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County proclaims Pretrial, Probation and Parole Supervision Week
Pretrial, probation and parole services play an essential role in the criminal justice system, contributing significantly to public safety, community well-being and the fair administration of justice. On Tuesday, July 16, the Hays County Commissioners Court declared July 21-27 as Pretrial, Probation and Parole Supervision Week, recognizing diligent professionals who uphold the principles of justice, ensuring individuals receive fair treatment, support and the necessary supervision to reintegrate into society successfully.
Shoe and school supply drive in Buda
Hays Cares will be hosting Shoes of Hope in which 500 new pairs of shoes and other school supplies will be distributed to any school children in need in Hays County. The event will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at Mc-Cormick Middle School, 5700 Dacey Lane, Buda.
COUNTDOWN TO KICKOFF
Previewing the Hays County football teams The Countdown to Kickoff series takes a look at the upcoming football season for the San Marcos Rattlers. With the Rattlers bye week scheduled for Week 10, this week will take a look at the upcoming football seasons for all the Hays County Schools. BUDA JOHNSON JAGUARS The Jaguars are coming off a 5-5 season and missed the playoffs following a loss to Austin Bowie in district play. This year’s UIL Realignment moved Johnson from the Austin oriented District 26 into District 29 with Cibolo Steele, Converse Judson, New Braunfels Canyon, San Antonio East Central, San Marcos and Schertz...
Family-friendly retail, restaurant development sets eyes on Buda
BUDA — After meeting up with developers, local business owners, investors and community members over the course of several months to discuss the growing Hays County area, Tim Dowling with Beyond the Move Realty found a need for a more family-friendly retail and restaurant space in the city of Buda. And the groundwork and planning for the project have already begun. Located at 1575 FM 967, the 18-acre commercial retail development will create an estimated 50,000 square feet of retail and office space, as well as 5,000 square feet of outdoor areas designated for pickleball, sand volleyball courts and a playground. The project will activate the west side of Buda with restaurants and professional offices, while also creating a public park that will connect walking trails in neighborhoods. Dowling is partnering with Richard Veregee and Josh Bumb, who both live and have developed and operated businesses in the area, including Moontower Saloon in South Austin, Main Street Pizzeria and Beer Garden in Buda and Nate's at Buda Mill and Grain. They are also teaming up David Morin, Frank Navarro and Ryan Othman of MNO Partners. The ultimate goal for the project is to create a gathering spot where everyone, young and old, can come together. “We decided, ‘Hey, why don’t we develop something that is what the community needs,’ which is some retail type things, small medical offices like a dentist or a doctor's office. And then, at the same time, traditional retail could be an ice cream shop, a morning breakfast place [or] a coffee shop and then along with the restaurant that the community needs,” Dowling said. “The one thing Buda doesn’t have really is a family-friendly type place where the family can be comfortable and the kids can go run around like crazy.” The idea for the project also sparked from Dowling’s meetings with the Hays County Commercial Real Estate Group, which brings together like-minded investors, developers, community members and others who want to take an active or passive role in growth of the area. The group is for those interested in sharing and learning about growth opportunities in Hays County, with a focus on commercial real estate development. “I created a local meetup about two years ago in Buda, and it was focused on one thing, and that was to talk about commercial development. My goal was to get the city involved, so the city could come say, ‘This is what we want.’ I don’t know how it all played out, but it was perfect. Timing was perfect. Everything was perfect,” Dowling explained. “We really kind of were able to build a relationship and dig into what were the goals [and] where were the holes? This is actually one of those projects that's going to be filling a hole that they are really focused on.” Incentives for the project have already been approved by the Buda Economic Development Corporation, but that agreement still has to go before the city council. However, the project was discussed solely in executive session at the July 16 Buda City Council meeting; no action was taken once council went back into open session. Details of the incentive agreement are below. • 50% property tax rebate for five years from the city or up to $400,000 total ($80,000 annually) • 50% retail sales tax rebate over 10 years from both the city and EDC of up to $1 million (or $100,000 annually) • $1.1 million fee credit for the park to be completed and made publicly available The total cost of the project is estimated at $27 million; there will be no costs going to the city, Dowling said. It is estimated that the property tax projection will be $100,000 annually after completion and the sales tax projects will be $275,000 annually. And the current timeline is for developers to break ground in April 2025 for phase one. “We're in what they call the rural overlay for Buda and so everything we're doing is within the bounds of it. So, we don't actually require any approvals. The only thing we have to get approval for is what we're working through is this incentive plan because we are going to be donating that land for parkland, so we are trying to find a way that benefits everybody involved,” Dowling said. “But, in regards to actual physical approval, it’s just the traditional permit process. We're already in phase one. We finished first round comments [and] we're about to submit for second round comments. We're hoping to push dirt by the beginning of this next year and have some shell spaces possibly by the middle of next year to start being able to have tenants come in and do what their finish outs are required.” Dowling and his team are working with Resolut RE to find tenants to fill the spaces. The Hays County Commercial Real Estate Opportunities Group meets the second Tuesday of each month at 8:30 a.m. at the Buda Welcome Center. More information can be found at www.meetup.com/hays-county-commercial-real-estate-meetup-group . Buda City Council meets next at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 6.
Vista Brewing to host Hays Honey Festival
, The Texas Natural Beekeepers Association and Vista Brewing are inviting the public to celebrate all things honey at the Hays County Honey Festival. The event will be held on Saturday, July 27, from noon to 4 p.m. at Vista Brewing, located at 3551 FM 150 W., Driftwood. Admission is free and open to the public. This marks the fourth year of the festival, offering attendees the opportunity to sample local honeys and learn about beekeeping in the Driftwood and Dripping Springs area. Candlemaker Hunter's Hive will return, and local ice cream vendor Beanz Creamz will offer its honey ice cream...
