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08/17/2010 08:21 PM

Hays County parks bond money running low

By: Russell Wilde

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So far, Hays County's $30 million parks bond has been used to fund everything from conservation easements to city parks.

Tuesday, representatives for other projects in the county requested their share of the remaining money.

"We have plenty of land. What we need are facilities," Dripping Springs City Council member Joe Volpe said.

Volpe is part of a group from Dripping Springs that requested and received more than $1 million for improvements to an area park from commissioners.

Other smaller groups said they're not getting the chance to be heard or funded.

"We have a very small voice, but today I'm that voice and I just want to say, I hope that y'all do realize that we'd like funds too," Swimberley representative Lois Hickman said.

Hickman spoke for Swimberley, a group trying to fund a community swim center. She said the way the county has been spending the bond money for the past year hasn't been fair.

"We have a really big problem with a process that we've been waiting so that we could say, 'May we have $1.7 million, may we have $2.4 million, may we give a presentation?'" Hickman said.

Hickman said all projects should have been given an equal chance.

Just how much money is left remains to be seen, but, depending on how potential projects pan out, there could be anywhere from $3 million to $8 million left.

Commissioners said they plan to address how the remaining bond money will be awarded during their next meeting.