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THE BIG PICTURE
(City of Buda Weekly Newsletter)
Week of July 13, 2020
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In this Issue:
- Alliance Regional Pipeline Project Update - Old Black Colony Road Impacts
- FM 1626 Lane Closures
- Buda City Facilities to Conduct Business Virtually Starting July 13
- City Park Lights - Kenny's Construction Chat
- Buda Citizens' Academy Canceled
- Buda Census Self-Response Rate
- Census Video Message From Police Chief Bo Kidd and Fire Chief Clay Huckaby
- Scam/Fraud Alert
- New Downtown Buda Website
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- Governor Abbott Establishes Statewide Face Covering Requirement/Issues Proclamation To Limit Gatherings
- Governor Abbott Executive Order Issued June 26
- COVID-19 Hays County Resources
- COVID-19 Hotline
- COVID-19 Dashboard
- COVID-19 Updates on City of Buda Website
- Pay By Phone Automated System
- City of Buda E-Billing
- City of Buda Water Smart Portal
- Pet Registration Information
- City of Buda Job Opportunities
- Upcoming Meetings
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Alliance Regional Pipeline Project Update
Impacts to Old Black Colony Road
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Work on the Alliance Regional Water Authority’s pipeline continues. One lane access along Old Black Colony Road will take place mid-week next week as the pipeline construction crosses Old Black Colony Road and continues to the south to connect to the Booster Pump Station along FM 2770. This project is currently on-time and anticipated to be completed by December 2020.
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Due to ongoing construction on 1626 there will be rolling lane closures both north and south starting Wednesday, July 15 and lasting through Friday, July 24. The 1626 project is a Texas Department of Transportation project.
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Buda City Facilities To Conduct Business Virtually
Starting Monday, July 13
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Due to the continued rise of active COVID-19 cases in Hays County, the City of Buda will return to conducting business virtually. Starting Monday, July 13 Buda City facilities, including the Buda Police Department, will begin conducting business virtually until further notice. This means there will be no walk-ins, with all business being done via telephone and computer. The City of Buda will continue to monitor this evolving situation and make further adjustments if needed.
You can contact City Departments directly at the numbers below:
Public Works (512-312-2876)
Buda Police Department -Non-Emergency (512-393-7896)
Parks and Recreation (512-523-1081)
Utility Billing (512-295-8845)
Municipal Court (512-295-2562)
Planning, Permitting, and Engineering (512-312-5745)
Visitor’s Center (512-295-7170)
For more information on Buda Library Services:
Starting Monday, July 13 the Buda Public Library will be available by phone at 512-295-5899 Monday – Friday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Buda Public Library Curbside Service will be Mondays from 1 p.m. – 5 p.m., Tuesday and Thursday from 10 a.m. to noon and 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. People who can’t pick up during those times can email
librarian@budalibrary.org
to arrange another pick-up time.
Check-ins will continue to be delayed, but grace periods will account for this.
Utility billing payments
may be paid online at
https://www.municipalonlinepayments.com/budatx
or through the automated phone system at 1-866-279-0787.
Additional ways to make utility payments include online through your bank, by mail to 405 E. Loop St., Building 100, Buda, Texas, or by utilizing the utility payment drop boxes at the front entrance of the building and near the library book drop. Customers can contact utility billing staff directly by email at
utilitybilling@ci.buda.tx.us
or over the phone at 512-295-8845.
Additional online resources:
You can view City Council meetings online here:
Municipal Court
Although operations are closed to the public, individuals may still contact the Court by phone and email to get information and handle their cases; many options are available that do not require a personal appearance.
All in person court dockets will be rescheduled after August 10; individuals will be notified by mail of their new court date.
All due dates will be extended until August 10, including:
- Initial appearance dates (as indicated on citation)
- Payment dates (payment plans, extensions, etc…)
- Deferral dates (driving safety course, other deferrals)
- Community Service
All individuals are
encouraged to call 512-295-2562 or email the court at
budamunicipalcourt@ci.buda.tx.us
in lieu of making personal appearances to handle court related business.
