 20.

The stations are not yet installed, but Neill is anticipating to begin the work of having some of them off the ground in early-mid May.

Learn more about Hill Country Rescue & Recovery and stay up to date on the progess of the microship scanning stations at www.hillcountryrescuerecovery.org.

The annual event also honored TC McCormick and Geraldine McCormick with the Local Legend Award for their positive impact on the community.

Agencies nationwide partner with the DEA to provide a drop-off location for those who have prescription or over-the counter medications that are expired, unused or unwanted to have a safe place to dispose of them, no questions asked.

According to the DEA, during the last event in October 2025, 4,263 law enforcement agencies participated, with 4,317 total collection sites and 20,391,851 total weight all time — this may include materials other than prescription drugs.

These events, typically held twice a year with the DEA, are important because it helps keep drugs, narcotics and prescription medications off the streets and out of reach of children, said Matt Schima, community affairs officer for the Buda Police Department.

This is especially true as the department has seen too many youth overdose on medications that they have found at home.

“Too often, we find that it's medications that were left over in their parents’ or their grandparents’ medicine cabinet or it just happened to be laying around the house because a person got better and now, they don't need it anymore. We want to try to deter that from happening by taking those medications out of people's hands and disposing of them properly,” Schima said. “Then, also, we see where, between youth, they may not be taking them themselves, but they could be selling them or giving them to other people. So, we just want to cut that down to make sure that medications stay in the hands of those that actually need them and those that are prescribed to them, so that there are no tragedies that happen, especially with our youth.”

They will accept any medication, as long as it is not liquid or syringes, Schima said.

The upcoming Drug Take Back Day will take place nationwide from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, April 25. Specifically, for Buda, the public will be able to participate in front of the department, located at 405 E. Loop St. Suite 200, Buda.

Schima encourages people to come that day if they have any unwanted, unused and expired medications to dispose of. However, if they miss it, BPD also has a dropoff box in the lobby that is available during normal business hours.

Other collection sites currently scheduled for the April 25 Drug Take Back Day include the Hays County Constable Precinct 3 Office, located at 200 Stillwater Road, Wimberley. More information about the event and locations can be found at www.dea.gov/takebackday.

The project includes safety improvements and roadway realignment between IH-35 and SH 21 to improve safety and mobility in a rapidly-growing area of the county.

“Hays County is committed to a transparent planning process that keeps residents informed as road projects move forward. As our region continues to grow, it's important that the community understands how planned improvements to FM 2001 will support future transportation needs,” said Hays County commissioner Debbie Ingalsbe.

The county and Texas Department of Transportation have worked together to identify, design and construct improvements along several segments of FM 2001. A portion of the project was completed in 2022 and the county is now preparing to move forward with the remaining improvements.

The FM 2001 Improvements Project aims to support future transportation needs by enhancing safety and mobility within the growing region, while respecting local priorities and environmental constraints, stated a county news release.

“As our region grows, we are prioritizing infrastructure investments that keep pace with the needs of our residents. Improvements along FM 2001 are a key part of that effort, designed to improve mobility and make travel safer and more efficient,” said commissioner Michelle Cohen.

The FM 2001 Improvements Open House will be held from 4:30 to 7 p.m. Thursday, April 23, at Studio Estates Event Center, 6880 Goforth Road in Kyle. The open-house format allows residents to stop by at any time to review project information, learn about next steps and speak directly with the project team.

Meeting materials and opportunities to submit comments will also be available online at www.hayscoroads.com from April 23 through May 6.

Housed within the historic train depot, which is currently under construction, on Main Street, The Depot on Main will transform a treasured landmark into a vibrant hub for retail, creativity and small business growth, according to a news release. This initiative blends heritage preservation with forward-thinking economic development, creating a dynamic retail incubator and community marketplace, where Buda based startups, early-stage makers and retailers can launch, grow and drive long-term economic success.

The Depot on Main involves relocating, renovating and repurposing the historic train depot into a multi-functional destination featuring: dedicated retail incubator suites for emerging businesses; The Collective Marketplace, a curated coop retail experience; flexible retail space for Buda-based businesses; and enhanced exterior plaza and parking improvements.

The Depot on Main is more than a building, the release continued; it is a strategic investment in Buda’s economic resilience. By lowering barriers to entry and providing structured support systems, the initiative will: · Stimulate local sales tax generation · Retain entrepreneurial talent within Buda · Diversify and expand downtown retail offerings · Activate the north end of Main Street with new energy and foot traffic, keeping shoppers on Main Street longer to visit existing retail and restaurants · Reduce sales leakage to neighboring markets This “crawl, walk, run” approach is designed to give retail entrepreneurs the early support they need to test their products, while learning what works and what does not before committing to a long-term lease elsewhere. The International Business Innovation Association has historically cited that 87% of incubator-supported startups survive after five years.

With Buda City Council approval in March, a phased activation approach may allow portions of the plaza to open as early as December 2026, positioning the depot as a new cornerstone of holiday commerce and community engagement.

