Just after 5:00 a.m, Sunday, May 17, officers with the Buda Police Department Patrol Division were dispatched to a business on Main Street for a burglary alarm with a glass break sensor as the point of activation, said a news release. When officers arrived, they observed several bullet casings and damage to the business’ glass windows and interior and exterior walls. BPD detectives used physical evidence, as well as Flock Safety camera data, to tie the Austin and Buda shooting incidents together. The business was not occupied at the time and there are no reports of injuries.

At this time, the offense being investigated is deadly conduct, a third-degree felony punishable by two to 10 years in prison and fines up to $10,000. Other charges may be added in the future.

Anyone with new information regarding this incident is encouraged to contact detective Raul Valdez at rvaldez@budatx.gov or send an anonymous tip through the Hays County Crime Stoppers by calling 1-800-324-TIPS(8477).

This information is preliminary and subject to change as the investigation is ongoing.

The Greater Buda Chamber of Commerce hosted a ribbon cutting ceremony to celebrate the grand opening of Buda’s newest restaurant, Astra, Monday, May 18. Owned by Mattison Bills, the restaurant and bar soft launched in February, but is now open seven days a week. The business is located at 404 N. Main Street and features an all-day menu of locally sourced, 100% scratch-made cuisine.

Officers with the BPD Patrol Division were dispatched to the 219-mile marker of southbound IH-35 just before 11:30 p.m. May 13. An initial investigation indicated an unknown accident occurred with the motorcycle, causing the driver to be on the roadway, at which point he was struck by at least two vehicles.

Upon their arrival at the scene, officers observed the motorcycle driver to have severe injuries. Bryant arrived on scene and pronounced the driver deceased.

The driver has been identified as 23-year-old William Robert Lujan, of Kyle, and next of kin has been notified.

Those with information regarding this incident are encouraged to contact Detective Martinez at 512-523-1048.

During the early morning of March 27, a young man and woman broke into the Rise-N-Stop gas station, located at 101 Jack C. Hays Trail in Buda. Several items were taken from behind the counter before the two left the location. The young man later returned to steal more items, according to a news release.

On April 17, a young man and woman broke into the Garlic Creek Country Market gas station, located at 970 RM 967 in Buda. A bag of chips was taken from inside the store before the two left the location. It is currently believed that this man and woman are the same individuals who burglarized the Rise-N-Stop gas station previously.

The same male, continued the release, broke into the Rise-N-Stop gas station, located at 101 Jack C. Hays Trail in Buda, again April 29. Some food and drink items were taken from the store before the male left the location.

In Texas, the offense of burglary of a building is a third-degree felony, which is punishable by two to ten years in prison and/or up to $10,000 in fines for each offense.

BPD is asking the public to view the video footage on its social media — Buda Police Department on Facebook and Buda Police Dept. on Instagram) and contact them with any helpful information as to the identity of the two individuals involved in these crimes. The individuals have been named “Jack and Jill” for case identification purposes.

Detective Valdez can be called at 737-233-6020 or tips can remain anonymous through the Hays County Crime Stoppers by calling 1-800-324-TIPS(8477).

This is preliminary information and subject to change.

With the recent adoption of the Our Buda Our Future Comprehensive Plan in 2024, which set broad policies and possibilities for growth, the city is looking to update its UDC — a set of laws, procedures, design standards and zoning ordinances that a city creates for builders to follow — with specific strategies. The city noted in a social media post that the UDC “guides how land is developed throughout the city and helps shape the community’s long-term growth.”

Kendig Keast Collaborative was awarded the contract at council’s Feb. 17 meeting earlier this year, followed by an ad hoc committee member appointment at the April 7 meeting.

The collaboration, according to the city, “will focus on aligning Buda’s development standards with the community’s expectations for future growth, while also creating a more business-friendly, predictable development process for property owners, residents and the development community.”

Alignment with these plans is the company’s primary goal, but Kendig Keast project manager Ashley Woolsey mentioned additional objectives, including modernization, efficiency, flexibility and sustainability.

After Woolsey explained the project goals, deputy project manager Steve Sizemore conducted a live, digital poll on the UDC with the meeting attendees to gauge desires for development, where the first few questions focused on housing.

“As the greater Austin area’s housing prices continue to increase, we want to see what is the best fit to address the needs of residents, such as families, teachers, public safety officials and young professionals,” Sizemore stated.

The deputy project manager then asked participants to rate a series of residences based on how appropriate they were for Buda. Votes were split between approval and disapproval for most housing types, including a side-by-side duplex, single family home, townhome and fourplex. Most voters found the example of an eclectic cottage appropriate for Buda, while residential apartments had the least approval.

The poll proceeded to assess commercial building types. Again, votes were divided for mixed-use mutli-story buildings, a shopping center and a drive-thru. Few found a mixed-use single story building — similar to those lining Main Street — inappropriate, whereas the depiction of a high-rise was found overwhelmingly inappropriate by many.

