Volume I, Issue 2: August 2008

Boerne
business monthly

Mercedes - benz of Boerne

A History of Customer Care

Retirement & the Business Professional

Healthcare Issues Facing
Small Business
Investing in Boerne Real Estate

www.BoerneBusinessMonthly.com 1
 Kathy Budde Kathy Miner
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830.816.3500 - Office
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 Dear Reader: table of contents
Welcome to the August issue of Boerne
Business Monthly. We at the Greater 06: legal
by Joe Davis
Boerne Chamber of Commerce are always
pleased to see new avenues of promoting
the Boerne business community and wish
BBM continued success.
08: finance
by Ronnie Huie
The role of the Chamber of Commerce has evolved
10: profile
over the years. From the beginning of commerce, merchants
have banded together. The evolution of the Chamber’s
concerns expanded incrementally through the last half-century Mercedes-Benz of Boerne
to include major issues of the day including inadequate by Ben Schooley
housing, quality schools, community services, and other socio-
economic concerns. 12: real estate
by Phillip Bell
The Chamber of Commerce of the Twenty-First Century
can no longer just ask its members, “What do you want
your chamber to do?” Rather, the Chamber of Commerce
today is asking, “What kind of a community do we want ours
14: marketing
by Kathy Rudkin
to be?”
We are fortunate to be living in the Texas Hill Country
and the City of Boerne with the beautiful surroundings, the
20: web
by Mark Figart
warmth of the people, the entrepreneurial spirit and the
economic diversity of our region. It is these qualities that make
this a great place to raise families and provide a quality of life
24: health care
by Richard Sena
second to none. Our region offers educational, cultural and
recreational facilities. We have a diverse industrial base, and
enjoy many businesses that have an entrepreneurial spirit that
27: ribbon cuttings
seeks out and seizes opportunities.
The mission of the Greater Boerne Chamber of Commerce 29: networking
by Allyson Munsell
is to develop leadership and partnerships to promote
prosperity and the quality of life.
As we complete our 80th year, we can be proud of
30: opinions
our achievements during the past eight decades. Our
membership is both diverse and universal. Most of our
member businesses are small and independently owned published by
and operated. They share many of the same concerns, such Ben schooley
as adequate parking for customers, effective signage, rising
energy costs, and recruiting and retaining skilled employees.
lauren tuttle stumberg
In addition to being the voice of business in the art direction
Greater Boerne area, this Chamber of Commerce takes a Distinct
positive and proactive part in our community in promoting
free enterprise and economic development in our area,
cover photo provided by
conveying policy issues to various levels of government. Over Pritchett Photography
a thousand local businesses, both small and large, support the
107 Shooting Club Rd. Boerne, Texas 78006
Chamber because it is simply good business.
For 80 years, the Chamber in Boerne has been a vibrant 210.507.5250 • 830.249.8020
part of the city’s history. We look forward to growing Boerne Business Monthly is published by Ben Schooley/
with the community, and expanding our focus on Lauren Stumberg, copyright 2008. Reproduction is strictly
prohibited without prior consent of the publisher. Opinions
business development. Leading businesses while leading our expressed in Boerne Business Monthly are those of the
community is what the Greater Boerne Chamber of Commerce writers or sources and do not necessarily represent the views
is all about. of the publisher, nor do they constitute the endorsement of
products or services herein. Although the information and
Sincerely, recomendations in this publication have been compiled from
sources believed to be reliable, Boerne Business Monthly
Paula K. White makes no guarantee as to, and assumes no responsibility
President and CEO for, the correctness, sufficiency or completeness of such
information and recommendations.
Greater Boerne Chamber of Commerce

4 Boerne Business Monthly n August 2008

 BBM
b o e r n e b u s i n e ss m o n t h l y a d v i s o r y c o u n c i l
Phillip Bell, Commercial Realtor
Phillip Bell has resided in Boerne, Texas and Kendall County since moving from Houston, Texas in 1981. Over the years, he has been
active in serving the community in various capacities.
Phillip Bell is a co-founder of the Kendall County Economic Development Corporation and serves as a member of the board of
directors appointed by the County Judge and Commissioners Court.
Mr. Bell is chairman of the Historical Landmark Commission appointed by the Mayor of Boerne and City Council. He has served in
this position for twenty years.
He served on the Home Rule Charter Commission that wrote the City Charter that presently governs all activities of the City of
Boerne.
Mr. Bell presently serves as president of Kendall County Health Facility Development Corporation, appointed by the Commissioners
Court. The board recommends approval of tax-free bonds for financing projects that are health related and non-profit.
He also serves as a Director of the WCID#2 (Water Control Improvement District #2) for the Esparanza Development. In addition,
he served as Chairman of the Telecommunications Advisory Committee for the City of Boerne.
He has served as Chairman of the Advisory Committee for the Texas Cooperative Extension Service for Kendall County and is presently a board member.
Phillip Bell was co-founder and first president of the Kendall County 100 Club, for law enforcement officers that are killed or injured in the line of duty. He also
served on the Capital Recovery advisory committee for the City of Boerne.
His reputation in the community is impeccable and he has always conducted himself with the highest standards of ethics.

Beth Coyle - President/CEO - Coyle Engineering

In 1995, Beth G. Coyle and her husband Mike co-founded Coyle Engineering, Inc., and Beth became the Chief Executive Officer
and principal owner in 2001. She is responsible for all aspects of the running of the Corporation, including corporate direction,
marketing strategy, risk management, personnel management, contract negotiations, and day-to-day operations. Beth was
selected to be profiled by Forbes Magazine (July 2007) along with six other women business owners across the State of Texas, “where
women are integral to company achievements, contributing bold ideas and a sense of vision.”
Beth is solely responsible for the company’s financial stability, continuing a conservative, no-debt policy as the company
approaches $2 million in annual business.

Mark Figart, Digett

Mark Figart moved from Houston to Boerne in June of 2001 with his wife, Lori, both seeking a slower pace. Having succeeded
in their quest, Mark and Lori now spend much of their time showing their new son, Ian Douglass, the many splendors of the Hill
Country and trying to expand his vocabulary beyond the word “truck”.
Through fourteen years of consulting to Global 2000 organizations, Mark has pursued a passion for excellence in digital media and
marketing. Mark had already managed consulting engagements with clients like Goldman Sachs, AIM Investments and... well... er...
uh... Enron... when he founded Digett (pronounced like digit) in 2001. In its first seven years the boutique agency has helped clients
such as Schlumberger, H-E-B, Churchill Downs and the Kentucky Derby to increase profits through more effective use of the web.
Mark is a veteran of the U.S. Army and Texas National Guard, and a graduate of Texas A&M University. He currently serves on the
boards of the Boerne Noon Rotary Club and the Kendall County United Way.

Mike Lang - Co-Owner and Escrow Officer - Kendall County Abstract Corporation
Mike Lang, a 1976 graduate of Texas A&M University and co-owner of the company, spent most of his business life on the opposite
side of the closing table. From 1982 until 1997, Mike was a lending officer with NBC Bank of San Antonio, which is now Bank of
America. The majority of that time he served as a commercial real estate lender in the San Antonio and Boerne markets.
In February 1997, Mike joined KCAC and took on the responsibilities of upgrading and maintaining the company’s escrow, plant
and operating systems. Due to his previous relationships with local real estate professionals, Mike also concentrates on calling on the
local realtors, builders, developers and lenders.