The Depot on Main will operate as a subsidized retail incubator, providing below-market-rate retail space for startups ready to test and scale their concepts.

Participants will benefit from affordable one-to-two-year program participation options, Buda HIVE cohort training and curriculum programming and marketing support, tools and operational workshops.

To ensure long-term viability and responsible growth, priority is given to businesses seeking retail incubator space who have completed or are currently enrolled in the Buda HIVE cohort training program. Through the HIVE, entrepreneurs refine business plans, validate financial projections, analyze market data and build operational readiness before stepping into brick-and-mortar retail.

Program participants must: · Be a Buda resident or committed to opening a retail concept in Buda · Utilize the space for customer facing, sales tax–generating products (e.g., clothing, jewelry, prepackaged homemade goods, housewares, etc.)

· Not currently operate a brick-and mortar location and not be affiliated with a franchise or multi-level marketing business Engagement begins with a formal application process and adherence to structured onboarding steps before launching inside the Depot. Strict program timelines are designed to set retailers up for success and prepare them to successfully launch into full market-rate retail space in Buda, upon their exit from the Depot.

At the heart of The Depot on Main will be The Collective Marketplace — a co-op and consignment store, offering home-based and local producers a Main Street presence without the overhead of a full storefront.

The Collective Marketplace will: · Feature Buda-made products and artisans · Provide staffed retail support and inventory tracking · Offer collaborative marketing and pooled promotional efforts · Operate under a sustainable consignment revenue model · Deliver consistent hours and high visibility exposure From handcrafted goods to specialty food and retail products, locally-produced brands will have the opportunity to showcase their work in a highly visible, professionally managed retail environment.

Entrepreneurs interested in participating in the Retail Incubator space or The Collective Marketplace are encouraged to complete an online interest application. The Buda EDC and Buda HIVE staff will assist in business support programming, business plans, financials and marketing readiness as part of the HIVE Incubator program. Once selected, each startup or entrepreneur will participate in onboarding and ongoing support. Completing an application does not guarantee placement, but initiates the structured pathway toward launching within The Depot on Main.

For application information, partnership inquiries, or updates on the opening timeline, visit www. BudaEDC.com/DepotOnMain or contact the Buda EDC.

According to Jessica Cain, director of neighborhood engagement, Southside began in 1927 with the idea of serving the needs of those directly in the neighborhood. It provided help with “household education,” she said, such as how to run a household, childcare, early childhood education and more.

In the late 1980s and 1990s, its service continued to help those in need by expanding to include all of Hays County, specifically those living in poverty and the unhoused community, said Cain. Since then, this group has become its focus. Southside provides dinner each day at 4 p.m., breakfast six days a week, laundry, a mail service, lockers, an affordable independent senior living community and more.

Beyond these daily services, Southside has worked the past two years to create the Housing Stability Program, as the need has increased.

“We’ve been doing emergency assistance [funding] for almost a decade, but the actual creation of the Housing Stability Program happened over the last couple of years, thanks to passage of [The American Rescue Plan Act] funding that the city of San Marcos gave to Southside,” explained Cain. “The goal of that funding was to have a strategic plan around addressing the issue of homelessness in San Marcos specifically, [but] we obviously work in all of Hays County, so there’s been a little bit of work in both of those areas.”

The program is divided into three areas, with the first being the Emergency Assistance Program, which has been established for years, but is the lowest intervention done, said the director. It is a one-time payment, up to $500, to put toward rent or utilities.

The next “level” up is the Eviction Prevention Program. Cain explained that this is for individuals or families that either have a Notice to Vacate or an Eviction Notice. This is, again, financial support up to $2,1000.

Both of these opportunities are capped to allow as many as possible to benefit from the service.

“This program is the more recently developed one and it developed because what we were seeing was that not only we here at Southside, but the community at large has a pretty good set of Emergency Assistance Programs and then, we have some programs for folks who are experiencing homelessness. But there was this gap in between, where people had a bit of a larger bill that needed to be taken care of that didn’t fall into [EAP],” said Cain. “So, Eviction Prevention is financial support and case management support for one to three months, depending on what the individual needs at that time.

We not only provide that payment, but we also help with: How did we get into this situation? How can we prevent it from happening in the future?”

This category has mainly been individuals who have found themselves behind on rent due to a medical emergency, loss of job, family death, etc.

“We live in a community where a lot of folks are renting and being a renter can be a very precarious situation, if you find yourself with just one [financial emergency] that happens in your life … Those things can really derail a whole family’s stability. So, we’re really passionate about making sure that people are able to stay in housing when they already have stable housing because the reality is that once someone is forced to move, whether because they can’t afford the place anymore because they’ve been evicted, then that makes it more difficult to find comparable housing,” she said.

For those who are unhoused, there is the Transitional Housing Program, which aims to move them into stable, permanent housing.

These individuals or families stay in Southside’s onsite shelter for 60 days, where they receive intense, weekly case management from the center, the director shared, as well as from the Blanco Regional River Recovery Team (BR3T) that does housing navigation with them.

