The jury convicted Clifton of sexual assault, sexual performance by a child, attempted aggravated sexual assault and aggravated sexual assault after a six-day trial, according to a news release.  

Evidence presented during the trial showed that Clifton, while working as a manager at the Jack in the Box in Kyle, hired teenage girls, gained their trust — as well as the trust of some of their families — and provided them alcohol on and off the job to perpetrate sexual offenses against them, the release continued. The indictment included charges related to three different young women who were 17 and 18 years old at the time Clifton assaulted them.  

The punishment hearing showed that Clifton had begun a relationship with a 16-year-old female employee and, when that relationship ended, Clifton then preyed on other teenage female employees. The evidence showed that Clifton also committed domestic violence against two other women during the same timeframe as the sexual assaults. The judge heard evidence of Clifton’s past, including convictions for assault, assault on a peace officer, retaliation, robbery and aggravated robbery. The evidence showed that during the aggravated robbery, Clifton shot a man and was later sentenced to 16 years in prison in 2009.  

Assistant Criminal District Attorneys Ashley Indelicato and Shelby Griffin prosecuted the case.  

Indelicato said, “The jury’s guilty verdicts told the defendant they saw him for who he is: a predator and a rapist. More importantly, the verdicts told the survivors of these offenses they were not only heard, but believed. The judge’s sentence gave these young women the peace of mind they deserve by knowing this predator will never harm them or any other young woman again.”  

“These young women showed courage by coming forward to law enforcement and throughout this case. We appreciate their strength and the bravery it took to tell the truth about what this defendant did to them. Judge Key’s sentence definitely delivered the message that Hays County will not tolerate sexual predators, especially those with a violent criminal history who prey on vulnerable teens,” said Griffin.  

Officers from the San Marcos and Kyle Police Departments worked on the case, with detective Elrod and detective Carrasco leading the investigation. In addition to the prosecutors, the state’s trial team included victim assistance coordinator Angela Brant, digital media evidence legal assistants Kendall Evans and Tenzin Paa and law clerk Brody Burleson, with assistance from ADA Christopher Powell.  

Marking only the second time in the district’s 38-year history that this drought stage has been declared, the initial decision followed a rapid drop in groundwater levels at the Lovelady monitor well, where, as of Sept. 11, 2025, the 10-day average water level measured 457.0 feet mean sea level (ft-msl) — the threshold for Stage 3.

Now, in July 2026, rainfall averaged approximately 3.5 inches — approximately 1.5 inches above the long-term monthly average — across the Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (ABIA) and Camp Mabry weather stations. Central Texas has received 23.4 inches, or about 65% of its historical annual average, of rainfall January through July, according to BSEACD.

“That’s not translated so far into August because we have seen absolutely none of that. We are 0.0 right now,” said hydrogeologist technician Justin Camp during his presentation to the BSEACD Board of Directors Thursday, Aug. 13, regarding drought stages.

Flow at Barton Springs — one of the district’s key drought indicators, aside from Lovelady — benefitted from the rainfall. As of Aug. 6, the 10-day average at Barton Springs is 24 cubic feet per second (cfs).

“I made a manual measurement yesterday, [so] our new 10-day average is 20 cfs and that’s riding the cusp right there at the Stage 2 pressure,” Camp said.

As for Lovelady, the 10-day average water level is 458.1 feet above ft-msl, Camp presented, which is hovering about one foot above the Stage 2 Critical Drought threshold — something that has not been seen since this time last year.

According to the district, groundwater levels in the Trinity Aquifer have also seen gains in the last four months, with the Lowe-Coronado Middle Trinity monitor well rising approximately 4 feet since April (Figure 6) and Jacob’s Well peaking at 23 cfs July 15 and maintaining a current flow of just under 1 cfs. However, the Blanco River in Wimberley has maintained flows between 16-20 cfs, which are below normal numbers.

While there are improvements to the water levels, staff recommended that the board does not lift the Stage 3 declaration.

Blayne Stansberry, director of Precinct 2, asked for clarification on the rationale behind the district not getting out of the current drought stage. She asked if the reasoning is because in Camp’s presentation, it was stated that Lovelady is expected to fall back into Stage 3 in a few weeks so it “doesn’t make sense” for the board to go back to Stage 2 and then, Stage 3 later down the road.

“Yes, that is what I am suggesting … Area wells in this area and in Buda that we also check to supplement what we understand about what's happening at Lovelady, those are also already in decline,” Camp said.

There was no vote on the item, therefore, BSEACD remains in Stage 3 drought.

Budget

Following a public hearing and limited discussion, the board also unanimously approved the fiscal year (FY) 2027 budget.

Budgeted permitted pumpage is 3,734,826,001 gallons, according to agenda documents. The total projected revenue for the district is $1,839,462 — a $47,429 increase from FY 2026 — which is broken up into the following: $1,710,898 in production and water use fees; $21,935 in other fees, such as annual permits, shared territory monitoring and administrative; $105,429 in interest income; and $1,200 in annual OneOk sampling.

Expenditures total $1,772.231 — an increase of $16,919 from FY 2026 — and include the following:

• Salaries and wages: $579,134

• Employment taxes, benefits and group insurance: $195,895

• Team (general management, Aquifer Science, Regulatory Compliance, Communications and Outreach and Administrative): $365,500

• Director: $56,500

• Operational: $193,630

• Legal and professional services: $381,572

The budget documents can be found in the agenda packet at www.bseacd.org/agendas. The board is scheduled to meet next at 5 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 10.

Human Resources director Eric Granjeno began the budget workshop by presenting on a salary study conducted. He noted that competitive and fair wages are part of the strategic plan, but that the study revealed that 14 full-time equivalent (FTE) civilian employees, or 1.81%, are aligned with the market average, while 691 FTEs, or 84.7%, are below market. There are 112 FTEs, 13.49%, over market.

Based on Massachusetts Institute of Technology data, the living wage in Hays County is $25.93 per hour for two working adults with two children. The living wage for one adult without children is $22.59 per hour, as determined by the data. This same data is what the city of Austin used recently when determining increases for its employees, said Granjeno. Hays County’s minimum wage is currently $16.32 per hour, or $33,949 annually, making 364 employees, or 45% of the civilian employees, below the suggested threshold.

There are two recommendations to accommodate this:

Option 1: Full market alignment at $6,490,419

• A 14.62% upward adjustment to the existing salary structure

• County starting wage of $45,760 or $22 an hour, raising all employees below living wage to this value.

• Employees over the range in their new proposed pay grade will receive a one-time payment Oct. 1 equivalent to 3% of their current salary

• No employees will receive less than 3% market adjustment

• No step movement in fiscal year (FY) 2027

• No regrades

Option 2: Phased full market alignment at $4,874,868

• Option 1 broken into two phases

- Phase 1: Employee salaries will per raised to 50% of their market adjustment Oct. 1

- Phase 2: Employee salaries raised to the remaining 50% of their market adjustment April 1, 2027

• No step movement in FY 2027

• No regrades

Regarding the elected positions, five were aligned with market average, eight are above and 46 are below.

There are two options for this, as well. A full market alignment, which will provide $11,688.35 in savings, due to elected officials, who are at a higher pay than the new incoming officials, leaving. It would allow elected officials who are reelected to be eligible for a 12% term increase. The second is a full market alignment or 3% cost of living adjustment (COLA) for $57,512. If anyone is not getting a market adjustment, they would get a 3% COLA. Both would commence Jan. 1, 2027.

Human Resources recommended continuing with the county’s wellness and non-wellness premium structure for the upcoming year. It also recommended increasing vacation accrual to seven hours per month and removing the six-month waiting period prior to using it.

Scott Woodland, budget officer, discussed a potential tax increase from $0.3999 to $0.4099. He shared that because the home value decreased to $450,956 the average homeowner would pay $1,803.37, which is $52.61 in savings. under the current rate. With a $0.01 increase to the tax rate, the homeowner would pay $1848.47 or $7.51 less than last year.

Next, several departments proposed requests to the court.

Hays County Sheriff Anthony Hipolito read a letter from an employee that submitted a resignation for one reason — money.

“At some point, we have to look hard at taking care of our employees,” said Hipolito.

Hays County Sheriff’s Office Chief Deputy Brett Bailey continued on this idea, stating that when they lose an employee, they lose institutional knowledge and money spent training them, increasing overtime and burden on the employees who remain. HCSO hopes to have an assigned deputy to every school in the county by 2028, but it cannot achieve this, if they cannot raise their retention rate.

Bailey also asked the court to reconsider lowering the inmates housed at other facilities. He shared that the jail population management is a system and would ask the court to instead allow flexibility that will make the most operational and financial sense.

