Click here for the original notice. This Notice is posted according to the Texas Open Meetings Act. (VERNONS TEXAS CODES ANN. GOV. CODE CH.551). The Hays County Sheriff’s Office Civil Service Commission will hold a meeting at 10 am on the 17 th day of April 2025 , in the Hays County Sheriff’s Office Public Safety Building, 1 st floor, Media Room located at 810 South Stagecoach Trail, San Marcos, Texas 78666. An Open Meeting will be held concerning the following subjects: 1. Call the meeting to order 2. Roll Call 3. Public Comments, if any 4. Approval of March 20, 2025, minutes 5. Discussion and possible action to appoint a member of the Civil Service Commission to the Board of Examiners (Kresta) 6. Discussion and possible action to approve the selection of Donnoe and Associates for promotional exam and assessment services. (Kresta) 7. Discussion and possible action to appoint an e-mail address and physical address for Public Information Requests to be received. (Kresta) 8. Adjournment Executive Sessions The Civil Service Commission will announce that it will go into Executive Session, if necessary, pursuant to Chapter 551 of the Texas Government Code, to receive advice from Legal Counsel to discuss matters of litigation and personnel matters as specifically listed on this agenda. The Civil Service Commission may also announce it will go into Executive Session, if necessary, to receive advice from Legal Counsel regarding any other item on this agenda. ADA Compliance Hays County encourages compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) in the conduct of all public meetings. To that end, persons with disabilities who plan to attend this meeting and who may need auxiliary aids such as an interpreter for a person who is hearing impaired are requested to contact the Director of the Civil Service Commission at (512) 393-7838 or via e-mail at Sandra.Galvan@hayscountytx.gov as soon as the meeting is posted (72 hours before the meeting) or as soon as practical so that appropriate arrangements can be made. While it would be helpful to receive as much advance notice as possible, Hays County will make every reasonable effort to accommodate any valid request regardless of when it is received. Braille is not available.

To view the original notice, click here. To: All interested Agencies Groups and Individuals Date of publication: March 28th, 2025  This is to give notice that the Texas General Land Office (GLO) will conduct an evaluation as required by Executive Order 11990 and Executive Order 11988, in accordance with HUD regulations at 24 CFR 55.20 in Subpart C Procedures for Making Determinations on Floodplain Management and Protection of Wetlands to determine the potential effect that Hays County single family disaster recovery Homeowner Reimbursement Program (HRP) and Homeowner Assistance Program (HAP) actions in wetlands and surrounding Federal Flood Risk Management Standard (FFRMS) floodplains will have on the human environment. The GLO was allocated HUD funding to help address unmet housing needs as a result of the 2024 Texas severe storms and flooding, including Hurricane Beryl (Beryl). On May 15, 2024, a request was declared for a major disaster due to severe storms, straight-line winds, tornadoes, and flooding beginning on April 26, 2024, and continued for several weeks. From July 5 to July 9, 2024, Beryl caused extensive wind damage, flooding, and power outages across multiple regions, particularly along the Texas Gulf Coast and inland communities. Wind gusts exceeding 90 mph and rainfall totals surpassing 15 inches in some areas led to significant damage to homes, infrastructure, and businesses. The State of Texas Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) will fund two residential housing programs for eligible county residents whose homes sustained damage from the 2024 disasters. The HAP provides funding primarily for low-to-moderate-income homeowners with direct construction support for storm-impacted owner-occupied single-family residential housing. The activities covered by this program include demolition, rehabilitation, reconstruction, manufactured house replacement, or new construction and their associated elevation, mitigation, utility, site improvements, and relocation assistance, as needed. The HRP provides funding for low to moderate-income owner-occupied single-family housing (including manufactured housing). It allows homeowners to be reimbursed for certain out-of-pocket expenses including Small Business Administration disaster home loans, incurred for repairs to their dwelling including elevation, wells and septic needs, reconstruction, rehabilitation, manufactured house replacement, and mitigation. The size of the proposed site, proposed number of units, and project footprint are not currently known, however, as specific sites are identified, they will be assessed for potential impacts related to land use, floodplains, and wetlands. Mitigation measures will be applied as necessary to minimize adverse effects. Within Hays County, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) effective maps include 26,763 acres (6.2%) in the 100-year floodplain Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA) Zones A/AE/AO, 11,808 acres (2.7%) in the regulatory floodway, and 0 acres (0%) within the Coastal High Hazard Areas Zone V/VE. Zone X encompasses 5,689 acres (1.3%) of Hays County within the 500-year floodplain and 388,631 acres (89.9%) of Hays County outside all SFHA-designated floodplains. Approximately 7,052 acres (1.6%) within Hays County are designated as wetlands. This includes freshwater emergent wetlands, freshwater forested/shrub wetlands, freshwater ponds, lakes, and riverine wetlands. The extent of the FFRMS floodplain will be determined at a site-specific level using the 0.2 percent flood approach (0.2PFA) or the freeboard value approach (FVA) when appropriate. In addition, siting within the Limit of Moderate Wave Action (LiMWA)/Coastal A Zone will be determined at the site-specific level. Activities within the LiMWA will carry the same mitigation and protection strategy as siting within a coastal high-hazard area (Zone V/VE). The floodplains and wetlands within Hays County serve important environmental functions that contribute to the county’s ecological health and community resilience. These areas provide floodwater storage and conveyance, helping to absorb and slow floodwaters, which reduces downstream flooding and protects nearby properties and infrastructure. Additionally, they support groundwater recharge and discharge, maintaining local water supplies and sustaining the base flow of rivers and streams. The natural vegetation within these floodplains and wetlands also plays a key role in erosion control, stabilizing soils, and preventing sedimentation in waterways. Furthermore, these areas contribute to water quality maintenance by filtering pollutants and sediments, ultimately improving both human and ecological health. In inland counties, they help regulate watershed health, agricultural water retention, and riparian connectivity, ensuring the stability of local water systems and ecosystems. Beyond their ecological significance, these floodplains and wetlands hold intrinsic values that benefit the community. They provide recreational opportunities such as hiking, fishing, birdwatching, and kayaking, contributing to tourism and outdoor enjoyment. These areas also serve as educational and scientific resources, offering opportunities for research and environmental education on hydrology, ecology, and resilience. There are three primary purposes for this notice. First, people who may be affected by activities in the FFRMS floodplain and wetland and those who have an interest in the protection of the natural environment should be given an opportunity to express their concerns and provide information about these areas. Commenters are encouraged to offer alternative sites outside of the FFRMS floodplain and wetland, alternative methods to serve the same project purpose, and methods to minimize and mitigate project impacts on the FFRMS floodplain and wetland. Second, an adequate public notice program can be an important public educational tool. The dissemination of information and request for public comment about the FFRMS floodplain and wetland can facilitate and enhance Federal efforts to reduce the risks and impacts associated with the occupancy and modification of these special areas. Third, as a matter of fairness, when the Federal government determines it will participate in actions taking place in the FFRMS floodplain and wetland, it must inform those who may be put at greater or continued risk. Written comments must be received by GLO at the following address on or before April 14th, 2025: Texas General Land Office ATTN: David Camarena, Director Community Development & Revitalization (CDR) Division PO Box 12873, Austin TX 78711-2873 A full description of the project may also be reviewed from 9 A.M. to 5 P.M on weekdays at the address above. Comments may also be submitted via email at env.reviews@recovery.texas.gov.

