The Ridgerunner

WPOA Roads Manager Jim Westbrook reported to attendees at the November 21st general meeting that new stop signs have gone up in several locations in a continued effort to address the speeding problem on many of our Woodcreek North streets. A recent letter from a local resident with a small child reinforced the importance of this effort to control speeding. “We have a baby and she turns one year-old this month. She’ll be walking soon, and we are very concerned about speeders.”

Westbrook also noted that violators could receive two tickets if caught speeding and running stop sign. Our streets have been greatly improved over the last several years. Now it’s time for all of us to improve our driving habits and to take into consideration the safety of not only our children, but of all of us.

Precinct 3 Commissioner Will Conley presented information concerning Hays County’s possibly taking over the maintenance of roads within Woodcreek North. All roads within our area are now privately maintained with proceeds from the annual maintenance fees paid by all property owners. A map accompanying the Commissioner’s presentation showed the roads that are currently at the standards required for such an assuming of maintenance. These include major arteries such as Valley Spring, Pleasant Valley, Crazy Cross, Woodacre, Creekside and Saddle Rock Ridge.

Conley explained that a petition from area residents would be necessary to begin the takeover process and that it would in turn be presented to the entire Commissioners Court for study and possible action. He also noted that certain signage requirements would have to be met and that the homeowners association would bear the cost of bringing signs up to the proper standards. He noted that the county has already accepted Vallley Spring from 2325 to just past Peace Pipe.

There are five nominees for three places on the WPOA board of directors and ballots have gone out to all owners, both resident and non-resident. Those nominated by the nominations committee are Bill Bradfield, Joseph Jamieson and Keith Haney. At the WPOA’s general meeting on November 21st, Donna Hathway and Lynn Scudder were nominated from the floor. Ballots contain personal information about and the qualifications of each of the nominees.

It is requested that ballots be returned as quickly as possible. Tabulation and verification will take place during the WPOA annual meeting to be held at 10 a.m. on January 16th, and the board members will be announced. The meeting will be held at the WPOA office located at 109 Woodacre Drive.

Kyle Clinic
150 Lockhart
Phone: 512-268-1270

Onion Creek Senior Citizens Center Buda Senior Center
401 Barton’s Crossing
Buda
Phone: 512-468-4451

Hays CISD Performance Arts Center
979 Kohler’s Krossing
Phone: 512-268-2141

San Marcos Clinic Flu Shot Clinics
401-A Broadway
Phone: 512-393-5520

More information at 211 Texas website: https//www.211texas.org

Although it was reported in the October issue that flu shots would be available in Wimberley, we have been informed that the information is incorrect. The information we have been able to locate regarding the nearest available source for shots is below:
FLU SHOTS
Site: DRIPPING SPRINGS INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT DSISD

Operating Agency: HAYS COUNTY PERSONAL HEALTH DEPARTMENT

510 W. Mercer St.
Dripping Springs, TX 78620
512-858-3000 Main ISD Switchboard
512-858-3004 Additional Number Transportation
512-465-6100 Additional Number
Website: www.dsisd.txed.net

Days/Hours: See Sites Hours, please note some clinics require pre registration

Description: Provides flu shots for adults and children ages 3 and up. Pneumonia shots are offered for adults as long as their supply lasts. Offers flu mist for adults and children ages 2-49.
As of 9/15/2009 they are waiting for their Mercury free attenuated vaccine shots have been ordered but not received. Children ages 6 months to 3 years will be eligible for this inactivated vaccine when it is available.

Eligibility: Flu shots for all ages over 6 months, pneumonia shots for anyone over 65 or if are high risk,for more information see Description

Fees: Flu Shots:
Adults: $20, Pneumonia shots: $40, free with Medicare Part B and Medicaid, families will not be turned away because of inability to pay

Area Served: Hays

Intake Procedure: Walk-ins only

Documents Required: Immunization records for children if available, Medicaid and Medicare Part B recipients need to bring their cards, if attending one of the Outreach Clinics one time only you need to bring your original Medicare card AND a photocopy of it with you as there are no copiers at these temporary facilites

Disability Access: Designated Parking

Services Offered: Flu Shots – Pneumococcal Pneumonia Immunizations –

Now that we’ve had some rain and meteorologists are predicting more to come throughout the fall and winter months, here are some ideas for catching and using rainwater.