Although there are no income restrictions, those looking to utilize the services must fill out an application. This will let staff determine which program is best for the situation.

The reaction to these programs, both from the community and municipal leadership has been positive, said Cain. The usage of their services has also been increasing, as in 2025, more than 600 individuals were served. The specifics of each service includes: 266 units — individuals and families — for EAP, 49 units for Eviction Prevention and 35 units in Transitional Housing.

In 2026, there has already been 43 units for Eviction Prevention, 143 units for EAP and 12 units for Transitional Housing.

Cain explained that the recent $125,000 funding received from the Hays County Commissioners Court will help Southside with this growing number of cases.

The nonprofit is also looking at other sources to find stable funding, which will allow their services to grow. For example, with the Transitional Housing Program, Cain shared that they would like to be able to pay for the first month’s rent, since BR3T pays the deposit on the rental that they find for those in the shelter. This would allow more time for individuals in this program to find jobs or save money.

Similarly, Southside would like to increase the number of families and individuals served through EAP and Eviction Prevention.

To learn more information about Southside Community Center and these programs, visit www.southsidecommunitycenter.org.

As the city of Kyle continues to grow, there are more opportunities for residents to stay informed and contribute to local decision-making. To make that process easier, Kyle residents will now have a new way to share input on local decisions with the launch of Tell Kyle, the city’s new online engagement platform.

Available at www.TellKyle.com and through the city’s website, the platform serves as a central hub for community input, where residents can participate in surveys, learn about upcoming open houses and provide feedback on city projects and initiatives, according to a news release. By bringing these resources together in one place, Tell Kyle offers a clear and convenient way for residents to stay informed and involved.

One of the first featured initiatives on www.TellKyle. com is the fiscal year 2026–27 budget survey, open from March 27 through April 24 and available to take online in English and Spanish. The survey asks residents to weigh in on community priorities as city staff begin developing next year’s budget. Because the annual budget determines funding for key services, such as public safety, infrastructure, parks and community programs, resident feedback plays an important role in shaping how resources are allocated. The budget survey is just one example of how Tell Kyle will be used to gather feedback that informs city decisions. By participating, residents can help ensure their priorities are considered alongside those of city council and staff throughout the budget development process, continued the news release.

In addition to online engagement, residents can also follow the conversation through upcoming budget workshops on May 2, May 21, June 13 and June 14, where Kyle City Council will review priorities, financial forecasts and program needs.

“Tell Kyle is about creating more opportunities for residents to share their perspectives and making it easier to be part of the conversation,” said Linda Klepper, chief communications officer.

Tell Kyle will continue to host future engagement opportunities, providing a consistent and accessible way for residents to stay involved in city projects and decisions. Residents are encouraged to explore the platform, participate in the budget survey and stay connected as new initiatives are added.

The Budget survey is available at www.TellKyle.com or the following links:

• Take the survey in English: www.surveymonkey.com/r/KyleFY27BudgetSurvey

• Realice la encuesta en español: www.surveymonkey.com/r/KyleFY27BudgetSurvey?lang=es_ US

Each year, a life-size birthday card is created by a live muralist at the event. Attendees are invited to sign the card, which will hang at the Welcome Center after completion. For more information and full schedule of events, visit www.budaamphitheater.com/budasbday.

The request is associated with a plat application for a single lot located at 11704 Crumley Ranch Road, within the Dripping Springs extraterritorial jurisdiction (ETJ) and consists of a 1.189-acre corner reserve panel that was left unplatted when the Fitzhugh Corners Subdivision was originally subdivided in 1985. This has been used as a homestead, prior to the current owner acquiring the property, who is in the process of redeveloping the site for residential use.

According to the applicant, Phillip Lee, he purchased the property nearly four years ago to take it from a two-bedroom house to a three bedroom, with some modernizations, to host family and friends when they come to visit. He shared with the commission that his initial contractor said that the foundation was so old that it would be less expensive and faster to demo and rebuild, rather than adding on to the existing property — leading him to have the house disassembled to be rebuilt on a new foundation.

After having to find a new contractor, due to the initial one disappearing on the job after taking the money, Lee said that he was informed that they needed to go through the correct process with the city and county for proper paperwork.

“In doing so, we found out that the two-bedroom house that we purchased was not platted and so, that stopped us [and] set us back about seven or eight months,” Lee said. “I would just like to continue forward because otherwise, I'm going to end up with an unsellable property that I bought that I can't use.”

The property must be platted into a legal lot to comply with Hays County’s development requirements. The minimum lot size for properties in the ETJ that are served by surface/rainwater and septic systems is 1.5 acres, while properties served by wells and septic systems have a minimum lot size of 2.0 acres, per city ordinances.

Currently, the property is being served by an existing well and septic system that has been used for decades. The applicant is proposing to continue using the existing well, or use rainwater harvesting for drinking water, as there is no public water source system available.