Finally, he discussed the Axon artificial intelligence (AI) package requested.

“I understand AI is a hot topic, but Axon is offering a 10-year agreement that would lock in the AI services they currently provide and include new AI services they introduce during that 10-year period at no additional cost,” said Bailey, who had a live demonstration of the AI, where a woman speaking Spanish asked for help and an officer was able to use a translation tool to speak with her.

“I understand the recommended budget is slim. I’m not asking you to fund every request made by the sheriff’s office; I’m asking you to look at these requests through the lens of what they accomplish for the citizens of Hays County,” concluded Bailey. “This recommended budget took my breath away and I say that with all due respect, but I can’t operate on the budget that’s been offered.”

Other requests were as follows:

• An associate judge/juvenile master position for the Mental Health Court

• One full-time deputy fire Marshall for the Emergency Services Department

• One tax specialist for the Hays County Tax Assessor

• A justice clerk position for the Justice of the Peace Precinct 2 office

• One part-time shared juvenile diversion coordinator for the Justice of the Peace offices

• Two state-required shields for Constable Precinct 5 and a position regrade

Criminal District Attorney’s Office

• Raising the pretrial and trial budget from $1,000 to $3,000

• Raising the expert witness services budget from $1,500 to $5,000

• Raising the budget for continuing education from $38,000 to $50,000

• An attorney 3 position

• Regrade two members of the digital media evidence team

County Clerk’s Office

• New equipment to replace out of date or unusable technology

• Raising the budget for postage from $22,000 to $25,000

• One new position

• Five position regrades

• New software program

After hearing all of the presentations, the commissioners asked for documents outlining the financial costs to be brought back at a later meeting.

To listen to the full discussion, visit bit.ly/4covBX7.

Last week, Hays County Judge Ruben Becerra called a special meeting, set to take place at 2 p.m. Monday, which was the last day to order a general or special election on a measure, to deliberate adding a Hays County Hospital District measure to the ballot for November.

According to a press release from Becerra’s office, the judge and healthcare supporters “feverishly” worked to obtain the required number of signatures and petitions to add the initiative to the ballot. These numbers were verified Monday, which would have mandated that the proposed health district measure be placed on the ballot.

The meeting, however, could not move forward, as commissioners Michelle Cohen, Debbie Ingalsbe and Walt Smith were not in attendance, leaving the judge and commissioner Morgan Hammer without a quorum after a 30-minute wait.

The purpose of the meeting was not to create the hospital district, according to Becerra; it was to allow the citizens of Hays County the opportunity to decide for themselves whether they wanted more affordable and effective healthcare.

“In effect, their absence circumvented state law, which requires a duly validated petition to be placed on the ballot,” said Becerra. “… ultimately [robbing] the residents of Hays County of the opportunity to express their voice and decide for themselves the future of healthcare in our county.”

“This coordinated sabotage of the people’s voice is simply a dereliction of duty,” said Becerra.

In contrast to the judge’s statements, Ingalsbe claimed that the meeting was scheduled without regard for her availability.

“Out of respect for the residents I serve, I believe it is important to let my constituents know why I was not present at Monday’s special meeting of the commissioners court,” she said. “Unfortunately, neither I nor my office was notified in advance or asked about my availability before the meeting was scheduled. I had several commitments that had been on my calendar for weeks and felt it was important to honor those obligations and meet with the individuals who had already scheduled time with me.”

Additionally, the commissioner expressed disappointment in the special meeting being called on short notice and the health district considered without public outreach: “This is a significant policy decision that could have a long-term impact on our community, yet the court has not had the opportunity to engage in a thorough, formal discussion on the matter. Equally important, we have not sought input from our residents through open houses, town halls, public presentations or other community engagement efforts. That lack of public involvement is concerning, particularly given that a hospital district would have the authority to levy a property tax of up to $0.75 per $100 of taxable value.”

“Affordable and accessible healthcare has always been a priority for me and I fully support exploring solutions that improve healthcare access for our residents. I welcome a thoughtful and transparent conversation about how we can achieve that goal together, while ensuring the public has a meaningful voice in the process,” Ingalsbe concluded.

As of press time, Cohen and Smith had not responded to a request for comment.

According to a news release, at approximately 3:26 a.m. Sunday, Aug. 16, during routine checks, an inmate was discovered non-responsive at the jail. 

Despite the administration of CPR was and emergency medical services being called, the inmate was unable to be resuscitated and was pronounced deceased by the justice of the peace. 

The deceased was housed in a cell alone and no foul play is suspected. The preliminary investigation suggests that he passed due to natural causes, the release continued. 

At this time, the inmate’s identity is being withheld pending notification of next of kin.

A prior check had been conducted at 3:12 a.m. and the inmate “appeared normal,” according to the release. 

As with all custodial deaths in a jail, a criminal investigation is being conducted by the Texas Department of Public Safety, and an internal investigation is being conducted by HCSO’s Office of Professional Responsibility to make sure all policies and procedures were followed.

To protect the patient’s privacy and confidentiality, HCHD will not provide further details about the case.

The confirmation comes as West Nile Virus continues to be detected in mosquito populations throughout the county. The Hays County Development Services (HCDS) Mosquito Surveillance Program received confirmation that a mosquito trap sample collected Aug. 11 in the 78666 ZIP code in San Marcos tested positive for WNV, marking the sixth WNV-positive mosquito pool reported through the county’s surveillance program this season, with one positive trap in Buda. 

The city of San Marcos has reported two additional positive mosquito pools, bringing the total number of positive mosquito pools reported throughout Hays County to eight.

“West Nile Virus activity in both our mosquito population and now a confirmed human case underscores the importance of taking precautions against mosquito bites,” said Hays County Judge and Director of Emergency Management Ruben Becerra. “Our health department and mosquito surveillance teams will continue monitoring conditions throughout the county, but prevention begins at home. Taking a few simple steps to protect yourself and eliminate standing water can help reduce the risk for our entire community.”

The virus is primarily spread through the bite of an infected mosquito. Mosquitoes become infected when they feed on infected birds and can then transmit the virus to humans and animals. WNV is not generally spread from person to person, except in extremely rare circumstances involving blood transfusions, organ transplants or transmission from mother to child during pregnancy, delivery or breastfeeding.

About 80% of people infected with WNV do not develop symptoms. Approximately 20% may experience fever, headache, body aches, joint pain, vomiting, diarrhea, rash or swollen lymph nodes. Less than 1% of people infected develop severe illness affecting the central nervous system, such as encephalitis or meningitis. People ages 50 and older, and those with weakened immune systems are at greater risk of developing severe illness.

Symptoms of severe WNV disease can include high fever, neck stiffness, disorientation, tremors, muscle weakness, vision loss, numbness or paralysis. In rare cases, WNV can be fatal.

Anyone experiencing symptoms associated with West Nile Virus is encouraged to seek medical attention. There is no specific antiviral treatment for WNV. Over-the-counter medications may help relieve mild symptoms, while people with severe illness may require hospitalization and supportive care.

“The best action Hays County residents can take to protect themselves from West Nile Virus is to prevent mosquito bites by following the three Ds: Defend, Dress and Drain,” said HCHD Director Matthew Gonzales. “If someone knows they were recently bitten by mosquitoes and is experiencing flu-like symptoms or symptoms associated with West Nile Virus, they should contact a healthcare provider, especially if the patient is immunocompromised or over the age of 50.”

Gonzales emphasized that WNV is not considered contagious between people. Humans are considered “dead-end hosts,” meaning they generally do not develop high enough levels of the virus in their bloodstream to infect mosquitoes and continue the transmission cycle.

HCDS conducts mosquito surveillance from May through November to monitor mosquito populations and mosquito-borne diseases. Mosquitoes are collected using standardized traps, including CDC gravid traps and BG- Sentinel traps and sent to DSHS for identification and arboviral testing. Surveillance helps the county track mosquito activity, identify areas where disease-carrying mosquitoes are present and guide prevention and control efforts.

“It’s essential that everyone helps reduce mosquito populations by eliminating unnecessary standing water around their properties,” said Nick VandenBroek, environmental health specialist II. “Source reduction can go a long way to reduce localized populations of mosquitoes in and around your neighborhood.”

Mosquitoes can breed in very small amounts of standing water. Residents are encouraged to regularly inspect their homes, yards and workplaces and empty or treat water that may collect in flowerpots, buckets, birdbaths, gutters, pet dishes, tires and other containers.

HCHD and HCDS remind residents to follow the three Ds to reduce their risk of mosquito bites and WNV infection:

• DEFEND: Whenever outside, use an EPA-registered insect repellent and always follow label instructions.

