The investigation first began in April after the district received reports of a "potentially serious pattern of bullying" involving varsity and junior varsity players. The Hays County Sheriff's Office is acting in partnership, after the discovery that some of the alleged activity may warrant warrant criminal activity. 

As a result, Hays CISD suspended 10 students and, at the time, head coach Jacob Kaase. Although the investigation is ongoing, the district sent an email to parents that noted that, "the superintendent has determined that Lehman High School will benefit from a change in leadership within the baseball program."

Coach Kaase remains on paid administrative leave, while the school district’s separate, administrative investigation into the matter continues. If Kasse is cleared in the investigation, he will be reassigned to another position in the district, said the district. 

The job opening will go online later this week.

 "Student safety is paramount and we continue to extend our appreciation for your trust and confidence as we navigate this process," concluded the district. 

According to its website, the Kyles — Claiborne and Lucy — moved to Gonzales from Mississippi, prior to settling in Kyle. The Kyles owned more than 2,000 acres of land along the Blanco River, where they raised animals and enslaved more men and women — 38 — than others in the county.

On this land, they built the four-pen dogtrot log home in 1850 for their nine children, one of whom later died. The rare building is still in its original location, which is what makes it special, shared Claiborne Kyle Log House Commission chairman Kate Johnson.

“It’s the only one of its kind in the southwest in its original location,” she said. “It was made of cedar logs, square notched at the ends and put together by pegs [and] the roof is cedar shake shingles.”

Typically, a dogtrot home, which has an open center and leads to rooms on either side, only has two rooms, but the Claiborne house has four.

Johnson emphasized that there is great history in the house and even more waiting to be discovered, as there are archeological studies being prepared to determine more information. For example, there is currently a search for other foundational properties in the area, three of which have been discovered. There has also been pottery found in the ground — potentially the first artifacts of Claiborne and Lucy.

“There are just wonderful stories in this house, so I can’t wait to tell [visitors] about it and then, for them to learn about the archeological studies that they’re going to do out here. They’ll kind of grow up; the youngsters will grow up with this house, which is great,” she said.

Not only is there archeological history, but city history, as well. One of the Kyles’ sons was Fergus Kyle — former Confederate captain — whom the town was named after.

Although excited for the opening, Johnson acknowledged that there is immense work to be done to bring the house back to its former glory, such as new flooring, windowsills, foundation and more. Still, she and the other commission members are ready to let community members back into the house to learn more on tours, beginning at the end of May, each Saturday from noon to 4 p.m.

“I mean, we can’t just wait ’til we get everything finished,” said the chairman. “It’s important that we show people how it’s going to be evolving through time and I hope they come along for the ride … This house is one of the jewels of Hays County and there’s nothing like it elsewhere. We need to preserve and protect it and once you come out here, you’ll just fall in love with the place.”

She noted that in order to run these tours, volunteers are needed. For those interested, call Johnson at 512-644-7669.

The Claiborne Kyle Log House is located at 2400 Old Stagecoach Road. For more information, visit www.kyleloghouse.org.

Back in the early 2000s, one of the school’s founding faculty members, Debra Flynn, crafted the idea of having totems — or pillars — of LHS, which are integrity, wisdom and pride. Since the first graduating class, a boy and girl student were selected to represent the totems for each school year.

The awards have continued and blossomed into being more inclusive, regardless of gender, honoring the students who best fit the school’s motto, said Jennifer Guinn, LHS Advanced Placement English teacher, who helped take over the program in 2019 when Flynn retired.

“We were seeing our first graduating class back in [2007] and [we] just wanted to make sure that we started traditions that honored our students,” she said.

The students are nominated for the awards by LHS teachers and staff. Then, the students submit essays on how they exhibit one or more of the totems for judging. The panel this year consisted of Hays CISD board trustee Raul Vela, LHS principal James Cruz, former ROTC Commander John Berry and several other teachers on campus, Guinn explained.

“It's March that we typically send an email out to the staff and to nominate students that might fit one of those categories. I think March 28 was the deadline this year for them to be nominated and the kids have about two weeks, maybe three, to actually write an essay on why they are worthy of that particular nomination,” said Orlando De La Fuente, AP environmental science teacher, who also helps organize the program. “Then, we filter that to the panel. The panel goes through the essays and then, we meet as a group to kind of hash things out and the winners are chosen.”

The awards are important because they can reflect on their time in high school and how they have evolved from freshman to seniors, Guinn shared.

Senior Kyia Miller, for example, reflected on her time in athletic competitions: "Going to powerlifting competitions and hearing the whispers about ‘Lehman is here’ in a respectful tone is always nice. Usually, when sports go against Lehman, they assume they’re going to have an easy win, but with powerlifting, it’s different,” read an excerpt from her essay. “I take pride in hearing the positive recognition about Lehman rather than the negative. I will always be proud to be one of the captains of the powerlifting team because of the hard work they put into the sport, and the positive outcomes that come with it. These positive outcomes shift people’s views of Lehman, showing that we can achieve excellence.”

A couple of other seniors — Frank Ramirez and Sheyla Muro — also shared excerpts from their essays, noting what they have learned throughout high school and how they exhibit the tenets of the school’s motto.

"Those on the outside of my school or even some of those within who do not truly understand it may not see what there is to be proud of here, but those who have come to understand this school as I have, see — not a perfect school — but a community that is undoubtedly worth appreciating,” Ramirez wrote.

"Pride, for me, started at home. It was shaped by my parents, who came to this country as Mexican immigrants and built a life for our family through hard work and sacrifice,” Muro wrote. “Watching them, growing up, taught me that pride is not about recognition; it is about resilience, responsibility and representing your roots with integrity.”

The following student recipients were recognized Wednesday, May 13, at the senior awards ceremony.

Integrity:

Maribel Camacho Duran

Joshua Power

Wisdom:

Stella Becirovic

Gabriela Correa

Pride:

Mylei Donahue

Kyia Miller

According to Guinn and De La Fuente, the students' names will be displayed in the halls of the school to inspire future generations. They will also receive a glass acrylic star award.

“It’s a very important discussion that we need to have,” began Moheet.

Before he can bring a proposed budget later in the summer, he stated that the city’s current approved budget must be discussed to learn how it got to its current financial position.

The fiscal year (FY) 2025-26 budget is $603,883,180, including $460,359,255 or 76.2% for capital improvement projects (CIP): “CIP translates into debt; we have to borrow to pay for this stuff,” Moheet said.

This CIP funding is part of a five-year $1.27 billion spending plan, which includes 125 proposed projects. The plan is separated into $490.1 million of tax supported projects and $781 million of non-tax supported CIPs. The latter includes initiatives, such as the wastewater plant expansion and tax incremental reinvestment zones (TIRZ), paid through utility rates and incremental tax revenue.

“As we speak, the city of Kyle owes $385.3 million. This is after the February payment we made,” said Moheet, noting that $163 million — the largest portion — is for water utility infrastructure, including the city’s agreement with Alliance Regional Water Authority to bring water in from the Carrizo-Wilcox Aquifer.

Items, such as road improvements, take up the property tax portion, with $156 million, followed by TIRZ one and two — $8 million and 17 million, respectively — and wastewater rates at $40 million.

Moheet explained that the contributing factors for the debt are:

• The number of CIP projects (125) — “There are some that are musts; there are some that are ‘nice to haves.’”

• Funding requirements for the $1.27 billion CIP spending plan

• Expedited timing of CIP project phasing — “We’ve been going 100-miles an hour trying to build everything at one time. We’re going to have to slow down … We can’t afford all of these.”

