[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6652874,"mediaKeyId","2489236-1ad0bda776b8cc97bb1022f937b142d8","parentId",2489236,"title","Hays County Commissioners approve proclamations, staffing changes and contracts; open RFQ for professional services pool","audioSeconds",3376,"startMs",3376100,"endMs",-1,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2489236-1ad0bda776b8cc97bb1022f937b142d8&start=3376&end=0","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2489236-1ad0bda776b8cc97bb1022f937b142d8/thumbnail_3376100.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6652874/Hays-County/Texas/Hays-County-Commissioners-approve-proclamations-staffing-changes-and-contracts-open-RFQ-for-professional-services-pool","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6652874-5f0eb17e3a2b1dd9c2809240a6d8439b/orig.mp4?Expires=1771103040&Signature=dFjpr89eMWvVk~3QvSiQeQY-aFu-Sg-jrsscuDs4iUVaZN4l7pFc7FrbL5JyOt60SjwYM3icV1uQ-WHyW-NFf1TlzoP5JA2Hn39oSn~GyaXSuKI70-6fRkrQs5l4QnWdabUrnKF3O~uQEifnAdg8bP8d~NxXc8GL1sVS8ivBLkuvfAglZ7yg~YkvuC5wcRkXQKLPMxmE~4Kk8NAz0RsV2Mj793Hg7qzZBPp2EPFixjM2r2lrzcMxI0j2HCuyCNsZL-uMmm3dq26anSQzuWXWtuv6vw8zcNm4XjKFVtllIVytyUMSicIXQrqF4eoFhOJRkHYN2VoZG0lGh-w4c2DkSg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Hays","date","2025-03-04T00:00:00Z","article","Hays County Commissioners Court on March 11 approved a range of administrative actions, staffing changes and contracts designed to streamline project delivery and support county operations.

The court unanimously adopted a proclamation recognizing March 2025 as Women’s History Month. The proclamation named several local first women officeholders and noted the county’s majority‑female commissioners court.

On procurement and project delivery, the court prequalified respondents to RFQ 2025‑Q01 to create a consolidated professional services pool for construction, engineering, inspection, land surveying and utility coordination services. Stephanie Hunt, purchasing agent, said the new pool will replace multiple existing on‑call lists; firms scoring 60 or above on the county scoring sheet were included. Commissioner Smith thanked the scoring committee for reviewing more than 90 firm proposals in some categories.

The court authorized a discretionary exemption and a training proposal with Tyler Technologies for the District Clerk’s office jury management system and established new positions: one deputy constable/bailiff for Constable Precinct 2 (effective April 1) and a court administrator position in the District Clerk’s office (grade 119) to manage reporting requirements, including compliance with House Bill 2384.

The court approved a professional services agreement with Kitchell CEM Inc. for project management on the new Kyle campus precinct buildings and authorized professional agreements with Central Texas Autopsy PLLC and Hill County Forensics LLC to provide autopsy services requested by justices of the peace.

On personnel and purchasing updates, the court approved regrading of purchasing office positions (purchasing specialist 2 to senior specialist and contracts manager realignment), authorized a county health director credit card limit not to exceed $3,000, and approved several other consent items including payment of payroll disbursements, supplier invoices, elevator IO board replacement and portable office purchase for recycling and solid waste operations.

The court also set a public hearing for March 25 to consider establishing a no‑dumping zone on Old County Road 118, ratified a replat approval for Green Hills Lot 25 (PLN‑2543 PC), and accepted subdivision bond releases and maintenance bond acceptance for Waterstone Unit D.

Votes at a glance
- F1: Proclamation recognizing March 2025 as Women’s History Month — adopted (roll call: Inglesby, Cohen, Hammer, Smith, Judge Becerra all \"Yes\").
- K7: Prequalify respondents for RFQ 2025‑Q01 professional services pool — approved (roll call: Inglesby, Smith, Cohen, Hammer, Judge Becerra all \"Yes\").
- K1: Tyler Technologies training contract for district clerk jury management — approved (roll call: Smith, Cohen, Hammer, Inglesby, Judge Becerra all \"Yes\").
- K2: Establish one deputy constable/bailiff, Precinct 2 — approved (roll call: Cohen, Hammer, Inglesby, Smith, Judge Becerra all \"Yes\").
- K3: Establish court administrator position, District Clerk — approved (roll call: Hammer, Inglesby, Smith, Cohen, Judge Becerra all \"Yes\").
- K4: Project management agreement with Kitchell CEM Inc. for Kyle campus buildings — approved (roll call: Inglesby, Smith, Cohen, Hammer, Judge Becerra all \"Yes\").
- K5: Professional agreements for autopsy services with Central Texas Autopsy PLLC and Hill County Forensics LLC — approved (roll call: Smith, Cohen, Hammer, Inglesby, Judge Becerra all \"Yes\").
- G1–G22: Consent slate (payments, budget amendments, contracts, reports) — approved (roll call: Hammer, Inglesby, Smith, Cohen, Judge Becerra all \"Yes\").
- I1: Call public hearing on March 25 for no‑dumping zone on Old County Road 118 — approved (roll call: Inglesby, Smith, Cohen, Hammer, Judge Becerra all \"Yes\").
- J1 (PLN‑2543 PC): Ratify approval of Green Hills Lot 25 replat — ratified (roll call: Cohen, Hammer, Inglesby, Smith, Judge Becerra all \"Yes\").