• DRESS: Wear long, loose and light-colored clothing when outdoors.

• DRAIN: Drain or treat standing water in and around the home or workplace where mosquitoes could lay eggs.

The departments will continue human health and mosquito surveillance efforts throughout the mosquito season to monitor WNV activity and help protect the health and safety of residents.

For more information about the virus in humans, contact the HCHD at 512-393-5520 or visit www.hayscountytx.gov/373/Current-Public-Health-Situations. 

Water is a precious resource, especially for the residents of Wimberley and Woodcreek. They have questioned if there will be anything coming out of the faucet or, in some cases, if they will be able to run the shower and washing machine at the same time, emphasized Louie Bond, executive chair of the newly-created “Say No to Aqua Texas” coalition, which is comprised of neighbors, well owners, scientists, business owners and local leaders.

This has been since the onset of Aqua in the area.

“For so long, we have fought every challenge that comes to our valley to threaten our water supply and to try to control our wastewater situation and it's always reactive. There's a threat; we fight. Sometimes we win, sometimes we don't,” Bond said.

“I think, finally, we've been studying it long enough, working on it long enough, with the cooperation of Hays County elected officials present and past, with the groundwater districts and with all of the coalitions that have been formed,” she continued. “I think that we have finally found a pathway to have local control over our water and our wastewater, so that we can be proactive for the first time, so that we can be in control. The people who have a stake in this are the ones who should be deciding how it's governed and how it's distributed.”

The coalition — officially launched in July and funded by Our Water Our Texas — cites multiple problems with the way Aqua has been managing its water and wastewater services.

Pumping and permits

A major issue is that Aqua has overpumped 238 million gallons per year in excess of permits from 2022 to 2024, allegedly contributing to the diminishing flow at Jacob’s Well, according to the coalition.

In response, however, the provider shared that while production exceeded permitted amounts in 2023, it has made significant progress in reducing groundwater production through investing in the system and implementing conservation measures.

“In the Woodcreek area alone, Aqua has replaced nearly 16,000 feet of aging water main to reduce water loss and we have worked with customers to promote water conservation, including the addition of technology to let customers see their water usage hourly,” said regional communications specialist Jennifer Tuminelli. “These efforts have reduced the amount of water needed to serve our customers, while helping to preserve local water resources.”

Litigation

Accountability on Aqua’s part has also been questioned, as it elected to sue the Hays Trinity Groundwater Conservation District in 2023 and there have been “years of undocumented overpumping,” Bond stated.

“When we try to get them to be accountable for these things, instead of working with us to create a better system and to secure our water supply, they sue the groundwater conservation district on which we rely to protect our natural resource,” the executive chair said.

The litigation, which remains pending in federal court, was due to the district applying regulatory standards against Aqua “in a manner that is not consistent with its treatment of other utilities and permittees. Regulated entities should be treated fairly and consistently under the law,” Tuminelli stated.

She added that the provider’s employees have remained committed to improving the system, reducing water loss, promoting conservation and providing reliable service to its customers.

There were also penalties issued by the Barton Springs Edwards-Aquifer Conservation District in February 2026, as previously reported by the News-Dispatch, for multiple violations. According to Tuminelli, those were related to groundwater production resulting from several system leaks, but Aqua has repaired the leaks, reduced water loss and remained in compliance with its groundwater production limits.

Rate increases

With the challenges that customers have had to face, another would be an increase in their rates. In 2023, Aqua filed for a system improvement charge to cover capital spent on the infrastructure improvements in specific areas; however, that was denied by the Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUC), as previously reported by the News-Dispatch.

Then, in 2025, Aqua filed for another rate increase, but until the proceeding by the PUC has reached a final decision, interim rates are currently in effect. Individual customer impacts will vary based on the system they are served by and their water usage, Tuminelli explained, as, in Hays County, the increase is “lower than the statewide average for both water and wastewater service.”

“We understand customers’ concerns whenever rates change. However, maintaining safe and reliable water service requires continual investment in infrastructure,” she emphasized. “Across Texas, we have invested hundreds of millions of dollars replacing aging infrastructure, improving water quality and strengthening system resilience. Those investments help ensure reliable service for customers today and in the future.”

Local control

Aqua was founded in Pennsylvania and is a subsidiary of Essential Utilities, which is a large water, wastewater and natural gas company in the U.S. — this leaves residents in Wimberley and Woodcreek concerned about lack of local control.

“[In the] Wimberley Valley, the constituents are more informed about water than just about anywhere because it's so near and dear to us. We enjoy the creek and river, but we also know that the water's not always going to come out every time we turn on the tap and so, that really motivates us to use the very powers that we're given in this country to speak up for ourselves, to do our own control of the things that are important and not just let big corporations make decisions for us,” Bond said. “They don't live here. They don't care about us. They're clearly in business to make a profit and that's not what we are looking for as local residents.”

On the other hand, Tuminelli confirmed that Aqua Texas is a state corporation subject to regulation by Texas agencies with purview over it and operations are managed by those who work and live in the communities it serves. Being part of a larger regulated utility also allows Aqua to make significant long-term investments, said Tuminelli.

“We understand that community members care deeply about protecting local water resources and so do we. That’s why Aqua Texas has focused on tangible improvements, like replacing aging water mains, reducing groundwater production and implementing technology to aid in water conservation right at the customer’s home,” the regional communications specialist said. “We remain committed to working with regulators, customers and community stakeholders to ensure the long-term sustainability of the region’s water supply.”

Future goals of coalition

Every person in the Wimberley Valley should have a fresh supply of drinking water that is secure and sustainable, Bond said, as well as wastewater that is disposed of in a way that does not threaten the local creeks and rivers or back up into homes.

Because of this, there are three main goals that the coalition has, Bond explained:

•   Give communities a pathway to local control and create real change in how the valley’s water is run

•   Document the “failures” of Aqua Texas

•   Engage policymakers and regulators to work toward change

The executive chair urged people to understand the power of their voice and use it to bring their own cases forward on how Aqua has been serving them or not.

“We want clean water and enough of it for everyone,” Bond said. “I know that the people of this valley have raised their voices before and it's time to do it again.”

Learn more about the Say No to Aqua Texas coalition at www.saynotoaquatexas.com and Aqua Texas at www.aquawater.com.

Director Cassandra Behr developed the idea from the already-established “Ride and Drive” events that the department does as a weekend job fair to recruit drivers, knowing that it can be intimidating to step into a job that involves a 40-foot vehicle. This allows them to practice turning, slowing down, using red lights, etc. to see what it’s like to drive a bus, while also being in the confines of a parking lot.

Through doing these events, Behr shared that they also tried doing on-the-spot, mobile interviews at locations, like in the parking lot at Hays High School near Bob Shelton Stadium, where they don’t necessarily have access to the building.

“We were like, ‘Hey, you know what? What if we were able to take a bus that we're getting ready to auction off and change it into kind of like a mobile office?’ There are other districts that have them for mobile libraries [and] mobile food items,” she said. “But, what if we were able to change this into something where we could sit down with individuals and have that interview with them? Then, they have a place to do an application because we found our laptops were dying because they're sitting out in the heat and the sun's bearing down on them for several hours.”

It took two years for the department to retrofit the school bus — which was already identified to go to auction — from breaking down the seats, taking the metal to a local business to get some funds back and sourcing materials. The total cost, Behr said, was approximately $2,000 for the items on the inside of the bus, as the majority of them were donated or found on sale.

“I have an amazing shop team out there, so they kind of worked it in a little bit here and a little bit there, which is why it took us two years to do the retrofit because we didn't want to impact our normal daily operations,” she said. “From our upholstery tech who redid the seats that we have in there, because those are bus seats from other buses that we were able to utilize, to the mechanics that worked on taking all the seats out and then, redoing the floor in there to getting it all installed. [Also], the mechanic who did all of the welding for the generator on the front, so that we could run it without having bus fumes in that using that diesel because a generator is better able to run any electricity on the inside versus the bus actually running because that can actually hurt the engine because it's not moving.”

School districts nationwide have been seeing a shortage in bus drivers, Behr said, which is another reason why Hays CISD is looking at alternative ways to recruit individuals to join the team.

There are several barriers that come with looking for individuals to drive a bus, from managing 50-70 students, being responsible for the routes to and from school and understanding the split shift schedule, she continued.

“We have individuals who joined us because their own kids were riding the bus and they wanted to make sure that they were safely getting to and from school, but then we have some people who don't have students, they just want to be able to give back to the community,” the Transportation director said.

Currently, Hays CISD is fully staffed with enough bus drivers to start the school year for the nearly 100 routes that are on the map. However, Behr said that they are still looking to hire drivers because they have have seen an increase in enrollment already this year and “we are already in the plans of what routes we're going to need to add in and so, we want to make sure that we are ready to fill those positions as those bus routes get added on.”

