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DRIPPING SPRINGS, Texas — A Central Texas school district could be making changes to its discrimination policy, and some parents are not happy about it. On Monday, Dripping Springs Independent School District (DSISD) held a school board meeting, where more than 40 attendees showed up to discuss the proposed changes.

JOHNSON CITY — Pedernales Electric Cooperative celebrated National Lineman Appreciation Day on April 18 while also honoring its crews and investing in their training, education and career growth throughout the entire month. As part of PEC’s commitment to provide safe and reliable power, for more than a decade, the co-op has focused on cultivating a top industry training program to attract and train the next generation of lineworkers. The crews will help power PEC’s members and growing communities into the future. To reinforce the co-op’s focus on safety and training, in 2020, PEC opened a dedicated facility to house its Department of Labor-certified apprenticeship program in Marble Falls, an expansion of its apprenticeship program that began in 2012, according to a news release. This year, the first PEC apprentices to complete their training at the facility are graduating, reaching the highest level of linework as journeyworkers. “Seeing our lineworkers learn, grow, and perfect their craft over the past four years has been an incredible journey,” said PEC’s Director of Safety and Technical Training James Vasquez. “They have mastered skills at an extraordinary level and with a commitment to safety. Our members and communities can count on the service from these lineworkers for their power needs and we’re proud to promote this group to the next level in their career.” Those listed below are part of PEC’s inaugural class graduating from its apprenticeship program at the Marble Falls safety and technical training center. The group first began the program in 2020, when PEC opened the facility.

DRIPPING SPRINGS — Installing restroom facilities in the Mercer Street Historic District was a hot topic during the April 16 Dripping Springs City Council meeting. The city council and Tax Increment Investment Zone (TIRZ) have budgeted up to $300,000 to construct downtown restrooms this year. This comes on the heels of some residents requesting that these facilities be installed. In her presentation to the council, city attorney Laura Mueller said that the city has obtained the property for permanent restrooms. The city is also drafting a Request for Proposal (either site-built or pre-fabricated/modular)  for construction, but also needs a Certificate of Appropriateness from the Historical Preservation Commission, site plan from the planning department and wastewater coordination. “This will take some time, we are thinking about six months,” Mueller said. “While we are waiting, it has been encouraged for us to do temporary downtown bathrooms. We have looked at different types, where we would put these bathrooms, the cost and when we would actually try to get the temporary ones.” There are already more than 60 portable restrooms planned for the upcoming Founders Day weekend, held on April 26-28. Therefore, Mueller said that if the city council decided to move forward with implementing temporary restrooms, they would not be installed until after Founders Day. The options for temporary restroom facilities, as presented by Mueller, are listed below. • Portable Restrooms: $110 per month (weekly services) per restroom; $150 per month (weekly service) per ADA restroom. Purchasing a handwashing station would be recommended for $800 (could be reused for special events); renting is $125 per month • Trailer: $2,500-$4,000 per month, which typically includes two restrooms and handwashing stations • Air conditioned (electric hookup) • Sewer hookup • Water hookup • Buy a trailer for $100,000 • Staff maintains multiple times per day Potential locations for the temporary restrooms include property next to Vintage Soul — 302 Mercer Street — that the city obtained from Hays County and the Stephenson Building. “The only issue is when we are actually ready to construct or place the restrooms, we would have to move them,” Mueller said. “We looked at other places to put them, but we really want them to be somewhat visible from Mercer Street and not to be too far away, like if we put them at the city hall parking lot or something like that.” City staff recommended renting four portable restrooms — instead of going with the trailer option — for downtown and purchasing one handwashing station, while procuring and constructing the permanent option. “City staff’s recommendation is actually getting the portable restrooms instead of the trailer because of the intense amount of staff time and it doesn’t really meet the benefit to the point of how expensive those trailers are,” Mueller said. “The cost would be about $5,500 over six months. We already have in the budget for downtown restrooms and this would just be a small portion of that.” Though it was a presentation only, the agenda item was not left without discussion by the city council. Mayor Bill Foulds started off the discussion by stating that if they rented a handwashing station and it got damaged, it would get replaced. However, if the city decided to purchase one, he foresees a second handwashing station would need to be purchased following the first summer of use. On another point, council member Geoffrey Tahuahua questioned if the six-month timeline is accurate. “It’s aspirational. I think it’s possible. I don’t think it’s going to be before six months, but we have the property, we have renderings, we are getting that site surveyed right now [and] we are already working on the RFP to get both of those things. We are also looking to see if any of our cooperative purchasing programs actually will let us just buy the prefabricated modular [restrooms],” Mueller responded. “At that point, the only thing we would need to build would be the foundations, as well as making sure where the hookups would be for the electrical, water and sewer.” Council member Travis Crow said that he is “not sold on this yet” and he asked, as a business owner, if the city of Dripping Springs has enough foot traffic where residents and visitors can not use the restroom at the places where they are shopping. Mueller said that, along with Tom Crawford who has spoken during public comments on behalf of Vintage Soul, the visitors bureau has also received requests for installing restroom facilities downtown. Another council member, Sherrie Parks said that there are several business owners who just do not allow patrons to use their restrooms. Along the same lines, Tahuahua said that a lot of the businesses along Mercer Street are in older buildings that can not be retrofitted for ADA compliance: “If they did have a public restroom, they would be required to come up to that code.” Crow also added his concerns of maintenance for the temporary restrooms. “I’m worried about maintenance on it, what time they are closing and kids are going to get in there and do what kids do,” he said. “It’s sort of a burden on the city to have to be cleaning for [whatever] the time frame is. But if it’s what is needed, then so be it. I am one person up here out of five.” Echoing Tahuahua’s earlier sentiments, Foulds said that he is also concerned about the six-month timeline. “I don’t see how we can get this done in six months only because I have sat here for way too many years and nothing happens in six months,” he said. “These bathrooms have been asked for by me for four years and here we are, now we are suddenly getting them done in six months. I will be impressed, but I am concerned about that timeline.” The mayor also added, “Why spend the money on renting them? Let’s just go ahead, pull the trigger and get these things done?” Mueller said that the only reason why city staff brought the temporary solution to the council is because the continuous requests and the cost of those was low to the point that it wouldn’t affect the rest of the budget that has been set for downtown restrooms. No action was taken on having temporary restrooms following Founders Day weekend. However, the council will discuss the item again at a future meeting. To listen to the full discussion from the April 16 meeting, visit bit.ly/3QdAtDj .