The request is to reduce the minimum lot size requirement as follows:

Surface or rainwater and private septic: Minimum lot size in ETJ at 1.5 acres; variance request at 1.189 acres

Private well and private septic: Minimum lot size in ETJ at 2 acres; variance request at 1.189 acres

It is indicated in the request that the property will be served by rainwater and an advanced onsite sewage facility, also known as an aerobic system. When those two components are combined, it allows for the minimum lot size to be reduced — this is not just in Dripping Springs, but in wider regulations as well, said senior planner Sara Varvarigos.

“Looking into the requested variance in terms of our city of Dripping Springs’ requirements, if a lot that is in the Edwards Aquifer Contributing Zone, which is considered a less permeable part of the aquifer, if it's served by a combination of rainwater and private septic, our minimum lot size is 1.5 acres. So, getting a little bit closer to what they have now, which they cannot increase, like, realistically, their neighbors are not going to give them a part of their lot to increase their lot size,” Varvarigos said. “If they keep the well as their water source and if they use the private septic, which we are and they are recommending to do an advanced on-site septic, we're still at a 2-acre minimum lot size requirement, so much further from what they currently have in terms of lot sizing.”

To qualify for a variance, an applicant must identify unique conditions or constraints on their property that would result in undue hardship if the city’s ordinance is applied to the property as-is. In doing so, the following description was provided by the applicant:

“This tract was created decades ago with the creation of the Fitzhugh Corners Subdivision as an outparcel that was not a part of the subdivision, but was created as a 1.189 acre tract. The current owner is needing to plat this tract to make it a legal lot. As such, regardless of water source, the city's minimum lot size in the ETJ is 1.5 acres if on rainwater or 2.0 acres if on a well,” the description read. “In either scenario, there's nothing that can be done to make this lot larger than it is, which is the size it was created in the 1970s or 1980s. This was not created by the current owner, but is how it has been for nearly 50 years.”

When city staff reviewed this request, they looked at the surrounding properties, which are primarily single-family residences, explained Varvarigos. The corner of Crumley Ranch Road and Fitzhugh Road was left unplatted and there is now an instance where 21 of 23 lots in the surrounding Fitzhugh Corners Subdivision are smaller than the subject property.

City staff also looked at criteria for the subdivision variance, including the following: possible concerns regarding public safety and health or welfare to other properties; if the conditions are unique to the subject property; if particular hardships to the owner would take place without the variance; effects of zoning; alternate designs; and preservation of more native trees, providing more open space, etc.

After reviewing the criteria, city staff recommended the approval of the request, subject to the lot being served by an advanced on-site sewage facility and rainwater or surface water for drinking water purposes.

P&Z chair Mim James asked for clarification on how the applicant was able to purchase the lot without knowing at the time that it was not platted.

“The survey that I have from [the title company], it says plat and number. Now, I didn’t look for that because I didn’t even know that was a thing when I purchased it, but when they told me it wasn’t platted, I said, ‘What do you mean? It says plat number on this,’” Lee responded. “So, had I known what a plat was, I would have thought it had a plat because it had a plat number.”

James later asked if the well would be used at all, to which the applicant said: “When I read this and it says rainwater or surface water for drinking, I don’t know, maybe they can do it, so the well goes to the toilets and the showers and the rainwater and surface water goes to the sinks. I mean, I'd be happy to do that. I’d like to use the well to save me money.”

However, Varvarigos said this could change her analysis, as the lot size requirements for the combination of the surface water or rainwater and private septic is smaller at 1.5 acres, as compared to the 2 acres for private well and private septic.

“We are trying to, I guess, be prudent in terms of promoting that public health and safety and meeting somewhere in the middle when it comes to what our middle lot size requirements are for the combination of rainwater and private septic, which is what is indicated on the plat, I should point out, and also what was approved by the Hays County Development Services,” Varvarigos said. “They approved on the condition that it is served by rainwater and advanced on-site septic.”

Following more discussion, the P&Z Commission unanimously approved the variance request, subject to the lot being served by an advanced on-site sewage facility, rainwater or surface water for drinking water purposes and the existing well for nonpotable water uses.

Because this was not a zoning variance, the commission had final authority, so the request will not be brought to city council for a vote.

The full meeting can be viewed on the city of Dripping Springs’ YouTube page at www.youtube.com/@cityofdrippingsprings9597. The P&Z Commission meets next at 6 p.m. Tuesday, March 28.

The training, held March 27, centered on increasing understanding of autism spectrum conditions throughout the criminal justice system, stated a Hays County news release. Attendees included representatives from the Hays County Criminal District Attorney’s Office, Hays County Sheriff’s Office, Buda Police Department, Kyle Police Department and Hays County Juvenile Probation Department.

Anne Jackson, Bell County assistant county attorney, led the training and spoke about how raising a child on the autism spectrum raised her awareness of neurodiversity issues relevant to her work as a prosecutor. Her experiences allowed her to make more informed decisions in cases where victims, witnesses and defendants on the autism spectrum were frequently misunderstood by first responders, lawyers, probation officers and the courts.