The interview bus started as one idea and it has continued to grow, Behr noted. The director shared that they are looking at utilizing it beyond just interviews, rather for the following, as well: parent events — helping them sign up for Secured Mobility Authorized Ridership Technology tag or answer questions about bus routes; helping students get registered; and other ways to benefit the community.

Following the first week of school, the Hays CISD Transportation Department plans to begin rolling out the bus on the weekends and get out in the community, with the possibility of partnering with local businesses to do so.

Those who have questions about the bus or the department, email transportation@hayscisd.net.

First, the court discussed several efforts for the upcoming budget, which was brought forward by Hays County Judge Ruben Becerra.

“The reason I created this agenda item … [is because I have] elected officials and department heads asking for direction, asking for support. They’re running their entire departments and they’re waiting to anticipate projects and everything else. So, what I hope to accomplish with this agenda item is to give public, open roadmapping as a compass for not only our budget office, but for also the viewing public to understand what our goals are and what our aim is,” said Becerra.

The item read that these efforts could include freezing the hiring of full-time employees, reducing inmate relocation to less than 50, school resource officer (SRO) costs, American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) positions, a pause of studies and masterplanning, housing out of county juvenile inmates and postponing data conversions and software updates.

Commissioner Walt Smith said they made a commitment when creating the ARPA positions, so they need to carry those forward. Additionally, he shared that when they created the Parks and Open Spaces Department last year, they made a strong commitment with how the department should expand. Because of this, he does not want to remove personnel from current park projects, such as Sentinel Peak, resulting in the inability to open these experiences up to the public.

Scott Woodland, budget officer, noted that he was able to find interest earnings in ARPA to keep the employees, but that next year, they will have to be moved out.

He also stated that he’s discussed SROs with Hays CISD, where he learned that the district is planning on supporting additional officers at each campus in its budget.

“It is something we always wanted to step up and assist with in the past and I think I would be supportive of that,” said Smith, noting that the county originally asked to aid with SROs, but the school district denied the offer.

“I know it is a very tight budget year and my direction has been, ‘Let’s look at a tax rate increase and see what that looks like,’ but I also believe we need to ensure we are still giving the resources that our departments need to function well,” said commissioners Debbie Ingalsbe. “I think it’s going to be a lean year and we need to look at that as we move on into the budget.”

Regarding a freeze, commissioner Morgan Hammer stated that there “is a time and a place for it,” but that the court has set a precedent that there needs to be data and justification when asking for a new position and many departments do not achieve this.

According to Becerra, he discussed the Haskell inmate outsource with the Hays County Sheriff’s Office and discovered that the number of outsourcing is decreasing, so limiting it to less than 50 inmates is possible. Ingalsbe shared that she would like to start back up contracts with neighboring counties to house inmates, since it would be easier for representation and families, if they were closer. However, Smith said that these counties have also had exponential growth, so they may not be able to take in extra inmates from Hays County.

Becerra is looking to do the opposite of what the county’s partnership with Haskell is, with the juvenile center.

“The conversation behind that is to have the opportunity for all the empty space, in reverse of the adult portion that we deal with, but in the juvenile side [by] help[ing] neighboring counties and, ultimately, I’m hearing, make some money out of it,” said the judge.

“Everybody hold your breath, this is something we’re going to actually really agree on. I’m not joking,” stressed Smith. “We are currently housing juvenile inmates from all the surrounding counties. The daily rate on those is actually pretty good; I want to say it’s $350-370 a month, something like that, as opposed to $102 that we’re paying in Haskell. There are different standardizations and those types of things that we have to have, but given the growth of our county. I thought we missed something in our Capital Improvement Plan whenever we didn’t look at the juvenile facility that we have.”

The facility will probably need an expansion in five to 10 years, he continued, so bringing in additional inmates from other counties would likely pay for the expansion over the years.

Joel Ware, juvenile facility administrator, was opposed to this idea, as he stated that it would change the morale for staff: “You have to be built to handle more behavioral problems. You have to be built to handle more health problems. So, taking in more out-of-county kids [than we already have] — unless there is an investment made to the facility — when you’re talking about operations, appliances, you have to be able to deal with those everyday problems. It is tough.”

As for pausing studies and master plans, the court opted to have a list of ongoing projects brought before them, prior to deciding.

Woodland also noted that he asked the Information Technology Department what data and software updates were needed and only included those in the budget. So, no unnecessary updates will be done.

Moving on to the budget presentation, Woodland stated that he chose to work without an increase in property tax — so it would stay at $0.3999 to determine what the county could “get by with,” though this resulted in a lot of denials to requests, such as new positions, forklifts, camera drone, freezer equipment and more. He did note that with a tax increase, all of the requests could be fulfilled.

Some capital assets that Woodland felt were important and, therefore, included were high mileage vehicle replacements, air conditioning unit replacement at the Hays County Jail and Juvenile Detention Center, fire investigator equipment, ADA compliant contraction and remodels and property enclosures around a cave that has been deemed a danger. He stated that he focused on giving equipment that promoted safety and reduced potential liabilities.

Expenditures are increasing, he said, with insurance rising 8.5%, more vertical debt payments and increased contract costs.

“In order to make the general fund work [without a tax rate increase], we pulled a half penny from the road and bridge maintenance and operation (M&O) rate to move over to the general M&O. That is a bandaid. That is not something that will be sustainable,” he emphasized, adding that he built in $2 million for the road and bridge budget, which he hopes does not have to be used. “What I wanted to do is lay a couple million dollars into the road and bridge fund. If it is needed, I want to use it there and that way, we know it’s covered and it’s not something I’m going to have to find down the road.”

The county held another budget workshop Aug. 11 — which will be covered in the Aug. 19 edition of the Hays Free Press/News-Dispatch — and will hold a public hearing Aug. 18, prior to adopting the budget in September.

“It is going to be tough and we are going to have to make some decisions that may not be popular, but we know we are in a tough year. We tried the best we can to have that balance and provide the services that we need,” said Ingalsbe. “I look forward to more in-depth discussion with our colleagues and to seeing what the best route is to take with all of this.”

To listen to the discussion, visit bit.ly/4g44lyf.

The public utility serves an approximate 225 square-mile area that includes 260 miles of pipeline, 10 pump stations, 11 pressure planes and two elevated storage facilities, according to its website. The agency itself was created through the adoption of concurrent ordinances by three participating agencies, including Hays County.

An item to reappoint Roberts, who currently serves on the WTCPUA board as the president and a representative of Hays County, was brought before the commissioners court July 28.

However, several members of the public, including Rick Brown, general manager of the Dripping Springs Water Supply Corporation (DSWSC), took to the stand or submitted written comments to share their disagreement of the reappointment.

“I think the people of Dripping Springs, for the lack of a better word, are thirsty and they have been in drought stage four for about four years now. I'm hoping to get some new representation on the [WTCPUA] board,” Brown said. “The people want to irrigate. The people want to fill their pools. The people want to live their lives without such a restriction that we've been facing. We've been doing an excellent job keeping it under the limitations placed upon us, but … the people need help.”

According to resident Charles Busby, Roberts has been in the position for “far too long” and has shown hostility toward the water corporation “stating that one of our board members at DSWSC should just sell to the WTCPUA, while ensuring more than adequate water be made available to development in Driftwood using both WTCPUA water to the city of Dripping Springs and possibly illegal abuse of groundwater. He's shown little if any concern for neighboring water users.”

Driftwood resident Susan Cook agreed that Roberts, who has been serving on the board since its inception in 2012, should not be reappointed. The WTCPUA controls the water supply for tens of thousands of Hays County residents, Cook continued, and it’s a major decision maker for where water pipelines are built.

“The WTCPUA puts its customers under frequent water restrictions, due to their infrastructure being insufficient and not well-maintained. Their customers are restricted to indoor water use only. The water leakage is a serious concern, as are who they choose to supply water to, like the Driftwood Golf Course by way of the city of [Dripping Springs], for whom they are sole provider,” she said.

Cook also claimed a conflict of interest, in which Roberts is allegedly a “major landholder and business associate” in several enterprises in the area that are served by the WTCPUA.

Resident Laurel Trevino-Murphy echoed Cook’s claims that appointing a commercial property developer to oversee public utility infrastructure, especially that pertaining to water, is a conflict of interest.

“Appointing a property developer to oversee the public utility agency that potentially could import water from Travis County to serve various commercial enterprises in Hays County could favor his private business interests over the public good,” Trevino-Murphy emphasized.

