Kendall County commissioners will continue to weigh the pros and cons of joining the city of Boerne in a joint transportation public survey.
Commissioners balanced the need to gauge citizen input on transportation issues, with the information already gathered and presented in the extensive “Crossroads” transportation study released last year.
Precinct 2 Commissioner Andra Wisian spoke to the benefit of joining the city in a joint survey addressing transportation needs.
“As a marketing person, I am all about surveys,” Wisian said. “I think it’s very crucial to identify a target audience, a target market, and find out what they think, what their perceptions are.” The development of Georges Ranch, with at least 750 homes, is one spur to get Kendall County to participate, she said.
“We don’t own that intersection. We’re going to have to work with them,” she said. “That money is probably going to come from TxDOT or MPO. And if we don’t start having conversations with the partners, we’re going to get left out and not have any kind of voice.”
Judge Shane Stolarczyk cast doubts during the Oct. 24 meeting about joining the survey, considering it “a rehash” of what the extensive Kendall County Boerne Fair Oaks Ranch Transportation Committee accomplished with Crossroads.
“I think there could be a useful tool for a survey if we narrow it to specific projects,” Stolarczyk said, “and we come to an agreement that there’s no discussion of putting a loop, or things that would adopt the Boerne Thoroughfare Plan through the survey.
“But if you look at the priorities of what’s in the attachment, it seems like a rehash of the transportation committee,” Stolarczyk said, adding, “It could be useful if it’s done right, but as it’s being proposed, I’d be less inclined to vote in favor of the way it’s set up.”
Precinct 4 Commissioner Chad Carpenter said he agreed with Stolarczyk. He said more surveying only delays the need for action.
“Why are we doing a survey again, this late?” Carpenter said. “If they want to do another survey, that's fine. Is it going to delay (action) another year?
“The city of Boerne and the City Council need to be working on figuring out how they are going to get people through the city, at this point,” Carpenter added.
But Precinct 3 Commissioner Richard Chapman said the time is right for a survey.
“This survey, if designed properly, could give us insight into the area people feel that we should prioritize,” Chapman said. “If it aligns with the (Crossroads), then I’d see no reason not to follow the transportation recommendation.
“It could also identify some other areas further out in the county that haven’t been talked about right now,” he said.
Stolarczyk agreed good could come from any opinion- gathering of residents, but again leaned on the extensive transportation report already in their hands.
“I think this could potentially undermine the hard work of those citizens. If that was having the citizenry buy-in, why are we reopening the door?” the judge said.
Wisian reiterated it is in the county’s best interests to participate.
“We need to identify and prioritize what we’re going to work on,” she said. “The whole purpose of the county participating is that we get to help drive that survey. If we don’t get involved in that survey, the city of Boerne will indeed run it the way they want to.”
The item was listed for discussion only during the meeting, so no formal action could be taken.
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