Buda Municipal Court also has online payment options at
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Project Manager Kenny Crawford takes a look at the light features at City Park in his latest episode of Kenny's Construction Chat.
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Buda Citizens' Academy Canceled For 2020
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The City has decided to cancel the Buda Citizens' Academy for 2020. We believe the academy works best in person due to its interactive nature. With the rising cases of COVID-19 we felt it was better to hold off until next year. Thank you for understanding.
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Buda Counts: Latest Census Self-Response Rates
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Keep it up Buda! We are still holding at #3 in Hays County when it comes to census self-response rates. We are currently at 71.5%. Let's work together to get that number higher! Respond online today
2
020CENSUS.GOV
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Take 10 minutes of your time and shape the future of your parks, your health care, and your community. Participate in the 2020 Census. Visit
2020Census.gov
and complete the questionnaire.
See message below from Police Chief Bo Kidd and Fire Chief Clay Huckaby.
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Under the guise of calling from the US Department of Health & Human Services (HHS), phone scammers are contacting people asking for personal information. They may try to get folks to provide social security numbers, birth dates, bank account numbers, etc.
We ask the public to be extra vigilant if you receive any calls asking you to verify personal info. At a local level, please know that the Hays County Local Health Department does indeed contact people via phone, but we will never ask for personal information about bank accounts, social security numbers, etc.
If you believe you received a fraudulent call, hang up. Report potentially fraudulent calls on the HHS OIG Hotline 1-800-HHS-TIPS (1-800-447-8477).
Read more about this scam on the HHS website:
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Visit Downtown Buda's new website at
DowntownBudaTX.com
where you can find info on shopping & dining during COVID, as well as updates on events & more!
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Governor Greg Abbott today issued an Executive Order requiring all Texans to wear a face covering over the nose and mouth in public spaces in counties with 20 or more positive COVID-19 cases, with few exceptions. The Governor also issued a proclamation giving mayors and county judges the ability to impose restrictions on some outdoor gatherings of over 10 people, and making it mandatory that, with certain exceptions, people cannot be in groups larger than ten and must maintain six feet of social distancing from others.
"Wearing a face covering in public is proven to be one of the most effective ways we have to slow the spread of COVID-19,” said Governor Abbott. “We have the ability to keep businesses open and move our economy forward so that Texans can continue to earn a paycheck, but it requires each of us to do our part to protect one another—and that means wearing a face covering in public spaces. Likewise, large gatherings are a clear contributor to the rise in COVID-19 cases. Restricting the size of groups gatherings will strengthen Texas’ ability to corral this virus and keep Texans safe. We all have a responsibility to slow the spread of COVID-19 and keep our communities safe. If Texans commit to wearing face coverings in public spaces and follow the best health and safety practices, we can both slow the spread of COVID-19 and keep Texas open for business. I urge all Texans to wear a face covering in public, not just for their own health, but for the health of their families, friends, and for all our fellow Texans.”
𝐄𝐱𝐜𝐞𝐫𝐩𝐭 𝐅𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐄𝐱𝐞𝐜𝐮𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐎𝐫𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝐑𝐞𝐠𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐄𝐧𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐜𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭
Following a verbal or written warning for a first-time violator of this facecovering requirement, a person’s second violation shall be punishable by a fine not to exceed $250. Each subsequent violation shall be punishable by a fine not to exceed $250 per violation.
Local law enforcement and other local officials, as appropriate, can and should enforce this executive order, Executive Order GA-28, and other effective executive orders, as well as local restrictions that are consistent with this executive order and other effective executive orders. But no law enforcement or other official may detain, arrest, or confine in jail any person for a violation of this executive order or for related non-violent, non-felony offenses that are predicated in a violation of this executive order; provided, however, that any official with authority to enforce this executive order may act to enforce trespassing laws and remove violators at the request of a business establishment or other property owner.