Beginning the discussion was commissioner Walt Smith, who also serves on the WTCPUA Board of Directors and is in support of the reappointment of Roberts. He explained that appointments of all members of the board are not solely approved by the commissioners court, rather all parties — Hays County, city of Bee Cave and Travis County Municipal Utility District No. 5 — have to support and approve it.

He went on to clarify some sentiments that were said in public comments, noting the following:

•  He has seen Roberts recuse himself at least 20-30 times on discussions related to the Driftwood development.

•  Roberts is not an owner in the golf course — later clarifying that Roberts sold it as raw property

•  WTCPUA does not directly sell water to the golf course — the business has a living unit equivalent contract with the city of Dripping Springs, which then sells water to it

•  Every customer, whether residential or commercial, has to abide by the same curtailments in a drought

“I think it's absolutely egregious to attack a citizen of our county who is a multigenerational citizen of this county and has truly brought success and economic development to our area, who employs hundreds of people in our area, pays literally tens of thousands of dollars in property taxes because they live here and they chose to build their business here,” Smith said. “I think we should encourage people to do that here. They should want to build that business here. They should want to be property owners here and they should want to raise their families here and be successful here and to try to degrade or speak down to them because of that … I think it's just sad.”

Commissioners Debbie Ingalsbe and Michelle Cohen stated that there could be a conversation held regarding term limits for all boards.

“... I've heard of other concerns throughout the county with other appointments that this body makes and so, I just feel that if we are going to do that then we need to look at every entity that we appoint people to and see if that is what this court wants to do and maybe it is the right thing to do to give other people an opportunity,” Ingalsbe said. “But until we do, I think that I am supportive of the appointment and then, we look at this holistically and go from there.”

After hearing disdain from some members of the public that the item was placed on the consent agenda during multiple meetings, the court also questioned that decision.

County administrator Kandice Boutté explained that typically, those appointments are put on the consent agenda, unless the commissioners court explicitly states that it wants to pull the item or give direction on having it in the miscellaneous section.

The reappointment was approved 3-2, with Becerra and Cohen dissenting, however, it is not final until all entities vote to approve.

To listen to the full discussion, visit www.hayscountytx.gov/189/Court-Meetings-Livestream.

County Court at Law No. 3 has been awarded a $165,000 grant from the Texas Judicial Commission on Mental Health to implement the Court Liaison Pilot Program for the period of Sept. 1, 2026, through Aug. 31, 2028. This funding includes $102,877 for personnel, $52,075 for fringe benefits, $3,995 for travel, $2,553 for equipment and $3,500 for other program expenses.

It also creates a Behavioral Health Court Liaison position, in which the individual would do the following, according to agenda documents: coordinate behavioral health services across the criminal justice system; improve case processing; support statutory compliance; and enhance continuity of care for justice-involved individuals with behavioral health needs.

“We believe that this Behavioral Health Court Liaison is going to play an important role in helping to divert individuals from our criminal justice system who have mental health and other behavioral health issues,” said Judge Elaine Brown, who oversees the MHC, Assisted Outpatient Treatment Program and County Court At Law No. 3.

Commissioners also pulled two other items together along with the grant-funded position. These are related to amendments to multiple County Court at Law Mental Health Specialty Court Program contracts, as well as an Assisted Outpatient Treatment Program memorandum of understanding (MOU).

The County Court at Law Mental Health Specialty Court Program requested amendments to adjust the not-to-exceed amounts of the following contracts:

•   A Better Boat, LLC: $25,500 to $30,200

•   Axis of Mental Healthcare, PLLC: $98,750 to $114,420

•   C. Nichole Mueller-McMorris, LCSW: $9,500 to $8,400

•   Texas Helps (Evoke Wellness): $10,000 to $5,815

•   Moonstone Counseling, PLLC: $9,500 to $5,200

•   Nova Recovery Center: $37,750 to $33,500

•   Revive Recovery Sober Living: $13,980 to $8,610

•   Youth Advocate Programs, Inc.: $15,200 to $14,035

As for the Assisted Outpatient Treatment Program, the only change in cost that was requested in the amendments was for the contract with Philip Carolina from $10,000 to $12,500. However, the program did request the termination of the MOU with Dr. Vikram Mehra, as those services are covered under the MOU with Axis of Mental Healthcare, PLLC — which is at $64,800.

Commissioner Walt Smith said, looking at the numbers, there are some cuts of 35-40% to individual programs, leading him to question if Brown anticipates seeing them fluctuate based on the needs of specific cases or as a guide for the following year because specific types of services are not being used.

“We kind of look at where the need is and which programs and opportunities that we have are best utilized and that is why we move money around. We have been taking in a lot more high-need individuals lately into the court and so, because of that, we really need to make sure we have intensive services for those individuals to get them the help that they need to keep them out of our criminal justice system again,” the MHC judge responded. “With assistant outpatient treatment, some of those changes were actually because of the way that the MOUs were drafted and the fact that we are now using access to mental health care and they will use their own psychiatrist. They will pay the psychiatrist versus the county paying the psychiatrist directly, which is a better use, I think, of the funds that we have and I think it will actually benefit the county financially a lot more.”

There was a consensus across the dais on the importance of being able to offer these services to the individuals in the county who need it.

“I am really excited about this also because it provides or enhances that continuity of care for those individuals,” said commissioner Debbie Ingalsbe. “I like that we are [now] providing more specialized treatment and care for these individuals, which is needed. A lot of times, we don't get that specialty care that, even in our health department and other areas, individuals need and so, I support it.”

“Thank you for the diligent contract management of these services and thank you for keeping an eye on that and having to adjust when necessary and y’all have been great on staying on top of that so, I fully support your initiatives,” said commissioner Michelle Cohen.

In the future, Smith said that he would like to see more information presented on what each provider offers, as well as the MHC having the health department “looped in” on what those contracts are.

“... There are a number of these contractors, as well as our regional authority, that work with both y'all and our health department and having them involved in that process somehow to even just know that it's coming. I sit on the regional mental health board and I know if there is something coming through the health department, a contract with them or there is something that is pursuant to that, I'm aware of it,” he said.

The commissioner then recalled a couple of months ago, there was an item — unbeknownst to him — that had come from the court with the regional authority and he tried to defend what Hays County was doing, or at least try to understand, but was left with zero background on the matter.

Ultimately, the commissioners court unanimously approved the grant-funded Behavioral Health Court Liaison position, along with the requested contractual amendments.

These regulations are local orders designed to help in and act as a guiding source for the creation of neighborhoods, communities, commercial establishments, parks, roads and infrastructure, according to interim Development Services director Michael Berlad.

Hays County started implementing tracking subdivisions and platting regulations in the early 1970s, Berlad explained. These would later be revised with small amendments and minor updates every couple of years; however, a major rewrite has not occurred since 2013, he said, leading the county to begin the process last year.

This is also due to staying in compliance with Texas Local Government Code Chapter 232, which governs platting requirements for counties, as well as road, infrastructure, drainage and floodplain standards, the director noted. Rewriting rules ensures that the county is maintaining the most up-to-date standards with new laws, as well as keying in any environmental concerns that the community has.

“The county itself has grown vastly since 2013. There's been a lot of different legislative impacts, specifically in [20]19, [20]21 and [20]23,” Berlad said. “They kind of put some parts of our regulations kind of obsolete or really no longer applicable, since the state statute would supersede our local regulations and so, we decided it's time for an overhaul and refresh of our current regulations just to bring them up to a modern day standard.”

Hays County is taking a multi-phased approach when it comes to the rewrite. Third-party consultant Freese and Nichols Inc. was tasked with looking at the county’s current regulations and statutes as they exist today to create a diagnostic report.

“Our phase one approach was basically looking at it, seeing what was wrong, what was outdated and just kind of seeing where we stood. Then, they went ahead and looked at other counties adjacent to us to see how we compare with those other counties,” Berlad said.

Now is the second phase, which is the creation of the preliminary draft that uses information from the diagnostic report, as well as feedback from various stakeholders and the Hays County Commissioners Court.

The major changes that are going to come from the rewrite are for subdivisions, water and wastewater utilities, drainage and infrastructure, Berlad said.

According to the most recent presentation given to the commissioners court by Freese and Nichols Inc. July 7, the following are some of the recommendations from the diagnostic report findings.

Water availability and groundwater coordination

• Strengthens water availability certification procedures before final plat recording.

• Clarifies the role of coordination with the groundwater conservation district.

• Improves documentation expectations for water service and capacity.

Variances, waivers, appeals and enforcement

• Clarifies variance criteria, required findings and review bodies.

• Improves distinction between administrative interpretation, technical waiver and policy variance.