Participants were then asked to rate 10 development factors, such as environmental health and affordability, from -5 to 5, based on importance and urgency. Water supply and downtown protection rose to the top; supporting industrial growth and expansion found its way to the bottom of the scale.

Following Sizemore’s poll, council reflected on retaining Buda’s charm, what is working well and how the UDC could be improved.

Regarding Buda’s small-town feel, Mayor Lee Urbanovsky noted walkability as an important factor and one that scored high on the scale. He added that “location matters significantly” when building anything in the city and felt Buda had done a good job zoning development cohesively.

Continuing this notion, council member Evan Ture mentioned that preserving water and the downtown area would “score high on any survey,” measuring importance among residents.

Along with Ture, council member Monica Davidson emphasized predictability when shaping a code to make it easier to follow: “As we revise the historic preservation guidelines and streamline that and that coincides with the UDC … there's a lot of back and forth.”

Concerned that the law would change during the UDC update process, Urbanovsky brought up oversight from the state legislature. He expressed, “Every time they meet in Austin, they seem to take more of our decisions away from us… there’s a lot of ordinances that we have that supersede what the state allows.”

The mayor noted that, in the past, the legislature has tried to prevent cities from enforcing rules that are stricter than state law. Woolsey confirmed that a legal team would be reviewing the documents to ensure legality.

Urbanovsky also mentioned the issue of affordability on the national level, which impacts how Buda shapes its development.

“The easy, quick answer a lot of people want to go to is density. I want to caution the group: density is not always the answer. Creativity is the answer,” he said.

According to the presentation, the ad hoc committee — composed of Buda citizens — will meet as needed to discuss UDC drafts and give direction to Kendig Keast. Public hearings will also be held for the community to provide input.

As the UDC project unfolds over the next 18 months, Kendig Keast will review committee feedback and make changes as necessary to create a Public Review Draft. Then, the Planning and Zoning Committee will evaluate the draft. Ultimately, city council will vote on the final product.

The management team from Kendig Keast wound down their presentation and thanked the city for its collaboration. No vote was taken as the session was designed for input, not action.

Buda City Council will meet next Tuesday, May 19.

Hays County Emergency Services districts No. 2 and No. 8 were named the Community Partnership of the Year. "Without their collaboration, [the H-E-B] project simply would not have come to fruition," said Monica Davidson, executive director of the chamber of commerce. 

After the punishment phase of trial, the jury returned a verdict of two life sentences in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice for the two continuous sexual abuse counts and the maximum punishment available for indecency with a child by sexual contact — 20 years imprisonment. There is no possibility of parole for the convictions of continuous sexual abuse of a child. District Judge Joe Pool ordered that the two life sentences run consecutively, stating, “We don’t accept this in Hays County.” 

The investigation of Shope began in August of 2023 when two children outcried that Shope had sexually abused them from their kindergarten to their pre-teen years. They further testified to his efforts to keep them silent. After the trial, the jury expressed their unanimous belief in the girls and sympathy for their well-being during their testimony, stated a news release. 

This case was investigated by the Hays County Sheriff’s Office, with lead detective Corporal Chase Crow and was prosecuted by Assistant Criminal District Attorneys Cassidy Story and Abigail Whitaker, assisted by Annalise Baker, Zoie Sanders, Kendall Evans and Sergeant Investigator David Cabrera. 

“Our duty is to seek justice and this jury and judge delivered exactly that,” Story said. “I am so proud of our team’s continued vigilance in protecting the children of this county and of the children who bravely faced the perpetrator in court. Although no verdict will ever heal the lifelong trauma this man has caused, I sincerely hope that both children gain strength and confidence from the jury’s very clear words” ‘We believe you.’”

The resource fair will feature a variety of local organizations with information tables set up in the lobby, giving attendees the opportunity to connect directly with service providers, ask questions and explore available programs and support services. Members of the city’s Commission on Aging will also be in attendance and available to speak with community members about aging-related needs and priorities.

In addition to the information tables, attendees will have the opportunity to attend two rounds of educational sessions held from 11 a.m. to noon and noon to 1 p.m. Participants may choose from three rotating topics:

• Artificial intelligence (AI) and aging: An introduction to how AI is impacting healthcare, daily living tools and support systems for older adults.

• Hays Central Appraisal District (CAD) property taxes: An overview of property tax processes, exemptions and resources available to property owners.

• Streaming 101: A beginner-friendly guide to streaming services, including how to set up and use popular entertainment platforms.

“These sessions are designed to be practical, accessible and directly responsive to the questions we hear from our older adult community,” said Commission on Aging liaison and Human Resources director Matthew Wright. “Whether someone is looking to better understand technology, navigate property taxes or simply connect with local resources, there will be something valuable for everyone.”

The Older Adults Resource Fair reflects the city’s ongoing commitment to enhancing quality of life for residents of all ages by connecting them with tools, services and education that support independence and well-being, stated a news release. The event is free and open to the public. No registration is required.