“It is incumbent upon lawyers in the system, whether we be defense, prosecutors or judges, to know what to do when we hear or read the word ‘autism’ in our work. We are the gatekeepers — the people with the power to affect people’s liberty and lives,” said Jackson.

Participants also heard from Jackson’s son, Tres, who talked openly about his life on the autism spectrum and coordinated directly with participants on strategies for engaging with those on the autism spectrum at various criminal justice touchpoints.

“Autism doesn’t care about your skin color, religion or sexuality. We try to be like everyone else, but there are going to be days when we struggle,” Tres said. “When we call for help, I want us to be seen as someone in need ... and not any of these other things.”

“We are proud to be the first prosecutor’s office in the state to host this training for our criminal justice partners,” stated Landon Campbell, division chief in the Hays County Criminal District Attorney’s Office. “We hope to use this training as a springboard to increase awareness of mental health and intellectual disability issues in our local criminal justice system and beyond.”

The committee consists of residents chosen by council members — Howard Connell, Melissa Spence, Julianne Orgish, Carly Barton, Jake Webb, Diane Hervol and Michael McDonald — with the goal of determining council compensation, such as monthly stipends, prior to Tuesday, June 16.

The meeting first began by appointing a chair and vice chair, to which Hervol and Webb were chosen 6-0.

Next, two additional meetings were scheduled at 6 p.m. Friday, April 17, and Monday, May 11. Because the time is earlier than a typical meeting, there will be an additional public comment period toward the end to allow residents time to attend, if they cannot make the initial start time.

Assistant director of Finance Joshua Chronley then hosted a presentation to share why the committee exists, what the ultimate goal is and how the approach will be conducted.

“This process is not something that happens frequently. In fact, it’s intentionally structured to occur only once every three years, which reinforces the importance of getting this right. The decisions and recommendations that come out of this committee will directly impact how future city council members are compensated and ultimately, how accessible public services are to members of our community,” said Chronley.

He stated that council tasked the committee with identifying whether changes to the current compensation are recommended. This does not mean they make changes directly, Chronley explained, but evaluate information and deliberate to bring a recommendation to council.

“Everything we do as a committee is governed by the city charter, specifically section 3.09. This section establishes both the authority and the limitations of this process. A few key points to highlight are first, no change to council compensation can occur without a recommendation from this committee,” said Chronley. “Second, compensation can only be reviewed once every three years. This creates a built-in expectation that any recommendation should be forward looking and durable, not just reactive to current conditions. Third, any changes must be adopted by ordinance and require two public hearings ... If that change is approved, it is incorporated into the subsequent fiscal year’s budget and takes effect at the start of the next fiscal year. Importantly, the city council cannot later amend the budget to adjust their own salaries.”

The last part of the presentation shared the roadmap for future discussion was divided into four steps:

• Charter and legal framework

• Review governing requirements, limitations, process and compliance

• Establish compensation guidelines

• Compensation and budget structure

• Review compensation mechanisms, policies and ordinances

• Review existing salary levels, compensation structure and line budgets

• Analyze and discuss comparable city compensation

• Evaluate current compensation, responsibilities, workloads and expectations

• Expense, reimbursement and allowable cost review

• Review current reimbursement policy and allowable expenses

• Discussion of stipend, travel, per diem, expense breakdown and structure

• Review and discussion of line item budgets and controls

• Recommendation development and final report

• Formulate committee recommendation to be presented to city council

• Review of timing and implementation requirements

“Regarding expenses, reimbursements and allowable cost, my understanding that I have lived by that the Compensation Committee deals with the salary. No ups, no downs and no sideways. So, when I see this expense reimbursement here … I take exception to the fact that expense reimbursement and allowable cost are commingled in with the salary,” said Connell. “Our charter’s a structure; it’s a framework and I think we all understand that the language and the words have meanings, it has specific meanings and this, to me, infringes on that.

City Attorney Aimee Alcorn-Reed stated that council requested citizen feedback regarding the reimbursement, so in addition to the task to recommend for the salary, the committee is also commenting on the reimbursement. Furthermore, residents can use public comment at these meetings to state their opinion on the topic.

In response to Hervol’s question what a stipend is being deemed as, Chronley stated that it is a prepayment for expenses, such as printing or materials.

He also clarified that council is asking the committee to look at everything — salary, stipend and reimbursement — but that the salary is the primary task, while answering how council should be addressing other spending items, including travel office related expenses.

Orgish expressed that the committee should define what the current $500 stipend is for, to which Hervol and Webb agreed.

Chronley had stated that peer cities will also be discussed during the meetings. McDonald emphasized that he wouldn’t want to include cities that are double or triple their size, such as Austin or San Antonio.

Travel, which is under the scope of the committee, according to Chronley, became the topic of discussion, with McDonald stating that there could be a limited amount and when the threshold is met, the opportunity to partake would end.

“We can adjust that how we see fit, but do remember that some council members may go to different conferences for different reasons,” said Hervol.

Connell stated that two concerns he has in relation to travel is that previous council members failed to approve a dollar amount and that the trips are allegedly for the residents and city, but that there were never reports shared of what occurred.