Why it matters: The professional services pool and the Kitchell contract are intended to speed delivery of county construction projects by creating a prequalified list of firms. Personnel actions in the District Clerk’s office respond to reporting and compliance needs, and the autopsy services contract provides county‑requested forensic services for justice of the peace cases.

Ending: Several items were procedural or administrative; the court moved next into two executive‑session agenda items on parks/open space real‑property matters and an interlocal agreement for the combined emergency communications center.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Hays - Regular - Mar 04, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Hays County Commissioners Court on March 11 approved a proclamation for Women’s History Month and a range of administrative actions including creation of a consolidated professional services pool, personnel changes in the District Clerk and Purchasing offices, and professional services contracts.","taxTitle","Hays County, Texas","taxId",9291,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6652879,"Residents raise concerns about proposed data centers near San Marcos over water and environmental impacts",164,153870,318324,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2489236-1ad0bda776b8cc97bb1022f937b142d8&start=153&end=318","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2489236-1ad0bda776b8cc97bb1022f937b142d8/thumbnail_153870.jpg","/articles/6652879/Hays-County/Texas/Residents-raise-concerns-about-proposed-data-centers-near-San-Marcos-over-water-and-environmental-impacts","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6652879-a9257ec65d333a3e16c87d506cd0a403/orig.mp4?Expires=1771103040&Signature=X36WusXQgQxvHZUVQnCSYMZah1MuNpv-Aqp9ZVKq-bwyiZVQtwu~X7kCFdGSRonIHsnSmdNkDvFD~QHODDE0BleLTkJ~xaYHkdZKQ6C7TH9GqeUf2~Zlrgg9Se8rHf~S0nkPD01yoR956o7DpezX1akc4TVLdnJFTdNkBHmokJQv~lmUB9sBhLlgmeYa~OesppLCJMBdQskkTnvnZi9~bbeHqrQ2nLlrO2n3rQGZZgPkFCjtGhzgL7FR-5yEw86Q01uGPN0pXPNhHCfD7Td7NKzZOiqpKwW3soErGP~4l1yfA8nZ7VQdf~jK8US-H32tGCSS1zE6FWRBQogLYwpRng__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","A San Marcos resident told the Hays County Commissioners Court on March 11 that two proposed data centers near Francis Harris Lane — one owned by a Cloudburst subsidiary — pose environmental and water‑use risks for the area and for Hays County ratepayers.

Abigail Lindsey said one property owner, identified as \"Mister Mayberry,\" has applied to change a property’s preferred land scenario from conservation cluster to commercial employment low for a site at 9904 Francis Harris Lane. She said another site, owned by \"Data center LP L.B.L.P., a subsidiary of Cloudburst Data Center,\" is at 2955 Francis Harris Lane and that approximately 95.69 acres of farmland with century‑old oaks and York Creek run through one parcel.

\"This property maintains a New Braunfels address but resides in both Hays County and Guadalupe County,\" Lindsey told the court. She said York Creek contributes to a large portion of the land being in the floodplain and that the parcels were recently removed from the extraterritorial jurisdiction of San Marcos, limiting city oversight.

Lindsey said both data centers, if built, would be about 2.9 miles apart, draw from the same Crystal Clear Special Utility District and be served by the same electric co‑op. She said Alliance Water supplies drinking water to San Marcos, Kyle, Buda and other areas and that collectively these utilities serve hundreds of thousands of rate‑paying customers. \"Individually, these data centers would be pulling drinking water out of our supply, potentially in amounts ranging from 40,000 gallons to 1,400,000 gallons daily,\" Lindsey said.

Lindsey said Cloudburst has refused to publicly acknowledge the location of its flagship campus and that local, county and state leaders had no prior knowledge of Cloudburst's intentions until she contacted them. She asked the court to add the topic to a future agenda to seek more information and public engagement as the project moves through San Marcos planning and zoning and city council review.

Why it matters: The comments raise questions about local oversight, groundwater and surface water use for large data center operations, floodplain impacts and coordination among municipal and special district water providers. Lindsey asked the court to consider adding the item to a future agenda so county officials and residents can get more information.