33 Plein Air artists from across the country will be in Marble Falls this weekend capturing the outdoor sights and scenes. It's part of Paint the Town Festival. Tierra Neubaum has more.

Bear King Brewing is located in downtown Marble Falls. The brewery is rolling a new menu including new entrees. Tierra Neubaum has details.

Jordan’s Way will be in Marble Falls in May to raise money for Highland Lakes Canine Rescue. The nonprofit travels the country, live-streaming shelter staff and volunteers taking part in fun challenges for donations. Canine Rescue is on the tour schedule on May 15 from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. “We...

MFISD taps assistant AD to lead boys hoops Jennifer Fierro Special To The Highlander Fri, 04/26/2024 - 02:46 Image Berkman Body ...

Let’s talk water – or water conservation, to be more specific.It’s that time of year when we’re enjoying the fantastic spring weather and hoping it lasts through July. (Wouldn't that be great.)Nonetheless, experience tells us it may continue into May and then summer will start show- ing up.Most of us have noted that the big lakes above and below, Travis and Buchanan, are not nearly at capacity as…

Mustang earns chance to run at Class 4A state meet Tracy Goggans Special To The Highlander Fri, 04/26/2024 - 02:46 Image Photos by Martelle Luedecke/ Luedecke Photography Marble Falls junior runner Tyler Hamblin stays with the pack during the 3,200 meters at the Class 4A Region III meet April 20. ...

Starting May 1, all firm water customers of the Lower Colorado River Authority are required to initiate Stage 2 drought restrictions or face fines of up to $10,000 per violation. Firm water customers are cities, businesses, industries, and lakeside property owners that contract with the LCRA to draw water directly from the lakes.

Dripping Springs High School announced its Top 10 for the Class of 2024: Valedictorian William Johns, Salutatorian Jaiden Stankard, Milad Khezrefaridi, Brenna Putman, Lauren Kethley, Presley Cochran, Alyssa Stradling, Kira Granberry, Jasmine Zogaib and Keira Maghielse. The students will be recognized at the April 22 Dripping Springs ISD Board of Trustees meeting and at the Senior Academic Awards Ceremony on May 15. They will also be the first to walk the stage at the DSHS Class of 2024 graduation ceremony on May 31.

The Marble Falls Education Foundation handed out over $122,000 in grant money to 36 different projects across the Marble Falls school district in early April. The money was awarded through the foundation’s annual Grants 4 Great Ideas program. The foundation has given more than $531,000 to teachers with creative...

Agendas are posted 72 hours before a meeting so are not always ready by the time this list is published. Check links for more information. Marble Falls Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone No. 1 Board. Noon regular meeting. Council Chambers, City Hall, 800 Third St., Marble Falls. On the agenda:. downtown...

Water group warns about water scarcity Raymond V. Whelan Staff Writer Tue, 04/23/2024 - 02:44 Image Hamilton Body ...