For more information, visit www.budatx.gov or contact Wright at mwright@budatx.gov.

The camp — Hays Robotics Camp — was created by Chris Glynn, who has been teaching engineering and robotics at Barton Middle School for 11 years, and Grant Dohmen, a 13-year-old student with a passion for business and creating, along with five years of engineering experience. They both knew that they wanted to share their love for the field and teach these skills in an engaging environment.

“[Dohmen’s] on the robotics team that we have here on campus and so, we have an after school program. We started talking about it and Grant brought the idea to me: ‘Hey, I would like to offer a camp for young kids. We can get them interested in robotics,’” Glynn said, adding that it’s a partnership between the two, as Dohmen has worked to do all of the marketing, developed the curriculum, brought in the equipment and more.

Campers can expect to build base frame, 10-inch by 12-inch robots, adding sensors, structures and motors to go through a series of tasks. There will be a building component, but Glynn shared that they will also introduce the students into the “coding world,” where they can create the instruction for the robot to complete the tasks.

The leaders are looking forward to being able to offer the camp that will benefit the students who may not be interested in participating in other extracurricular activities, like sports, as well as showing them that there are alternative future career options.

“I want kids to realize these are jobs that can actually benefit them in the future with the skills that we're giving these kids. As the world becomes more automized, the robotics thing is spreading out more and more. I just want to get kids interested and I want to get them motivated into these jobs that are going to be available to them when they get older,” Glynn said. “I hope we're hitting the mark for some of these kids because not everybody can be a football player or basketball. It's something that we're offering and hopefully they can engage in over the summer. We can teach them a little bit of logic, they might get involved with some coding down the road and just kind of show them what's out there.”

“We'd love for them to fall in love with robotics, but really, we just want to introduce this to as many people as possible, so people interested can learn about this not necessarily new, innovative field,” Dohmen said.

Beyond the teaching component, having an entrepreneurial spirit at a young age, Dohmen shared that he is also excited to be learning to operate “something more than a lemonade stand” that he can put on his college applications and prepare him for the future.

“I wanted to sort of put my skills to the test and help the community. I'm just excited to be doing this because I want to get better at all the marketing skills and all that type of stuff,” the student said.

There are three sessions available for the summer camp, with all being for a half-day. For the first week, June 1-5, there will be morning and afternoon groups available from 8:30-11:30 a.m. and 12:30-3:30 p.m. However, currently, for the second week, from June 29-July 3, there will only be morning sessions, with the possibility of adding an afternoon group if there are increased enrollment numbers.

Nineteen students have fully registered, as of Monday, May 4, with a total of 42 students that can be accommodated — any incoming fifth and sixth grade student within Hays CISD is welcome to register.

The cost for the camp is $150 per session, with proceeds going to funding the robotics program and clubs at Barton Middle School.

For more information about the camp, visit www.sites.google.com/view/kyleroboticscamp/home.

The public was invited to participate in the event from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in front of the department, located at 405 E. Loop St. Suite 200, Buda. Those who were unable to make the event can still use the dropoff box in the lobby, which is available during normal business hours.

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.

Following an investigation, the department arrested math teacher Juan Gomez, 40, of Buda, and charged him with improper relationship between an educator and student. Additionally, Hays CISD immediately removed Gomez from the campus, placed him on administrative leave, and barred him from returning to the school or communicating with students and coworkers.

“Protecting students is paramount. The district takes swift action anytime there is an accusation involving activity that would harm students,” said Hays CISD chief communication officer Tim Savoy. “Employees of the district are granted positions of tremendous trust and if they fail that, they will meet with a swift and substantial response. Inappropriate behavior with students is anathema to the thousands of district employees who work tirelessly to provide safe spaces for students to learn and grow.”

Gomez was hired by Hays CISD to work at LHS in July 2023. He will not return to the campus while the criminal investigation and any subsequent court processes are underway, the district stated in a news release.

According to the district, all Hays CISD employees undergo fingerprint-based criminal background checks before they can be hired, as required by state law. Term-contracted teachers, such as Gomez, cannot be immediately terminated because they have employment-based due process rights that must be followed, the district continued. 

However, the district stated that it will take whatever steps are necessary to protect the students in its charge.

KPD is also working closely with school officials to ensure student safety remains the top priority. No additional information is being released at this time due to the ongoing investigation. 

The Hays Free Press will update this story as more information is made available.
 

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

This spring, three board positions are up for election: Single-Member District 1, Single-Member District 2 and Trustee At-Large.

Raul Vela Jr., the current representative for District 1, is running for reelection unopposed and was not present.

Jose Luis Perez and Katy Armstrong are both up for the District 2 position, presently held by Johnny Flores, who is running for the Hays County Precinct 2 commissioner seat, rather than reelection. Perez was not in attendance on Tuesday, though Armstrong was. Ashlee Thurston and Alex Zavala, both of whom participated in the panel, are running for the at-large position currently held by Vanessa Petrea.