• Changes in project scope

• Increases in project cost estimates

“One of the things I’d like to emphasize is that the bonds for the city are like you buying your house. I took out a loan to buy my house; I could not have afforded it [otherwise],” explained council member Lauralee Harris. “It’s very similar to the debt that the city incurs. We’ve got to have the water; we have a 17-year-old agreement to do that … In order for us to supply the water that the city is now needing, due to its growth and its new development … it’s what we have to do. It’s like our house payment.”

Transitioning into how these debts are paid, the interim city manager noted the $0.1264, or 26.9%, tax rate increase from 2025 to 2026, stating that council member Michael Tobias was the only one on the dais at that time to vote against this “huge bump.”

A conversation then began between Harris and Moheet. She asked whether this tax rate increase was due to not only bonds approved by voters, but also by council, such as water and road work. He confirmed that, yes, these have impacted the tax rate, but that council also voted to add $4.7 million to pay future debt — a debt defeasance — increasing the tax rate.

“And [that] also allowed us to pay less interest, ultimately, if we’re paying it off early,” added Harris.

Moheet rebutted, “You did save some interest money, but the question is: Was it necessary? Did it have enough economic value to offset the tax burden we increased?”

Harris defended the former council, stating that they saw the numbers and decided that the burden was, in fact, worth it.

Regarding sales tax, the presentation stated that the current 8.25% sales tax is distributed into: 6.25% for the state, 1% for the city’s general operations; 0.50% for the city’s property tax reduction; and 0.50% for Hays County.

The projections for sales and property tax — the largest revenue generations for the city — were incorrect, explained Mohett. Projections for the fiscal year totaled $78.6 million, including $21.7 million in property taxes and $22.2 million in sales and beverage taxes. But with revenues now estimated at approximately $74.5 million, the city has begun drawing from reserve funds intended to maintain a financial cushion equal to 25% of annual operating expenses, as required by the city charter.

Also included in the budget are the four major operating funds:

• $75.4 million for general fund

• $28.1 million for water utility

• $11.1 million for wastewater utility

• $2.8 million storm damage utility

After reviewing the decreasing fund balance over the last few years, Tobias expressed concern about where the money went.

“Five years ago, our total operating expense was $34 million and then, if you move … to actual [spent] in 2024-25, it went to $68 million. Then, when you look at the budget that we approved for this year, it went up to $77 million,” said Moheet. “We doubled it in five years, that’s almost 127% [increase]. So, that explains some of that question you had: 'What happened to the fund balance? Where did it go?' It got eaten up by expenditures that kept going up. The revenues didn’t go up that fast.”

Harris, again, explained the decisions made previously, stating that council knew the spending was increasing, but that there were definite reasons “that we were behind on things that we should have been paying attention to and weren’t. So, we’re now paying attention to them.” The spending may appear over-the-top, she continued, but it may not have been.

“Well, it’s always over the top when you don’t have enough revenue to pay those bills,” said Mayor Yvonne Flores-Cale.

One of the areas that has tripled in cost is staffing, said interim deputy Finance director Andy Alejandro. In 2021, the city had 282 approved full-time employees, while, currently, there are 471. When it comes to removing some of these positions, Moheet stated that he will be looking for redundancies.

Another line item he will be reviewing closely is overtime spending.

“Overtime has increased by nearly $1 million, or 145.84% over [the past five years],” said Alejandro. “Overtime is a significant and growing cost pressure across multiple departments and will be a focus, as we work to manage operating costs going forward.”

According to the interim city manager, $1.3 million — of the $1.6 million estimated costs of overtime — exceeds what was budgeted for. Council had previously approved $300,000 for overtime costs, a number that has not been suitable for more than five years, as the lowest amount spent was in 2020, with $684,000, according to agenda documents.

The greatest portion comes from the police department, which is estimated to have $1,093,042 in overtime. This, Moheet stated, is due to having police presence at events, council meetings and more.

Tobias stated that council will need to decide how to proceed with city events, if they want to continue, to amend these costs, whether that is outsourcing companies to be there or changing what constitutes overtime.

In a slide presenting debt service, it was revealed that in 2026, the city will pay $26 million in debt service strictly for the general fund. This does not include debt service for other funds.

“The message here, council, is that we cannot sustain a $1.3 billion CIP program, period,” stressed Moheet. “We have to reevaluate, reexamine how we do our CIP planning … We’re going to separate the must haves from wants.”

After presenting the current factors for the city's predicament, Holly Holt-Torres, assistant director of financial services, shared the total amount needed in order to re-balance the general fund budget. Based on estimates determined through collaboration with city departments, there is a $14,173,372 deficit, which is the result of a $4.6 million shortfall in FY 2025-26 revenues, combined with the amount needed to maintain the minimum reserve fund balance.

The city charter requires the minimum fund balance to be at 25% of the operating expenses, which is $19.8 million. The expected FY 2025-26 beginning fund balance was $19.2 million. However, after reviewing audited results from FY 2024-25, the city is now “projecting a beginning fund balance of $14.98 million,” said Holt-Torres. Due to remedying the revenue short fall, the ending balance is now estimated to be $10.3 million. Therefore, $9.5 million needs to be recovered to meet the minimum reserve fund balance.

“This information was shared with prior leadership and then, there was a request made to remove [the $14,173,372] line to show [the gap to instead be] $9.5 million level,” disclosed Holt-Torres, after Flores-Cale noted that earlier in the year, council was told there was only a $9.5 million shortfall.

Tobias shared that he feels frustrated, as he has always trusted city leadership to provide accurate information, which seems to not have been the case, according to accounts by Moheet and Holt-Torres.

Although there are some shortfalls in the other core funds, they are not as extreme as the general fund.

“I just want to say that this is not the end all,” said Flores-Cale. “We are going to move forward; the road bond is going to move forward. How we move forward is going to depend on our priorities as a council and our residents. This is not the end all. We are going to be fine. I have no doubt that our leadership is going to take us into a productive, successful direction.”

Moheet and his team will bring back options for reorganizing the CIP projects, staffing and more at a budget meeting Saturday, June 13.

“This is a net result of those [financial] decisions over the years. You can’t get around it. We have to own it and when we own it, we need to move forward. We have to take this organization in a different direction over the next 12 to 24 months,” said Moheet. “When I bring the proposed budget [in a few months] … it’ll be a balanced budget.”

To listen to the discussion, visit bit.ly/4v1RmmJ.

The investigation, which started in August 2024, by the HCSO Animal Control Unit and Criminal Investigations Division (CID) uncovered a pattern of unsafe animal transport conditions and deceptive business practices used to mislead the facility's customers.

On Aug. 20, 2024, two dogs being transported by EZ Dog Stay and Play employee Taylor Roberts, 25, of Dale, died after spending several hours in the rear area of a cargo van without adequate air conditioning or ventilation. Both animals arrived deceased at an Austin emergency veterinary clinic, with a recorded body temperature of 110 degrees Fahrenheit — the maximum reading on the clinic's thermometer — and veterinary staff determined both dogs died of heat stroke. 

The investigation revealed that the van used to transport the dogs lacked proper climate control in the area where the animals were carried. Furthermore, multiple former employees had raised concerns about unsafe transportation conditions to the business owner — Evan Zwerneman, 35, of Elgin, prior to this incident; however, the owner failed to adequately address those concerns.