Additionally, he noted that council hasn’t received an increase in four years and that “we can all agree everything in our life has gone up at least 30%, so I think that’s where I’m going to start.”

To listen to the discussion, visit bit.ly/3NseQ4k.

The Buda Bond Oversight Committee (BBOC) was created in 2021 to review relevant documents including master plans, community surveys and capital improvement projects, following the passage of Proposition A, which focused on transportation, and Proposition B, pertaining to parks and recreation, that same year. Its goal is to ensure the implementation of bond items is time-sensitive, fair, transparent and high-quality.

It currently consists of 17 appointees, including one representative from the Buda Economic Development Corporation (EDC). With the adopted resolution in place, the existing BBOC will be dissolved once the 2021 general obligation bond cycle is complete. The current members will be eligible for reappointment onto the new committee, said assistant city manager Wendy Smith, who gave a presentation on the subject. There is no limit on the number of three-year terms a member can serve, according to its charter.

The committee work plan, according to agenda documents, recommended bringing in four representatives from the following development areas: Garlic Creek, Bonita Vista, Stonewood Commons and Stone Ridge. In addition to the four recommended seats, seven more can be added to the committee.

The committee is advisory in nature, meaning it does not pass binding resolutions. Rather, it recommends action to city council pertaining to bond items. The new bond committee will function much in the same way. Additionally, they will have an active role in recommending actions to be included in the 2027 election, whereas the BBOC oversaw only the implementation of projects and a separate Bond Advisory Committee recommended projects to council.

Smith highlighted the value of public input when reviewing potential projects. The committee meetings will be conducted with transparency and open for public comment. The city may also hold workshops or solicit input through surveys during the recommendation process. Any relevant meeting information and materials will be posted to www.BudaBonds.com.

Council member LaVonia Horne-Williams further emphasized the importance of allowing public participation.

“Let’s make sure we gear [the committee], so that people know if they want to participate, we are not going to keep them from showing up to a meeting,” she said.

Buda’s bonding capacity for 2027 is contingent upon the rate at which the city increases taxes. City manager Micah Grau explained that the city currently does not have “any capacity to issue any more debt and hold our tax rate steady.”

The city’s tax rate is already expected to increase from $0.2594 to $0.3225, pending the closure of Certificates of Obligation (COs) to fund public projects and issuance of the remaining 2021 general obligation bond funds.

Smith presented the council with a model proposing various tax rate increases to give the city bonding capacity in 2027. On the low end, a $0.02 rate increase would allow for a $14.765 million bond election. On the high end, a $0.04 increase allows the city to issue $29.525 million in debt.

“This is all subject to a conservative growth outlook,” Grau noted. If the city grows more rapidly than anticipated, the bonding capacity will rise.

At the meeting, city council approved a motion to hold the next bond election on Nov. 2, 2027, as opposed to holding off and having the election in 2028. That motion passed 6-1. Horne-Williams dissented, but did not state why.

The ability to issue debt played heavily into that decision, something Mayor Lee Urbanovsky said council was very likely to lose in 2027. He discussed how the state attempted to pass a bill during the 2025 legislative session rescinding municipal authority to issue debt and could succeed in doing so during their 2027 session.

“[Next year is] right around the corner. We have a lot of things that might be ready to go. Let’s just get them over the finish line,” stated council member Greg Bowles, echoing Urbanovsky’s concerns surrounding the state legislature.

Holding the election in 2027 means the preliminary engineering phase of the cycle will have a shorter scope. The council can pause committee activity or repeal the resolution, if they decide not to follow the timeline.

Per the timeline for the 2027 election presented by Smith, city council will appoint new members to the bond committee in December of this year. A chair and vice-chair of the committee will also be established at that time. The existing and new members will have their first official meeting Jan. 18, 2027.

The committee is expected to wrap up and adopt recommendations the week of April 5, 2027, which they will bring to the council for final approval.

Come election day in November 2027, Buda residents will be able to approve or dissent to the total cost of the bond package. Information on the specific items approved by the council will be provided to residents starting in August 2027.

Buda City Council will meet next Tuesday, April 7.

“Tonight’s discussion is about providing long-term stability for an organization that has quietly and consistently shown up for our community,” began Mayor Yvonne Flores-Cale, who cosponsored the item with council members Courtney Goza and Melisa Medina. “What we’re asking for is to direct staff to evaluate options for the potential conveyance or sale of the property the VFW currently occupies, with appropriate safeguards in place, such as deed restrictions, revisions, revisionary clauses or buyback option, to ensure the property always remains dedicated for a public purpose.”

She continued by noting that the VFW “is not just a meeting hall,” as it operates as a community clothes closet, financial assistance, a food pantry and more. Additionally, the VFW provides support for other community members, including hosting Narcotics Anonymous meetings and blood drives, partnering with Red Cross to create the disaster team vehicle and providing scholarships for the local Boy Scouts, said Flores-Cale.

Medina echoed this sentiment, stating that the VFW is a reliable presence and benefits its residents in ways that the city may not have the opportunity to.

