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By Bob Ochoa
RoundUp Editor
Two months ago, a Hays County community survey was circulated seeking citizen input to help set the course for future planning and development. The results are in. County officials were kind enough to share them with the RoundUp.
It looks like this is the closest we're going to get to the voice of the average citizen – in one neatly wrapped package. So, county commissioners and other officials, here's what the people you represent and serve are saying. Please listen up, and tell your big contributors and favorite special interests to stand aside for awhile. Let's get some smart planning and execution going for Everyone sitting at the table, the sooner the better.
One of the big bell ringers in the survey was the response to the question, where should Hays County focus its resources. Of the options listed, the top three vote-getters were Managing Growth (318 agreed strongly and 173 agreed), Conserving Natural Resources (318 agreed strongly and 177 agreed), and Protecting Water Quality and Quantity (374 agreed strongly and 145 agreed).
Right below those three were: Protecting public health and safety, improving roads, helping existing businesses, business recruitment/development, and providing public transit options. The least favored choice was expanding housing options.
Six hundred citizen/residents (give or take a few) responded to the survey, a disappointingly low number, but still enough we think for a pretty solid sampling of attitudes and opinions. The age range of respondents was: 18-34 years of age, 14.5%; 35-49, 32.3%; 50-64, 41.3%; 65 or over, 11.9%.
49.7% of the respondents said they live in the city limits of an incorporated city and 50.3% in unincorporated areas. Of the city dwellers, 7 reported living in Austin's city limits, 2 in Village of Bear Creek, 29 in Buda, 1 in Chaparral Park, 2 in Driftwood, 21 in Dripping Springs, 1 in Hays, 59 in Kyle, 22 in Mountain City, 95 in San Marcos, 4 in Uhland, 1 in West Sierra Circle, 30 in Wimberley, and 23 in Woodcreek.
Below are highlights of the rest of the very interesting results.
How many years have you lived in Hays County?
Less than 2 years, 6.1%; 2-5 years, 19.7%; 6-10, 21.2%; 11-20, 25%; more than 20, 28.1%.
Why do you live in Hays County?
The top three reasons: Hill Country/natural environment, Rural character, and Good place for families. Next two: Location/proximity to Austin, Schools and Recreational opportunities. Least of all reasons: Job opportunities.
Some of the comments:
"Close to big city convenience (Hospital-Shopping) without big city annoyances."
"Small town, safe environment, friendly."
"Culture, music, art, food, people."
"San Marcos River."
"Clean air."
"Housing prices."
"Tolerant culture."
"Having property."
"Retired."
"I moved here 17 years ago so I could be in a more country like atmosphere."
"Home safety."
"Church family."
"Originally wanted country atmosphere, however, that is very quickly disappearing. Still less hustle and bustle than Austin."
"LESS EXPENSIVE HOMES."
"Springs, community and there's still a chance it might not get ruined like so many other places around here."
"Can't afford to live in Austin where I work."
"University."
"Great Sheriff's Department."
"Connection to friends."
"Artistic community."
"Better air quality."
"Wife's home state."
"Quality of life/lower crime rates."
"Many clubs and activities to join."
Please rank the following issues in order of priority (rank 1 thru 11):
Water quantity and quality – 235/88/57/34/23/25/26/17/11/9/17
Road improvements – 68/83/50/51/62/56/38/24/39/26/28/
Parks and open space – 34/109/62/52/50/54/49/38/21/36/23
Sheriff – 28/28/55/63/61/67/51/50/29/40/39
Emergency management – 7/18/49/61/91/72/68/61/35/37/14
Fire/EMS – 25/63/87/77/77/62/61/31/33/9/7
Property taxes – 82/64/59/59/55/46/61/24/28/20/27
Affordable health care – 12/22/40/51/35/54/55/92/75/64/36.
Senior services – 6/16/18/20/28/41/49/102/124/69/61
Housing affordability – 15/23/24/32/32/42/43/53/80/133/64
Public/rail transportation – 45/23/45/35/25/21/29/38/39/67/187
What do you think are the most important things to consider and address as this process moves forward?
Comments only:
"Solutions NOT Studies."
"Roadway improvements to connect Hays County to Austin. The "Y" in Oak Hill needs to be improved and SW45 from IH35 to 290West needs to be constructed."
"Protecting resources and severely limiting growth."
"The taxes for Dripping Springs are way too high . . . the School needs to tighten their belt (NFL Football field)."
"Keeping our rural feeling and managing growth to insure water and waste disposal is available. You can't approve more and more subdivisions and try to scare folks already here into severe conservation."
"Forward thinking about the lifestyle and environment. Promotion of rain water harvesting, home energy savings, solar power, etc. Travis County has Hays beat hands down in this area."
"Don't waste taxpayer money."
"Never will be able to satisfy everyone. Voters elected the officials to govern by their styles, so govern."
"Deciding whether we are going to use our assets intelligently or squander them . . . The rivers, hills and other natural assets must be made more attractive and tourism business cultivated. Escaping the mediocrity of our education systems and employment opportunities."
"That the government would stop thinking that just because some loud people who already live here and don't want anyone else to live here is right."
"New businesses. I was disappointed to find out that Alamo Drafthouse was not coming to Springtown Mall. That would have been amazing for our city."
"Keep it rural except for I 35."
"Over-regulation by the County is going to drive business away."
"Unlike our Congress, Hays County should listen to the people."
"The county should continue to cooperate with all of the Cities and rural areas on concerns."
"Achieving a collaborative, realistic, long-term vision (can't manage high growth in a hodgepodge fashion)."
"Doing the right thing and taking the politics out of it. All issues are important but you can't give them justice when you put politics above everything trying to get re-elected. All commissioners and the judge are guilty of this. It's time to stop and go to work. Then we can make this process work."
"Please keep industrial companies from moving near my neighborhood."
"The Sheriff and DA have lost focus on community service. They have just become bullies."
"Water companies. Aqua Texas is a joke of this county and people are refusing to move into the areas that Aqua Texas services."
"Improving public schools."
"Really need to address growing young families population in Wimberley and surrounding areas and providing places to go/things to do (parks, trails, safe teenage hangouts)."
"We need to be watching to make sure that elected officials do not serve special interests to the detriment of the residents of the city and county."
"Recognize different points of view, ie, old-time ranchers vs. developers, water quality and availability."
"Although I would like the county to stay as it is, that's not possible. We cannot stop growth, nor should we try. We should plan for it though."
"Protecting the environment, insuring open spaces for our children, the poor."
"Over-development will ruin what makes Hays County a draw and will not adequately recoup the tax dollars that will go to building the infrastructure to support the development."
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