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BUSINESS & COUNTY OFFICES INFORMATION

(Tuesday, September 22 was the last update from Hays County)

LOCAL AND STATE ORDERS

Governor Greg Abbott announced on September 17 additional reopening plans for Texas. The determining factor in reopening is based on the percentage of hospitalizations in each of the state’s 22 regions.

If COVID Hospitalizations are less than 15% of all hospitalizations for 7 consecutive days, then that region is safe enough to allow additional openings.

The percentage of COVID hospitalizations in the Austin region is 3.7% and has remained under 15% for 7 consecutive days.

Therefore, our region can proceed with the additional openings outlined below.

The following business categories that currently have a 50% capacity can increase to a 75% capacity on Monday, September 21:

• All retail stores
• All restaurants
• All office buildings
• All manufacturing
• All Museums and Libraries
• All Gyms

* EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY

Hospitals in the Austin region can return to ordinary elective surgical procedures. Click here to see the full Executive Order.

SMALL BUSINESS EMERGENCY CASH ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (ECAP)

The ECAP Fund is designed for those small businesses located in Hays County that are struggling to sustain operations due to the COVID-19 health crisis and were unable to secure assistance via the Payroll Protection Program (PPP) loan through the CARES Act or the Economic Injury Disaster Loan program through the US Small Business Administration.

The ECAP fund, which the Hays County Commissioners Court initiated, is a collaboration between the County, the City of Kyle, PeopleFund, and the Greater San Marcos Partnership (GSMP).

The fund will grant up to $10,000 to qualifying businesses on a first-come, first-served basis. The loan agency PeopleFund, a nonprofit community lender, will manage the application process.

Learn more about the program on the GSMP website.

NEW READ: Eighteen Businesses Receive Funding In First Wave Of ECAP, Local COVID Disbursement

LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICTS

Many local school districts have their own COVID-19 dashboards. Please see the links below for information.

• Hays CISD
• Wimberley ISD
• Dripping Springs ISD
• San Marcos ISD
• Texas State University

DOING BUSINESS WITH COUNTY OFFICES

Offices, lobbies, and courts within the Hays County system are in varying stages of reopening to the public as they navigate this new world with COVID-19.

While many offices were closed during April and May, staff continued working to help you take care of your business with the County.

Visit the individual office web page on the county website at https://hayscountytx.com.

Below is a quick status of office/lobbies/courts as of August 14.

Please contact the office or court directly if you have any questions.

All members of the public entering County buildings should wear face coverings and maintain a distance of six feet between themselves and others who are not in their own family.

COUNTY CLERK

All Hays County Clerk’s office locations assist customers by appointment only for Marriage License issuance and Birth/Death certificate issuance.

The clerk’s office will continue to offer other services by E-Record, E-file, mail, fax, telephone, and email. The county has reported that all offices have been professionally disinfected, staff have been quarantined for the recommended time from the CDC, and have been tested with no additional positive tests at this time.

Appointments available with the following guidelines:

• Face masks must be worn the entire time in the office.
• Only applicants are allowed in the lobby; no one else, including children, may enter.
• No same-day appointments.

*COUNTY COURT AT LAW

• Judge, County Court-at-Law, 1, Robert Updegrove
• Judge, County Court-at-Law, 2 Chris Johnson
• Judge, County Court-at-Law, 3, Tacie Zelhart

This office has remained open to serve all litigants and the citizens of Hays County. As Ordered by the Supreme Court of Texas and the state Office of Court Administration, hearings were held remotely via teleconference during the pandemic.

This Court continues to have hearings via teleconference. In-person hearings will commence on June 1. The lobby is open. They request everyone to call before entering, if possible, at 512.393.7625 or email ccal@co.hays.tx.us to set a court date or receive additional information.

ELECTIONS OFFICE

Currently, the Elections Office is open to the public. The County Election Office is located at the Hays County Government Center at 712 South Stagecoach Trail.