Through site inspections by animal control officers, it was further revealed that Zwerneman advertised transportation and boarding services that did not reflect the actual conditions animals experienced while in the facility’s care. The false and misleading representations to customers included advertising "kennel free suite" options that did not exist. Zwerneman also claimed he resided on the property to provide continuous oversight of boarded animals, particularly notable due to the lack of fire suppression systems, however this was determined to be false.

As a result of the investigation, HCSO CID obtained warrants on Zwerneman and Roberts and both surrendered themselves to the Hays County Jail April 17, 2026.

Zwerneman was charged as follows and released on a total bond of $14,000.

• Cruelty to non-livestock animal causing serious bodily injury or death, third-degree felony (two counts)
• Cruelty to non-livestock animal by cruel or unusual transport, Class A misdemeanor
• Deceptive business practice, Class A misdemeanor (three counts)

Roberts was charged as follows and released on a total bond of $8,000.

• Cruelty to non-livestock animal causing serious bodily injury or death, third-degree felony (two counts)
• Cruelty to non-livestock animal by cruel or unusual transport, Class A misdemeanor

EZ Dog Stay and Play remains in operation. Pet owners who believe their animals may have been harmed while in the care of EZ Dog Stay and Play or anyone with information related to this case are encouraged to contact Detective Jessica Barkley at jessica.barkley@hayscountytx.gov.

At approximately 2 a.m. Sunday, May 17, KPD received a Flock alert regarding a stolen vehicle traveling in the area of the 19020 block of IH-35. Officers then quickly located the vehicle, which had been reported as stolen from the Houston area.

When officers attempted to conduct a traffic stop, the driver fled before crashing the vehicle. All occupants were taken into custody without further incident: the driver, David Enrique Reyes, 21, of Henderson, was charged with evading arrest/detention with a motor vehicle, unauthorized use of a motor vehicle and a parole violation warrant related to prior felony offenses; Ronnie Craig Carter, 23, of Houston, was arrested on an outstanding probation violation warrant for possession of a prohibited weapon; and Nancy Chirinos Alfaro, 24, of Missouri City, was charged with unauthorized use of a motor vehicle. 

Officers also recovered several items inside the vehicle consistent with burglary tools. KPD believes the group may have been traveling to the city to commit vehicle burglaries or steal additional vehicles. 

“This type of criminal activity will not be tolerated in Kyle,” said KPD Chief Jeff Barnett. “I am thankful for the quick actions of our officers that prevented additional crimes. We will continue to proactively protect the community and send a clear message that if you come to Kyle intending to commit crimes, you will be arrested.” 

Vendors from banks to housing facilities, such as Buda Oaks Assisted Living and Memory Care, were present. 

Turner hopes to encourage imaginative play, which includes several “stores” for children to get creative and play pretend. The cafe is “where wonder, play and coffee meet,” according to its website.

The business has a dedicated toddler area near the cafe, while children from 18 months to 8 years old can enjoy the other playscapes.

This item follows the execution of a memorandum of understanding between the city and Hays County in August 2025, which combined forces for animal services, a Kyle Vista Park buildout and a Hays County building.

The project, also dubbed the Eastside Campus, consists of a 40-year ground lease for a 13.220-acre tract, located off of Dacy Lane, with set renewals. Additionally, the building would adhere to both Kyle and Hays County architectural standards.

Total payment for the property and an opportunity cost premium equates to $3,750,000, which would go toward the Kyle Vista Park buildout. The county payment would also be reinvested back into the site, including amenities, roads, landscaping, trails and more.

Hays County Administrator Kandice Boutte shared that the county has approved $100 million toward this project, which will not affect the tax rate, and would require no cost or responsibilities from the city of Kyle.

After background from Rosie Truelove, executive director of strategic development, Nick Thanos, of Kitchell, shared a presentation with council.

Kitchell was hired by Hays County more than a year ago to manage the project. Within this year, the company has conducted a Needs Assessment and negotiations with the city, as well as developed a conceptual design, allowing for the creation of a project budget, said Thanos. Now, they are wrapping up the schematic design and are in the process of procuring services for a construction manager at risk and commission agent.

The design team consists of Miles Vandewalle and Steven Knowles from HDR.

“We had the pleasure of working with the commissioners and also with staff and leadership from Hays County to really figure out what this building could be, especially if it’s going to be put in the city of Kyle as an extension of all the services that they have,” said Knowles.

There will be approximately 175 employees at the facility across 26 departments, including Human Resources, County Services, Auditor, County Clerk, Juvenile Probation, Elections and more.

The timber frame building will be built using local materials, such as stone and wood elements, and includes a “living room” concept for its visitors.

“The idea of this two-story living room space [is] so, as you’re sitting there waiting for taxes or maybe taking care of some other needs that you have within Hays County, it really becomes a place to sit and relax,” explained Knowles.

Because of the other amenities and facilities planned to be in the area, he emphasized that they made sure to include a nice front lawn that has walking paths and could be used for events.

The amount of glass was a largely discussed topic amongst council, beginning with council member Courtney Goza asking, “How are we doing to manage the reflective qualities, protect it from extreme hailstorms that we might have, [etc]?”

Knowles stated that the timber frame building makes the glass feel bigger than it actually is, but that, additionally, it is higher performance, meaning that it shades those inside and has minimal glare.

Having worked in a facility with large amounts of glass before, council member Michael Tobias stated that the effect on temperature is something to be noted, as it gets extremely hot and cold.

“If we are going to be very conscious about cost savings and energy savings, it’s something to really consider when we’re designing these buildings. Yes, it is beautiful, but we are in Central Texas, so something to look at,” said Tobias, adding that he would like to see rooms for meetings and open houses.

Goza also emphasized the use of native plants and rainwater retention, which he shared was initially brought up by the commissioners, as well.

Sharing these concerns was council member Lauralee Harris, who asked for bird safe glass, as well as for more information about water conservation to be presented at a later date.

“This is an excellent opportunity to actually do a One Water building. They are more and more popular [and] they are wonderful for the environment,” said Harris. “There’s really no reason not to do them anymore.”

According to the Watershed Association, One Water is “an integrated planning and implementation approach to managing finite water resources for long-term resilience and reliability, meeting both community and ecosystem needs.” A local example is Blue Hole Primary School in Wimberley.

“I’m seeing the vision [and] I like what I’m hearing,” said council member Marc McKinney. “I’m tremendously excited to be able to offer these services in particular, [with] easier access to my eastside residents and there’s so many benefits that are going to come from this, once it’s all said and done.”

Mayor Yvonne Flores-Cale was “torn with this whole project,” not only because it was allegedly donated for parkland — which she would like feedback from residents on this change — but also because it is directly near Chapa Middle School.

She was concerned about the lack of a traffic study, as there was a child previously hit, due to the amount of cars traveling in this area. Staff stated that they have requested an existing traffic analysis, but will conduct another, if needed.

Furthermore, the mayor expressed concern of the individuals on probation at this facility, when some cannot come within 100 feet of a school.

Harris noted that some of those individuals on probation are low income and it is difficult for them to make it to their court sessions in San Marcos, so perhaps they could simply ensure that the high risk cases are not assigned to the Eastside Campus.

“We really wanted to give an update to the council on our concept, so we could get that feedback. So, we welcome that discussion, that dialogue with you all, as well as other citizens,” concluded Boutte.

Adding to this was Precinct 2 Commissioner Michelle Cohen, who emphasized that “this building is going to bring all these essential services to an area that historically [has] been underserved and undervalued. So, I just want you to all understand that this is a huge thing for this community and we definitely want to take your feedback.”

To listen to the discussion, visit bit.ly/4u3eKjA. Kyle City Council will next meet at 7 p.m. May 19.