Dan Rogers – President/CEO – Kendall County Economic Development Corporation

Dan Rogers has been in the Public Relations and Economic Development field for 40 years.
Dan was the state, county and city lobbyist for Motorola Texas for a number of years and worked to pass several bills in the Texas
Legislature and ordinances in several Motorola communities.
His company, Rogers Consulting Group, formed in 1998 was involved in site selection processes, public relations, and crisis
management. He has worked with state, individual businesses, colleges, universities and industry clients in the area of crisis
management and economic development. His involvement with business and educational institutions has been extensive
in the area of formatting industry needs to educational programs and in the formation of working relations of colleges and
universities with industry. He has also worked with economic development organizations and colleges in forming partnerships in industry
recruiting efforts.
In June of 2006, Dan became the President/CEO of the Kendall County Economic Development Corporation.
Along with his business duties, Dan is a guest lecturer at the Hobby School of Public Affairs at Texas State University. His topics are
Economic Development and Communication in Crisis. He is also a contributor to several trade magazines in the areas of site selection and growth modeling.
www.BoerneBusinessMonthly.com 5
 legal
I The Local Courts System
by Joe Davis
recently had the most wonderful experience of
running for Public office. Now, in some places
in this country uttering that word would earn
you a sure trip to the funny farm, but here in Boerne and the Texas Hill
Country we are fortunate to have a vibrant yet civil political dynamic.
Some cynics would say that is because we just have one party consis-
tently in power. However, the recent primary elections demonstrated to
us that not only do we have a diverse electorate in Kendall County (31%
Democrat, and 66% Republican as well as 3% Libertarian), but also that
two candidates from the same party can have an acrimonious race that
ends up with one suing the other a la Bush-Gore 2000. Watching the
Miller-Macias recount and re-recount process and observing its impact
on our community and upon the various Republican factions was like
watching two friends competing in an Ultimate Fighting contest. You
can’t stand to see the hard punches on familiar faces, but you just can’t
turn away and not root for someone.
My experience was markedly different. Four candidates, all good
men and good lawyers were campaigning hard for the office of 216th
District Judge. Though the race lasted only seventy days, in that time we
managed to debate one another 14 times, once on live television. Through
it all we remained not only cordial, but genuinely friendly, growing closer
together as the common bond of campaigning hard was shared and by
that sharing-lessened. We found ourselves calling one another to check
“The most sacred of the duties of a government [is]
to do equal and impartial justice to all its citizens."
-Thomas Jefferson
appointments and events, coordinating schedules and commiserating on
the trials and tribulations of life in the public lane.
Talking with hundreds of people over that two months made me
realize several things, one of which is how uneducated most of the vot-
6 Boerne Business Monthly n August 2008
ers are about judicial races and about the court system itself right here
in Kendall County. Many times I was asked, What does District Court
do? Does it handle criminal or civil cases? Is this like a JP? I thought
that (County Judge) Gaylan Schroeder was the District Judge, or (my
personal favorite) do you get paid for doing this job? To each I tried to
patiently explain and educate. Because the District Court is the work-
horse court of the Texas legal system it is surprising to us who have spent
most of our careers in District Court to find that everyone does not have
a basic functional level of awareness of the importance of that court and
the magnitude of the decisions made by it. I soon realized however, that
my 30 second lessons were just another sound-bite in an already noisome
political process.
When Boerne Business journal asked me to do a “legal piece” I
thought that the best thing that I could write about was how the system
here in Boerne is structured, to move past sound-bite knowledge to more
substantial understanding of this third branch of our local government.
216th STATE DISTRICT COURT
Kendall County is one of the four counties (along with Bandera
Gillespie and Kerr) which compose the 216th Judicial District. The
District Court is a constitutional court, created by the State Legislature
and funded by the State of Texas. Stephen B Ables is the current pre-
siding Judge of the 216th District Court. Judge Ables is retiring this
year after 20 years of public service including four terms on the bench.
Beginning in January, Keith Williams of Kerrville will be assuming the
robes of office. The District Court is the main trial court of the counties
constituting the 216th District, in Kendall handling all of the felonies and
half of all civil cases. The Court on a typical day might handle a custody
dispute between squabbling parents, hold an evidence suppression hear-
ing on a murder case and consider a motion for summary judgment on
a complex land title case. Most of the “famous” trials in Texas history,
from Sam Houston’s slander case, to the “Slave Ranch” murder trial
took place in a District Court. Odds are if you are a business person
involved in a significant lawsuit-that suit will be heard in the District
Court. Any appeal from this court would go to the 4th Court of Appeals
in San Antonio. In addition to the judicial functions, the District Judge
is also responsible for hiring and supervising the County Auditors of the
counties under his jurisdiction and the Chief
of the Adult Probation Office. The Prosecutor
in the District Court is the District Attorney, in
Kendall County’s case that is Bruce Curry from
Kerrville. There are other specialty judges,
for child support matter and Child protective
issues. These are typically appointed by the
District Judge for an area and serve at his or her
discretion. The District Courtroom is on the
second floor of the Kendall County Courthouse
here in downtown Boerne.
COUNTY COURT AT LAW
Kendall County is also fortunate to have
a County Court at Law (or CCL). The CCL is
not a constitutionally created court, but rather
is created and funded by the Commissioners
Court of Kendall County. In our county the
CCL handles all of the probate, the misde-
meanor cases (DWI, simple assault, lesser
drug offenses) as well as half of the civil fil-
ings. Recently the Phillip Shue case that made
national headlines was handled in the Kendall
CCL. Any appeal from this court would go to
the 4th Court of Appeals in San Antonio. Judge
Bill Palmer is the presiding judge of the CCL,
serving now in his third term after a career
as a board certified civil trial specialist here
in Boerne. The prosecutor in the CCL is the
County Attorney, Don Allee and his staff attor-
neys. The CCL courtroom is also on the second
floor of the Kendall County Courthouse.
COUNTY COURT trating those who are arrested, hearing a trial
Because of the similar names, folks
often confuse the County Court and the CCL.
However there is actually very little in common
between these offices other than the names.
Judge Gaylan Schroeder is the County Judge,
but his role is in essence that of CEO of Kendall
County’s Government. He is also the Presiding
officer over the Commissioners Court. County
Judges are not required to be lawyers. The use
of the term “Judge” is a hold over from the days
before the creation of CCL’s when County
Judges routinely handled misdemeanor and
probate matters. Judge Shroeder’s office is on
the first floor of the Courthouse, while com-
missioners court is on the second floor of the
Historical Kendall County Courthouse across
the street.
JUSTICES OF THE PEACE
These courts handle a large volume of small-
er criminal and civil matters. In Kendall County
we have a JP for each of the four precincts of
the County. Each handles the same type matters
only in different geographic areas. This court is
often also referred to as Small Claims Court. It
is set up so that those with business before it
can handle matters themselves without the aid
of an attorney. Any appeals from this court go
to the CCL. The judges of these courts are street
level problem solvers—called upon to have the
wisdom of Solomon, the patience of Job and
the caring of a grief counselor. Their typical day
might include processing traffic tickets, magis-
over a small but unpaid bill, and making the
scene of an accident where someone has died
but can only be officially declared so by the
Justice of the Peace. Judges Debbie Hudson,
Jerry Collins, Freida Presseler and Larry James,
serve as Kendall County’s Justices of the Peace.
If a prosecutor is needed in these courts, the
County Attorney serves here as well.
MUNICIPAL COURT JUDGES
Boerne and Fair Oaks Ranch both have
municipal courts. Ed Phillips, a local attorney,
and Dana Jacobson, an attorney from San
Antonio serve on a contract basis as the judges
for these courts. You get to meet them if you
receive a traffic citation in one of these cities.
Each city has its own prosecutors for these
courts.
Each of these courts serves critical func-
tions of keeping our rights intact and our laws
enforced. The Judges that run them can and do
have a gigantic impact on our business environ-
ment and upon our larger community. Now that
you know a little more about them, next time
you see one, thank them for their service.BBM
Joseph M. Davis has been a partner with Nunley
Davis Jolley Cluck Aelvoet LLP since the firm’s for-
mation in 1994, leaving the firm in December of
2007. Mr. Davis specializes in complex commer-
cial, real estate and probate litigation. A native of
Odessa,Texas, Joe graduated Magna Cum Laude
from Angelo State University in 1981 with a B.A.
in History, before receiving his Juris Doctorate from
Texas Tech University, School of Law in 1984. Prior
to founding the Boerne, Texas based firm of Nunley, Davis in 1993, Joe practiced
in Uvalde and San Antonio, Texas where he handled a broad range of litigation
oriented matters. An experienced trial lawyer, Mr. Davis became Board Certified
in Civil Trial Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization in 1989, after only five
years of practice and has been consistently recertified ever since. He is also a fellow
in the Texas Bar Foundation. Joe is licensed to practice before all Courts in Texas, the
Western District of Texas, U.S. Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit.

Accounting for your Success

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in our power to assist you with your business and
personal accounting, tax and financial needs.
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serving our clients Since 1991.

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507 E. Blanco, Suite 101 n Boerne, Texas 78006
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www.BoerneBusinessMonthly.com 7
 finance selected employees and serve to supplement qualified
retirement plans.
• General investment portfolio: A business owner
Retirement and the Business Professional: can develop a general investment portfolio, outside of
the framework of the business.