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Governor Abbott Issues New Order Closing Bars, Tubing Businesses, & Limiting Public Gatherings
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Governor Greg Abbott today issued an executive order limiting certain businesses and services as part of the state’s effort to contain the spread of COVID-19. This decision comes as the number of people testing positive for COVID-19 and the number of hospitalizations have increased and the positivity rate in Texas increased above 10%, which the Governor previously stated would lead to further preventative action. The targeted, measured directives in the executive order are based on links between certain types of businesses and services and the recent rise in positive cases throughout the state.
The order includes the following:
- All bars and similar establishments that receive more than 51% of their gross receipts from the sale of alcoholic beverages are required to close. These businesses may remain open for delivery and take-out, including for alcoholic beverages, as authorized by the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission.
- Restaurants may remain open for dine-in service, but at a capacity not to exceed 50% of total listed indoor occupancy, beginning Monday, June 29, 2020.
- Rafting and tubing businesses must close.
- Outdoor gatherings of 100 or more people must be approved by local governments, with certain exceptions.
“As I said from the start, if the positivity rate rose above 10%, the State of Texas would take further action to mitigate the spread of COVID-19,” said Governor Abbott. “At this time, it is clear that the rise in cases is largely driven by certain types of activities, including Texans congregating in bars. The actions in this executive order are essential to our mission to swiftly contain this virus and protect public health. We want this to be as limited in duration as possible. However, we can only slow the spread if everyone in Texas does their part. Every Texan has a responsibility to themselves and their loved ones to wear a mask, wash their hands, stay six feet apart from others in public, and stay home if they can. I know that our collective action can lead to a reduction in the spread of COVID-19 because we have done it before, and we will do it again.”
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Hays County has provided a list of resources for residents who have lost their jobs or need food, mental health support, or other assistance due to the COVID-19 pandemic
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Hays County has a COVID-19 hotline. The number is
512-393-5525
and it is operational Monday through Friday from 8 AM to 5 PM
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(The information coming from Hays County will continue to change. Please follow Hays County at
www.haysinformed.com
)
An online dashboard created by City of San Marcos provides the public with a current count and other statistics related to COVID-19 cases in Hays County in near real-time.
The data on the dashboard shows a snapshot of COVID-19 related information for the County, as well as the number of active and recovered cases per City.
For example, the public can see the current number of confirmed cases as of that day. The data includes the cases considered active or in recovery, along with the number of tests administered. The data is also available in map format.
County residents may visit
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As a reminder, you can visit the City's website at
www.ci.buda.tx.us/coronavirusinformation
for the latest on COVID-19. This page includes the Governor's Order, Hays County Order, and Mayor George Haehn order. We have also embedded the COVID-19 Dashboard from Hays County with the latest number of cases.
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Pay By Phone Automated System
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The City of Buda has launched a new way for customers to pay bills by phone. You will be able to call 1-866-279-0787 and pay through an automated system over the phone.
- Save postage by paying your bill by phone.
- Access your updated account instantly.
- Hear real-time balances, payment amounts, and due dates
- Enter your information securely through an automated system
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City of Buda WaterSmart Customer Portal Open
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Minor water leaks account for more than 1 trillion gallons of wasted water each year
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Sign up for leak alerts.
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Pet Registration Information
Buda Animal Control
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Due to COVID-19, Buda Animal Control is taking some extra precautions to make it easier and safer for you to register your pet. If you need to have a microchip implanted you MUST first schedule an appointment then complete the required forms and submit all required documentation at least two days before your scheduled appointment. Once you arrive please remain in your vehicle and call 512-523-1034 and let us know that you are out front. The microchip and registration is free through September 30 and registration will be for the lifetime of the pet. You will need to keep vaccinations up to date.
Per City Ordinance, all animals over the age of four (4) months must be implanted with a microchip and registered with the City of Buda.
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City of Buda
Job Opportunities
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Interested in joining our team? Check out our latest employment opportunities.
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Thank you for subscribing to "The Big Picture" weekly newsletter! It's a "Budaful" way to keep up with the latest City news.
Sincerely,
City of Buda
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405. E Loop St., Building 100
Buda, TX 78610
512-312-0084
Monday-Thursday 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Friday 8 a.m. - 4 p.m.
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