Health department announces first human case of West Nile virus in Hays County
The Hays County Health Department is located at 101 Thermon Drive in San Marcos. (Amira Van Leeuwen/Community Impact) On July 24, the Hays County Health Department, or HCHD, received notification that a laboratory confirmed its first, positive human case of West Nile virus, or WNV—a disease spread by the bite of an infected mosquito—according to a news release.
Futronic USA to establish first US plant in Buda
BUDA — A project dubbed "Forward Motion" received the green light from the Buda City Council in June and then the Hays County Commissioners Court on July 16 in the form of tax breaks and other financial incentives. Futronic USA Inc., a leading manufacturer of motor vehicle transmission and powertrain parts and a supplier to Tesla, is setting its sights on the city of Buda for its first-ever U.S. location. The South Korean-based company is eyeing the acquisition of the former Fat Quarter building, spanning 66,250 square feet and situated on the west (southbound) side of IH-35, off Business Park Drive. The building acquisition is estimated at $11 million, with a capital investment of $17 million, which will include building improvements, fixtures and equipment. The company estimates it will create at least 200 jobs, with an average wage of $52,000 per year. The news has Buda Economic Development Corporation CEO Jennifer Storm excited. "Buda is about 20 miles from Tesla's manufacturing facility, Giga Texas, making us perfectly positioned for Tesla suppliers like Futronic,” Storm said. "At full build-out, Futronic is planned to employ 350 high-paying positions in our community, which would make Buda's largest employer,” Buda EDC Assistant Director Shannon Mumley said. “This is huge! Buda has a skilled workforce, with a school district that provides robust CTE programming, so this is a real asset for not only our economy, but for families and future generations." The EDC Incentive Task Force recommended, and council approved, providing $600,000 to encourage job creation. Commissioners approved an undisclosed amount via a Chapter 381 Incentive Agreement, which, according to the Texas Comptroller's Office, allows counties to negotiate directly with developers and businesses to provide incentives encouraging developers to build in their jurisdictions. Futronic wants to begin finishing out the space by the third quarter of 2024 and begin production a year later, in 2025. Futronic started in 1993 in automotive electronics. Since then, it has been supplying various types of motors, actuators and controllers to global automotive companies and continues to develop new products through creative and innovative technology and continuous growth.
Cody Mitchell sworn in as deputy constable in Hays County
Cody Mitchell, center, poses for a photo with Hays County Commissioners Debbie Ingalsbe, left, Michelle Cohen, Hays County Judge Ruben Becerra, Mitchell’s wife, Hays County Constable, Precinct 2 Deputy Robert Eller and commissioner Lon Shell after being sworn in as a regular full-time Deputy Constable in the Hays County Constable, Precinct 2 Office. Mitchell was formally with the Kyle Police Department for eight years and holds many certifications, including Crisis Intervention Suicide Prevention, Advanced Police Officer License, TCOLE Basic Instructor, ASP baton instructor, Less Lethal ICP Instructor, Mobile Field Force Instructor and drug abuse recognition. During his time at the Kyle Police Department, Mitchell was recognized as officer of the year in 2022, was a Field Training Officer, SWAT member and first line supervisor. His official start date with the constable's office was July 15.
Hays County confirms first human case of West Nile Virus, second in Central Texas
HAYS COUNTY, Texas — The first human case of West Nile Virus infection has been reported in Hays County on Wednesday, and the second human case in Central Texas. According to San Marcos officials, the Hays County Health Department (HCHD) said the patient is a resident of the 78610 zip code area, They were diagnosed with West Nile Fever.
Vista Brewing Hosts Honey Festival in Driftwood on Saturday
, The Texas Natural Beekeepers Association and Vista Brewing are inviting the public to celebrate all things honey at the Hays County Honey Festival. The event will be held on Saturday, July 27, from noon to 4 p.m. at Vista Brewing, located at 3551 FM 150 W., Driftwood, Texas. Admission is free and open to the public. This marks the fourth year of the festival, offering attendees the opportunity to sample local honeys and learn about beekeeping in the Driftwood and Dripping Springs area. Candlemaker Hunter’s Hive will return, and local ice cream vendor Beanz Creamz will offer its honey ice...
Masons commemorate North Hays counties new EMS builings
Masons from the local Rambo Masonic Lodge 426 joined representatives from the Grand Lodge of Texas to perform and witness the old and traditional masonic ceremony to officially pronounce the new EMS stations 74 and 75 as ‘level’ finished and ready to serve the emergency medical needs of the residentsin North Hays county. The tradition of cornerstone ceremonies for public buildings, like the EMS building 75 on Ranch Road 12 and EMS building 74 on Heritage Oaks Drive dates back to the early days of the United States. Until the development of steel frame construction in the 20th century, most buildings were...
Mosquitos carrying West Nile Virus found in Hays County
Public health officials urge Texans to be vigilant in protecting against mosquito bites after confirming the first Texas case of West Nile virus and 10 travel- associated dengue cases this year alone. In Hays county, officials confirmed last week that several mosquito trap samples collected in the Wimberley area tested positive for West Nile Virus. The positive samples were collected from two sites in and around the city of Wimberley on July 11. There are about 20 traps in and around the Dripping Springs and Driftwood area but no mosquito samples have tested positive for the virus. These are the first reported...
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