Don’t Put All Your Eggs in One Basket Importance of a Business Continuation Plan

M
A Business Owner should have a “will” for a busi-
ness. A will is a Written Agreement between the business
owner, any business partners and his/her family mem-
bers that are involved in the business.
The importance of a Business Continuation plan
cannot be overemphasized. The potential problems
by Ronnie E. Huie without a written agreement may include; heated con-
any entrepreneurs who start or purchase a business, do so for a flicts among the remaining owners and the decedent’s
number of reasons, both emotional and financial. Social status, the family, unhappiness on all sides and sometimes litiga-
freedom to be your own boss and the potential for a high income are tion, delays in settling the estate and continuing “doing
a few of the reasons commonly cited. business as normal,” loss of customers and possible
For some, business ownership is also seen as a primary way to liquidation of the business, which may bring less than
pay for retirement. If everything goes as planned, the business owner full value.
works hard and, over time, the business grows and becomes more THE SOLUTION: A WRITTEN AGREEMENT (and
valuable. When the owner reaches a certain age the business is sold, with the proceeds from the cash)
sale funding the retirement years. Taking the time now to see that the business will
The Realities of Business Ownership pass in an orderly manner upon the owner’s death will
Using the business as the sole means of achieving financial independence amounts to plac- benefit all parties and their heirs. A written agreement
ing a bet that the owner will be able to sell at the right time, the right price and under the right may provide the following:
terms. There are several reasons why this may not happen: An orderly transfer of the business
• Business failure: Despite good intentions and hard work, businesses do fail. In 2003, for A mutually agreeable sales price
example, there were 612,296 new, small (less than 500 employees) businesses started in the Mutually agreeable terms of sale
United States; in the same year, 540,658 small businesses closed their doors, and 35,037 tiled A value that is binding on the IRS for federal estate
for bankruptcy.1 tax purposes; and Additional stability for customers,
• Timing of the sale: Selling a business is a complex, often time-consuming procedure. The staff, creditors and investors.
actual process of finding a buyer, negotiating the deal, arranging financing and finally closing The cash can be from previous saved earnings, bank
the sale may extend over months or even years. loans or in most cases, it makes sense to have life insur-
• Proceeds: Depending on market conditions, the amount realized may not be enough to ance in place so the cash is available a death. Pay careful
pay for retirement. Income taxes will inevitably consume some of the proceeds. The owner may attention to how the life insurance is owned to avoid
have to accept installment payments, rather than a lump sum. unnecessary taxation.
• “I am the business": The value of a business may depend largely on the skills and/or cus- An agreement which is favorable to all parties can
tomer relationships of a particular owner. be more easily drafted prior to a crisis. Business plan-
Diversification to Reduce Risk ning, especially for the succession of the business, is a
A business owner who seeks to reduce risk will view his or her business as one asset among very complex discipline and will generally require the
many. In addition to the business, a diversified portfolio could include the following. efforts of more than one professional. BBM
• Qualified retirement plans: Business income is used to fund employer-sponsored qualified
Ronnie Huie is a registered representative of and
plans with a current deduction for contributions and tax-deferred growth. offers securities, investment advisory and financial
• Nonqualified plans: Nonqualified deferred compensation plans are often used to reward planning through MML Investor Services, Inc. One
Union Square, Ste. 300, 10101 Reunion Place, San
Antonio,TX 78216-4141. (210) 342-4141. Insurance
offered through Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance
Company (MassMutual) and other fine companies.

8 Boerne Business Monthly n August 2008

 COMMERCIAL O DEVELOPMENT O INVESTMENT
Real Estate Opportunity
tx-commercial
property.com Phillip Bell,
There was a time….
Investment Realtor
210.415.8483 • pbell@texas.net
When IH-10 and cell phones were only a dream…. When we knew our neighbors… worked hard
for our money… and our spirits were enriched because we lived in the Texas Hill Country. We had time
RE/MAX Assoc. - Boerne
to devote to our families. We enjoyed the outdoors and our creativity was nourished. We respected each other more.
309 Water St. • Boerne, Texas
We still have the best to offer.There is land available… and nature invites us to enjoy the lifestyle. 830.816.2660 - office
We have an abundance of friendly people, music, culture and great weather. This is truly a wonderful place to live and work.
Tread lightly and “go green.”

T he “premier” commercial property located

in the Historical district on Main St. and the
banks of the Cibolo. Part of Boerne’s heritage, the
I deal opportunity for a development on this 4.78 acre
1.9 ac features the historic “Robert E. Lee” house
(circa 1850’s), main house, 2-story, 3400 sqft (circa
1900’s), guest house, 1800 sqft. Presently used as a
residence, main house has been elegantly restored
with modern amenities. Call for details.
estate with home and out-buildings. The 1414 sq.ft.
house can be remodeled for a private residence or the
property can be developed for income-producing, multi-
family. A cell tower is located at the rear of the property
producing additional income. About 3.7 acres are under
Ag Exemption. Located at the end of Hill View Lane, the
property offers privacy and convenience. Call for details.
T his property, located at 609 Live Oak, consists of
two lots zoned B-2 commercial. Presently rented
as a residence, the house has a large living/dining fam-
ily room, 4 bedrooms, kitchen and utility. Approx. 1964
sq.ft. on a lot 75’x207’ with an adjacent lot, 63’x208’.
Both total 138.70 ft frontage on Live Oak. Ideal for
professional office just one block off Main Street. Plat,
survey and plans available. MLS# 701366

3.2 acre property Income producing This 20.32 acre lot invites
located in city limits zoned property. Mfg. home park planned development. Presently located
B-2. Ready for commer- located on Johns Rd. 18 in the city limits on Hwy 474 just past
cial/retail development. rent spaces plus house. Adler Rd. Originally zoned for manufac-
Located at intersection of Positive cash flow. tured housing, the property can be up-
graded for multi-family, condos, garden
School St and N. Main St. homes, etc. Call to discuss details.
Details available.

2.43 acres for devel- Attention developers. Listed at $2.00 per Sq. Ft., 6.17
This 4.43 acre track is acres located next to “The North Forty
opment on IH-10 access Business Park.” The property is about 2.2
road near Johns Road. located in front of the
Centex subdivision miles from Boerne’s city limits, located in
Located in ETJ. on Scenic Loop Road. the county, but in Boerne’s ETJ. Excellent
Zoned B-2 for commer- visibility from IH-10 traffic. Please note…
cial or retail. Details the present owner is willing to adjust prop-
available. erty lines and survey to accommodate buy-
er. Ideal for commercial development.

12.99 ACRES - Development potential
in one of the hottest areas for growth in
the Bulverde area. Just 0.6 mile north
of the intersection of Hwy 281 and
Hwy 46 across from Kestrel Air Park,
this property has 767 feet of frontage
on Hwy 281. Details available.
Development opportunity-
This 13.57 acre property invites develop-
ment in one of the growing areas of Boerne.
Located just off Hwy 46 West, across from
Home Depot. Presently in the City’s ETJ.
Also, 3500 sq.ft. home located on the prop-
erty that can be used for residential or com-
mercial activities. Two new office complexes
have been constructed on adjacent property.
Survey and plats are available. Call for details.
131.47 acre property. The history
and heritage of the Texas Hill Country is ex-
aggerated with the original home site, large
barns and outbuildings, a private spring-fed
lake and a mountain with views that stretch
forever. The homestead, with thick rock walls,
begs to be remodeled and updated. Presently
under ag-exemption. Unrestricted.
This 28 acre property is available
for development. Contiguous to the city
limits of Boerne, this property fronts Hwy
87 and has approx. 1400 feet of frontage
on Shooting Club Road in the rear. For-
mally “Key to the Hills Horse Farm”, the
property is under Ag-Exemption. Subject
to annexation and zoning. Call for details.