Residential irrigation can account for 40 percent of domestic water consumption in a given municipality. Rain barrels not only store water, they help decrease demand during the sweltering summer months. Only 1/4 inch of rainfall runoff from the average roof will completely fill the typical barrel. Collection of water from rooftop runoff can provide an ample supply of this free ’soft water’ containing no chlorine, lime or calcium. Because it tends to have fewer sediments and dissolved salts than municipal water, rain water is ideal for a multitude of applications, including biodynamic and organic vegetable gardens, raised planter beds for botanicals, indoor tropicals like ferns and orchids, automobile washing, and cleaning household windows. Saving water in this manner will reduce the demand for treated tap water.

Rainwater diversion will also help decrease the burden on water treatment facilities. The storage of rainwater is also recommended for general emergency preparedness, or for areas prone to disasters or drought. A good formula to remember: one inch of rain on a 1000 sq ft roof yields 623 gallons of water. Calculate the yield of your roof by multiplying the square footage of your roof by 623 and divide by 1000.

County Judge Liz Sumter has announced that she will seek election to a second term. Sumter says she intends to continue the same policy that characterized her first term in office: “I may office in the County Courthouse, but the citizens own the building. That’s something that citizens understand very well. Unfortunately, some elected officials lose sight of that. So I’m making a point of letting the citizens of Hays County know that I know that I work for them. That’s the attitude I had when I ran for office in 2006 and it’s the attitude that I have today.”

PEC’s Energy Conservation and Renewable Generation Programs Committee has approved the formation of a membership advisory panel on conservation and renewable energy. The six-member panel will be asked to offer ideas and advice to the committee on issues related to energy efficiency and green energy.

PEC members interested in serving on the panel should submit their names and qualifications to: PEC Membership Panel, P.O. Box 1, Johnson City, Texas, 78636, or by e-mail to: membership_panel@peci.com.The committee will review submissions and select panel members.

At its July meeting, PEC’s Board of Directors gave committee chairs the latitude to appoint PEC members and other individuals to serve as volunteer advisors. The Energy Conservation and Renewable Generation Programs Committee is chaired by PEC Board President and District 6 Director Larry Landaker and includes District 2 Director James E. Williams and District 7 Director Dr. Patrick Cox.

The unusually hot and dry weather pattern our area has experienced since early June has caused drought conditions not seen since the 1950s.
According to a recent report by Dr. John Nielsen-Gammon, the Texas state climatologist, the current drought is the second worst in recorded history for the eastern Hill Country, most of Central Texas and the middle Texas coast.
The drought of the mid-1950s is considered the worst drought on record for most of Central Texas. However, for Bastrop, Caldwell and Lee counties, the current drought appears to be the worst ever. The past three months of unprecedented heat, combined with the lack of rain, have created some of the most severe drought conditions ever experienced across Central Texas.
These unusually hot and dry conditions follow a pattern of below normal rainfall during the winter and spring of this year and the near record dry conditions in 2008.

At this writing, members of the WPOA Board of Directors are hard at work turning the old tennis center now a part of the Jacobs Well Preserve into a new home for the Association office. After a clean up and some renovations, the building will be leased to the WPOA for a minimum of 24 months at a greatly reduced rate. The estimated savings for the two-year period will be around $19,000. The space will be used for meetings, making gatherings more convenient and less costly for the community. The Preserve was created to protect the land around the well and to offer education about management practices that will sustain this invaluable natural resource. We appreciate the Watershed Association’s offer to allow us use of this facility.

The new office is located at 101 Woodacre Drive .