Former Hays CISD school board president Meredith Keller, who moderated the panel, mentioned that the vacating trustees are “moving on for different pastures.”

Carla Perez, the vice president of the HEA and elections chair, opened the forum by welcoming those in attendance and emphasizing the importance of the school board as a voice for the community and reflection of local desires.

“I just want to thank everyone for showing up and coming and making sure that they wanted to be part of the solutions for Hays CISD,” stated Perez.

Following Perez’s opening statement, Keller opened the floor for candidates to introduce themselves.

Armstrong spoke first, describing her candidacy as a continuation of her longstanding involvement in the community. With a master’s degree in education and background in both special education and English as a second language, Armstrong highlighted her work as a guest teacher.

She also noted her service on the district’s Facilities and Bonds Oversight Committee, her role running an in-home preschool and her experience on the Kyle Housing Authority, noting that the rules and ethics of a dais are not foreign to her.

“This is my heart; this is my home [and] this is my community,” Armstrong said. “Serving on the school board seems like a natural place to continue to give.”

Zavala spoke next, emphasizing his deep roots in the district. He graduated from Hays High School in 1992 and participated in the opening class of Dahlstrom Middle School. The at-large candidate cited years of involvement in Parent Teacher Associations, the School Health Advisory Committee and the district’s oversight committee as preparation for board service.

“I feel very rooted and committed to this district,” Zavala said, adding that he feels it's imperative to take on a bigger role in the district and that now is the time to do it.

Thurston described her experience as a substitute teacher and parent of two students in her opening statement. One of her children was in kindergarten when the COVID-19 pandemic broke out, which she said reshaped her understanding of student needs, as did teaching.

Now that her children are older, Thurston has more time to give to a trustee position: “I’ve been watching as things are changing and seeing so much more need to rethink the process,” she said.

After introductions, the candidates spent the majority of the forum answering questions posed by the HEA and then, audience members. Many centered around budget cuts and how the candidates would prioritize funding to ensure student success.

The first question posed to candidates assessed whether they would support going out for a future voter-approval tax rate election (VATRE) and what they would do to ensure its passage. The last tax election on the ballot failed, resulting in $12 million in budget cuts across the district.

On the VATRE, Zavala said he supports trying again, but with a stronger emphasis on public education and outreach.

“I don’t feel the public gets the information,” he said, describing previous advocacy efforts as having “fallen on deaf ears.”

Thurston urged caution, suggesting the district should first demonstrate responsible budgeting before asking voters for additional funding.

“There would have to be a decent amount of time before another tax increase,” she said, adding that the district must clearly distinguish between needs and wants.

Armstrong proposed a more incremental approach, suggesting a smaller tax increase could be more palatable to voters. “We went big and it didn’t work out,” she said and brought forth the idea of a $0.03 rate increase, which would bring in the $12 million that was cut.

When asked about improving academic performance, all three candidates pointed to the limitations of standardized testing as a sole measure of success. Armstrong highlighted the district’s progress to a “B” accountability rating, despite funding challenges, while Thurston emphasized comprehension over memorization and the importance of data-driven improvement. Zavala called for building on existing strategies already in place.

All candidates expressed support for expanding Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs, describing them as a key pathway for students. Zavala pointed to his own children’s participation in cosmetology and nursing programs as examples of their value.

The scale of budget cuts drew concern across the panel, especially those impacting teachers. Zavala encouraged voter participation to influence future funding decisions, honing in on his previous remarks about the importance of community involvement in the district.

Thurston said she was “not thrilled” with the scale of reductions or the volume of educators who were laid off: “What bothers me the most is how many teachers they’re going to be cutting. They’re the crux of the school district,” she stated.

Pointing to the lapse in financial support from the state, Armstrong advocated for restoring stipends for those with master’s degrees or advanced certifications, if more funding became available.

“We have a $32 billion surplus on the state level and if some of that could come our way that would be great,” she said.

While cognizant of budget constraints, the candidates expressed optimism toward the future of Hays CISD. Armstrong noted that the current trustees are “doing the best they can with the resources that they have.”

As the forum wound down, all candidates reiterated the importance of student success and measures that support teachers while addressing classroom needs. In closing, they tied in the ways in which their personal lives led them to run for these positions.

“Really, I'm just a concerned parent in this county and I want to focus on building a strong school district,” Thurston stated.

“Two years ago, I ran for the at-large position and I’m so grateful that I lost because I wasn’t ready,” closed Armstrong, adding that she is ready now to bring her experience as an educator and community member to the board.

“Some folks are going to come in and come out. I’m not going anywhere … Everything I do has to be calculated and I have to have a passion for it. This is something I have a passion for,” closed Zavala.