Support RAINWATER HARVESTING! www.BoerneBusinessMonthly.com 9

 profile

Mercedes-Benz of Boerne
A History of Customer Care

Bill Bird,
Managing Partner and Operator
Mercedes-Benz of Boerne
A
be doing anything else.”
by Ben Schooley
s Bill Bird, Managing Partner and Operator, walks the lobby
of his Mercedes-Benz dealership, it’s obvious he is deeply
integrated in the day-to-day operations of his company. He
shakes hands with potential and returning customers, answers
questions from his employees, and absent-mindedly wipes a
smudge off of a showroom car. “This is the only thing I want
to be doing. I put teams together, and I operate stores. I’m
an operator. I’m very hands-on. I love this job. I wouldn’t

A San Antonio native, Bird has been in the auto sales business virtually his entire
career. “In 1984, I answered an ad for a sales position at Broadway Dodge. I went
through their training program, and as I neared completion, the manager told me I
wouldn’t make it, and they let me go.” Undeterred, Bird took another stab at auto sales.
“I went over to a local Lincoln/Mercury dealer, and they hired me. While I was there, I
kept asking to do more. My manager was a little unsure of what to do with me, but they
ming, Bird recognizes that his product is
luxury in the truest sense. “When we just love
on our customers, it builds the relationship. A
Benz is not a need, it’s a want. And we just
love on them and take care of them. Instead of
sending some tow truck to help someone with
a flat, we drive down in a Benz, bring them
some water, and let them sit in the AC while
we fix their tire, and get them on their way.
It really didn’t cost me anything extra, but let
me tell you, that customer will remember that
experience, and when faced with the decision
on where to purchase their next car, I’ll be at
the top of that list.”
As has been Bird’s way since starting his
eventually let me run the finance department, and I shattered all sorts of records.” career, he is continually looking for additional
4 years later, Bird made the move to the luxury car market, and joined the San opportunities, and Boerne seems to be a per-
Antonio BMW dealership as their Finance Manager. “I worked my way through BMW, fect fit for he and his partners. “We’ve got
and was eventually managing all of their sales and finance departments.” Eventually 23 acres here on this corner, so we think that
becoming General Manager, Bird requested that he be able to buy into the company, there is room for a few more dealerships on
and the owners did not object. Bird was with BMW for almost 15 years, before selling this property. This is a highly desirable mar-
back his interests in the company, and going into a quasi-retirement. “Once I left BMW, ket, and we’ve built a good reputation here,
I just goofed around for a bit. I had an eBay wholesaling company here in Boerne, and so I think that additional dealerships would
quickly began to focus my energies on the Mercedes dealership here.” Working with hopefully be just as successful.”
one of his partners, Ron Heller, the partners worked a deal to quickly obtain a letter of As for the existing dealership, it’s no
intent from Mercedes to located a new dealership in Boerne. wonder that customers actually enjoy waiting
“At the time, the Toyota dealership that was coming to Boerne was all over the while their cars are repaired. When you pull
news. Our plans here really flew beneath the radar. And that’s a good thing, because into the service corridor, someone opens your
we were really able to focus on setting this business up right.” And it is certainly ‘set car door. They know your name, and what
up right’. The winner of Best of the Best from Mercedes-Benz for both 2006 and 2007, problem they are fixing on your car. They
Mercedes-Benz of Boerne is consistently recognized as one of the top performing and whisk you into the waiting room and offer you
most customer-service oriented dealerships in the country. “When we were getting a complimentary muffin and Starbucks coffee.
started, Mercedes said that this dealership’s potential was for 20 new cars and 10 used You can watch TV on any one of 7 plasma
cars per month. They said that our building needed to be 17,000 feet, so we built it to TV’s, and the kids can play video games on
35,000 feet. They said that we needed 7 service bays, so we built 20. I have lived here yet another 3 tvs. You can surf the web on one
for a while now, and I knew what this community needed. So they shipped us 240 new of 3 computers, or even enjoy a massage from
cars as our year’s allotment for day one, and we sold 68 of them in one month. We are a complimentary masseuse 3 days a week.
consistently outselling San Antonio, Austin, and Georgetown markets.” You can reserve one of their meeting rooms
According to Bird, the key to that success is the employees. “When we got this (for free) to hold your company’s meetings,
thing going, we knew that we had to build a destination. A place that when people came and they regularly feature art exhibitions in
in here, they would have no reason to go anywhere else. We needed to make sure that in the lobby. The dealership is heavily involved
every opportunity we had to meet a customer, we needed to enhance their visit. So we in the community and the dozens of little
give it everything we got. We came up with a seriously customer service driven busi- league photos in the halls are a testament.
ness. We didn’t even worry about the cars, it was, and is, about the customer’s experi- As you wait for your car to be washed
ence. Our biggest asset is our employees. I would put them up against any company on after it has had a repair, and you are sipping
earth. We aren’t really competing against the BMW store, or Lexus…we are competing Starbucks coffee and answering your email
for their best overall experience in luxury. And that’s where our team comes in – they on their computers, rest assured that Bill Bird
are unbelievable.” In addition to the philosophy of customer service levels that the team will be by shortly to shake your hand and
adheres to, Bird and his partners equip employees with the authority and ability to make welcome you to his dealership. He’ll then
decisions on their own, without management approval. “We tell new employees that hand you a business card with his cell phone
something that has never happened to you is about to happen. We are going to give you number on it, and instruct you to call him day
100% empowerment to take care of themselves as well as the customers. We tell them or night if you ever have a problem.
that as long as it makes sense for them, the customer, and the company, they have been Bird sums it up nicely, “In 1984, I was 21
totally empowered to take care of the customer. They don’t have to ask permission, years old. I thought I could do anything at all.
they don’t check with me or anybody, they have total authority to do it. When we say When I got into that Dodge store, they told me
that, most employees wait for ‘the catch’, but eventually they learn that there isn’t one, I couldn’t work in this business. But once I
and it creates an environment where the customer doesn’t have to wait for the employee got in, I really loved that job, and I guess I’ve
to ‘check with the manager’; the problem or question is simply handled, and that again done pretty good.” BBM
adds to the entire experience.”
In an era of skyrocketing gas prices, and an economy that isn’t necessarily hum- www.mbboerne.com
www.BoerneBusinessMonthly.com 11
real estate
Advantages to Investing
A by Phillip Bell in Boerne Real Estate
s real estate professional, I am
often asked why real estate is such
a good investment as compared
to, say, the stock market, or bonds,
or perhaps certificates of deposit.
Just what makes real estate so
special?
The truth is the stock market
has been a little disappointing lately. As with most
investors, their sense of security has been shaken.
So far… I have yet to see real estate in Boerne
and Kendall County drop in value by 50% within
six weeks. I am not proposing to sell all of your
securities. In fact, I own stock and mutual funds like
most Americans who are investing for the future.
However there is sound reasoning to invest right
here, in Boerne and the county.
Recently one of the major television news
channels announced that Texas was the best state
in the nation to do business. This may be due to
our central location, no state income tax, access to
major interstate transportation, international
boarder, a state-wide proactive business
climate and much more.
Boerne has had a steady,
healthy real estate mar-
ket mostly because of
the quality of life,
climate and close
relations
w i t h
our
12 Boerne Business Monthly n August 2008
San Antonio neighbors. The success of San Antonio’s economic development
in the past ten years has had a direct effect on the Boerne area.
Families want to live here. Businesses want to relocate here. People want
to invest in their local area. Unlike other areas in the country, Texas banks
are healthy and sound. Real estate has been a steady market in Texas with
only a few areas of adjustment.
Here are the Ten Advantages to Purchasing Investment Real Estate:
1. This is a tangible asset.
It is something you can feel, touch and see. You can drive by it every day
if you want!
2. This is a unique asset.
As the old saying goes, they don't make land anymore. Your real estate
investment is one of a kind!
3. Passive Loss Rules.
Your real estate investment can create a passive loss, even when you are
making a positive cash flow. Think of it as a paper loss, which can offset
ordinary income and lower your taxes!
4. Your investment may appreciate over time.
In one study of recorded real estate history, real estate had gone up on
average 5.5% a year for the last 100 years!
5. Your investment may provide a monthly cash flow.
Many investments will provide a monthly income that you can use to
fund more investments.
6. Your investment can grow equity.
Every payment you make on a mortgage decreases your principal
balance, which means when you sell you will be getting that money back in
equity!
7. Your investments when sold may be tax deferred.
If you follow 1031 exchange rules, you can roll your gain into a new
investment and defer your tax!
8. Your investment may become tax free!
How? Imagine that you own a rental for several years and then move into
the home yourself. As long as you meet the new IRS guidelines for a prin-
cipal residence, when you sell this home you may be able have a tax- free
gain. See www.IRS.gov
9. The Power of Leverage is a huge advantage with real estate.
By using a relatively small portion of cash you can readily acquire all
kinds of investment real estate with leverage - bank or owner financing. This
can multiple your return dramatically!
10. You may find a bargain!
Bargain real estate is all around us if we just begin to look! In the
Boerne and Kendall County area real estate values are higher than in metro
areas. So bargains are not just predicated on price… rather appreciation.
Likewise, growth in the Boerne area has made residential property a good
investment while the opportunities for commercial, investment and development
properties are outstanding.
So… if you are looking for a good place to “park” your money…
consider real estate.
Invest in Boerne and Kendall County and join others in planned,
managed growth. BBM
Phillip Bell is a Commercial/Investment Realtor who is dedicated to service
with local community involvement. He is a Co-founder and Board Member of
the Kendall County Economic Development Corp., Chairman of the Boerne
Historic Landmark Commission, a Member or the Boerne Area Chamber
of Commerce & a Member or the Texas Corporative Extension Advisory
Committee.
 Jesse Byron Griffin
Certified Public Accountant

u Accounting
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(Accounts Payable and Receivable)