For more information, call 512.393.7310 or email them at elections@co.hays.tx.us

JUSTICE OF THE PEACE OFFICES

• Justice of the Peace 1-1, Judge Prado
  Judge Prado’s office is open. Reach out by phone at 512-393-7871.
• Justice of the Peace 1-2, Judge Moreno
  Judge Moreno’s office is open. Visit the JP1-2 website to make payments online or get more information regarding this office. Reach out by phone at 512-393-7871.
• Justice of the Peace 2, Judge Smith
  Judge Smith’s office is open. Reach out by phone at 512.268.3151.
• Justice of the Peace 3, Judge Cable
  This office has remained open. The hours are Monday – Thursday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Friday 8 a.m. to noon. Reach out by phone at 512.847.2000
• Justice of the Peace 4 – Judge Burns
  JP-4 office is open, and you can reach them at 512-858-7446.
  Effective immediately, and until further notice, all hearings and bench trials in Justice Court 4 will be heard by Zoom conference. By order of the Texas Supreme Court, jury trials may not be held until August 1, 2020, at the earliest.
• Justice of the Peace 5, Judge Cary
  The JP-5 in Buda is open M-F, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and you can reach the office at 512-295-2700.

Note
Hays County Courts and District Courts recognize the need to ensure the health and safety of litigants, attorneys, visitors, court staff, judges, and other individuals entering the buildings housing the courts.

Therefore, the courts of Hays County have implemented a series of protective measures. The full list can be found on the county’s website.

PRECINCT OFFICES

• County Judge — Staff is available to answer the phones, and the judge is continuing to hold meetings, as much as is feasible, through phone or digital platforms. You can reach the office at 512-393-2205.
• Pct. 1, Commissioner Debbie Ingalsbe — Staff is available to answer the phone, but Commissioner Ingalsbe is continuing to hold meetings through phone or digital platforms and in person. Please contact her office to schedule appointments. You can reach the office at 512-393-2243.
• Pct. 2, Commissioner Mark Jones — Staff is available to answer the phone, but Commissioner Jones is continuing to hold meetings, as much as possible, through phone or digital platforms. You can reach the office at 512-262-2091.
• Pct. 3, Commissioner Lon Shell — Staff is available to answer the phone, but Commissioner Shell is continuing to hold meetings, as much as possible, through phone or digital platforms. You can reach the office at 512-847-3159.
• Pct. 4, Commissioner Walt Smith — Staff is available to answer emails and Commissioner Smith is continuing to hold meetings, as much as possible, through phone or digital platforms. You can reach the office at 512-858-7268.

TAX OFFICES

All County tax offices are open to the public*. At the Government Center, individuals will queue in the hallway outside the Tax Office.

If the line extends to the main hallway, deputies will ask those persons to wait outside until they are called back in. A similar approach will be implemented at the precinct offices.

The drive-thru at the Government Center in San Marcos is back to normal operating hours, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday-Friday.

You can reach the Tax Office at 512.393.5545.

NOTE: *The Dripping Springs Tax Office will close daily between the hours of 12 p.m. – 1 p.m. until further notice.

DOING BUSINESS REMOTELY WITH TAX OFFICE

Vehicle Registration Renewals

• Renew online www.texas.gov
• Mail to 712 S. Stagecoach Trl, Ste. 1120, San Marcos, TX 78666
• Dropboxes (located at all Tax Office locations)
• HEB (NOT expired more than 1 month) – must have a renewal notice, valid ID, insurance & inspection
• Drive-Thru in San Marcos

Disability Placards & Timed Permits

• Mail to 712 S. Stagecoach Trl, Ste. 1120, San Marcos, TX 78666
• Dropboxes (located at all Tax Office locations)
• Drive-Thru, San Marcos

Title Transfers & New Texas Residents

• Mail to 712 S. Stagecoach Trl, Ste. 1120, San Marcos, TX 78666
• Dropboxes (located at all Tax Office locations)

Property Tax Payments/Services

• Mail to 712 S. Stagecoach Trl, Ste. 1120, San Marcos, TX 78666
• Dropboxes (located at all Tax Office locations)
• Pay by phone at 1-888-546-4337 (Have your quick Reference ID available – fees apply)
• Online at www.hayscountytax.com (fees apply)
• Drive-Thru, San Marcos

RESOURCES

Resources for Persons Affected by COVID-19. If you need food, funds, mental health support, a job, etc., take a look at this list of area resources. It includes info for small businesses and nonprofits, as well. Additional information from Workforce Solutions Rural Capital Area for Jobseekers and Employers is also available.