To accompany their reliability, they need stability, said Goza, noting that the VFW has already been displaced once. This means that the VFW is operating under uncertainty, affecting funding that they can apply for and limiting their investment into the facility.

Legally, Flores-Cale shared that chapters 253 and 272 of the Local Texas Government Code allow municipalities to convey property to nonprofits under certain conditions.

“I also want to address a concern I know that will come up: What about other nonprofits? That is a fair question, but not every situation is the same. This is a long-standing organization already operating on city property, already providing measurable public benefit and already functioning as a partner in areas, like emergency response,” said the mayor. “This is not opening a door without standards; it is recognizing a partner that has already proven its value.”

Council member Michael Tobias began the discussion by asking whether the VFW has collected any funding for the building, similar to what the Kyle Area Senior Zone did in the past.

“I understand the noble deed of what we’re trying to do here. I’m not debating that, but there’s going to be questions from our taxpayers that are going to be wondering,” explained Tobias. “I [have] the right to ask [whether] during that time of being here 20 years, was there ever, in their many, many meetings that they’ve had through the years, was anything every brought up to say, ’Hey, let’s start looking at maybe having our own building funding or purchasing a building here in Kyle?’ It’s just a question.”

VFW Quartermaster Steve Cook clarified that the nonprofit has received no funds from the city and all of its operations have been conducted through donations, which is what is used to fund the services for veterans, even most recently paying water bills for them. So, there has not been funding to put aside to repair the building. He also said that the VFW is “constantly told that we don’t own the property,” when they try to apply for grants.

What about partnerships with other municipalities, prompted Tobias, to which Cook responded that it had been brought up, but didn’t elaborate.

“The city grants you this free property … You’re going to need upgrades. You’re going to need improvements. You’re going to want to build out. So, what will be the plan then? Would you be coming back to the city, as well, or the county? Or would this be a self-funded kind of facility,” asked Tobias.

If the VFW owned the land, there would be more opportunities for revenue, said Cook. He also shared that the nonprofit hopes to add a cooling and warming center for the residents of Kyle, as well as build a space that could be rented out for birthday parties or other events.

After commenting that the building is inadequate for the VFW, council member Lauralee Harris stated that “to the best of my knowledge, city of Kyle has never deeded city property over to a nonprofit. This would set a precedent.”

Cook clarified that the building is fine for the nonprofit, as they have already worked to renovate the floor and they have plans for the property in the back, as previously mentioned.

Council member Claudia Zapata asked for the last three fiscal years of the nonprofit's finances and whether the property was exempt from taxes. This will depend on the tax exemptions that the VFW applies for, said city attorney Aimee Alcorn-Reed, who requested to see the information on the organization to ensure that they qualify for the aforementioned Texas law that would allow the city to convey the property.

“We have the backing [of the community, so] I’m not really concerned. I’ve seen the financials. We have close to $40,000 right now. That would start us on,” said Cook, adding that the Red Cross is ready to help the VFW.

“Formulate a plan, so that way the city can be able to have that and I think if you have it long term and you can see it, the people that want to support you in the long run can see what your overall mission and goals are. It’s going to benefit you in the future,” said Tobias.

Near the end of the conversation, Flores-Cale asked what the services the VFW provides are worth to council: “We’ve seen them. We know their background and we know what they’ve done. So, the idea that we have to conform to every nonprofit, I think is unfair because it should always be a case-by-case basis.”

The mayor then motioned to approve the item, adding that the VFW present its financial information and audits and for staff to bring back information on the laws regarding nonprofit land transfer. The item was seconded by Medina and passed 6-0. Council member Marc McKinney was not in attendance.

The family-fun event also featured bounce houses, food, vendors and more for attendees.

This comes on the heels of multiple proposals for data centers in Hays County — in the San Marcos city limits, extraterritorial jurisdiction and in unincorporated areas. Due to this, there has been massive community confusion and frustration about the proposals, along with what tools are available for city and county officials, Zwiener explained.

“My goal with creating this working group is to bring the players, people who have either some sort of legal authority over these issues or a stake in these issues, together to talk about the problem and brainstorm solutions, so that the community here in Hays County actually has a voice in the outcome,” the state representative said.

One of the challenges that Zwiener has noticed with the discussion surrounding data center issues is having the various entities not fully understanding the legal obligations or challenges faced by other entities, such as what water supply companies and special utility districts are requiring and what the county is allowed to do.

“Texas has a fairly complex network of local government entities and I think city and county almost everyone's familiar with, but for at least one of these data centers, the identified water provider is a special utility district, which has a completely different set of rules and legal authority than a city or a county. And most Texans, I would venture to say, don't even know they're a governmental entity,” she said.

This heightens the importance of these partnerships and having the conversation with all of the different entities at the table.

Two of these partnerships include those with Hays County commissioners Debbie Ingalsbe and Morgan Hammer, who have been at the forefront of helping establish this group.

For Ingalsbe, it was an easy “yes” to be a part of this group because every data center, to her knowledge, that has been proposed in Hays County is in Precinct 1, which she oversees, and she felt a responsibility to step up.