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Serving individuals, small businesses,
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non-profit organizations.
1001 South Main Street, Suite 3
Boerne, Texas 78006-2831
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Boerne: 830.331.9062 Bandera: 830.796.7183

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www.BoerneBusinessMonthly.com 13
marketing

Small Town Advertising:

by Kathy Rudkin (Part II)

Why Is It? will work for small businesses even in a smaller market.
a. Newspaper: There is no greater way of reaching the masses
A man wakes up after sleeping
in a small town more than your local newspaper. This medium should
under an advertised blanket, be figured into your annual budgeting. In the Hill Country, we are
on an advertised mattress, surrounded by small communities in this area, which have loyal read-
pulls off advertised pajamas, ers and reasonable rates for display ads. Local newspapers, typically
bathes in an advertised shower, have a loyal reader that takes the paper for several reasons; 1.) to see
what going on in their local government, 2.) find local activities and
shaves with an advertised razor,
local businesses to use, and 3.) to see who made the paper that they
brushes his teeth with advertised toothpaste, know. The goal in newspaper is to stand out. Don’t crowd your ad with
washes with advertised soap, everything in your store trying to get the most bang for your buck.
puts on advertised clothes, This is a common mistake and will blend you right in with the rest of
drinks a cup of advertised coffee, the paper, basically throwing away your advertising dollars. Don’t be
afraid of white space and clever headlines. Add spot color to pop off the
drives to work in an advertised car,
page. Spend a little more to get a larger ad. Position it in the right area
and then, refuses to advertise, – request where you would like your ad to fall in the paper. If you have
believing it doesn't pay. the funds, pay a graphic designer to put your ad together to stand out.
Later when business is poor, Although newspapers typically will do this for free, they have limited
he advertises it for sale. designers who will have their “own look.” Many of the ads will have
the same feel thus not allowing yours to jump of the page. And last, but
Why is this?
not least, don’t limit yourself. Expand your advertising dollars to other
(author unknown)

O
wning an advertising agency, I
frequently see clients who are des-
perate and on their last effort to
make their businesses work. I am
often amazed at what they have - or
more likely have not - done to insure the success of their
businesses. There are many effective ways to advertise in a
small town environment.
In the last month’s article we covered several key market-
ing essentials such as logo, branding, websites and direct
mail. In addition to these, there are
traditional means of
advertising that
regional areas – go into other town newspapers as well.
b. Billboards: This is a great way to get maximum exposure in
your area. It is a 24-hour advertising tool that reaches 1000s of people
daily. Billboards run about $1000 to $3000 per month depending upon
your location. Sounds expensive until you compare it to other advertis-
ing – it is about the cost of a full-page ad in a local newspaper. The cost
per thousand is relatively low. The benefits are tremendous. You can
target specific locations. You are not mixed and competing with other
advertisers as you would in newspaper, TV or radio and your message
is delivered frequently. The most common mistake with billboards is
trying to put to much information – visual clutter. It must be colorful
and eye-catching, but to the point. Don’t get caught up in trying to fill
the space with as much content as possible. Keep it simple and remem-
ber to limit it to as few of words as possible. Choose a font that is simple
to read and colors that would appeal to your audience. Your message
must be very short so the people driving 60 to 75 mile per hour by your
sign can easily read it.
The advice we give most of our clients is don’t jump into advertising
without knowing who your target market is and the best way to reach
them. Remember advertising almost always works when it is done
correctly and almost always fails when it is done wrong. The key is
to do it correctly the first time. Talk to an advertising pro-
fessional and get a marketing plan. Don’t
make advertising an expense, make it
an investment. BBM

Kathy Rudkin is owner of Rudkin

Productions Advertising and Web
Development Agency. Printing
over two million pieces each
month, RP produces 4 monthly
magazines as well as books
of all sizes. Visit her website at
www.rudkinproductions.com.