LOCAL & STATE ORDERS

• On April 27, Governor Abbott issued an Executive Order and on the phased opening of Texas businesses, effective May 1.
• On April 17, Governor Abbott issued an Executive Order on taking the first steps to reopen Texas businesses
• April 6, 2020, CDC Recommendations on Public Use of Cloth Face Masks
• On April 2, 2020, the Governor’s Statewide Executive Order on COVID-19 went into effect.

COVID-19 HOTLINE — 512.393.5525

Hays County residents can call a hotline for answers to their non-emergency COVID-19 questions. Operators are available in English and Spanish.

This hotline is for answers to health questions about COVID-19 — safety practices, symptoms, quarantining, testing, etc.

Fact Sheet in English & Español

SNAP AND MEDICAID INFORMATION

Renewal requirements for SNAP & Medicaid were temporarily waived.

Find out more about COVID-19 treatment and prevention in English. Información en español para la prevención y tratamiento de la Enfermedad del Coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19)

BEWARE SCAMS AND PRICE-GOUGING

Hays County provided information about possible scams and price gouging during the pandemic.

**FRAUDULENT COVID-19 HOME TEST**

The FDA is warning citizens about fraudulent COVID-19 Home Test Kits. More on test kits here.

SYMPTOMS OF COVID-19

There is no special treatment for COVID-19, nor is there a vaccine at this time. The virus is not a flu virus, so doctor-prescribed treatments for flu-like Tamiflu are of no use.

The best-known treatment at this time is to take a fever-reducing medication containing acetaminophen or ibuprofen, and to self-isolate, until you have been fever-free for 72 hours (recently increased from 48 hours) WITHOUT the use of fever-reducing medications.

Most people who contract COVID-19 will have a reaction similar to a mild to moderate case of Flu and do not necessarily need to see a doctor unless their symptoms worsen.

A fever that spikes to 104 degrees, or shortness of breath, are symptoms that may need medical attention and you should call your healthcare provider or emergency room.

The most at-risk populations include the elderly and persons with compromised immune systems.

Most medical offices are requesting that you call before coming in if you believe you might have COVID-19. If you are experiencing significant shortness of breath, you may be directed to a hospital emergency room.

The Hays County Local Health Department, which does NOT do testing for COVID-19, works with area hospitals to determine hospital availability for those who are sickest.

• Do you think you’ve been exposed to coronavirus?
• Are you experiencing symptoms?

This information might help you determine what you should do, and how you can protect your family and others.

COVID-19 PREVENTION TIPS

1. Wash hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds several times a day, including between your fingers and underneath your nails. Handwashing is considered the best way to remove germs and dirt, and hand sanitizers should be used only when handwashing is not available. The hand sanitizers should be at least 60 percent alcohol to be effective.
2. Avoid handshaking and high-fives.
3. Avoid touching your face – especially your eyes, nose, and mouth.
4. Stay home when you feel sick.
5. Cover your coughs and sneezes with a tissue then put the tissue in the trash, or use the crook of your elbow if a tissue isn’t available.
6. Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces using a regular household disinfectant cleaning spray or wipe. Clean cell and desk phones, computer keyboards, door handles, and work surfaces often.
7. Avoid travel to areas that have been designated high-risk areas because of multiple verified cases of Corona.
8. Wear a mask or face covering when in public places.

HELPFUL LINKS:

• • TX COVID-19 Test Collection Sites
  • Community-Based Testing Sites for COVID-19

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READ THE COVID-19 FACT SHEET