As he addressed City Council members during an online meeting May 19, he said Kyle was lagging behind Texas Gov. Greg Abbott’s phased plans by a couple weeks, after having more stringent restrictions during the height of the coronavirus pandemic.
For weeks, Kyle has reported the highest number of cases of any city in the county, with 112 on May 19. Of those cases, 42 are active. Hays County has 238 total cases on May 19, according to data from the county.
During a meeting May 5, Mitchell said the city’s numbers are higher because of multiple testing sites in Kyle, and testing has been done for family members after a positive case is found in a resident.
The numbers were reason enough to slow the reopening, but the city offered a timeline for some facilities and events.
Businesses and daycares are following Abbott’s plan, which moved to phase II on May 18. Kyle’s schedule includes:
- Playgrounds and public restrooms opened May 19
- The library is open at 25% capacity, with curbside service available
- City Hall will open June 1
- The city pool will open June 29
- City of Kyle camps and other programs will be ready in some capacity by July
- The Fourth of July fireworks are still planned, along with Pie in the Sky in the fall and Fajita Fest in spring 2021
The city will no longer regulate neighborhood pools or playgrounds, gas stations or daycare facilities beyond the governor’s restrictions.
“Our orders were a little different," Mitchell said. “I never felt it was wrong. We were one lag behind, but we wanted to give the city of Kyle an extra fighting chance. As the summer months roll on, we will develop a new normal. I’m thankful for the opportunity to open back up.”
Council members and Mitchell said they were thankful to the residents and businesses in the community who followed the guidelines over the last two months.