14 Boerne Business Monthly n August 2008

Concept Cellular International
I N C ORPORATE D

– Legal Settlement –
Boerne Falls Ranch and Kendall County
Re: Disposition of Cause No. 06-500; 216th District Court between Kendall County vs.
BTEX Ranch, LP (The developer of Boerne Falls Ranch)
The above lawsuit has been settled and an Agreed Final Judgment has been entered.
The Agreed Final Judgment is the result of Kendall County and the developer of Boerne
Falls Ranch working together to satisfactorily resolve the concerns that initiated the
Cellular Phone Repair Unlocking above lawsuit. Boerne Falls Ranch is now a private gated community with limited
access. The details of the settlement are outlined in the Agreed Final Judgment.
Replacement Phones Data Transfers The developer of Boerne Falls Ranch has agreed to dedicate 5 acres to the public
BE PREPARED FOR THE SCHOOL ZONE CELL for the purpose of establishing a future facility for Fire and/or Emergency Medical
PHONE BAN EFFECTIVE AUGUST 25TH. Services. The parties and the appropriate Fire and Emergency Medical Service providers
Get Your Handsfree Solution from CCI to make sure will explore the best way to maximize the benefit of this facility for the residents of
you are in compliance with the new law! both Kendall and Kerr County.
WEAK SIGNAL? Gaylan Schroeder – Kendall County Judge
Increase your cell phone signal with an amplifier Gregory N. Blume – Manager – BTEX Ranch, LP / Boerne Falls Ranch
or repeater. Call or visit CCI for details.
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16 Boerne Business Monthly n August 2008
 Kathy Budde Kathy Miner
w w w.Knot TheBox.com 210.274.4136 210.823.8952
1595 S. Main #101 • Boerne, Texas 78006
www.BoerneBusinessMonthly.com 17
 Serving our Friends and Neighbors of the
Hill Country Since 1916 APPLICATIONS BEING
From its beginning in 1916, Kendall County Abstract
ACCEPTED FOR BOERNE
Company has been Kendall County’s locally owned and
POLICE DEPARTMENT
operated title company. Over the last 92 years, we’ve
CITIZENS’ ACADEMY
earned the trust of real estate professionals because The Boerne Police Department is accepting
we’re experienced, we’re professional, and we care applications for a ten week Citizens Police
about our customers. Academy. The Academy will be modeled after
similar Academies that have been sponsored
“Where experience and service make the difference” by area police departments in Fredericksburg,
San Marcos and New Braunfels.
The purpose of the Boerne Citizens
Agent for: Police Academy is to enhance, through edu-
• Stewart Title Guaranty Company cation, the positive relationship between
• Lawyers Title Insurance Corp.
• United General Title Insurance
the Department and the community. The
• Alamo Title Insurance Academy is designed to give citizens a better
understanding of the mission and operations
830.816.2131 of the department, to enable citizens to gain
an appreciation of problems and challenges
830.249.3341 - Fax facing law enforcement, and to offer com-
103 N. Saunders ments and ideas regarding solutions.
Boerne, Texas 78006 Completion of the Academy provides citi-
(across from the courthouse) zens an opportunity to assist the department
in many functions where civilian participation
Mike & Laurie Lang, Owners
is needed and appreciated.
Classes will be held on Thursday eve-
Visit us at www.kcac.net nings, beginning June 19, at the Boerne
Police Department. Topics will include specific
details about the Boerne Police Department
operations such as Patrol, Criminal
Investigation, Juvenile Laws, School Resource
Member SIPC Officers, Family Violence and Firearms. The
classes will run 2 to 3 hours each starting at
YOUR BUSINESS DESERVES
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Any resident of the City of Boerne, Kendall
• Stocks • CDs County or the City of Fair Oaks Ranch, who
• Bonds
• Mutual Funds
• Retirement Plans
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are 18 years of age or older may apply.
Allyson W Munsell • Annuities • Life Insurance Ron Warden Applications can be picked up at the police
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18 Boerne Business Monthly n August 2008
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www.BoerneBusinessMonthly.com 19
 web
Selecting a Web
Site Vendor
W
by Mark Figart
hether it's your company's first web site or a replacement for an out-
dated one, there is a fair chance you will need a new web site within
the next couple of years. There is no magic pill for getting what you
need, but this article will hopefully help ensure an acceptable return on
your investment.
I empathize with the business owner who knows she needs a web site
and has little knowledge about how to get one. The world wide web
is in its relative infancy, which means tools and techniques evolve at a
blistering pace. Even great firms dedicated to delivering quality web sites can be chal-
lenged to keep up.
Complicating the issue is the equally rapid evolution of modern buyer psychology.
The web is responsible for a monumental shift in the way buyers choose products.
Only a minority of marketing firms comprehend and are able to leverage this shift. It
would be unrealistic, then, to expect the average business person to be on top of such
changes.
Despair not. An effective web site -- one which achieves the business' objectives
-- is within the reach of most businesses. Here are three recommendations for ensuring
your company's success.
1. Define Objectives
The number one reason web sites fail to generate adequate ROI is because goals for
the site were not established in the first place.
A successful project relies on clear, legitimate objectives up front. "I need a web
20 Boerne Business Monthly n August 2008
site" is not a legitimate objective. You simply
cannot be successful if you cannot describe what
constitutes success. Typical goals might include
generating web- or phone-based inquiries (leads),
decreasing the number of support calls and facili-
tating your customers' ordering process. The more
specific your goals, the higher the likelihood of
success.
Fulfilling a given objective, of course, implies
a certain cost. Objectives are translated into one
or more features of a web site, and the sum of
these features comprise the project scope. The
greater the scope, the higher the associated costs.
A good firm will step you through the process of
understanding the costs and anticipated benefits
related to various features, giving you information
needed to help establish priorities and a reasonable
budget.
2. Consider Required Skills
Any successful web site project is dependent
on solid skills related to marketing, design, and
technology. The business owner best equipped to
successfully pursue the construction of a new web
site is aware of these and considers them in the
careful evaluation of possible approaches. In any
case, the "weakest link" rule applies here, so select
a vendor that gives you the best coverage within
these areas of expertise for your budget. Below
is a list of specific areas that you might use as a
checklist.
Marketing
Content development - Good content is the
heart of a good web site. Consider whether you'll
need help writing copy, with photography, illustra-
tion, or with producing audio or video.
Search engine optimization (SEO) and online
advertising - Whether you choose to advertise
or not, optimization plays a critical role in your
site's overall ROI. SEO is not a one-time effort,
but rather an ongoing activity involving time and
significant skill. Most web sites fail miserably in
this area, and few company owners understand its
impact to the bottom line.
Email marketing - At my firm, we treat email
campaigns as distinct projects, separate from a
web site. But the two go hand in hand and work
together. The value of email campaigns can be
enormous, so consider this as a point of discussion
when talking to potential vendors.
Design
Information design - An information architect
designs high-level content organization and navi-
gational structures. She makes complex informa-
tion appear logical and easy to find. This involves
engaging in a thorough discovery process with the
client and getting inside a customer's or prospect's
head to anticipate user behavior.
Visual design - Good visual design is more
than just a pretty web site. Utilizing color, shape,
texture, and typography, a good design effectively
incorporates branding and usability while effec-
tively executing the information architect's vision
for organization. Read my lips: print design and web design are not
one and the same.
Technology
Content management expertise - The need to easily and frequent-
ly modify your site's content being indisputable, you'll want to spend
a little time educating yourself about different approaches. Whatever
you decide, pursue an off-the-shelf approach. In other words, do not
pay anyone to do custom programming unless you are certain your
requirements have not already been addressed by software that is
commonly available and supported. Custom development is not only
expensive, it's most often unnecessary, and it usually results in an
inferior solution.
Hosting - One of the least considered aspects of owning a web
site is hosting. To me, effective hosting simply means maximum
uptime, good performance, and excellent support. As long as you
understand what you're getting in each of these areas, you should not
need to worry about the technical details. You have a business to run,
for goodness' sake.
Technology -- while only a single, relatively invisible aspect of
your web site -- is often where companies get into the most trouble in
the long term. I've seen companies "locked in" to a particular situa-
tion for various reasons. Seek an approach that incorporates an exit
strategy. If a vendor becomes unresponsive after a site is launched,
what is the feasibility of moving your site to another host? What
is the likelihood that another vendor can effectively support and
enhance your site?
3. Get It in Writing
I don't enjoy reading contracts, and I sure as heck don't enjoy
writing them. But getting things down on paper is the best way I
know to ensure a customer and vendor are on the same page. I'm not
advocating a 10-page glob of "legalease." To me, the most effective
agreement is written in plain speak in the form of a statement of work.
You'll want to look for:
A clear definition of scope. What features are included? What
specific services are included?
A timeline.
A price. Understand how the vendor arrived at the price, and
understand any variables.
A list of deliverables and an explanation of intellectual property
rights. Exactly what will you own in return for your money?
Buyer beware. In the absence of a written agreement, it is the
customer who will likely lose the most if the relationship turns sour.
Conclusion
In wrapping this up, I realize what an ambitious undertaking it is
to explain the ins and outs of navigating the waters related to hiring
a web vendor. There are many ways to slice such an analysis, and
the astute business owner will seek additional venues for education.
Talk to more than one firm. Every conversation you have with an
expert can expand your own understanding and will help lead to a
better outcome.
I've had the good fortune of watching good web sites bring great
changes to their respective businesses. Don't let fear keep you from
pursuing positive change, and don't let ignorance cause you to throw
away money. BBM
Mark Figart is the President of Digett, a Boerne-based web
marketing firm with aspirations of grandeur. Mark can be
reached via email at mark@digett.com.
Phillip Manor is Coming Full Circle
Debra Gracy is heavily involved with the current remod-
eling of the Philip Manor House. An intense project,
Debra is excited as she can see the progress that the
historic building is making. After countless hours of
planning, the town has been abuzz with questions
about the project. Debra agreed to answer a few ques-
tions to set the record straight.
Why did I purchase Phillip Manor? The simple
answer is because I fell in love with the place! I was
told that Phillip Manor Square is a piece of not only
Texas history but American history, or so the legends
went. Not being one to believe everything I’m told I
endeavored to chase down a few of the legends and
see if there were any facts behind the stories. What a
wonderful chase it turned out to be.
Phillip Manor was founded by Joseph and
Wilhelmina Phillips who purchased the property from
A.E.F. Toepperwein in 1868 they, however, had lived there
for several years prior to buying it. Wilhelmina was a
German immigrant, a Pfeiffer, and Joseph an immigrant
from Alsace Loraine. Prior to the Phillips owning the
house little is known of the structure, but legend has it
the first stone was laid 1851. If the date is accurate Phillip
Manors original structure, which still exists today, would
be older than both the Texas Capitol (1881) and the Texas
Governors Mansion (1854). Who could resist the opportu-
nity to revitalize such a piece of Texas history?
What makes Phillip Manor Square so historical
and why would I make such an investment? The
building is a fine antique with great provenance, its
charm and its elegance makes one wonder who walked
the gardens, what community events were held there,
what kind of people stayed in the rooms and what kind
of characters sipped whisky and beer in the saloon.
Boerne, during the frontier period in America, was
a crossroad for those coming to and returning from the
Southwestern frontier. Kendall County was wild in the
1850’s, 60’s, 70’s and 80’s. There were Indian raids,
outlaws, sharpshooters, horseman, entrepreneurs, and
adventurers aplenty and they all needed a place to
stay. Phillip Manor filled a niche and was a transitioning
point for well heeled adventurers trying their luck in the
frontier. Many of the 19th century’s greatest characters
came through Boerne on their way to the great American
West. One newspaper article referred to Phillip Manor as
“the Lisbon of the Southwest”. Travelers from America
and abroad frequented the Manor with its hotel, shooting
club, athletic club and saloon.
Boerne also contributed its own share of 19th
22 Boerne Business Monthly n August 2008
century characters to the mix such as: George Wilkins
Kendall, the namesake for Kendall County. Kendall
was a member of the fateful Santa Fe Expedition and
was the world’s first war correspondent (US Mexican
War) plus he was instrumental in the creation of the
Associated Press. Egremont E. Shearburn (9th Lancer)
a world class polo player and known as “the most
extravagant man in the British Military”. William
Hughes, relative of famous British author Thomas
Hughes. William’s letters home from Boerne inspired
