County to make final appointments to citizens election commission

The Hays County Elections Advisory board could be determined following this week’s commissioners court meeting. 

Tuesday, the Hays County Commissioners Court will be relocated to the Hays County Government Center in Courtroom #7, 712 S. Stagecoach Trail, at 9 a.m. Officials suggest arriving early to go through security in the building. 

Commissioners will consider final appointments to the Hays County Citizens Election Advisory Commission. 

The Hays County Commissioners Court motioned in September to create an advisory commission which will exist “to serve Hays County as an independent advisory commission in the area of effectively identifying voting center locations and assessing the locations after each election period.” 

The two goals of the commission are to evaluate the distribution and effectiveness of the early voting polls and vote centers and recommend changes as needed. 

Commissioners voted on Oct. 29 to appoint two individuals, Sandra Tenorio and Sam Tobar, to serve on the advisory commission. Tenorio will serve as a representative of the rural community and Tobar will represent the disabled community. 

The commission will include the following representatives: one representative from each independent school district, including Hays CISD, San Marcos CISD, Dripping Springs ISD and Wimberley ISD; one representative from each municipality, including San Marcos, Kyle, Buda, Dripping Springs, Wimberley, Mountain City, Uhland, the City of Hays, Niederwald and Woodcreek; one representative from each County Party Chair, including the Democratic Party and the Republican Party; Texas State University Student Party Chairs, including the Democratic Party and the Republican Party; one rural community representative; one representative of the disabled community; one representative from the League of Women Voters; and two appointed citizen representatives per commissioner. The Elections Office will act as technical advisory to the commission.

In other business, the court will discuss and take possible action to approve a finalized job description for the Hays County Office of Emergency Services Director and to provide job posting instructions. 

Likewise, commissioners will discuss and take possible action to submit a letter of support to the Texas A&M University, Public Policy Research Institute for a randomized controlled trial regarding counsel at first appearance.

According to the agenda item, “The Public Policy Research Institute is conducting a randomized controlled trial to study the potential benefits of having counsel at first appearance. Although preliminary studies have been conducted elsewhere, it is unclear how these defense services might benefit defendants and Hays County stakeholders. The study will look at the impact on bail and pretrial release conditions as well as failure to appear rates. The study will be fully funded by the Texas Indigent Defense Commission with no matching required from the county.”

On Sept. 17, the court adopted a resolution of support for the designation of a portion of State Highway 21 as the Private First Class Kristian Menchaca Memorial Highway. Tuesday the court will vote on the acceptance of $5,000 in contributions for the signage for the memorial highway and authorize the execution  of the Memorial Marker Highway Sign agreement with TxDOT. 

The Hays County Commissioners Court will not meet at the Hays County Courthouse, but will meet at the Hays County Government Center.