The 2026 election for all three trustee positions will take place Saturday, May 2. More information about the candidates can be found at www.hayscisd.net/o/hcisd/page/election2026.

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.

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.

BUDA — An investigation conducted by the United States Department of Labor found that Nate’s Coffee & Cocktails in Buda operated an illegal tip pool, resulting in the recovery of $85,197 in back wages for 36 employees.

The investigation, conducted in January 2025 for a period between Feb. 16, 2023, to Feb. 15, 2025, by the department’s Wage and Hour Division, determined that the business violated the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) by allowing its general manager to participate in the employee tip pool, according to the U.S. Department of Labor. In doing so, this invalidated the employer’s use of the tip credit and required the employer to pay full minimum wage to affected workers, which the company failed to pay.

A tipped employee is one that is engaged in an occupation in which they customarily and regularly receive more than $30 per month in tips, as stated under the FLSA.

According to a U.S. Department of Labor news release, the act “permits an employer to take a tip credit toward its minimum wage obligations for tipped employees if employees receive enough tips from customers and direct wages per workweek to equal at least the minimum wage compensation required under federal law.” It also allows employers to require employees to share or “pool” tips with other eligible employees.

However, employers, including managers and supervisors, may not keep any portion of employees’ tips for any purpose.

“By law, managers and supervisors are not allowed to retain employees’ tips or participate in a tip pool. Service workers are entitled to all the tips they earn from customers and managers are not permitted to take away those rewards given for employees’ hard work,” stated Wage and Hour Division District Director Charles Frasier in Houston. “Employers are encouraged to contact us for any questions about their obligations under the law. We are here to provide assistance.”

Additional findings in the investigation also include minimum wage, tip retention, record keeping and poster violations, the department shared with the Hays Free Press.

“A former manager received tip pool tips while bartending. Unbeknownst to ownership he should not have pooled in with the other bartenders — at all times Nate’s management and ownership believed we were actually looking out for our employees best interest — that is the point of a pool system in general,” the owners of Nate’s stated in a comment to the Hays Free Press. “Since then, the issue and policies have been rectified.”

According to the U.S. Department of Labor, some back wages were paid directly to employees by the employer, while some were paid to the department to pay the employees. The department is currently in the process of paying some employees.

While there was no other fine or punishment for the business, aside from paying the affected employees what they are owed, the department stated that the employer could be subject to a reinvestigation and possibly assessed civil money penalties if repeated or willful violations are found.

Workers and employers can call the Wage and Hour Division with questions and requests for compliance assistance at 866-4US-WAGE (487-9243).

Employers are encouraged to use the agency’s industry-specific compliance assistance toolkits to learn about their responsibilities under the laws enforced by the division. The agency’s PAID program offers employers an opportunity to self-report and resolve potential minimum wage and overtime violations under the FLSA, as well as certain potential violations under the Family and Medical Leave Act.

More information can be found at www.dol.gov/agencies/whd.

The candidates were selected from nearly 3.6 million students expected to graduate from high school in the year 2026. Inclusion in the U.S. Presidential Scholars Program is one of the highest honors bestowed upon graduating high school seniors, stated a news release. Scholars are selected based on superior academic and artistic achievements, leadership qualities, strong character and involvement in community and school activities.

Further consideration will be based on the students' essays, self-assessments, description of activities, school recommendations and transcripts.

The U.S. Presidential Scholars Program was established in 1964 by Executive Order of the President to recognize some of the nation’s most distinguished graduating seniors for their accomplishments in many areas: academic success, leadership and service to school and community. It was then expanded in 1979 to recognize students demonstrating exceptional scholarship and talent in the visual, creative and performing arts. In 2015, the program was expanded once again to recognize students who demonstrate ability and accomplishment in career and technical fields.

Annually, up to 161 U.S. Presidential Scholars are chosen from among that year’s senior class, representing excellence in education and the promise of greatness in America’s youth, the release continued.

A distinguished panel of educators will review these submissions and select approximately 600 semifinalists in the spring. The Commission on Presidential Scholars, a group of eminent citizens appointed by the president, will select the finalists and the U.S. Department of Education will announce the scholars in the summer.

To commemorate their achievement, U.S. Presidential Scholars are awarded the Presidential Scholars Medallion.

For more information about the U.S. Presidential Scholars Program, parents and students can email the U.S. Presidential Scholars Office at PSP@scholarshipamerica.org or call 507.931.8345.

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.

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

Beginning Tuesday, March 24, 3,000 randomly selected households within the Buda city limits will receive a mailed survey invitation, followed by a paper copy of the actual survey with paid return postage. Households that receive an invitation and paper copy are asked to follow the enclosed instructions and complete and return the survey at their earliest convenience.

If a household does not receive an invitation or paper copy of the survey in the mail, there will be an open response period for online survey submissions from April 21 through May 19. This gives all residents and stakeholders the opportunity to share their input. Residents can visit http://polco.us/n/res/signup to sign up to be notified when the online survey opens to all residents.