SAN MARCOS, Texas - Hays County Criminal District Attorney Kelly Higgins announced today that a Hays County Grand Jury issued a “no-bill” this week in the arson causing death case against Jacobe Ferguson. Ferguson had been accused of starting the 2018 fire at the Iconic Village apartments in San Marcos. A no-bill means that a grand jury did not find sufficient evidence to issue an indictment against a person accused of a felony in Texas. The Grand Jury met several times over the course of two months and diligently considered the evidence related to the arson investigation. Following the presentation, the Grand Jury issued a no-bill that stated that they “failed to find a bill of indictment against the accused” and that they “encourage law enforcement to continue this investigation.” The fire at the Iconic Village apartments occurred on July 20, 2018, and five people were killed in the blaze. The case remained unsolved until a task force that included the ATF, Texas Rangers, the San Marcos Fire Marshal and San Marcos Police obtained an arrest warrant accusing Jacobe Ferguson in July 2023. Ferguson was held in jail for a time, but has been free on bond awaiting a decision on the matter since 2023. The decision of the grand jury releases Ferguson from that bond. Criminal District Attorney Kelly Higgins pledged that his office would continue to work with law enforcement to ensure that the investigation into the fire continues.  He stated, “I want to thank the members of the Grand Jury for their time and attention to this matter. I also want to thank the families of the young people killed and injured in this tragic fire for their patience and understanding. We feel for their loss every day and we remain committed to bringing the arsonist to justice to provide closure to those who have lost so much. We take the Grand Jury’s encouragement to continue the investigation to heart and will continue to work with the task force to that end.”

SAN MARCOS, Texas — In a progressive step toward strengthening community well-being, the Hays County Commissioners Court has approved the creation of a new Animal Welfare Services Division housed within the Hays County Health Department. This newly established division reflects the County’s commitment to a holistic approach to public health — one that recognizes the essential connection between people, animals, and the environment. The division will operate under the nationally recognized Human Animal Support Services (HASS) model, a community-centric framework focused on keeping pets and their people together, removing barriers to care and creating safer, healthier neighborhoods through collaborative programming. The court also approved the creation of three key positions to support the launch and operation of the division: · Animal Welfare Division Manager · Animal Welfare Services Coordinator · Animal Welfare Services Specialist These roles will lead the development of programs and services aimed at prevention, public education, field support alignment and direct assistance for pet owners and unowned animals in need. The agenda item was led by Commissioner Michelle Cohen, Precinct 2, with co-sponsorship from Commissioner Walt Smith, Precinct 4. “This initiative represents a community-first approach to public health,” said Dr. Cohen. “Our residents have made it clear that they value both the well-being of animals and access to humane, inclusive services. This new division will help us deliver on those priorities through strategic, sustainable programming.” “We’ve heard from residents and community partners that this kind of support is essential,” added Smith. “Whether it’s preventing shelter overcrowding, improving field services, or making pet care more accessible, this division is a win for our animals and our residents.” “The health of a community extends beyond human well-being,” said Hays County Judge Ruben Beccera. “This division allows us to address health holistically — supporting the physical, emotional and environmental needs of people and their pets. We are proud to see Hays County take this compassionate, forward-thinking step.” The Hays County Health Department emphasized this division's role in advancing the One Health philosophy. This globally recognized approach integrates human, animal and environmental health into a unified strategy. “Public health is evolving, and Hays County is evolving with it,” said Matthew Gonzales, director of the Hays County Health Department. “The creation of this division reflects our strategic commitment to the One Health model. It’s about taking smart, integrated steps that improve outcomes for everyone — humans and animals alike — through prevention, outreach and equitable access to services.”  The Animal Welfare Services Division will build upon existing efforts to provide outreach, connect underserved communities to veterinary and wellness services and support safe, humane outcomes for pets across the county. In alignment with the HASS model, the division will emphasize prevention, community support and resource accessibility.