Community members were invited to respond to several questions, such as: What do you like most about living in Kyle? What’s needed now and in the future in your community? Do you feel safe being outside at most times of the day? One resident noted that they felt there is no respect for seniors and that many jobs do not hire locally. Several attendees stated that they felt safe, while one detailed that they are unable to, due to lack of lighting at night. Many also requested that transportation for older adults be added to the city. The responses, according to Aguino, will be summarized and used to inform the efforts by the Board on Aging at the June 29 meeting.

Previously, during his time as a pastor, Trey Williams and his family visited his sister for Thanksgiving outside of Denver, where a church service was held in the parking lot of a large apartment complex. The unique venue was due to the church’s goal of feeding 5,000 people for the holiday and the Williams family immediately jumped in to help.

Williams also discovered that the church had a program to send food home with kids who do not have enough to eat at home on the weekends — hearing this made him want to bring a similar idea to Central Texas.

“I felt like God was calling me out of being a pastor because He had something else for me,”  Williams recalled from back in 2018.

He connected with Esperanza Orosco with Hays CISD, who had the same idea of launching a weekend food security program — HaysHope2Go — that was designed to help feed kids beyond what is served to them during the school day and they began working with Uhland Elementary School before the COVID-19 pandemic.

In order to have sufficient funding for both the programs in Central Texas, along with that in Guatemala — a special place for Williams that dates back to his time as a pastor — Williams launched his nonprofit, Ancora Ministries.

“The idea is that our kids eat free breakfast and lunch at school Monday through Friday. So, we know they're getting 10 meals a week that meet their nutritional requirements, but about 20% of the kids, more or less, that are getting free breakfast and lunch, that's kind of the baseline that we use like we know that those kids, it's not that the refrigerator is empty. It's just that there's not enough to eat,” Williams explained. “They might get a hot dog and chips or they're getting maybe a piece of chicken and something else, but they're never getting enough to eat where that feeling of being hungry goes away. So, the idea of our program is, let's fill those gaps to make sure that their tummies can be full on Saturday and Sunday, so that when they show up on Monday morning, they're not counting the minutes to lunchtime.”

There are 11 items in the food bags every week, with five different menu options, in order to give the kids variety, Williams said. The staple items include microwavable macaroni and cheese, ramen noodle cups and peanut butter cups. Other items that change from week to week are: two sweet snacks — cereal bars, fruit snacks, pudding, etc. — and two salty snacks, like Goldfish, popcorn and almonds, as well as alternating between animal or graham crackers.

The criteria Ancora Ministries uses for the food items it puts in the backpack bags is as follows:

•   Non-perishable

•   Kid-friendly

•   Maintaining a $5 cost per bag

•   Being able to fit the items in a plastic, non-see-through bag so that it can go inside a child’s backpack

•   Name brands

“We want to feed them, but we also want to communicate to them, ‘You are worth Kellogg's. You are worth Kraft.’ It is worth paying a few cents extra on every bag to make these little micro-investments into their sense of self-worth week after week and year after year,” Williams said. “So, when someone asks me if they can do a food drive, I always tell them, ‘Yes and here are the only three things or four things that I want you to collect. And it has to be exactly [these] or we are not going to give it to our kids.’"

The program is not specific to one school district, as Williams stated that he got connected with Dripping Springs ISD in 2022, which wanted something similar, launching Dripping with Hope. There are also some campuses in Austin and Lockhart, as well as charter schools, that partner with the nonprofit.

All of the backpack food programs within Ancora Ministries that help with this are under the Feed Kids Right Now umbrella, but, because there are 52 schools that are involved, only a few have their own brand name.

Ancora Ministries works directly with the teachers and counselors at the schools to ensure that the students who are needing the extra help receive it, while also maintaining their privacy. Each school has a different culture, Williams said, so the nonprofit works with its partners to distribute the bags in a way that protects that.

“Once a week, we bring bins full of these backpack bags to each of our partner schools and our counselors and educators, they pass them out discreetly and each school kind of has their own way of doing it because we always want to protect the dignity of our kids. We want to make sure that they feel safe getting it,” Williams said. “We really rely on our schools to figure out the best way for their particular campus culture to distribute those bags, so that the kids aren't worried about being seen or outed for not having enough to eat.”

Another component of protecting the students’ privacy is that only the school partners know who the kids are, as Ancora Ministries is only given the number of students they need to provide for each week.

Since the beginning of the Feed Kids Right Now program, Ancora Ministries has helped serve approximately 700,000 meals to students in Central Texas and just this year alone, since January, 130,000 meals have been provided.

Williams explained that they also started sending out anonymous end-of-the-year surveys to students and educators “to make sure that we are doing the best that we can.” The feedback showed that last year, 55-60% of educators saw improvements — concentration, behavior, academic performance and health — in their students and those numbers have jumped to 60-70% this year.

“Week after week, year after year, we know that having a full tummy means you are at your best. If I don't have lunch, I'm grumpy and distracted and I'm a grown man. If I'm an eight-year-old kid and I'm dealing with that, what chance do I have, really, to be at my best? We're seeing this data from our educators saying: because these kids are getting this [food], their best is better than it used to be,” he said.

Ancora Ministries delivers the food bags to Hays CISD schools on Wednesday mornings and to Dripping Springs ISD, Lockhart, Austin and Kyle/Buda charter schools on Thursday mornings. Then, unless there is a holiday and it’s moved to a day prior, the schools distribute the bags to students on Fridays.

The nonprofit is funded through the “generosity of people who don't think kids should be hungry,” according to Williams, so donations are welcomed. For more information on the programs and Ancora Ministries, visit www.ancoraministries.org/home.

According to assistant director of Finance Joshua Chronley, the idea for the six-month pilot program began last year when several former council members were “very interested in just trying to help people as the economy was going through some unknowns.” Then, $60,000 was allocated inside of the fiscal year (FY) 2025-26 water utilities budget for the program.

Although council had expressed a need to help residents, it wasn’t until Chronley brought forward UCAP earlier this year that the program began to form.

Originally, staff looked for a partnership to do verification for need for applicants, but the cost was going to exceed the amount of relief that the city was going to be able to provide. So, the city is instead doing it itself.

“The idea is that residents can get assistance on any of these utility bills tied to [the city of] Kyle. So, if they are a Kyle water user, if they are a wastewater user, if they use us for storm water or their trash and they’re experiencing financial hardship, they could be eligible for some short-term relief,” explained the assistant director. “That relief can come in the form of [paying] an outstanding balance. We can apply up to $600 per individual or per account holder of relief to try to help them. That’s usually about three or four months worth of a utility bill, depending on the nature of how many services they have and what their utilization levels are.”

Those using Kyle utility services can apply through a self-attestation model, meaning that customers certify themselves that they are experiencing financial hardship. Each account holder that is approved is able to utilize the entirety of the $600, whether it is all at once or throughout the year, meaning someone on a fixed income could use $50 a month to make bills more manageable over a period of time. This information would be explained in the application to better inform staff on what type of aid is needed.

Mayor Yvonne Flores-Cale stated that although limited, a program like this can positively impact the lives of residents: “I’ve heard from water users who have had to make difficult choices, like deciding between paying their water bill and buying medication or thinking twice about having friends and family visit, due to the water cost burden … Even a temporary program like this can provide a little breathing room for families who are doing their best to stay current. Water is not optional, and when costs rise or times get tough, that small measure of support can be the difference between staying afloat and falling behind.”