Some survey questions seek feedback on services or programs that may be provided by regional partners or other organizations. While the city may not be able to directly apply every piece of feedback received, the survey is intended to provide a comprehensive understanding of residents’ overall quality of life in Buda and help identify future partnership and programming opportunities.

The city’s primary goals in collecting and reviewing this data are to:

• Understand resident priorities and satisfaction using statistically valid data

• Support transparency and accountability in city decision-making

• Align city services, programs and investments with community priorities

• Create a consistent baseline to track change over time

• Strengthen long-term planning and resource allocation

“Buda’s strength has always been its engaged residents,” said city manager Micah Grau. “This survey helps us listen intentionally and use real data to guide decisions about services, infrastructure and quality of life. Every response helps shape the future of our community.”

For more information on the National Community Survey process, visit www.budatx.gov/communitysurvey. The survey will close on Tuesday, May 19, and staff will publish the findings this summer, following an analysis period.

Valadez served in the Marine Corps from 2004-2009 as a field artillery cannoneer. He was deployed to Japan and Iraq, where he was wounded in combat, earning the Combat Action Ribbon and Iraq Campaign Medal. 

THRIVE, or Targeted Help for Retention, Innovation, Ventures and Expansion, was created after local business owners began asking for revolving loans, said Jennifer Storm, executive director for the Buda EDC.

“To always be responsive to what the businesses are telling us they need is very important to us. If it’s something they say they need, we try to find a solution for that,” Storm said.

In researching, the team discovered that other cities, such as Lockhart and El Paso, have created loan services, as well.

Then, the team connected with LiftFund, a nonprofit community funder, that has created similar opportunities in other locations, and they knew it was a perfect match.

The Buda EDC was required to gain EDC board and city council approval to approve the budget amendment, said Storm.

“Because this was a new program to us, it was not in our previously approved annual budget, which means it needs a budget amendment,” she explained. “The dollars that we are allocating toward this is to buy down the interest rate. So, all of the other dollars are put up by the LiftFund. They are using their own dollars to invest in this project. We just pay the interest rate to LiftFund for them to manage it.”

She noted that THRIVE is in its pilot year, following its recent launch, and Buda EDC will reconsider the budget for it next year, based on demand.

Business owners apply through LiftFund and are approved based on qualifications, such as credit and background checks. Typically, the loans are for a year and can range from $500 to $100,000.

The program, she continued, can be used by an entrepreneur to start a business, but its primary goal is to aid established owners that may be struggling.

“Sometimes, they may have a high interest credit card or they may need support paying for, just a short period of time, payroll. This could help them meet their payroll obligations and then, they pay it back when times get better,” said Storm.

Additionally, the 0% interest rate allows for more money that the owners can instead reinvest in their business, further jobs they can support and, therefore, hire individuals in Buda.

“We’re really proud to stand with our local businesses and so, we want to hear from them and we want to know other ways that we can support them, to continue evolving and finding solutions to support them in this ever-changing environment,” Storm concluded.

Those interested in applying for THRIVE or learning more can visit www.budaedc.com, navigate to “Grow in Buda” and click on “Incentive Programs.”

The project has been a long time coming, said Buda Economic Development director Jennifer Storm. She noted that, internally, H-E-B has recognized that its current storefront was quickly being outgrown.

“They knew that this store was undersized and so, we have worked with them to try to find a piece of property, where they could stay in Buda and be able to expand their store,” she explained.

After finding the land, which is located on the southbound access road of IH-35, north of Main Street, the biggest challenge has been the environmental factor. The site, which was a dormant landfill, is going to require significant remediation, said Storm. For this reason, potential developers have overlooked the area, due to the costs — estimated at $30 million — associated with bringing the land up to the standard it needs for a facility.

“A company like H-E-B is able to invest in the land and get it cleaned up and then, work with us to have an incentive over time to help offset some of those costs,” she said.

The state of this site has left little property tax revenues for the entities in which it lies, half in the Hays County Emergency Services District (ESD) No. 8, Hays County and the city of Buda. Because of this, she noted that all three, including the Buda EDC, were eager to contribute in the form of tax incentives to ensure the project moves forward.

The incentive states that H-E-B will receive 50% of all sales and property tax generated from the project until either the maximum $20.1 — $12.1 million from the city and the Buda EDC, $4 million from ESD No. 8 and $4 million from Hays County — payout occurs or the timeline reaches 30 years.

The director clarified that this means the incentive will end prior to the 30 years, if H-E-B receives $20.1 million in less time and vice versa. So, the incentive will also end, even if H-E-B still has not reached $20.1 million in 30 years.

The taxing entities will also begin receiving a significant boost in property taxes, following the land’s development.

Under the agreement, according to a news release, H-E-B will invest in environmental remediation and roadway improvements — based on a traffic impact analysis — to ensure the site is safe and accessible.

