At their meeting April 3, the Wimberley City Council unanimously approved a resolution to support Senate Bill 2660 that authorizes the Hays Trinity Groundwater Conservation District to manage and protect the Trinity Aquifer for all users and to allow reasonable production fees. Wimberley’s endorsement follows those by the City of Woodcreek and Hays County. According to council members, the bill has widespread bipartisan support in the Texas Senate.
Introduced into the Senate in March by Republican Charles Perry, the Chair of the Senate Water and Rural Affairs Committee, Senate Bill 2660 authorizes the Conservation District to place all public water supply wells and commercial wells in Hays County under the same groundwater production fee structure authorized by the legislature in the 2023 session for the Barton Springs district in the eastern half of Hays County.
In other actions, Mayor Jim Chiles, proclaimed April as “Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month.” Accepting the proclamation was Patricia Huerta, a counselor at the Hays County Women’s Center.
In a second proclamation, Chiles announced April as “Child Abuse Prevention and Awareness Month.” Accepting that proclamation was Susan Hankins, of Court Appointed Special Advocates, or CASA, of Central Texas. Hankins thanked the Mayor and Council for their support, informing the assembled council and visitors that, “In Hays county, child abuse is very high.”
The city council approved a grant from Hotel Occupancy Tax, or HOT, funds for two shuttles to operate during the Pie Social and Arts Fest to accommodate attendees and ease parking.
City Administrator, Tim Patek, informed the council that Shybee Consulting has been chosen to facilitate services related to the FEMA Flood Mitigation Grant Program.
The council also voted to authorize the initiation of Chapter 54 litigation for three properties who are not in compliance with zoning regulations.
Rebecca Minnick, council member Place 1, also noted that Wimberley was featured in a recent issue of Southern Living magazine.