Ending: The court did not take immediate action on the request but heard the concerns during the public comments period and recorded the request for follow up.","A resident warned the Commissioners Court that two proposed data centers near San Marcos could draw large amounts of drinking water, affect floodplain areas and impact the local environment; she said one operator would not publicly disclose details.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6652884,"Hays County residents urge commissioners to fund local nonprofit PALS for county Pet Resource Center",2098,591190,2689512,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2489236-1ad0bda776b8cc97bb1022f937b142d8&start=591&end=2689","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2489236-1ad0bda776b8cc97bb1022f937b142d8/thumbnail_591190.jpg","/articles/6652884/Hays-County/Texas/Hays-County-residents-urge-commissioners-to-fund-local-nonprofit-PALS-for-county-Pet-Resource-Center","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6652884-54fb6a4cd7e7d71e48ccf8810d9de99b/orig.mp4?Expires=1771103040&Signature=cA65GX~zJCSkedTCBGQyXbKEkQo9wI4vUc4HfGuaR5sHudJfe-TXR-RS~y6TGlrhASxAS1N6BICsXgRUwnIBlJx2HG05Mddc07ANNlphBntHetqgExTJyOc0QpqzeQt85f2B2ZC~AIVXruxuwUUUdWK4WgZKgCUKQuMTGD7GTvDvzrihX7HXtT5VyckQBvyYnLviuN~8K48ziD9lAfy-2D-t~yiGWGeRlM576rX~cZk1Xne330vZt0B1KF7WMJ5AYQEtaDU85TLSZ6JlEYFYMgynL3LV8SMjzN9gYK2QqS4kHO7zdyH0Rs8FXO2xY3zZWB~fBjCqdZ6ENCa8h0uaQg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Hays County residents and animal welfare volunteers told the Commissioners Court on March 11 that the county should direct Pet Resource Center funding to PALS, a local nonprofit that provides low-cost and emergency veterinary care, spay/neuter services and trap-neuter-return clinics.

Supporters described PALS as an established local provider with brick-and-mortar clinics, a team of veterinarians and ties to municipalities across Hays County. \"PALS is also a trusted nonprofit with an established relationship with this community,\" said Lauren Boyd, who urged the court to make PALS the project manager if the court funds life‑saving programs. Nancy Gustafson, a PALS volunteer, said PALS spayed and neutered over 6,000 animals last year and listed the group’s services, including a free pet food pantry and mobile clinics.

Speakers emphasized that PALS offers services residents can actually access, including low‑cost surgery and post‑operative care. \"They have a team of 7 vets and a dedicated local staff that know the needs of the community because they live here,\" Boyd said. Other speakers gave firsthand accounts of clients who could not afford private veterinary care and relied on PALS for emergency procedures and routine treatment.

Several commenters contrasted PALS with Austin Pets Alive (APA), an organization the county has engaged to provide programming for the proposed Pet Resource Center. Diane Welker, a tech executive and former volunteer for Austin Pets Alive, said she experienced or heard of workplace and stewardship concerns while with APA and urged the court to include local groups in planning and funding decisions. Kelly Arthur, who leads the Lost & Found Pets of Hays County group, called for transparency and said county funds should go to local providers: \"The taxpayers of Hays County want their hard earned money to go to their beloved local nonprofit that is already helping them and not to Austin Pets Alive,\" Arthur said in an emailed statement read to the court.

Other speakers urged immediate action on county funding for spay/neuter and TNR programs. Nicola Larkin, a volunteer, urged commissioners to designate discretionary funds for spay/neuter and TNR and recommended a full‑time countywide community‑cat coordinator to target TNR efforts based on shelter data. Multiple emailed comments from residents echoed the plea for increased local funding for low‑cost veterinary services and TNR programs.

Judge Becerra briefly clarified that the Pet Resource Center project and Austin Pets Alive’s programming are independent: \"Austin Pets Alive and our Pet Resource Center project are independent. The Pet Resource Center is something we are working on... Austin Pets Alive is an organization helping with programming,\" he said, adding that a bricks‑and‑mortar center is planned regardless of program contractor arrangements.

Why it matters: Speakers said local access to affordable veterinary care reduces shelter intake, lowers costs for the county over time and supports residents who cannot afford private veterinary services. Multiple commenters emphasized that local nonprofit capacity and track records should be a criterion in any funding decision.

At the meeting the court did not take a final funding vote on the Pet Resource Center; public comment was the occasion for residents and stakeholders to press the court for a particular funding approach. Several speakers asked commissioners to allocate discretionary funds now to expand TNR and low‑cost spay/neuter services and to prioritize local providers with existing facilities and staff.

The court’s agenda later included an item to advertise an RFP for management and use of the newly acquired county sports complex and numerous administrative approvals; the Pet Resource Center funding decision was not decided during public comment.

Ending: Supporters asked commissioners to inspect PALS operations and financials as part of any funding decision and to consider immediate allocations for spay/neuter and TNR while larger Pet Resource Center planning continues.","More than a dozen residents and volunteers told the Hays County Commissioners Court that PALS, a local animal welfare nonprofit, should receive county funding for spay/neuter, trap-neuter-return (TNR) and other Pet Resource Center programs instead of out-of-area groups such as Austin Pets Alive.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Hays County Commissioners approve proclamations, staffing changes and contracts; open RFQ for professional services pool

Residents raise concerns about proposed data centers near San Marcos over water and environmental impacts

Hays County residents urge commissioners to fund local nonprofit PALS for county Pet Resource Center