• Strengthens recordkeeping and conditions of approval.

Platting and subdivision standards

• Adds minor plat path for small, low-complexity subdivisions.

• Formalizes flag lot standards and limits ambiguity around lot access and frontage.

• Clarifies plat prerequisites, recording requirements and conditions of approval.

• Clarifies requirements for condominium plats.

Transportation, access and road standards

• Strengthens the link between plat approval and required public improvements.

• Clarifies when traffic, access, right-of-way and construction requirements must be resolved.

• Supports coordination with county transportation planning, cities and adjacent jurisdictions.

Conservation subdivisions and context-sensitive design

• Creates standards for conservation subdivision standards design, rather than ad hoc negotiation.

• Encourages clustering and preservation of meaningful open space where appropriate.

• Connects open-space design to drainage, water quality, habitat and rural character objectives.

• Establishes review expectations so conservation tools are not used as density or infrastructure loopholes.

As water has been a major concern for several members of the community, that is also noted in the draft rewrite. The direction, as presented by Freese and Nichols Inc., would be to do the following: consolidate expectations for drainage, stormwater, erosion control and floodplain review; better connect development layout to protect natural drainage systems and sensitive areas; support stronger construction phase controls and post-construction accountability; and improve coordination with regional water-quality objectives and watershed protection concerns.

A large component of the second phase is garnering feedback from the community, as there were multiple open houses held in September 2025 and July 2026. Residents are also still encouraged to provide their feedback on the draft regulations rewrite on the county’s website.

“The community has been very open and honest, which I think has been great. Getting that feedback means that hopefully, we get buy-in from the community through new regulations, but also through new processes and just trying overall to just make a more inclusive and transparent process,” Berlad said. “I know when you say government, everybody has a view of what government is and so, we want to make sure that we're here working for the people, we understand their concerns and we try to address those as best as possible.”

Berlad said he anticipates that the full rewrite will be finalized in the late fall or early winter, in which at that time, it would go before the Hays County Commissioners Court for adoption and an effective date.

To view the full preliminary draft of the development regulations, as well as provide feedback, visit www.hayscountytx.gov/565/Development-Regulations-Re-Write.

Although the fire department was ahead most of the game, the police department pulled away in the end for a 32-28 victory.

The real winner, however, was the community. The event generated food donations and helped raise awareness for families across Hays County, who rely on the food bank’s services.

Justice of the Peace, Precinct 5 Judge Sandra Bryant conducted the coin toss and Buda City Council member Kimberly Goodman presented the trophy.

After tallying on Monday, the food bank shared that a total of 829 pounds was collected from the drive.

Public input will help ensure the plan reflects the needs, values and priorities of the community, stated a Hays County news release.

"The Strategic Plan is about preparing Hays County for the future while keeping community priorities at the center of County decision-making," county administrator Kandice Boutté said. "We encourage everyone interested to share their input as we develop this important roadmap for the years ahead."

The Strategic Plan focuses on five priority areas:

• Community Wellbeing: Improve health, wellness and quality of life for all residents

• Governance, Workforce & Organizational Capacity: Strengthen county services through innovation, efficiency and a strong workforce

• Infrastructure & Sustainable Growth: Support responsible growth through reliable infrastructure, resilient resources and sound long-term planning

• Partnership & Collaboration: Strengthen community outcomes through partnerships, shared resources and coordinated action

• Criminal Justice Modernization: Enhance public safety and access to justice through effective, accountable and data-informed systems

Following the public engagement period, community feedback will be reviewed and incorporated to refine the draft Strategic Plan. The final plan will be presented to the Commissioners Court for consideration and will help guide future budgeting decisions, policy development and implementation efforts.

Community members are encouraged to visit www.hayscountytx.gov/349/Strategic-Plan to:

• Complete a survey by Aug. 26

• Review the draft Strategic Plan

• Indicate their interest in participating in a stakeholder listening session

Questions or comments can be given by phone at (512) 395-4214 or email at strategicplan@hayscountytx.gov.

Ulibarri brings nearly 22 years of public-sector IT leadership and an extensive background in modernizing and strengthening technology operations across large organizations, according to a county news release.

Most recently, he served nine years with Travis County as the director of its ITS Division, where he led teams responsible for software development, enterprise application support, data services and major modernization initiatives. His work included overseeing the implementation of the county’s justice system, launching its data analytics program, leading enterprise Information Technology Service Management (ITSM) improvements and guiding a full redesign of the public website.

Prior to his tenure with Travis County, Ulibarri spent 12 years at the University of Texas at El Paso as director of Technology Implementation. He holds a master’s degree in educational technology from the University of Texas at El Paso, a bachelor’s degree from Eastern New Mexico University and is a Certified Public Manager through Texas State University.

A Hays County resident, Ulibarri lives in Buda with his wife, Cindy. He is actively involved in the community, serving on the city of Buda’s Planning and Zoning Commission and chairing the advisory school board at Santa Cruz Catholic School.

“Hays County is entering a period of rapid growth and transformation and technology plays a vital role in how we meet the needs of our residents. Chris brings the right mix of technical expertise, strategic vision and community understanding to help guide the county forward,” said Hays County Judge Ruben Becerra. “What stood out about Chris was not only his professional track record, but his commitment to this community. Having someone in this role who lives here, serves here and understands the unique challenges of a fast-growing county is invaluable.”

Ulibarri said the opportunity to serve the community he calls home was a major factor in his decision to join Hays County.

“I live in Buda and I’m personally invested in this community and motivated to give back,” Ulibarri said. “The chance to do this work for the county I actually live in was a big draw. Hays County has been one of the fastest-growing counties in Texas and that growth makes it essential that our information technology stays current and capable of serving residents. The county is shaping its strategic priorities for the years ahead and technology will be a big part of that. Getting to help build toward that vision from the ground up is the kind of opportunity that doesn’t come along often. I’m honored by the opportunity and excited to help Hays County advance its technology to better serve a growing community.”

As he steps into the role, Ulibarri says his first priority is listening.

“We have a talented team of IT professionals and I want to understand what’s working and where they need support before making big changes,” he said. “Beyond that, my priorities are delivering on the technology initiatives in the county’s new strategic plan, strengthening our cybersecurity posture as the county grows and making sure every department has the tools and support they need to serve residents well. Government IT works best when it’s invisible — when systems just work and employees can focus on the public rather than fighting technology. That’s the standard I want us to hit.”

“The Healthy Lawns and Healthy Waters Program aims to improve and protect surface water quality by enhancing awareness and knowledge of best management practices for residential landscapes,” said John Smith, AgriLife Extension specialist, College Station.

Attendees will learn about the design and installation of residential rainwater harvesting systems, as well as appropriate turf and landscape species based on local conditions and other practices, according to Smith.

“Management practices, such as using irrigation delivery equipment, interpreting soil test results and understanding nutrient applications, can help reduce runoff and make efficient use of applied landscape irrigation water,” Smith said.

Dean Minchillo, Texas Water Resources Institute program specialist in Dallas, added: “Proper fertilizer application and efficient lawn irrigation can protect and improve water quality in area creeks and collecting rainwater for lawn and landscape needs reduces stormwater runoff.”

Participants can also have their soil tested as part of the training. The soil sample bag and analysis are free to Healthy Lawns and Healthy Waters Program participants.

Residents can pick up a soil sample bag with sampling instructions and the Urban and Homeowner Soil Sample Information Form at the AgriLife Extension office at 200 Stillwater Road Suite 102, Wimberley. Bags containing residents’ soil samples should be returned to the location where they were obtained prior to or by one week after the training; soil samples may also be brought to the training, where they will have soil bags to transfer the sample into, but should not be mailed to the lab.

Samples will be grouped into one submission and sent to the AgriLife Extension Soil, Water and Forage Testing Lab in College Station for routine analysis, including micronutrients, pH, conductivity, nitrate-nitrogen and other parameters.

The training will include information on how to understand soil test results and nutrient recommendations, so residents can interpret results once the analysis is mailed to them.

Attendees who RSVP to the event will receive updates and materials related to the training via email. RSVP online at www.hlhw.tamu.edu/workshops or contact Smith at at john.smith@ag.tamu.edu or 979-204-0573 with any questions.

Geographically, the naturally-occurring, spring-fed river’s history begins long ago, said Wait, when there was simply an ocean, until a giant earthquake occurred, forming the Hill Country. The humans came later, but still inhabited the location for centuries, spanning back 12,000-13,000 years ago, confirmed by Clovis points found by archeologists in the area. These are stone spearheads known to be crafted by Paleo-Americans — some of the oldest humans in North America, Wait explained.

