OCTOBER 14, 2020 MENTORS
SPORTS
Program matches caring adults with children of incarcerated parents
Dripping Springs, Hays crush their competition
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News-Dispatch
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HaysNewsDispatch.com
Vol. 41 • No. 3
Serving Hays County, TX
County judge will allow bars to reopen at 50% HAYS COUNTY – Hays County Judge Ruben Becerra will allow bars to reopen under Governor Greg Abbott’s latest COVID-related Executive Order based in part on feedback from local elected officials. “When I saw the new order, I immediately pulled together our team
of local Hays County Recommendations from the local elected officials, as well as our health departofficials were to, among other things, ment and our emergency ask bar owners to consider utilizing management team, Alex Villalobos, Mike Jones and outdoor seating, remove 50 percent Tammy Crumley, to hear of tables, remove bar stools and have their concerns, issues and questions then discuss musical acts outside. options,” Becerra said. utilizing outdoor seating, Recommendations from among other things, ask bar owners to consider remove 50 percent of the local officials were to,
tables, remove bar stools and have musical acts outside. Guidance from the Texas Department of State Health Services indicates bars would need to close by 11 p.m. for the foreseeable future. Becerra said hearing the support, ideas and plans for moving ahead with the reopening helped influ-
STAFF REPORT DRIPPING SPRINGS — Citing threats to the existing water supply posed by a contract proposed by Electro Purification (EP), the Dripping Springs Water Supply Corporation (DSWSP) on Oct. 12 rejected a wholesale water contract with the company. There was not a vote or formal action but the water supply’s board of directors overwhelmingly rejected the proposed terms on the contract, which were not made public. The board did, however, invite EP to submit a revised contract to be considered at its Jan. 2021 meeting. The decision was thought to have been heavily influenced by comments to the board from
BY SAHAR CHMAIS
BUDA STIMULUS, 4A
BARS TO REOPEN, 5A
Board says no to EP’s water plan
Still Budaful Stimulus 2.0 expands funds, relaxes regulations BUDA – Businesses will have another chance to apply for the Still Budaful Stimulus 2.0 program, even if they have already received funds. During the city council meeting Wednesday night, members approved the newer, laxer qualifications. The 2.0 stimulus program originally had $250,000 worth of funds and has about $168,000 left to give to businesses. Changes were made by the Buda Economic Development Corporation because it was still seeing businesses in need of help, said Traci Anderson, executive director of BEDC. The new regulations have removed the two-employee minimum, but still kept the maximum at 50 employees. There is no longer a cap on revenue loss; prior to the changes, the BEDC required businesses to show a loss of at least 25% in revenue. Anderson said that some businesses had big losses in dollar amount, but it would only show a 22% or 23% loss, so removing that regulation can help more businesses. BEDC has also increased the amount a business can receive. Previously, businesses could only get $5,000. That amount has now
ence hid decision. “The majority of mayors and other elected officials were supportive but cautious,” Becerra said. “They want to be able to tell business owners they can get back to work and earning a living but recognize that if we do, the
PHOTO BY ANITA MILLER
Jared West in his smiling mask with Zero, unofficial mascot of the Drippin’ Wet Car Wash in Dripping Springs.
Not saving the world, but making it prettier BY ANITA MILLER
DRIPPING SPRINGS – “So should I take my mask off so folks can see I’m a smiling guy?” Jared West, owner and proprietor of Dripping Wet’ Car Wash and detailing, is only kidding, as his mask shows a smiling face. Cradled in his arm is his business’ official mascot, 13-year-old Zero, a chihuahua whose graying muzzle shows her age. West bought the business on busy Highway 290 two years ago and renamed the former Tiger Wash, as it had been called since 1998. Since then, “a bunch of new things have been popping up all around us, though there’s always going to be a need for something like this. We say we’re not out to save the world but we’re going to make it look a
The car was wash has aautomatic bay that is notable he says, because it is the “only one in 20 miles” that can accommodate dually pickups.
The business has eight bays, all self-service except the one automatic. The COVID-19 crisis affected businessat the pandemic’s beginning, but West never had to furlough any of lot prettier.” spot close to the busy his employees. “The He’s been getting roadway. car wash has social the word out on social “We let them park distancing built in,” he media, putting videos it there and it usually notes. Once he started on Facebook “whenev- sells within a couple of marketing that, things er we get an interesting days if it’s priced right.” picked right back up. car or one from anothThe highway also And even during the er service. Being here gives him a front pandemic, “A clean car on the highway affords row seat to the area’s is one of those little us a lot of visibility.” growth, which, he luxuries” that most Recently his clients says, is “incredible. A people can afford. have included the bunch of new things He also makes seaDripping Springsare opening up in this sonal adjustments. For based country band area. the annual migration Midland, whose lead West, who admits of butterflies that mess singer’s car is currently he’s always been a “big up grills and paint jobs, being detailed. “We like car fan,” added an auhe “switches up the to promote other small tomatic bay that is no- pre-soak” to include a businesses in the area,” table he says, because bug spot remover. “Evhe says. it is the “only one in 20 eryone gets a cleaner When someone miles” that can accom- car.” brings in a car they in- modate dually pickups. He has instituted tend to sell, which is a “It is higher than most, a “weeping’ system “common reason they and will get around during cold snaps so want it detailed,” he the wide fenders in the offers a prime parking back.” DRIPPIN’ WET, 4A
COUNTY BUDGET
A look at Hays County’s plan for FY 2021
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EP PLAN DENIED, 2A
How Kyle is becoming a logistics hub BY SAHAR CHMAIS KYLE – Amazon, Lowe’s, ENF Technology Co. and potentially another Fortune-500 company – all these businesses are nesting in the city of Kyle and for a good reason. But these big names were brought to Kyle using a less conventional, yet apparently effective method. Kyle has long been a primarily residential city, but logistics companies are starting to come in, bringing the city a new source of taxes while opening more job opportunities for the region. In order to expand and open the door for more companies to come in, the city had to make a somewhat risky financial decision. Instead of waiting for these companies to choose Kyle, the city contracted with Majestic Realty, had them develop large buildings, and hoped companies would make their way into the available space. This tactic may not have worked without Kyle’s
LOGISTICS HUB, 2A