Hays County Historical Commission Able To Resume Work

Staff Reports

Projects came to a halt on January 1 for the Hays County Historical Commission due to a postponement of the reappointment and confirmation process.

Every odd-numbered year, the Hays County Commissioners Court is required to confirm and swear-in all members of the current commission to secure a two-year commitment from each member.

Typically, the commissioners’ court confirms and reappoints members to the commission prior to the first of the year to ensure no lapse of work occurs.

However, members said this year, the reappointment and confirmation were postponed until January 5, causing the commission to cease all work.

Until members are reappointed and confirmed by the commissioners’ court, the commission does not exist for 2021-2022 and must cease all activity according to state law.

Despite this, some members who did not receive commendations for reappointments called on residents via email to demand the confirmation to be postponed.

Bobbie Garza-Hernandez distributed an email on Dec. 31 claiming members of the Historical Commission’s Tejano Committee had been fired.

In the email, Garza-Hernandez states Gina Alba Rogers and Irma Gaitan applied for reappointment but were not selected.

Rogers is reported to be a resident of Lakeway, Texas, and does not own any property in Hays County, according to the Hays County Appraisal District. 

On Tuesday, Jan. 5, the Commissioners confirmed and reappointed the commission members with a 3-2 vote. Commissioner Debbie Ingalsbe and Hays County Judge Ruben Becerra voted against it.

Several residents requested the item be delayed or postponed during public comments on the item until after the county fulfilled a public information request.

Among the concerns was the HCHC nomination committee’s decision not to select Maria Rocha and not to reappoint two of the three members of the Tejano Committee.

The items requested were the selection criteria for HCHC members, the process used, and the selection committee members’ names.

The HCHC postponed revisions to its bylaws, which is performed every two years to align with changes in the state legislature, to await new members’ confirmation.

The postponed amendments include requiring members to be Hays County residents and raising the commission’s membership cap from 25 to 30.

According to Kate Johnson, chair of the Hays County Historical Commission, HCHC received 35 applications, and the nomination committee spent over 6 hours in deliberations before making their recommendations.

Long-time members of the commission stated that several applications were not selected due to being too political.

“I have witnessed a tremendous politicization of history over the past year,” Lila Knight, HCHC member, said. “I understand the concerns, but I personally believe it is not in the best interests of the Hays County Historical Commission to become involved in politics. Our primary mission is to document the history of Hays County as accurately as possible and ensure its preservation for future generations.”

Knight, a professional historian, and Hays County resident, is the longest-serving member of the HCHC at 30 years and previously served as the commission’s third chair in the commission’s history.

Members of the Historical Commission are appointed and not hired by the Hays County Commissioners Court.

Following an executive session, the commissioners voted to appoint Kate Johnson as the HCHC chair.