Spring Lake is the river’s headwaters, serving as a direct connection to the San Marcos Springs. Located on the historical Spanish route El Camino Real de los Tejas, or the King’s Highway, this and the area surrounding it is one of the nation’s “persistently inhabited places,” as there weren’t any settlements in the area for a long period of time, but travelers and traders often visited, due to the water source.

Early Spanish explorers actually believed that they had discovered the Fountain of Youth, said Wait, most likely because of the remarkable experience: bubbling water at Spring Lake, with consistent 72-degree water. Though, another group of individuals have a different connection to the headwaters.

According to the deputy director, the Coahuiltecan people believe the springs and the Balcones Fault line — seen at the bottom of the springs — to be the origin of their story.

Ancient cave pictographs on the White Shaman in Comstock depict five dots, all of which line up with the springs of Central Texas — Barton Springs, Comal Springs, San Pedro Springs, San Antonio Springs and, finally, the San Marcos Springs — said Wait. The latter has imagery coming from it, which has been interpreted as the creation of the Coahuiltecan people.

“This space is a sacred space. People [have been] coming here for thousands of years. We’re not even allowed to dig more than six inches out here without having the Center for Archeological Studies out here because we’re going to find something no matter where we dig. So, I think San Marcos is very unique with that,” she said. “We have a set of springs that have never gone dry.”

The river eventually had settlers in the 1800s, when General Edward Burleson set up his homesteads at the headwaters of the river, said Wait. He would be the one to introduce a resolution to establish Hays County, according to the Texas State Historical Commission.

Burleson eventually sold his home to the Rogers family, who is known for constructing Aquarena Springs, the beloved theme park.

Aquarena Springs opened in 1951 and boasted a hotel, glass bottom boats, a submarine theater, an Alpine Swiss Sky Ride and, most notably, Ralph the Swimming Pig and mermaids aka Aquamaids.

“I think in the '70s [and] '80s people really got active, going outside, doing all these weird things, like coming to Aquarena Springs, seeing the swimming pig, seeing the mermaid shows, [but] in the early '90s, people started questioning some things and that’s when things changed here at Spring Lake,” stated Wait.

Some may assume that the river and springs are fed through the Austin portion of the Edwards Aquifer, but Waits noted that it is actually a segment in the San Antonio region. Because of this, infrastructure in the Southwest directly affects the springs.

She noted that the environmentalists realized that the water needed to have protections, due to endangered species. Wait shared that this, the San Antonio infrastructure boom and the oversaturation of amusement parks, such as SeaWorld San Antonio and Six Flags Fiesta Texas, likely contributed to the eventual closure of the theme park in 1996.

Texas State University purchased the park in 1994 and opted to shift its focus to education, rather than entertainment.

Although there have been more efforts to protect the river and the species that call it home, pollution became a large issue as the university began to grow.

A survey done by the organization revealed that 95% of the student population chose the school based on the river.

“This water is supposed to be very clean. We always used to say, ‘This water is 10 times cleaner than EPA standards,’” recalled the deputy director. “I don’t know if that’s correct anymore, but looking at [a 2016] report, there’s all sorts of things in Spring Lake. It’s antidepressants, [per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAs)], a cocaine derivative, birth control, all that stuff is already in the water. Whenever it rains, things get washed into the recharge area [of the aquifer], get settled down and that gets pushed up in the springs.”

The test mentioned was in 2016, but there are still new issues arising, such as lighters or vapes that are found in the water source. She recalled being in her 20s at the river and seeing students throw cans in and laugh: “There definitely needs to be a little bit more of a reform on education on liberal stewardship.”

This year, the city of San Marcos opted to have restricted access to Rio Vista Park, which Wait hopes will help with littering. In turn, the species that reside in the river will have a safer home.

“It’s definitely a pretty healthy ecosystem, whenever you take away all the human traffic. I don’t think the solution is to get rid of recreation. People need to have those kinds of connections to feel something for nature. So, I definitely think recreation is fine; we just have to start educating people,” Wait emphasized.

Spring Lake provides a critical habitat for endangered species, as they prefer the 72-degree clean water, correct pH levels and fast currents, all unique to the San Marcos River. These species include the Fountain Darter, San Marcos Salamander and Texas Wild Rice, said the deputy director.

Those at the Meadows Center and other organizations are constantly learning more about the river, according to Wait. Currently, there is a study going on about the Fountain Darter and a continuous Upper San Marcos Habitat Conservation Plan to manage the environment and conduct plan surveys, remove trash, plant new strands of native species and more.

“I think the best thing is to leave it better than we found it. So, picking up after yourself whenever you leave the river, packing out what you brought in … Just know that you are not the only one using the river. There are other people, but then, there’s also fish and wildlife that depend on that water,” concluded Wait, adding that community members should fight against housing developments and data centers that take away from the springs.

To learn more, visit www.meadowscenter.txst.edu.

PAWS has been operating in Kyle since 1986, serving as a no-kill shelter for Hays County, and opened its second campus in Dripping Springs in 2019.

The most recent news of the shelter closing the Kyle location also follows a similar announcement made last year, when PAWS took to social media to state that it would be temporarily shutting its doors Oct. 31, 2025, due to financial challenges. However, the community banded together at that time to raise more than $66,000 of the nonprofit’s $200,000 goal, as previously reported by the Hays Free Press, allowing the facility to stay open for a few additional months.

Now, according to shelter manager Kristen Weathers, the leadership team has made the decision to wind down day-to-day operations at the Kyle campus, for the same reason.

“It takes a lot to fund both campuses and the amount of monthly donations does not equal the amount of monthly costs,” Weathers said. “We kept it rolling as long as we could and we did as much fundraising and whatnot as we could, but we're just not covering it.”

With the staffing, medical expenses, keeping the surgery suite ready to go and ensuring that the animals have everything they need, it can cost approximately $100,000 to $110,000 per month to operate the campus, said the shelter manager.

To save the mission and remain a shelter for the community, PAWS is transitioning its full focus to the Dripping Springs location at this time. All of the cats have been transferred to the campus or to offsite locations and, as of July 20, there are 11 dogs still remaining in Kyle, but PAWS is slowly transferring them where they need to be, Weathers said.

“I think, overall, it will help us streamline a little bit. There are a lot of logistics bouncing between two shelters, whether getting foster animals dropped off, so they can make transport to come over for surgery and then, vice versa,” the shelter manager explained. “I think it will help us organize a bit more; hopefully, that'll help us be a bit more efficient.”

Weathers continued that she thinks the staff can still grow the adoptions program, as well as help with the feral cat community in offering spay and neuter.

Weathers shared that while they have “so many amazing donors on a recurring basis,” and knowing that it’s a big ask, PAWS would need to tap into some type of corporate sponsorship or individual donors who are capable of providing larger amounts for the Kyle campus to reopen again in the future.

“It’s not what we wanted to do. We tried. We did our best. We did a lot of work in Kyle, getting [the campus] cleaned up, revamped,” she concluded. “A lot of maintenance things were handled. A lot of infrastructure types of things. We really had the intent to keep everything going status quo, but it just didn't shake out that way.”

An effective date on when operations will close at PAWS’ Kyle campus is to be determined. The Dripping Springs campus is located at 2965 Farm to Market 165.

Those looking for more information on fostering, volunteering or donating to support the transition, can visit www.pawsshelter.org.

The nonprofit has installed 14 fully operational public microchip scanning stations across Hays County and is working toward a long-term goal of expanding the network to 20 strategically placed stations, according to a news release. The free stations are available 24-hours-a-day, seven-days-a-week, allowing anyone who finds a lost pet to scan for a microchip and begin the reunification process immediately.

Hill Country Rescue & Recovery has already worked on more than 45 lost dog cases in 2026 alone through its lost pet recovery efforts. The new scanning station network expands that mission by providing residents with a simple, accessible tool to help return lost pets home more quickly.

Unlike traditional handheld scanners that may only be available during business hours, the weather-resistant stations are in accessible community locations throughout Hays County. Each station includes easy-to-follow instructions that guide users through the entire reunification process — from scanning a pet for a microchip to identifying the correct microchip registry and contacting the owner. If no microchip is detected, the signage also provides recommended next steps and local community resources to continue the search for the pet’s family.

The project was developed after recognizing that simply providing access to a scanner is only one part of successful reunification. Clear instructions and readily available resources help community members confidently navigate the process from start to finish.

“Our goal is simple,” said Jennifer Neill, president and founder of Hill Country Rescue & Recovery. “If someone finds a lost pet at 8 p.m. on a Sunday, they shouldn’t have to wait until morning for a shelter or veterinary office to open. Every hour matters when a family is searching for a beloved pet. By making scanners available around the clock, we’re giving our community the tools to reunite pets with their families sooner.”