Thomas Hughes’ book “Gone to Texas” which was a
best seller in England. The letters written in the 1870’s
and later published in the book inspired a generation
of England’s aristocratic second and third son’s to
come to Texas and helped coin the catch phrase for
the adventurous of the day, “GTT” or “Gone to Texas”.
Dr. W.G. Kingsbury a pioneer in English immigration
to Texas also lived in Boerne. Another resident was
Captain Glynn Turquand of Her Majesty's Coldstream
Regiment of Foot Guards. Turquand was an officer and
a gentleman known round the world to dignitaries,
sportsman and adventurers. He was also somewhat
famously known as an excellent host at his Balcones
Ranch just outside Boerne. The famous captive and
passenger of the doomed ship Virginius General C.J.L.
Cook often stayed in Kendall County when he was not
in Washington DC or the field and Capt. Frank Jones
Texas Ranger Company D. Capt. Jones was known as
“the handsomest man in Texas” and was killed in 1893
by bandits near Alpine. His death nearly caused an
international incident with Mexico.
Article in New York Times July 2nd 1893)
One of the legends around the Manor was
a tale that the first polo game in America was
played in Boerne and the Team of Englishman
who played the game often patronized Phillip
Manor. It was the tale of polo that was the
catalyst for my purchasing the building and
also the tale that set me on the path of becom-
ing a novice history detective. I, for the lack
of a better word, became obsessed with the
polo hunt. I had no idea that history could be
so fascinating and was captivated by the era
and Boerne’s place in it. During the process
of my search for the origins of American polo
in Boerne, I not only discovered that polo
was indeed in Texas in 1876 (the year the
“first” game of polo was played in America)
but was very surprised to find out that I am
a bonafide Daughter of the Texas Republic.
My great-great grandfather signed the Texas
Declaration of Independence. Who knew?
History is a wonderful thing….
I encourage people to visit Phillip Manor’s Texas
polo history website and judge for themselves if the
Texas Hill Country had anything to do with the begin-
nings of American polo. Texas, at present, has no part
(other than the first 20 polo ponies came from here) in
the origins of American polo history. The old newspa-
pers tell a different story. Check out the 1876 Texas polo
timeline at www.texaspoloclub.net.
Another surprise in my historical research was dis-
covering what thousands of others had discovered well
over a century ago. Boerne is a destination.
It was through my research that it came to me
what Phillip Manor Square was to become. Our market-
ing slogan is “Phillip Manor is Coming Full Circle” and
that says it all. Phillip Manor Square is returning to its
roots as a social center, hotel, entertainment venue and
above all a sanctuary where everyone is welcome, the
kind of place where all guns and differences are left
at the table.
Phillip Manor, now in its third century, is Coming
Full Circle with it’s large garden, five star “19th century
style” all suite lodging, a restaurant with an interna-
tional team, entertainment, events and adventures.
I am restoring the Manor from top to bottom and I
take pride in the responsibility that I have in preserving
the historic structure. Phillip Manor Square is not just a
commercial shell it is a Grand Old Mansion that I am
sharing with the public and for this period in history I
am privileged to be her curator.
The Hill Country is a vacation destination and
Boerne was in the past and can be today,
Daily Republican, - Tuesday, May 18, 1875 -
Decatur, Illinois
A letter written by A.J. Bratford from Wabash Ind.
in 1871 and published in 1875
Instead of going direct to Austin as I
intended, we have taken the mountain route
and intend to go as far as Mason County
where we shall probably arrive next week. If
any part of Texas possesses attractions, cer-
tainly this section contains more than any other
we have seen. The atmosphere of this region
is certainly as fine in any region I have ever
felt; and after having been though Texas from
the Red River to the Rio Grande and through
Mexico, California, central America, the West
Indies and the Canaries, on the Coast of
Morocco and most of the states in the Union,
I think I can say with truth I have not seen a
more beautiful, romantic or delightful region
of the country….I saw the beautiful farm of Dr.
Kingsbury near Boerne and was sorry I could
not tarry in the Charming vale for a few days,
but our ambulance was hired for the trip and
we had to pass on.
Galveston Daily News - Tuesday, September
05, 1876 - Galveston, Texas
A Schuetzen-fest will come off at Boerne
next Sunday. Prize shooting will be had during
the day, and the occasion will be enlivened by
the Fredericksburg brass band. A grand ball
will come off at night at Phillip's hall…. BBM
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www.BoerneBusinessMonthly.com 23
health care
H
by Richard Sena
aving access to adequate and
affordable health care for all
Americans is an issue that is
increasingly on the front burner as the 2008 presi-
dential election approaches. Political candidates are
prone to offering “solutions” that emphasize benefits
(to as many voters as possible) while downplaying the
cost to the taxpayer. For example, we often hear of the
benefits of Medicare Part D, the new prescription drug
benefit, but little of the long term $32 trillion unfunded
Medicare liability. To both small and larger businesses
alike, health insurance premiums represent one of their
biggest budget items. What we will explore in this arti-
cle are the challenges that businesses face and a variety
of solutions. From my experience in working with
small business owners, they often lack the knowledge
and information to make good decisions regarding their
health insurance plan, and express frustration with its
complexities and high cost. It is critical to remember
that 46% of all personal bankruptcies are due to illness
and medical bills, despite the fact that 75% of these
individuals were insured when their sickness began.
Having the proper coverage is essential.
The cost of insuring a family in a typical group
plan now exceeds $13,000/year. Texas state law
requires that employers offering group plans must pay
at least 50% of an employee’s premium, though there
is no such requirement for spouses or children. This
24 Boerne Business Monthly n August 2008
Health Care Issues Facing
Small Business
results in many non-employee family members seeking lower cost individual plans.
Healthcare premiums are now so high in many industries that it significantly impacts
the price of their products. For example, General Motors, with its extremely rich and
low deductible employee plan, factors in $1904 to the price of their average auto to
cover health costs. According to a recent McKinsey & Company study the average
fortune 500 company will spend as much on health care as they earn in profits. The
challenges for small businesses are certainly no different. According to a survey
conducted by United Health Care, cost is the primary reason causing small busi-
nesses to not offer health insurance to employees; 29% states they could not afford
the expenditure, an additional 11% couldn’t find affordable plans that offered good
value, while 5% were new businesses in the first year of operation, and an additional
4% did not want to assume the ongoing financial exposure. Other reasons cited for
not offering a group plan were: most employees were family members (13%) who
chose to purchase individual plans; employees had coverage elsewhere (9%), and
lastly many employees were part time workers.
Many politicians site cost as the primary factor resulting in over 46 million
Americans having no health insurance. To get a real understanding of the problem,
it is necessary to dig a little deeper. The % of uninsured Americans has remained
steady at about 15% for the last two decades, with the number of uninsured increas-
ing along with the population. There are several main contributing factors to the
number of uninsured:
1. Eligibility
- approximately 20% of uninsured people are not American citizens
- close to 30% are eligible, based on income, for some kind of government pro-
gram (Children’s Health Insurance Program or Medicaid), yet are not enrolled
2. Temporary Need
- According to the Congressional Budget Office, approximately 25 of the 46 mil-
lion uninsured Americans .have no insurance for the entire year. Therefore, close to
half have a temporary problem, with the average family who loses coverage being
without it for an average of 5.6 months. There are several solutions to this, which
we will discuss later.
3. Affordability/Income
- 33% of uninsured Americans have a family income of over $50,000, with 16%
exceeding $75,000 in annual income. The reality is that are a lot of Americans who
can afford health insurance who simply do not buy it, particularly young, single men.
A current client of mine had let his former insurance lapse, only to be hurt seriously
in a work related accident (he did not have workers comp). Close to $45,000 later,
he was as good as new - except he had a big debt to pay.
Though the extent of America’s uninsured may not be as serious as the media
portrays, there are still significant issues regarding access and cost. So what solu-
tions are out there for businesses and individuals that are trying to overcome these
challenges?
1. Education - It starts with education; business owners must be aware of all
their options. There are many questions and options to consider in order to make
a proper decision. Working with an agent who specializes in health insurance and
works with many different companies and can be objective about various plans is
key. Consider this analogy - should you need open heart surgery, you would not
read a manual on how to perform the procedure, you would hire an expert heart
surgeon.
2. Shopping for health insurance is not something you do every 5 years or
so - an annual review is essential. I’ve had a client for almost 4 years ago who is
paying about the same premium today as he was in 2004 for his family - with better
coverage! We simply visit each year and update his needs and come up with the
appropriate plan.
3. Tweaking deductibles and co-insurance - people often construe this as
“cutting” their benefits, but it is not necessarily so. One of my newer clients is
a 6 employee law firm in San Antonio. By shopping companies we saved them
$15,000/year on their premium with the same deductible. They saved
an additional $5000 by tweaking their co-insurance rate (70/30 vs.
80/20 while maintaining their same maximum out of pocket costs,
or liability) and raising their office co-pay from $30 to $40. While
employees may initially have viewed these as “cuts’” their apprecia-
tion grew when their employer gave them all a $1000 raise (the two
partners were still able to save $7500 each - the cost of a college
semester for their 2 children). The $10 increase in doctor co-pay did
not seem too important to the employees after they got their raise.
4. HSA Plans - HSA plans combine a high deductible health
insurance policy with money deposited in a personally owned, tax
free account. Employees retiring or leaving a company to start their
own business are allowed a one time transfer of funds from their
401k plan to an HSA. Many of my self employed clients love these
plans; people use their HSA funds to pay for smaller and routine
health expenditures, while their insurance covers larger costs, such as
hospital stays, when the deductible is reached. Premiums are gener-
ally lower for these plans, and have experienced lower annual rate
increases than more traditional plans.
5. Preventive Benefits - look for plans that have generous first
dollar (no need to meet deductible) preventive coverage - early diag-
nosis of health problems saves you in many ways in the long run.
Many insurance companies are now offering increased benefits in this
area in an effort to reduce future costly claims.
6. Uninsurable due to health conditions - this is best reviewed
on a case by case basis - but there is always a way to get insurance.
The state of Texas has a risk pool for uninsurable individuals; it is
expensive, but some of their higher deductible options are reasonable,
and offer full major medical benefits. You can purchase supplemental
plans that cover some of the high deductible costs.
7. Short Term Needs - COBRA is offered to those leaving their
jobs and whom are waiting for their new coverage to begin within 3
months at a new employer. For those without a new job, the wait is
Phillip, Renfroe & Rickert
Certified Public Accountants
Tax Consulting & Compliance
Accounting & Assurance
Business Consulting
830-815-2000
888-858-5525
www.prrcpa.com
longer. Many people do not like the COBRA option due to its high
cost, where the former employee has to shoulder the entire cost of
insurance without employer subsidies. For these people, short term
plans are an excellent option. They do not have some of the “bells
and whistles” of most plans, but offer excellent protection for a speci-
fied duration, and have extremely reasonable premiums. For those
who have serious health issues and need to maintain COBRA, they
can look for less costly options for other family members.
8. Group plan family coverage vs. individual coverage - Check
out the premium differences. I have one client whose company would
have deducted from his paycheck over $600/month for his wife and 2
children (his premium was completely paid for by his company). We
found an individual plan with similar benefits for under $300/month.
He pocketed $100/month in increased income, and put an additional
$100/month in each child’s new 529 college fund.
9. Supplemental Plans - Accident and Critical Illness policies
(cancer, heart attack, stroke, transplants, etc.) are common supple-
mental plans used by individuals that have high deductibles. They
usually have reasonable premiums and can often eliminate out of
pocket costs and replace lost income while recuperating.
This is by no means a complete list of solutions, and I’m cer-
tainly not campaigning to be the next president’s health insurance
guru. However, a little time and research can result in significant
savings and strong protection for a typical American family. With the
increase in gas prices, food, and college education, it would be nice to
save a little bit here and there.BBM
Rich Sena is an independent health and life insurance broker and
the President of Hill Country Health Plans, Inc. in Boerne. He can
be reached at rsena@gvtc.com or 210-833-4904.
www.BoerneBusinessMonthly.com 25
 Serving Boerne Businesses Since 1973