Although $60,000 was budgeted, only $30,000 is being used for the time being, but Chronley stated that if more funding is needed before the six months are up, then staff would ask council for approval.

After the pilot program ends, he stated that statistics will be brought back to council to determine if the aid should continue.

“[We’ll ask] of the roughly 19,000 customers we have, what does our application rate look like? What type of relief is being requested during this pilot period. Are applications mostly coming from people who have existing balances, who are already behind, or are they coming from customers who are just experiencing short-term interruptions to their income supply,” he said. “Then, for the budget discussions for FY 2027, we will be including [the option of] potentially doing this full time.”

Though the future of UCAP will be determined at a later date, Flores-Cale stressed that she hopes to create an environment where residents do not need to depend on aid.

“The goal is to build a city where people can afford to live, work and raise their families without that kind of strain,” said the mayor. “When times get tough, we should be there to lend a hand. That’s part of who we are. That’s also why we should support our nonprofits, who fill a gap. But our focus must be on the bigger picture, making sure this is a community that works for everyone, from students finding their footing to families putting down roots.”

To learn more information or to apply for UCAP, visit bit.ly/4mQZS54.

Prior to the regular meeting and following executive session, council member Michael Tobias motioned to approve director of Finance Perwez Moheet as the interim city manager, following the resignation of Bryan Langley, in a 6-1 vote, with council member Lauralee Harris dissenting.

“He has served the city of Kyle since 2010 as our city’s Finance director and with more than four decades of public service, he brings steady leadership, deep institutional knowledge and a calm presence that has earned the respect and trust of staff and everyone who has had the opportunity to work with him. Simply put, he is someone people believe in and that matters in moments like this. As we head into budget season and continue the important work before us, I am confident he will help guide our city with clarity and purpose,” said Mayor Yvonne Flores-Cale on social media after the meeting.

Beginning in regular session, park planning and project manager Will Atkinson stated that this is the first time the city has had a Public Art Master Plan. In collaboration with the community, council, Arts and Cultural Board and the Parks and Recreation Board, “the plan establishes a foundational framework to guide how public art is planned, funding opportunities and how art integrates into our public spaces over time, supporting placemaking, cultural identity and long-term community value,” Atkinson explained.

After introducing the item, he invited Todd Bressi, public art consultant for Kyle, who reviewed the recommendations of the plan for council as the “final step of the process, which began last May.”

He shared that the purpose of a public art plan is to create a vision and goals for the city, identify opportunities and issues and outline implementation approaches. Because of this, Bressi clarified that it will not have a list of specific projects or funding.

Continuing on, he noted that there was immense support for public art from community members that filled out surveys, with less than a third expressing concerns about fiscal responsibility and divisive art.

“The goals are a bit more of focus statements about what are the specific things the city will try to accomplish and these are really driven by other city policies and by the feedback we got from the public. These include: making sure that public art really is expressive of what Kyle is and who Kyle is and what it’s all about [and] focusing on things that enhance residents' quality of life in places where people go in a community, like parks and recreational facilities,” said the consultant.

Potential locations include city-owned facilities, such as the library or parks, destination areas, VYBE Trails and more. Additionally, ideas involving community participation on small pieces, such as utility boxes, and temporary exhibitions with poetry, art and history were mentioned.

He stated that each of the art pieces don’t have to necessarily be a decorative element, as they could be functional. For example, there could be a garden or a splash area for children that is decorated with mosaic.

Other opportunities include murals, statues, art as bridge elements and more, all of which could lead to a future where “every visitor to Kyle encounters public art and remembers it as what makes Kyle a unique place for them to come and visit,” said Bressi.

As far as funding, the consultant stated that there could be donations of artwork, requiring artwork in development agreements, public art incentives through tax increment reinvestment zones, partnerships and more.

Ultimately, Bressi recommended focusing on the aforementioned art ideas and for council to encourage community proposals and incentivize art in private development, while creating an identity for the city.

“Even though there are hard decisions and challenges, public art can be a binding force. It can ground the city in its past, present and future. It can connect people across generations and across neighborhoods. It can reflect the best of Kyle’s traditions, its desire for connections and forward thinking,” concluded Bressi.

Flores-Cale praised the ability for council to choose locations for the art throughout the city, rather than the decisions being predetermined in the plan, adding that this is a “big step forward” for the city. Tobias shared the same sentiment, stating that he was in full support of the item.

The Public Art Master Plan was approved 7-0.

Next steps include preparing the Public Art Annual Work Plan and budget requests for fiscal year 2026-27, as well as developing plans for future projects.

Council also voted 6-0 to approve the first official Library Master Plan.

The plan began in November 2024 when the city contracted 720 Design as the master plan consultant. According to the presentation by director of library services Leslie Scott, the plan is “shaped by the voices, needs and aspirations of the Kyle community … [it] focuses on understanding how people use the library today and how it must evolve to serve a rapidly growing and changing community in the years ahead.”

The item has previously been presented to council, with options to enhance the library through onsite expansion, multiple branches or a new facility. Additionally, it was noted that staff had already been working on improvements through separating active and quiet zones, reconfiguring the circulation desk, collection reorganization and more.

“Our next step options could be to explore costs associated with book vending, book lockers or expand our mobile library opportunities. We could proceed with the Kyle Public Library landscape master planning for an outdoor community space [science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics] garden [for $26,730] … or proceed with the Kyle Public Library Master Plan phase two programming and concept design, which is really bond preparation, at $88,800,” said Scott.

She noted that the reasoning for including the landscaping plan was because community members were very interested in it when shown in surveys.

Flores-Cale shared a concern over the lack of preparation for slow growth, as the plan mentions 200,000 residents, but not for the in between of 75,000 or 150,000.

“We’re planning for this really far future and if we want to do these things, upgrades to the library, I’d like to see something that’s more attainable closer to [present] time,” said the mayor.

Scott stated that, currently, the city is exponentially behind on its library size, as it’s only fit to serve approximately 40,000 people. Despite this, she noted that there are options that could add onto the present facility.

Both Flores-Cale and council member Claudia Zapata voiced that they would like to see more equity within the plan, such as commitment to eastern accessibility.

“I hear a lot of good things and I think we’re on the right track. This master plan sets us on the right path because I think, first and foremost, we have to get on a path,” said Zapata.

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.
 

Douglas Christopher, 32, and Troy Conway, 32, were taken into custody and face pending charges of organized retail theft.

Investigators determined the suspects used a serial number switching scheme to commit return fraud and have linked Christopher and Conway to multiple cases spanning from Austin to the San Antonio area. The investigation remains ongoing as detectives work to determine the full scope and financial impact of the operation. 

Anyone with additional information is encouraged to contact detective Struble with the Kyle Police Department at cstruble@cityofkyle.com or submit an anonymous tip through Hays County Crime Stoppers at callcrimestoppers.com or 1-800-324-TIPS.

The presentation on the Finance and Audit Committee follows council’s request at the Feb. 3 meeting for a history of the committee and potential options.

According to director of Finance Perwez Moheet, the Kyle Committee on Finance & Audit was first created in 2006. It had a total of seven members, consisting of six residents and a council member, with two-year terms. The duties were to advise the council and staff on investment policies, monitor the city funds on a quarterly basis, review the adequacy of internal financial controls and make recommendations and to carry out other advisory or volunteer needs.

This was changed in 2011, when an ordinance amended the membership and required all seven members to be residents, followed by the selection for a chairperson and vice chairperson in 2012.

