TreeFolks contract is renewed, despite questions

TreeFolks Inc. will continue planting trees along the banks of the Blanco River in an attempt to restore and protect the riparian areas and improve water quality in the river. TreeFolks have been working with the county since 2015, after the Memorial Day Weekend Flood, to replace trees and other vegetation washed away by the raging Blanco.

At its meeting last week, the Hays County Commissioners Court approved a $198,000 contract with TreeFolks. The scope of the contract includes talking with landowners to gauge their interest in reforestation services on their land.

Hays County resident Dan Lyon objected to the contract because of the use of county funds for work on private property.

“We have people here today who would have you believe that there is an urgent need not only to have the county pay to clean up their property but also to replant trees in the name of river preservation,” he said.

He also said that the next time there is a flood along the Blanco, “it is a virtual certainty that most of these trees will end up in the river.”

Resident Harvey Jenkins echoed Lyon’s objections and called the reforestation work “ridiculous.”

Precinct 3 Commissioner Lon Shell said he heard the residents’ concerns.

“I understand some concerns of private property,” Shell said. “I arrived in Wimberley after that flood, early that next morning. … Needless to say, I hope we never experience anything like that again. I pray to God that we don’t.”

Shell pointed out the work the county did in cleanup after the flood, including debris removal and infrastructure repair.

“I believe the restoration of that river is as important as many of those other efforts were,” he said.

As for the removal of debris from private property, Shell said, “We could have done nothing. We could have said, ‘Everyone, it’s your responsibility. … We’re not going to touch anything.’ What would happen if we didn’t do anything? What type of public health issues would we have?”

Shell said that reforestation along the Blanco will help with water quality and mitigate the damage of future flooding.

“It isn’t just about private property,” he said. “... It’s not even about private property or public property. It’s about water quality.”

Shell said that about half of the trees planted last year were on public lands, like parks.

Precinct 1 Commissioner Debbie Gonzales Ingalsbe said she did not want to downplay the importance of reforestation along the Blanco, but that she was reluctant to support another contract with TreeFolks, especially in light of the county’s lean budget for 2019.

“I know that there are still folks that are affected by this. I think we all will continue to be affected by this. This was very devastating,” she said. “My concern is that here we are again, asking the court during an extremely tight budget year.”

Precinct 4 Commissioner Ray Whisenant voiced support for the contract because he wants to see the work completed.

“I’d just as soon finish a job and have it well done than leave it undone,” he said.

Shell and Whisenant voted to approve the contract. Ingalsbe voted against it, and Precinct 3 Commissioner Mark Jones was absent.