MAY 13, 2020 LAST PIONEER
BREATHE EASY
The last of the Hays CISD founding board members dies at age 89.
Veteran Service Organization volunteers turns out masks.
– Page 9
– Page 7
Hays Free Press © Barton Publications, Inc.
75¢
Vol. 126 • No. 7
HaysFreePress.com
Serving Buda, Kyle and Northeast Hays County, TX
Still Budaful funds still available for small business BY SAHAR CHMAIS
bore under the Blanco River in Blanco County hit a karst feature in late March. That sent tens of thousands of gallons of drilling mud and fluid into the Trinity Aquifer and fouled nearby residential water wells. Kinder Morgan will be required to notify the county’s Director
The city of Buda is essentially giving free money to eligible businesses and these funds are still available. Several weeks ago, Buda launched the Still Budaful small business stimulus grant consisting of $380,000. Businesses can get $2500 or $5000, which can be used to pay for rent/mortgage payments, employee support, utilities, supply purchases for alternative business access, COVID-19 supplies and more. Although many businesses have applied, the city still has funds available for those who are eligible. “Those monies have been earmarked,” said J.R. Gonzales, Buda Area Chamber of Commerce Executive Director. “So let’s use it and we can stimulate the economy; we want to stimulate the economy.” The task force will meet for the third time this week to push out the third wave of funds. If money is still available after the first phase, it might be time to widen the criteria parameters and qualifications for who can receive the grant, Gonzales said. According to the State Comptroller’s office, about 400 businesses in Buda would be eligible for this grant. So far, a little over 100 businesses have applied and about 70 awards have been released totaling more than $300,000, said the Assistant City Manager, Lauren Middleton-Pratt. These grants come in different amounts, but Gonzales estimates that it should cover between 85 to 90 businesses. The application process is very straightforward and some businesses said it took very little time to fill out. The form is online, and for those who may not have internet access or computer skills, they can call the city and request a hard copy. Even though money is available, why are some businesses not applying? It may be that some still do not know about it and some just do not need it, explained Gonzales. There are businesses that are not in direct contact with the city, or during their temporary closures, they are not checking their emails. According to the city website, the task force developed the program to assist small Buda businesses that are independently owned and have 50 or fewer employ-
PHP ROAD CROSSINGS, 5
STILL BUDAFUL, 5
PHOTO COURTESY OF THE DORSETT FAMILY
Ethan Dorsett, holds up his new baby boy Nolan for the baby’s grandparents to see. Ethan was the only one allowed to be with his wife Haley at the hospital.
Having a baby during the pandemic BY SAHAR CHMAIS
Giving birth during a pandemic raises the anxiety level for women for various reasons. They worry about possibly transferring the virus, if dormant, and they cannot get the support of family and friends, who during normal times would be waiting in the lobby to see the newborn.
The pandemic has reshaped the way women plan their births, from designating only one person to go to the hospital with them, to some mothers choosing to give birth at home.
“Never in a million years did my husband and I think we would be giving birth during a pandemic,” said Haley Dorsett, a first-time mom who gave birth in April
at Ascension Seton Hays. “It’s different than what we had ever imaged.” Dorsett pictured a room packed with family and friends, visitors in and out celebrating her
son, Nolan. Instead of this large festivity, the Dorsetts got their own intimate celebration with mom, dad and baby. During this time, she got some moments of peace
without a single word of news about the coronavirus. Her television was tuned to entertainment and no one mentioned the pandemic. “It was one of the most amazing experiences,” Dorsett recalled. “It’s not what we would have wanted, but I think it was a blessing in disguise; we
PANDEMIC PREGNANCY, 5
Hays County census coordinator removed BY CHASE ROGERS
“(I was told) that I was re-hirable and not being terminated but that they wanted to use the funds for marketing and more usefully.”
would be done away with all together,” Mejia wrote. Hays County Census “(I was told) that I was Coordinator Jessica Mejia re-hirable and not being has been terminated by terminated but that they her supervisor after miswanted to use the funds –Jessica Mejia, Hays County Census Coordinator communication during for marketing and more an executive session of usefully.” assistant to the counMejia’s recent work the Hays County ComServices Tammy Crumley, General Counsel Mark ty judge, spoke during creating public service missioners Court. and a human resources Kennedy, who provides Mejia’s scheduled time announcements, conMejia was scheduled representative of the legal counsel for the ducting outreach to hard- county commissioners’ to give a presentation on and stated the presentacourt, stated that no tion would not be given, to-count communities Tuesday updating the decision in executive termination occurred instead recounting recent and unforeseen complicourt on 2020 Census session to remove the during the executive outreach efforts by Mejia cations, professional and census coordinator efforts by the county, session described in in the last days in the personal, due to the novel position. but instead ended up Mejia’s letter, as the court role. Collins then read the coronavirus outbreak. providing a letter to the “I was told (Monday, is unable to take action letter from Mejia to the Mejia wrote she was in- May 4) that I would have in executive session purcourt concerning her court. formed by her supervisor, a couple of weeks to termination. The letter described Director of Countywide Anita Collins, executive work before this position CENSUS COORDINATOR, 11
County adopts policy for natural gas pipeline road crossings After earlier rescinding permission for Kinder Morgan’s Permian Highway Pipeline to cross county roads, the Hays County Commissioners Court on April 29 laid out the conditions the company will have to meet for permission to be restored.
According to the new policy, Kinder Morgan will, before any utility permit is issued, present a geological analysis “with particular focus on the presence of karst and/or aquifer features” that details “whether Kinder Morgan believes karst features exists and explains the basis of their decision.” If a karst feature is
KICKIN’ IT NAT’L
Hays County club soccer team joins national organization.
– Page 8
INDEX
BY ANITA MILLER
associated with any of the three county roads remaining in the pipeline’s path, the company will have to “create a plan to ensure that their activities will not negatively impact the karst features or groundwater quality.” Commissioners rescinded the road crossing permits after a contractor attempting to
COVID-19 Count……… Obituaries……………… Police Blotter…………… Sports……………………
2 7 8 8
School News…………… 9 Service Directory…… 10 Public Notices……… 11 Classifieds…………… 11