Then, in 2013, it was decided that two seats would be added, with the following guidelines:

• One resident chosen from each single member district

• Three residents chosen from the city at large

• One chair person chosen from the city at large

• Two alternate members chosen from the city at large

The then-Strategic Planning & Finance Committee, was officially abolished in 2015. All duties and responsibilities were to be directed to council.

When discussing what council may want to consider for the new committee, Moheet noted that an effective Audit & Finance Committee helps protect and safeguard taxpayer funds, increases public trust and improves financial discipline and controls. Additionally, financial oversight responsibilities are not limited to, but may include: financial planning and reporting, independent annual financial audit, risk management, debt management and any specific financial matters requested by council.

Out of Kyle’s standard 10 peer cities, only Cedar Park, Leander and Round Rock did not have a finance committee.

Moheet then presented council with three options for reinstatement:

Option one:

• Council members make up the seats

• Three year terms

• Meets as needed

Option two:

• Council members and residents make up the seats

• Three year terms

• Meets as needed

Option three:

• Council customizes the meeting structure, term length, frequency of meetings and who sits on it

“With everything in the air as far as our finances and where we’re at and where our economy is nationwide and statewide and locally, it would be a good suggestion to maybe look back at a committee [and] bringing something like this back,” said council member Michael Tobias. “To me, looking at it, I would support an item like this, going with option two.”

He then clarified that despite internal auditors being used by staff, a committee with seven people, with preferably residents that have experience in banking, would be beneficial. Tobias also recommended quarterly meetings.

“We can have so much conversation about what [the financials are and] we can have public comment to see where we’re at. I think it would be even better to have something like that because you have residents involved they can have a say and you have checks and balances,” said Tobias.

Agreeing with Tobias’ preference for qualifications was council member Marc McKinney, who stated that it was a “need.”

Mayor Yvonne Flores-Cale stated that she is in favor of a Finance and Budget Committee because she “would love that feedback” from residents on how their money should be spent. Conversely, council member Claudia Zapata was against this idea, stating that the budget process needs to be improved overall, rather than potential biases from those sitting on the committee.

Following discussion, Moheet stated that he will bring back a draft ordinance at an upcoming council meeting regarding the committee.

An item to reconsider a failed item from the April 7 meeting was brought forward by council member Courtney Goza. She stated that at the time of the initial vote to amend the Rules of Council and Code of Conduct, Zapata didn’t have any examples of what she was hoping to change, but, later, posted to social media with clarity on the potential amendments, such as establishing basic standards and appropriate workplace boundaries. So, Goza felt as though it deserved another chance.

The motion to reconsider passed 6-1, with council member Claudia Zapata dissenting.

After determining that council would like updated information on the current Rules of Council and policies for boards and committees and what possible changes could be made, a motion was made to direct the city manager to bring back the existing requirements, as well as bring a presentation on potential options for changing or other considerations for professional conduct, public communication and engagement with residents, colleagues, staff and council.

The motion passed 7-0.

Council also unanimously approved Langley’s resignation.

“I want to acknowledge Mr. Langley’s service to the city of Kyle. Although we didn’t always see eye to eye, we stayed focused on the work and kept this city moving forward. Kyle is in a very different place today than it was three years ago and that did not happen by accident. The procedures put in place during his time here have had a real impact and he played a direct role in that,” said Flores-Cale.

Langley’s last day in the office will be May 8, with availability, if needed, through May 15, though he will not be in office.

To listen to the discussion, visit bit.ly/41BkODn.

According to the presentation by assistant city manager Jesse Elizondo, the mayor receives $1,300 a month, or $15,600 annually, while council members get $1,000 a month, or $12,000 annually. This is a fixed compensation, said Elizondo, but it is affected by attendance. So, if a council member missed one out of two meetings for the month, they lose out of 50% of their earnings. Though, this is not applicable to their other compensation, which includes a $500 a month, or $6,000 annually, expense stipend.

Separate from “personnel services,” as referred to by the presentation, that are budgeted each year are the “contractual services.” This includes $5,500 for travel and $300 for each of the following categories: mileage reimbursement, memberships and dues, subscription and books and community and public relations sponsorship.

After committee member Howard Connell noted that some of the expenses, such as subscription and books, were unapproved expenses in the previous credit card policy, Elizondo stated that he “would like to remind the committee that the charge of the committee is to evaluate what is being paid and not how it’s being used specifically,” but that at a future meeting, members can look at what is specifically allowed to be purchased.

Regarding the potential recommendations made to council, committee member Michael McDonald asked what the scenario would look like if the committee recommended that the council positions be volunteer, meaning they do not get paid. Council would then be determining whether or not they get paid by taking or denying the Compensation Committee recommendation.

“What council does with that is completely up to them,” said Elizondo.

He then suggested sending out a survey to council asking how long it takes for them to complete tasks and how much time they spend serving each week.

When discussing the salary and compensation, city attorney Aimee Alcorn-Reed stated that “there are a million ways to cut this up [whether salary or stipend]. The goal of council is to get an idea for how much, but also how you want to split it. So, do you want to split it between a salary and a stipend or do you want to just create a salary that you think would cover all of that.”

Committee member Jake Webb emphasized that the intent of the money spent by council is what should matter.

“We should just make it a salary because we’re setting the council members up for failure by not having any rules for the stipend. There's too much unclearness where people are setting up assumptions of how they spend it, when there's no guidelines to how they're supposed to,” said committee member Juliana Orgish. “So, we’re creating more of an issue by separating it, if there’s no real difference.

The stipend is also causing confusion for staff, shared director of Finance Perwez Moheet. He stated that, sometimes, expenses were being reimbursed and that the stipend was becoming an income, instead.

Because of this, he recommended that the committee clearly distinguish the following: stipend, salary and reimbursement: “You cannot have a stipend that is truly compensation, if you do not separate reimbursement. You can’t have both; you shouldn’t have both.”

The committee shared the opinion that council should be compensated, rather than converting the role to a volunteer position.

“It’s been four years since the last Compensation Committee met. I think we can all agree that within the last four years, the cost of everything has increased 30% or more. So, when it comes to discussing numbers, in my mind, I would automatically take the existing numbers up by 30%,” said Connell.

In response, McDonald noted that there are many people in Kyle that have not received 30% increases over the years and that it is not realistic to expect this for council compensation. He also stated that other cities bigger than Kyle have lower compensation.

Connell emphasized that he does not care about where their compensation lies in comparison to other cities because he’s not familiar with them, but he knows that there are a lot of extra meetings and time that the council puts in, so he wants them to be compensated fairly: “It has no bearing on monkey see, monkey do.”

He also suggested a tiered model tied to tenure, which would increase each year that the council member is serving on the dais. Alcorn-Reed noted that this could be difficult to plan for in the budget. Additionally, Webb stated that this could be confusing for the residents, as well, since it was unclear for the committee itself.

Ultimately, the committee agreed on a potential cost of living increase. Moheet stated that it cannot be a set number for the increase, but instead tied to the consumer price index (CPI), so there is no conflict of interest by council approving their own raise.

He then introduced the idea of a fixed amount. It would be the council member’s job to budget accordingly, without reimbursement.

Chair Diane Hervol was concerned because of the lack of transparency that would occur with this. Though, Connell stated that there was a lack of transparency, anyway.

“If they wanna take their stipend and have a mini town hall every other month and keep in contact with their constituents and all that, it’s going to show up at the voting booth. If you have someone who comes along and just sticks it in their pocket and you never hear from them, that’s going to show up at the voting booth. Also, I want to give them their freedom and I want to make it simple for us,” said Connell.

Committee member Melissa Spence suggested a reimbursement up to $500, rather than a stipend, as this would still require council members to budget well and encourage transparency through receipts.

