Ingalsbe returning to represent Hays on EDSM Board

Precinct 1 Commissioner Debbie Gonzales Ingalsbe will keep her position on the Economic Development San Marcos (EDSM) Board after a vote in commissioners court Tuesday morning.

Ingalsbe’s appointment was part of the Hays County Commissioners Court’s consent agenda at its meeting this week, but county resident Dan Lyon had a comment on the matter.

“Of the three commissioners I’ve dealt with over the past years, I think that Commissioner Gonzales Ingalsbe is the most honest, the nicest person … and basically my objections have nothing to do with her qualifications or ability to do the job,” he said. “My objection is the court should not be involved in the economic development of San Marcos. … We don’t need to approve anybody to that commission.”

Ingalsbe clarified what the EDSM Board’s purpose is and why she has served on the board before.

“This board looks at potential projects that are coming into San Marcos. They ask the board to determine whether or not they want the city of San Marcos to make a determination on incentives. The board then makes that recommendation,” she said.

If the EDSM board believes the city should consider offering incentives, the recommendation goes to San Marcos city officials, who make a final decision on offering incentives.

“Some of these companies may come to Hays County for consideration also,” Ingalsbe said, though most companies are small and located within the city of San Marcos. She also said that most of the companies are in Precinct 1, which is why, historically, she has been on the board. Ingalsbe said that if the commissioners court wanted to approve her continued service on the board, she would be glad to serve. 

The court approved Ingalsbe’s place on the board unanimously. Her term will be from March 1 of this year through Feb. 28, 2022. She has served on the board since 2007.

The EDSM board consists of 12 members. The president of the Greater San Marcos Partnership is a non-voting member. One resident at large, one city council member, two small business owners who are city residents, the city manager, a representative from Hays County and a representative from the San Marcos Area Chamber of Commerce all have seats on the board. Rounding out the EDSM are four CEOs or senior managers: one from a manufacturing firm, one from a financial institution, one from a medium-sized company (25-99 employees) and one from a company with 100 or more employees.

In other business, the court approved the transfer of more than $2 million for uncompensated care payments to Central Texas Medical Center and Seton Medical Center Hays as part of the Texas Healthcare Transformation and Quality Improvement Program. Commissioners also voted to clarify the titles of the bailiffs in the county courts at law. The bailiffs are called “Deputy Constable-Bailiffs” and are not part of the Collective Bargaining Unit.