She emphasized that the concerns should not be solely focused on data centers, however — even though that has been a vocal issue recently — as they are about all of the development that is occurring in Hays County and surrounding areas.

“Hays County is currently going through a revision and update of our subdivision rules and regulations. And so, I think, some of the things that are of interest [include that] we want to strengthen our water availability requirements. I'm not exactly sure what that's going to look like. I'm not sure what authority we have, but anything that we can do to strengthen our water availability requirements, I think it's going to be extremely important. We're also encouraging and wanting to incentivize rainwater harvesting and we're encouraging conservation development where cluster development is happening and they leave open space,” Ingalsbe shared. “I think it's important for people to know that as a county, we are trying to do whatever we can to help the water situation.”

The group is also important for Hammer’s jurisdiction in Precinct 3 on the western side of Hays County, especially when it comes to water and development.

“We rely on the Trinity [Aquifer] for all of our water needs from Wimberley to Woodcreek to Driftwood and the Trinity is in dire straits currently. It's an aquifer that's not like any others, with very little authority from their groundwater conservation district,” Hammer said. “So, although the data centers are not pulling water from the Trinity, it's nice to have these conversations about how to create sustainable development within our water space and exploring areas where we can have some type of say from a county level, because there's not a lot of say from a county level on where these developments potentially could go, what water they could be using [and] how to hold them accountable for just overall environmental impacts. There's just a lot of development side of things that we need to explore as a county and the area that these data centers are currently proposed are in San Marcos, and I represent half of San Marcos.”

Along with Zwiener and the commissioners, the initial invitees for the working group are:

- Amanda Rodriguez, Place 6 San Marcos City Council member

- Zane Porterfield Liston, Wimberly Watershed Association

- Vanessa Puig-Williams, Barton Springs-Edwards Aquifer Conservation District

- Virginia Parker, San Marcos River Foundation

- Andrew Weber, Trinity Edwards Springs Protection Association

- Garrett Allen, Wimberley Water Supply

- Cy Weaver, community member

- Lon Shell, community member

- Adam Haynes, Texas Conference of Urban Counties

- Marisa Bruno, Hill Country Alliance

- Dr. Robert Mace, executive director, The Meadows Center

- Deborah Trejo, Kemp Smith Law

“I am so grateful for all the folks who are willing to lend their time, their energy and their expertise to this group. The base laws in Texas make addressing big industrial facilities and development in general in Texas very difficult for cities and counties now. It’s a conversation that's been necessary across the board,” Zwiener said. “It just doesn't just come up with data centers; it comes up with other types of industrial development and it comes up with residential development. I'm really grateful that Hays County has people who are ready to dig in and lead on coming up with our solutions.”

“I’m just looking forward to getting with the individuals in this group that has now been created … [to] just come up with real solutions to try to address not just our water issues, but other issues that we may be seeing as development continues to occur,” Ingalsbe shared. “I’m just really excited to be given this opportunity.”

“We have some really impactful people within that group … We see water in the same lens of ‘This needs to be sustainable. This needs to be able to be here for our kids’ kids to come.’ It's not really an issue that has to be one side over the other and I can't wait to explore some of these options and to see where this could lead us,” Hammer emphasized.

The goal of the group is to identify the tools that local entities already have that can be used to address community concerns around data centers, along with what is needed to take to the legislature and request changes, Zwiener said.

Both Ingalsbe and Hammer echoed that they would like to see changes in the authority that is given locally to help control efforts in development and protecting water resources.

“I've been a part of our state and regional associations, county judges and commissioners associations. I've been the president of both our region and our state association, and we've been working for many years with the legislature to ask for more control for both cities and counties and, unfortunately, we just have not had the support at the capitol for that,” Ingalsbe explained. “I think the representative is absolutely going to play a key role in helping us craft legislation that we can present at the capitol to ensure that counties and cities get the authority to help protect not only our water resources, but other issues that we are facing.”

“Do I think it's feasible for us to ask the legislature to just be able to say no to development? No, but I would like some type of say from a county level on where to place these potential developments. How do you work with them and to be able to hold them accountable, rather than just kind of saying, ‘Oh, our hands are tied. There's nothing we can do,’ And that’s kind of where we are at right now.” Hammer said.

Hammer added that she would like to start exploring options and authority that the county already has and how to creatively work with that, but the big thing she wants from the group would be a policy decision that the legislature could view.

“Water is for everybody. The legislature is focusing on water this next legislative session, so I'd like to see a good chunk of either one or two policies being passed that gets us where we need to go from a county perspective because our constituents are relying on us to take care of our county and, right now, we just don't have the tools or resources to be able to do that,” she said.

The issue is not limited to Hays County, Zwiener said, so she is hoping that the group can come up with some tools to share with other communities around the state.

The group is still figuring out schedules, but Zwiener anticipates that they will meet between four and six times, with a goal of those meetings happening this year in order to make recommendations in time for the next legislative session that starts in January.