Storm noted that because of the environmental factors, there may be limitations on what the store can do aesthetically, such as landscaping, but that the city has made requests for the store to fit in with Buda’s traditional style.

Looking to the future, the director emphasized that this store will not only bring a better shopping experience to residents, along with 50 full-time jobs, but other retail establishments.

“Activating that property will activate a lot of the other parcels near [the new store]. There’s still some vacant property to the north and the south of that parcel,” said Storm. “We have a pretty big gap in retail services in Buda. That’s something we’ve been working towards for a while and so … I think, ideally, it will likely be what you usually see around an H-E-B, which is more retail.”

This hope continues in what will be the former H-E-B location, following the opening of the new store, as she stated that H-E-B has agreed to “something retail-focused” to ensure that sales tax is still generated.

Despite H-E-B’s ownership of the land, Storm stated that the opportunity of what company builds on the land isn’t limited to H-E-B-branded stores.

Construction on the remediation is set to begin in 2026, but Storm shared that the task is a big undertaking, which most likely lengthens the timeline to grand opening day to 2028.

"This is a defining moment for our community,” said Buda Mayor Lee Urbanovsky. “By taking land that once symbolized limitation and turning it into a source of jobs, commerce and community pride, we are writing the next chapter of Buda’s story. This agreement reflects our commitment to smart growth, strong partnerships and a brighter future for our residents.”

The first phase of improvements to the park was completed in 2024, according to the Buda Bonds website. Now, city staff are proceeding with phase II. Improvements include a new east parking lot, stage backdrop, lighting, security cameras, bridge and split rail fencing.

Phase II’s total budget is set at $1.4 million. Funding for the project was included in the fiscal year 2026 Capital Improvement Plan and will be collected from a city bond initiative.

According to the agenda item report, an additional $850,000 has been allocated for the city park playground replacement, a separate, but complementary project that will also be paid for with bond funds.

Host noted during his presentation, “We have the request for proposal [for the playground] back and we’re working on grading it. If we can get the contractor to sign we can have the plan ready by the next council meeting in March." Otherwise, the playground plan will be ready in April.

Of the improvements presented, the parking lot will be the most costly, budgeted at $725,000. The budget for other improvements ranges from $68,000 to $173,000.

For the parking lot, city staff recently received back contract bids and is reviewing those, so that construction can begin soon.

“Hopefully, at the next meeting we’ll come back with a bid winner,” stated Host.

The park director added that substantial completion is expected by June and final completion — striping and marking — will be done in July, as long as there are no rain delays. During the substantial completion period, Host said that spaces “might not be marked, but at least people can park on it and we can use it.”

To improve amphitheater aesthetics, he introduced two new backdrop options: custom imaging or a simple, single color design. The council agreed upon a dark green or black backdrop for simplicity and timeliness.

The presentation included designs for a new ADA-compliant bridge to improve ease of pedestrian travel. The bridge is set to be constructed along a common walking pathway: “We just need someone to design and bid on it — hopefully less than $100,000 — and have it done by June,” Host notes.

Around the park, Host presented a new lighting design featuring off and dim settings. With these changes, the lights can be switched off to prevent interference during a concert at the amphitheater, but can be turned back on for people to safely navigate to their cars and exit.

Council member Matt Smith emphasized, “I want to make sure we remain sensitive to the performance aspect. I think the key will be to have that dimmer control aspect.”

Ideally, the new lights will be powered by solar, according to Host.

“The sun is always shining on this side, so you wouldn't have to worry about trees taking the shade and not providing power,” the director stated.

Other safety features include additional security cameras and split rail fencing around the perimeter. The park currently has one camera on the stage and none elsewhere. Host argues that more cameras will “add safety and give us eyes in the sky.”

Pushing for a balance between aesthetics and safety, Smith said, “Folks are in the park to relax and have a good time and the last thing you want them to do is look up and see 10 cameras pointed at you.”

He also showed concern regarding the potential for third parties to see the footage, as the licensing fee for cameras could give distributors access.

The city does not typically place cameras outside of city hall because of such concerns.

City manager Micah Grau commented, “We’re going to need a policy from council on what they want to see in terms of records retention and access to data.”

For the split rail fencing, Host proposed a 1552 square-foot design surrounding the park, with gaps for entry and exit. The fences will take 60 days to manufacture and two weeks to install. Host says that the process will move forward within the next two weeks.

Additional fencing creates a protective barrier between recreational and parking areas.

“You’re supposed to have a fence separating parking and driving areas from playgrounds and that’s a deficiency we have at city parks,” added Grau.

Council member Evan Ture liked the idea of separating the playground from parking spaces, as, “It’s a sad place we’re in where we have to think about this as a deterrent for bad actors,” but agreed that those measures were necessary.

The fencing also creates strategic points to drive in and out of the park to avoid congestion and ease the flow of traffic. Mayor Lee Urbanovsky noted, “It’s like scattering ants when the events are over,” agreeing with the need for some sort of border.