“I think, historically, if you look back at every council member, there are some that have been some that have been really involved and treated it like a full-time job and some that have been less involved. Our job is to put a number on the chair; it’s the voters’ job to decide who fills that chair, if they like the amount of time they’re spending, if they think they’re working hard enough,” said Webb, rather than basing compensation on hours put in.

The consensus from the committee was to: remove the stipend and because of this, a potential increase to the salary; add a yearly cost of living increase through CPI; and potentially create a separate fixed pot for travel and other expenses each year, with required documentation. The money that is not used in the separate account would be returned to the city.

The next meeting on May 11 will consist of contractual services, commodities and reimbursement, as well as include the anonymous survey results of how many hours council logs each week.

The entity has been in service since 2015 and serves the southeastern portion of Hays County, including Kyle, Uhland, Mountain City and more. According to Chief Brandon Hill, ESD No. 9 has historically contracted out its emergency services from San Marcos Hays County EMS. The latter organization actually served most of the county, except Wimberley, continued Hill, but over the years, other agencies have begun providing their own services in house. So, after discussions, ESD No. 9 did, too.

“Bringing [the services] in house, we have a lot more control over the finances and the level of medicine that we’re providing [and] all of the things that we really didn’t have a lot of control over before with the contracted provider,” said Hill.

Additionally, the tax money received from the state is now going back into ESD No. 9 by purchasing ambulances, creating assets for the organization, said Hill.

The change has also required the hiring of several staff members, including Hill himself, a district administrator, an administrative assistant, emergency medical technicians and paramedics. The staff is already certified, so there was no official training required, he explained, but they have been working to adhere to ESD No. 9’s system.

One unique aspect of the district is that it has partnered with We Are Blood to carry whole blood on the ambulance.

“It is a national initiative to give pre-hospital whole blood, to start administering blood in the field. It increases life saving measures by 22%. So, with significant trauma patients — severe hemorrhage of medical patients, [gastrointestinal] bleeds and things like that — that somebody is going into shock, we’re able to start that administration of blood in the field, rather than waiting to get to the hospital. The earlier that we can get that intervention on board, the better the chance of survival for that patient,” said Hill, adding that ESD No. 9 is the second in the county and third in the region to carry whole blood.

The chief shared that staff is working to be at the forefront of technology, as well, since they purchased newer models of cardiac monitors.

Although ESD No. 9 is now providing the services, Hill stated that there should be no large changes that the community experiences. If anything, he said, they hope to reduce response time.

The change will occur over the next four months, with a truck coming online at each fire station in the service area; the first, located at 210 W. Moore St., began responding to calls April 1.

“We’re looking forward to serving the community and we’re looking forward to building relationships with all of the community partners … I’m hoping that we’re able to provide an undeniable service and experience for them. I know we’re visiting people on the worst day of their lives, so we want to make sure that we’re trying to make them feel the best they can,” said Hill.

In an effort to push this connection, Hill stated that they created a Community Connect Portal that allows residents to input any necessary information critical for first responders, such as: garage, gate and door codes; special needs, like a home ventilator; and more. Residents can find the portal at bit.ly/4tGdt1n.

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

Prior to the meeting, Zapata took to social media to explain that a resident “stood at our public podium and threatened me … He was angry because I am outspoken about the things I was elected for … So, tomorrow I am bringing two items before this council, not just because of what happened to me, but because of what it means if we do nothing.”

She then explained that the items would establish potential consequences for the individual leading the meeting if they do not enforce the Rules of Council. This would prevent the allowance of “personal attacks … [and] closes the gap between what our rules say and what actually happens in real life situations.”

Additionally, a Code of Conduct would be created for those that serve in official capacities, such as sitting on committees, commissions, advisory boards and more, since there is currently not one in place.

At the meeting, several community members took to public comment to voice opposition to the proposed items, one of whom was Michael McDonald.

“Agenda item 35 says that you would like to amend the Rules of Council. This is called intimidation and trying to change the rules to silence dissenting voices; shame on you, council member Zapata. I am both a resident of Kyle and a legal citizen of the United States of America. I have the First Amendment that protects my freedom of speech,” said McDonald. “Regarding agenda item 36, this proposed amendment also uses fear and retribution to silence citizens of Kyle, who are serving on city boards, commissions and advisory bodies by using fear to control the dissenting voices of these citizens.”

Resident Alicia Hill stated that Zapata is incorrectly using her position as a council member and needs to represent all residents of the city, not only her “secular groups.”

There were also attendees that were in support of the items, such as resident Paige Giordano, who agreed that Zapata was threatened.

“Updating the city’s Code of Conduct and rules benefits Kyle in the future. If something of this magnitude were to happen again, when both mayor and mayor pro tem fail to act,” said Giordano.

She also went on to criticize the mayor and other elected officials' online interactions with residents, stating that “as a resident of Kyle, I feel kind of embarrassed about how all of this is going on. I feel like it’s unprofessional and unbecoming of elected officials and I’m begging everyone on this dais to do better.”

Hays County resident Monica Becerra also spoke.

“I’ve heard some suggest that any rules protecting government officials might somehow infringe on free speech. I want to address that directly. The First Amendment is one of our most sacred rights and I am not here to diminish it in any way. Political discourse — even harsh, uncomfortable, pointed political discourse — is fully protected,” said Becerra. “What is not protected and what has never been protected is a threat against another person. The law has always drawn the line and now, I’m asking this council to draw it locally, clearly, firmly and on the record.”

Zapata began the discussion by stating that other cities across the state have similar frameworks, making it standard governance practice that ensures accountability.

She stressed that the item is not simply about her experience, but the need to take a stance before something terrible happens. Both council members Lauralee Harris and Marc McKinney were in agreement, with the latter sharing that he feels “nothing wrong with coming up with a little bit of a formula, so that we’re at least more prepared when things happen. So, that there’s a game plan in place.”

Council member Courtney Goza stated that the resident that spoke was frustrated and the Supreme Court states that a threat “must be a serious expression of intent to commit unlawful violence. That standard is nowhere close to being met here.”

Regarding the Code of Conduct for those representing the city, council member Melisa Medina stated that there are two identities of an individual serving: on the dais and as a resident. So, she emphasized allowing residents to still be residents, whether or not they sit on a board.

On this same note was Mayor Yvonne Flores-Cale, who shared that she had to vote whether an individual got to sit on a commission after the resident made racist remarks toward her: “That was not comfortable for me. These are the hard things that we have to put up with as elected officials and I’m not saying it’s fair, but I’m saying that boards and commissions are entitled to say what they feel.”

The mayor also noted that the Rules of Council were brought forth in January and no requests for changes were made.

“I’m simply asking for us to have a discussion about those rules, to have that research done and be brought to us, so we can discuss it because I do not want it to escalate,” said Zapata.

She then made a motion to direct the city manager to research and return proposed amendments to the Rules of Council, with a second from Harris. McKinney also voted to approve the item, but because council member Michael Tobias was absent and could not break the tie, the item failed 3-3, with Goza, Flores-Cale and Medina dissenting.

The item regarding a proposed Code of Conduct for city board, commission and advisory members passed 6-0.

KYLE — The Lehman High School baseball program will move forward with its season, following Hays CISD’s decision to suspend 10 students and place one staff member on paid administrative leave, due to a pending investigation conducted by the Hays County Sheriff’s Office.

