Good morning, Kerr County!
The weather is — to put it mildly — stuck. That's right most of the U.S. is experiencing some sort of extreme weather this week — we're getting the hot stuff. Temperatures will remain in the mid to high 90s through next week — no rain in the foreseeable future.
On today's The Lead Live!
Jeremy Walther returns as your guest host, and he sort of expects Stacie Leporati of Arcadia Live to storm on the show. Arcadia Live has a few events going on this week, including a Harry Potter-themed play tonight called "Puffs." Habitat for Humanity will update us on their recent projects and their new executive director.
Programming note
Since Louis Amestoy is out this week, Thursday's planned Health and Wellness Show has been postponed to another date. If you have questions, please contact him at louis.amestoy@kerrcountylead.com
Today's newsletter is sponsored by
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Design-build may be the way to go for the Kerrville Public Safety Building
The Kerrville City Council got its first look at the options it has to build the $45 million public safety complex, and the Council appears to favor the design-build concept.
During a workshop meeting Tuesday afternoon, the City Council was presented with the three options allowable under state law:
- Awarding a contract to the lowest bidder to design and construct the 69,000-square foot building.
- Construction Manager At-Risk allows the city to hire its preferred contractor and designer, who works independently with the city to manage the process.
- The Design-Build Process brings a designer and contractor together into a unified team, with a third party overseeing requirements on behalf of the city.
The city has already agreed to a design-build process for the new Heart of the Hills Heritage Center. City staff recommended this for the voter-approved public safety building.
City Manager E.A. Hoppe said he expects the city to close on the 7-acre Rio Monte Drive property in the coming days. From there, the City Council would need to adopt a resolution to enact a design-build process and then put out the request for proposal.
A city consultant said the design-build process should result in faster project completion because design and construction are on the same team. The contract team would also have the clearly-defined guidelines for the cost of the building — $45 million, which includes furnishings and equipment.
In the regular meeting!
The Kerrville City Council made quick work of its 6 p.m. agenda on Tuesday night but did take time to honor the meritorious effort of police officer Jesse Baldwin, who saved a woman from choking at Mamacita's Restaurant.
Police Chief Chris McCall said Baldwin responded to a 911 call of a woman choking, and he applied the Heimlich maneuver to dislodge the food. The woman was taken to Peterson Regional Medical Center, and she made a full recovery. After Baldwin's shift, he went to the hospital to check on the woman.
Baldwin, a veteran patrol officer, was given a standing ovation by those in attendance at City Hall.
The rest of the City Council meeting was pretty routine, with the approval of six short-term rentals.
On your agenda today
Things to do around Kerr County!
- Texas Watercolor Society Annual Exhibit — Hill Country Arts Foundation., 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday-Friday; 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday. Through June 30. Information: https://www.hcaf.com The details: The Hill Country Arts Foundation is hosting the Texas Watercolor Society's 73rd National Exhibit. This exhibit features watercolor pieces by over forty artists from across the United States. In 1949, TWS was founded by Margaret Pace Willson and Amy Freeman Lee with the mission to advance the art of painting in watercolors, and hold annual exhibitions of watercolor paintings. Today, more than 60 years later, TWS continues to promote the high standards set by its founders. Thus, as a national exhibit, TWS proudly takes its place among the elite watercolor organizations in the nation.
- Heaven's Declare Art Exhibition (Recurring through Saturday) — Museum of Western Art, 10 a.m. Information: https://www.museumofwesternart.com The details: Featuring works by renowned artists who celebrate the heavens. The exhibition will feature works by Phil Bob Borman, G. Russell Case, Tim Newton, Laurel Daniel, Linda Glover Gooch, David Griffin, David Grossman, Michael Magrin, Denise LaRue Mahlke, Phil Starke and John Taft.
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- Southwest Gourd Show — Kerrville Arts and Cultural Center, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Information: https://www.kacckerrville.com The details: See some of the finest examples of gourd-based art and uses during this unique exhibit that runs through July 9.
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Other events today
Theater
- Puffs — Arcadia Live, 7 p.m. Information: https://www.thearcadialive.org The details: "Puffs" takes place in the magical and wondrous world of Harry Potter, the Chosen One, and follows the lives of other students-decidedly Not Chosen Ones for the seven years at Hogwarts in the beloved book and film series.
Markets and Sales
- Friends of the Library Book Sale — Butt-Holdsworth Memorial Library, 1–3 p.m. Information: https://kerrvillet.gov/349/FOTL-Book-Sale The details: Looking for a great read? Or better yet, come down and support the work of Friends of the Library. Maybe find a banned book? That sounds like a fun day to us.
- Kerr County Produce Market Day — The Big Red Barn, 10 a.m., Information: 830-896-7330 The details: Kerr County Produce Market Day (The Big Red Barn). Local Hill Country wholesale warehouse distributor for the finest fruits and vegetables. Open to the public.