Moving forward, Host and the city's parks team will continue their review of construction bids and implementation strategies, taking the council’s safety concerns into account. No action was proposed or necessary from the council at this stage.

Local Legend

In addition to the construction presentation, council chose the city’s annual Local Legend recipient. After considering eight nominees, Dr. T.C. McCormick and his wife, Geraldine McCormick, were selected.

T.C. served as the city’s primary physician and helped desegregate local schools. He also served on the Buda School Board and as mayor from 1976 to 1982. Urbanovsky said, “As the story goes, [T.C.’s] house was on the hill on RM 967 heading out of town… that was a hospital.” Editor's note: the location of T.C. McCormick’s hospital in Buda was misstated by the mayor as being on RM 967. The Buda Clinic and Hospital is the long white building on the south side of Ash Street in front of the old Buda School. It should also be noted that The McCormick’s resided most of their lives on Main Street.

His wife served as parent teacher association president and postmaster. The late couple’s “lifelong service helped shape Buda’s growth and strengthened the community for generations,” the agenda item report stated.

The motion was brought forth by council member Monica Davidson, where it passed 7-0. According to the city, the Local Legend award will be presented April 11 at Buda’s Birthday Music Festival.

Buda City Council will meet next Tuesday, March 17.

The council, established in 1961, is an Austin-based, statewide, nonprofit professional association, dedicated to the development of economic and employment opportunities in Texas, according to a TEDC news release. It provides information, educational and legislative services to more than 1,000 members. The organization’s objective is to support the economic growth of Texas and develop strategies that promote a positive business climate in the state.

The program provides recognition to economic development organizations that meet a desired threshold of professionalism, the release stated. Recipients qualify for recognition based on the professional development of their governing board/council, as well as the economic development director and professional staff. Certifications, professional memberships and activities and organizational effectiveness of the economic development staff also contribute to the standards for qualification.

In Hays County, the Buda Economic Development Corporation and Hays Caldwell Economic Development Partnership were among a total of 85 economic development organizations who received the TEDC’s 2025 Economic Excellence Recognition.

“The TEDC’s Economic Excellence Recognition program is one of the ways in which our organization honors the outstanding commitment to excellence of our communities and regions, their leaders and their economic development professionals have toward the professionalization of their economic development efforts,” said Carlton Schwab, president/CEO of the TEDC.

Buda-ful Fest is an exhibition to celebrate the local innovators and small business owners in the community. It will highlight the Buda Home for Innovators, Visionaries and Entrepreneurs (HIVE) cohort participants, who have spent the last eight weeks in the program.

Once the cohort participants graduate from there, they will have the opportunity at Buda-ful Fest to interact with the public, where they can showcase their business models and strategies through a live pitch competition. According to Jacquie Martinez, assistant director of small business initiatives for the Buda Economic Development Corporation (EDC), it’s almost like a science fair for adults with their businesses.

“[It’s] giving the entrepreneurs and the small businesses the opportunity to share their ideas, their businesses, with the general public and some of the individuals are coming into the HIVE as brand new businesses. They're coming in with just an idea and filing their paperwork out with the help of our incubator strategist and through those eight weeks of programming, they're doing their exercises and actually creating their business plans and now ready to initiate a full-fledged business,” she said. “So, this is really their opportunity to kind of show that and share that with the general public. Other individuals are coming in at different stages of their business, but still looking for that opportunity to be out there in the public.”

There will be a variety of budding small businesses and entrepreneurs that attendees can expect to see at the event, Martinez shared. This ranges from a pop-up bookstore, a wellness coach, an attorney opening up their own practice, a children’s museum, a fashion boutique and a professional photographer.

Another component of Buda-ful Fest this year is it will be in conjunction with SoSX — the city’s way of bringing the live, free music that could be found at South by Southwest to the local area, rather than residents having to travel to Austin to enjoy it.

“I think it gives an opportunity to add a little diversity, so it's bringing people in to enjoy music. We would love to have music regardless at the Buda-ful Fest and it sets the tone,” Martinez explained. “Now that we're already in March and it is South by [Southwest] time, we're doing live music instead, so it's just an opportunity to really combine the diversity of people and who it attracts. I think most everybody loves music. Most everybody loves small businesses and frequents small businesses, sometimes you just don't even realize who is in your community. It's our way of just opening it up.”

The musical lineup will start with the band “Matagorda” from 5-6 p.m. and then, the headliner will be Ian Stewart from “Asleep at the Wheel,” beginning at 9 p.m.

Buda-ful Fest will be Thursday, March 12, at Buck’s Backyard, located at 1750 FM 1626. While the event is free to the public, registration is required for access to the networking, pitch competition and panel discussion.

Learn more at the following links:

• Buda-ful Fest: bit.ly/4qV81FN

• Buda EDC: www.budaedc.com

• Buda HIVE: www.budaedc.com/hive