The network represents Texas’ first public-private partnership of this scale dedicated to building a countywide community microchip scanning network. With support from the Hays County Health Department Animal Division, the Hays County Commissioners Court approved funding to partially fund the program, recognizing the value of proactive, community-based reunification efforts.

Phase One host partners include North Hays County Fire/Rescue, Buda Fire Department, Kyle Fire Department and the program’s flagship location at Fitzhugh Brewing in Dripping Springs.

Hill Country Rescue & Recovery hopes to continue expanding the network through future partnerships in the San Marcos and Wimberley areas. While the organization hopes the stations will reduce unnecessary shelter intakes, it emphasizes that success is measured by one family at a time.

“Helping reunite lost pets with their families is at the heart of everything we do,” Neill said. “We’re under no illusion that this program is going to solve every challenge facing animal welfare. But if this network reduces shelter intake by even 5%, that’s a win and if these stations help get even a handful of lost pets safely off our streets before they’re struck by a vehicle, that’s an even bigger win. Every pet reunited with its family before entering a shelter represents a positive outcome — for the pet, the family and our community.”

Residents are reminded that the safety of both the finder and the pet should always come first, the release continued. The scanning stations should only be used when it is safe to transport or handle a found pet.

For station locations or find additional information on the nonprofit, visit its website at www.hillcountryrescuerecovery.org or follow Hill Country Rescue & Recovery on Facebook at www.facebook.com/hillcountryrescuerecovery.

The positive samples were collected from two separate sites in San Marcos July 7 and these are the first two West Nile Virus-positive mosquito traps reported in Hays County during the 2026 season.

As of July 5, statewide, the DSHS reported 462 positive mosquito traps. At this time, no human cases of WNV have been reported in Hays County.

Mosquitoes are present year-round, but are most active from May through November. Infected mosquitoes can transmit WNV through bites.

Most infected people, or 80%, have no symptoms, while about 20% may develop fever, headache, body aches, rash or other flu-like symptoms. Adults aged 50 and older and people with weakened immune systems are at higher risk for severe illness. Anyone experiencing these symptoms should seek medical attention.

There is currently no treatment for West Nile Virus.

The best way to prevent WNV is to reduce mosquito populations where people live, work and play. Residents can reduce their risk of mosquito bites and WNV infection by following the three Ds: Defend, Dress and Drain.

• DEFEND: Whenever outside, use EPA-approved repellents and always follow label instructions.

• DRESS: Wear long, loose and light-colored clothing outside.

• DRAIN: Drain or treat all standing water in and around the home or workplace where mosquitoes could lay eggs.

HCDS conducts mosquito surveillance from May through November to monitor mosquito populations and mosquito-borne diseases. Mosquitoes are collected using standardized traps and then, sent to the Texas DSHS for identification and arboviral testing. This surveillance helps HCDS track mosquito activity, identify breeding areas and guide prevention and control efforts.

“Hays County is committed to protecting the health and well-being of our residents and we’re staying proactive in monitoring mosquito activity across the county. With traps testing positive for West Nile Virus, it’s important for all of us to take simple steps to stay safe — use insect repellent, wear long sleeves when outdoors and empty any standing water around your home,” said Hays County Judge and Director of Emergency Management Ruben Becerra. “I want to thank our Health Department and Development Services teams for their continued efforts to keep our community informed and protected and we appreciate our residents for doing their part, as well. Together, we can help reduce the risk and keep Hays County safe and healthy.”

For more information regarding mosquito surveillance, visit the Hays County Development Services website or call (512) 393-2150. More information on human risk can be found on the Hays County Health Department's Epidemiology & Disease Prevention website at www.hayscountytx.gov/392/Epidemiology-Disease-Prevention.

The event included multiple educational opportunities, such as how to fold a flag.

In the spring of 2025, Cearbaugh created the Hays County Walking Group after she was inspired by a similar Austin-based group hosted by doula Kristen Lucas, who wanted to be able to bring together mothers, birth workers and children.

“I was like, ‘I love this idea and I want to bring it to Hays County,’” Cearbaugh said.

Building a community for moms, especially in their postpartum season, but also when they are pregnant, is important because they are able to connect with and confide in others who are in the same stage of life, Cearbaugh said.

“It's just something that helps moms get out of the house and be walking, too. The movement aspect is really important because sometimes, we can just get stuck at home easily, with all the things going on with littles, but it's a way to get out of the house, get the movement and be able to confide in other moms,” she explained. “Then, adding in the birth worker aspect, having others that are professionals in the space that can hold space; it just adds another layer of support from the professional standpoint.”

Hannah Acay, mother to a nearly-2-year-old, has been attending the Hays County Walking Group sessions for at least a year, after getting connected with Cearbaugh through another networking opportunity.

Aside from getting out in nature with the little ones, she said that she has enjoyed being around other women who are going through the same experience.

“If you don't have a community, it can be a very lonely space. I really feel like it takes a village and if not to help actually raise the children, then just to keep you mentally up,” Acay said. “I also think exercise and being outdoors is incredibly valuable for mental health and that's very hard to do solo, whether it be for motivation or just getting out and doing the things.”

A typical walking group session looks like meeting at the playground of a local park for everyone to mingle and then, they go on a short walk for no more than a mile to “keep it kind of friendly for every season of life,” Cearbaugh said. Afterwards, they loop back to the playground so that moms can hang out with each other, as well as their children.

Beyond the Hays County Walking Group, Cearbaugh, as a mother of two children, works to “hold space” for women in other ways. She shared that she works with moms in their postpartum season in their home; this looks like doing the laundry, dishes, holding the baby while they take a shower or anything that they need during that time.

She also holds online coaching sessions for moms, creating programs to tailor to her clients’ specific needs.

The Hays County Walking Group currently meets at 9 a.m. the first Thursday of each month. Previously, they were meeting at Stagecoach Park in Buda, Cearbaugh explained, but, after dealing with park closures, that will be changed to Buda Amphitheater & City Park.

Originally, the group was available in San Marcos and Dripping Springs, but, after trying for nine months at each of those locations, Cearbaugh said that she found them to not be as well-attended as the current one in Buda. She is looking forward to expanding it again, if there is enough interest.

The next session will be held Thursday, Aug. 6. Registration for the Hays County Walking Group is not required, but encouraged. For more information, visit www.linktr.ee/sacredmamalove.

According to Constable John Ellen, the accreditation is a program that consists of 174 best practices that reduces risk and liability. An example of a best practice is use of force, said Ellen. To prepare for this, and each of the other qualifications, staff was required to enlist in specific training and document any time it was used in a proof of compliance.

The office also has to turn in annual reports to show that these practices continued long after they were implemented.

Additionally, the entirety of the 12 chapter — each with up to 23 sections — general orders manual had to be rewritten, said Ellen.

The officers had to complete these requirements, while working their regular jobs, so a challenge was having enough people and enough time, he said. Despite this, he noted that the office already had a high standard, so instead of changing a lot, it was more so focused on documenting the practices they had already implemented.

Following the completion of these tasks, an on-site visit was done by the TPCA. This includes two law enforcement professionals that spend several days with the office, going through policies and procedures, completing ride-alongs and more. Ellen described the process as “grueling,” though it was actually completed in less hours than other offices, he bragged.

“[The initial training] took us a little bit over two years and, according to the assessors that came out, that’s about normal for an agency our size. However, I guess it usually takes them around 16 hours to do a [visit at] an agency of our size and it took them between seven to eight to do ours. They said that they hadn't seen one that was that well put together and that well-documented. So, that was a huge compliment,” said the constable.

The achievements didn’t stop at the compliment and the accreditation itself, Ellen shared, as he discovered that out of the 1,000 constable’s offices in the state, Hays County's Precinct 5 was only the fifth to achieve the award.

“It’s a huge step forward for us; it’s a huge step forward for the county. It’s something that, I hope, will be the standard for our county. One of the things I would like to see is all five of our constable’s offices and the sheriff’s office be accredited agencies,” said Ellen.

The accreditation is more than just a title, as it provides credibility to the office, while setting up a high-standard roadmap for law enforcement to abide by. According to the constable, the office will have to undergo re-accreditation in four years.

“This precinct has always worked really, really hard to have high standards and provide the best law enforcement service we possibly can and this is just a written indication of standards by which we operate … This victory goes to the people who work here. It’s not my leadership; it’s the quality of people we have serving our citizens that is really the reason we were able to do this,” concluded Ellen.

The Precinct 5 Constable’s Office was recognized by the Hays County Commissioners Court during its June 23 meeting.

To learn more about the accreditation, visit www.texaspolicechiefs.org/accreditation.