It was announced Thursday, April 9, that district and campus administration, along with HCSO, have been investigating reports of a “potentially serious” pattern of bullying involving some varsity and junior varsity members of the baseball program. This first came from parents who brought their concerns to campus administration and the school resource officer Tuesday, April 7.

Superintendent Dr. Eric Wright shared in a Thursday, April 9, statement that bullying is intolerable and goes against the values of LHS and Hays CISD.

“Our school district family protects and nurtures each other. We establish high expectations for ourselves — our staff and our students — because that is our character,” he said. “Let our swift action on this case demonstrate that we will not allow bullying and that those who test that demand will meet with swift and serious consequences.”

HCSO is now leading the investigation, as some of the alleged activity may constitute criminal activity, according to the district. A key factor in the investigation is the existence of a video of an incident at LHS, which shows “clear violations of expected student behavior and possibly violations of the law,” according to Hays CISD chief communication officer Tim Savoy in a Friday, April 10, statement.

Along with the 10 students who have been suspended, LHS baseball coach Jacob Kaase was placed on paid administrative leave by the district April 9 in connection with the investigation into the school’s baseball team, Savoy shared. He was placed on leave until the district is able to determine whether or not the baseball players, who are now part of criminal investigation, were "properly supervised." However, Savoy confirmed he is not present in the video referenced in the district’s statement.

Campus and district leadership met with LHS baseball parents in the morning of Friday, April 10, regarding the “current criminal investigation into allegations of serious bullying” by some members of the school’s baseball team. According to Savoy, the initial decision was that the program would forfeit the remaining games of the season, in part due to concern that there might not be enough players not implicated in the investigation to make both the varsity and junior varsity (JV) teams. This resulted in the forfeiture of the team's April 10 game.

However, after further consideration and listening to the parents’ concerns, the district determined that the baseball season should continue with players who are not implicated. 

“We want parents to know that we hear them and agree that students not implicated in any potential wrongdoing should not be penalized when we can help it. Because we have identified enough players not implicated to keep the baseball teams in business, we are glad to be able to do it,” said Savoy. “As the investigation unfolded [Thursday], we were making decisions based on the best information we had at the time, but we’re not immovable, especially when parents present us with more to consider.”

The remaining four games during the next couple of weeks will continue with at least a varsity team and, potentially, a JV team, if there are enough players, Savoy stated.

“Nothing should diminish the seriousness of the behavior and allegations associated with the bullying investigation. It’s horrible and those responsible will pay a significant price,” said Savoy. “However, we must also recognize that the actions of some students, even if it’s a larger-than-normal group, shouldn’t define all students. Lehman High School is an amazing campus and a point-of-pride for the district, as are the many good student athletes who work  to bring honor to themselves, their school and the community.”

HCSO Community Outreach supervisor Cpl. Chase Crow confirmed Tuesday, April 14, that the active investigation is still ongoing. No additional information is available at this time.

This is an ongoing story. The Hays Free Press will provide updates as they become available.

District and campus administration, along with the Hays County Sheriff’s Office, have been investigating reports of a “potentially serious” pattern of bullying involving some varsity and junior varsity members of the baseball program. This first came from parents who brought their concerns to campus administration and the school resource officer Tuesday, April 7.

HCSO is now leading the investigation, as some of the alleged activity may constitute criminal activity, according to the district. 

Superintendent Dr. Eric Wright shared in a Thursday, April 9, statement that bullying is intolerable and it goes against the values of LHS and Hays CISD.

“Our school district family protects and nurtures each other. We establish high expectations for ourselves — our staff and our students — because that is our character,” he said. “Let our swift action on this case demonstrate that we will not allow bullying and that those who test that demand will meet with swift and serious consequences.”

Parents of the suspended students have been notified and the campus and district leaders will meet with the parents of the other baseball players “as soon as possible,” Hays CISD stated. 

The baseball team is currently scheduled to go up against Liberty Hill High School at 7 p.m. Friday, April 10, but the games this week will likely be forfeited, the district stated, and there is a pending decision on the remaining two weeks of the season.

HCSO Community Services Division Lieutenant Clint Pulpan confirmed Friday, April 10, that there is an active investigation. No additional information is available at this time.

This is an ongoing story. The Hays Free Press will provide updates as they become available.

On the same day, Moreno was also convicted of healthcare fraud - $150,000-300,000 (20 years), healthcare fraud - $2,500-$30,000 (two years) and unauthorized insurance business (10 years), with the sentences to be served concurrently.

Although Moreno denied having an insurance policy, investigators discovered that two policies for the residence were purchased seven and five days, respectively, before the fire. Further, while the eviction process was underway, the defendant told her property manager that she was skilled at obtaining free rent and threatened to damage the property if the eviction continued, stated a Hays County news release.

Based on differential fire damage and burn patterns, investigators from the Hays County Fire Marshal’s Office determined that the fire originated inside a cabinet located between two windows in an upstairs bedroom. They concluded that the fire was caused by the intentional introduction of an open flame to readily ignitable materials.

Agencies that participated in the investigation include: Hays County ESD No. 5 Kyle Fire Department; the Kyle Police Department; the Texas Department of Public Safety and the Texas Rangers; the Hays County Sheriff’s Office; the Buda Police Department; the Austin Police Department; the State Fire Marshal’s Office; and the Hays County District Attorney’s Office. The case was prosecuted by Hays County Assistant District Attorney Courtney Hansen.

“The Hays County Fire Marshal’s Office extends its sincere appreciation for the dedication and professionalism demonstrated by our personnel and the assisting agencies throughout this investigation,” said Hays County Interim Fire Marshal Aaron Bauer. “The collaboration and coordination among these agencies were instrumental in the successful outcome of this investigation. We remain committed to working together to protect our community and ensure that incidents like this are thoroughly and responsibly addressed.”

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Langley has served the city of Kyle since 2023, focusing on strengthening organizational effectiveness and advancing strategic priorities through improved efficiency, modernized processes and better alignment of city services, stated a news release. 

His leadership advanced infrastructure initiatives, including the implementation of a $294 million road bond program, a $200 million wastewater treatment plant expansion and the strategic development of additional water resources, resulting in a 37% increase in the city’s water supply. 

He also enhanced public service delivery through innovation, including launching a customer service-focused 311 system to improve resident access and responsiveness, supporting a drone-as-first-responder program and leading a multi-agency partnership to establish a new regional animal adoption center in Kyle. 

Additionally, Langley strengthened economic development efforts across the city, continued the release, including the advancement of key projects, such as Kyle Park, a 101-acre mixed-use destination featuring retail, dining, housing and green space. 

“Kyle is a great community and I have been proud to call it my home for the past three years,” said Langley.  “I would like to thank [Kyle] City Council and our outstanding staff for their support in making all of our accomplishments possible." 

Council is expected to discuss next steps regarding interim leadership at an upcoming council meeting. In the meantime, the city’s executive leadership team remains in place and is committed to maintaining continuity of operations and delivering services to the community, the release concluded.

A resignation letter for Langley was not available as of press time.

Langley’s last day will be May 15. 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

• Charter and legal framework

• Review governing requirements, limitations, process and compliance

• Establish compensation guidelines

• Compensation and budget structure

• Review compensation mechanisms, policies and ordinances

• Review existing salary levels, compensation structure and line budgets

• Analyze and discuss comparable city compensation

• Evaluate current compensation, responsibilities, workloads and expectations

• Expense, reimbursement and allowable cost review

• Review current reimbursement policy and allowable expenses

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

• Review and discussion of line item budgets and controls

• Recommendation development and final report

• Formulate committee recommendation to be presented to city council

• Review of timing and implementation requirements

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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