Last week Mayor George Haehn amended his March 27, 2020 order to mirror the Executive Orders issued by Governor Greg Abbott. Mayor Haehn talks about his latest amended order and how the City plans to move forward during the COVID-19 Pandemic in the video clip below. Mayor Haehn touches on the importance of reopening Buda in a responsible and strategic way, along with how the pandemic is impacting City finances.
Message From the Mayor Video Message - April 23, 2020
Mayor Haehn’s amended order eliminates his previous requirement of one-way aisles in retail establishments. However, all doors used for the general public should still be situated in a way that customers do not have to touch the door entering or exiting the business. Please continue to follow CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) recommendations when visiting public spaces.
Mayor George Haehn Amended Order - April 21, 2020
“I will modify my order as Governor Abbott provides additional direction in the coming weeks. Meanwhile, it is vital that we keep a close eye on the number of COVID-19 cases being reported in Hays County. This will determine how we move forward in reopening Buda. The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted the livelihoods of many citizens in our community. There is a delicate balance between restoring people’s freedoms and protecting their health. I will also be working with our regional partners, including Hays County and local health officials, to implement best practices moving forward.”
As part of the Governor’s process to reopen Texas, he has established a “Strike Force” that will open Texas in stages. Under The Governor’s second Executive Order (GA-16) retail outlets will be allowed to reopen on Friday, April 24 under a temporary “Retail-To-Go” model. Under this model, reopened establishments are required to deliver items to customer’s cars, homes, or other locations to minimize contact. While the Governor’s order does allow a “Retail-To-Go” plan, it does not fully reopen non-essential retailers to the public. The governor plans to announce additional openings in the coming days.
Restrictions remain in place for City of Buda public and private parks. All sports fields, bathrooms, playscapes, basketball courts, skateparks, water fountains and other facilities are closed to the public until further notice. Trails and green spaces remain open, but please practice social distancing guidelines and keep six feet of space between yourself and others who do not live in your same household. The same rules apply for HOA managed and private parks facilities.
Links to Governor Abbott’s Executive Orders are provided below:
Strike Force to Open Texas
The Governor’s second Executive Order (GA-16)
The Governor’s third Executive Order (GA-15)
For non-emergency questions about COVID-19 please call the Hays County COVID-19 Hotline at 512-393-5525.
For City of Buda information on COVID-19 please visit ci.buda.tx.us/coronavirusinformation.
In response to COVID-19 (Coronavirus), the Buda City Council authorized the Still Budaful Stimulus Program to assist businesses negatively affected by the pandemic. The Still Budaful Stimulus is a local economic development program authorized under Chapter 380 of the Texas Local Government Code to help reduce the resulting economic strain on local businesses. On March 20, Buda City Council declared a local state of disaster. As a result, the pandemic caused closures and limitations on local businesses in Buda. At that same meeting, Council appointed a Small Business Task Force to research ways to assist businesses during this time of need.
On April 6, 2020 members of the Buda Economic Development Corporation (Buda EDC) approved an Agreement for Funding of the Still Budaful Stimulus Program. On April 7, 2020 the Buda City Council also committed funds to this program. The total contributions between the City of Buda and Buda EDC amount to $380,000, allowing eligible businesses to apply for the following assistance programs:
- Still Budaful Stimulus Grant
- Hotel Occupancy Tax Payment Emergency Deferral + Forgiveness Program
- Buda Emergency Co-Marketing Grant
For more information please visit www.stillbudaful.org.