Kendall County Air State of the

HEAT ING & C O O LING
Art Childcare
Facility Opens

Lloyd and Jennifer Voigt have finished construction on

Boerne’s newest childcare facility, AppleTree Day School.
830.816.1879 Located at 18 Scenic Loop Road, the 13k square foot facil-
136 Industrial Drive, Boerne, TX
www.kendallcountyair.com ity is currently enrolling students for the fall.
TACLA26171E
“We are so excited to have this facility open. We
have worked so hard to pull all of this together and

The waY
present a facility that features the finest amenities for
Your Financial Future schoolchildren that we could,” Lloyd and Jennifer say
as they unloaded the last of the boxes and prepared for
their opening. The school, which accepts students from 6
It’s Supposed To Be weeks of age through 12 years, has integrated some seri-
Financial Services to Help Protect ous technology. “We have webcams installed in every
the Values You Cherish and the classroom. Parents can log on from anywhere in the
People You Love.
world, use their supplied username and password, and
watch their kids as they play. We also have a security
system in the main lobby. The lobby is secure from the
The Business Owner’s Resource for classrooms, and the correct PIN code must be entered
Business and Personal Financial Stategies
before any child can be checked out. No child is ever
u
With all the demands of running a business, you need a
released unless the proper PIN code is pushed. We do
financial concierge you can depend on to help you protect this for everyone’s peace of mind.”
your family’s financial security.That’s why business owners in
Texas turn to Ronnie Huie as a reliable resource in preparing
As Boerne continues to grow, so does our need for
for financial success. many services. As more families relocate here, childcare
u is one of those needs.
830-249-0206 O www.ronniehuie.com
Unicas on the River Check out AppleTree Day School
412 River Road, Suite 102 O Boerne, TX 78006
Ronnie Huie is a registered representative of and offers securities, investment advisory and financial planning services through MML
on the web at
www.appletreedayschool.com
Investors Services, Inc. Member SIPC One Union Square, Ste. 300, 10101 Reunion Place, San Antonio,TX 78216-4157 (210) 342-4141
Huie Financial Services is not a subsidiary or affiliate of MML Investors Services, Inc.

26 Boerne Business Monthly n August 2008


June/July 2008 Chamber Ribbon Cuttings
Phyllis Browning cuts the ribbon at the Boerne Chamber’s Ribbon
Cutting ceremony at the Grand Opening for the Phyllis Browning
Company’s new location in Leon Springs in Fairview Plaza. Phyllis
is joined by Boerne Mayor Dan Heckler, Chamber President Pau-
la White and Chamber ambassadors. You can find the new Phyllis
Browning Company office at 24200 IH 10 West, Ste 101, San Antonio.
The ribbon cutting ceremony at Fritze’s BBQ & Catering was very
well attended. Owner David Fritze is joined by his wife, Mary, daugh-
ter, staff with Chamber ambassadors. Fritze’s BBQ & Catering is lo-
cated at 926 N. Main Street and you can call David at (830) 331-9903.
Resident Manager of the Woodland Apartments, Carmen Major, is
joined by owners Cindy & John Brockwell, their good friend Sena-
tor Jeff Wentworth, Mayor Dan Heckler, Mayor Pro-Tem & City
Councilman Jacques DuBose, many friends, business associates and
Chamber ambassadors. The Woodland Apartments are located at
150 Medical Drive #100 and you can contact them at 830-816-6500.
ribbon
cuttings
Debbie & Jim Colton of Traditions at the Depot are joined by staff
members, friends and Chamber ambassadors at their ribbon cutting
ceremony celebrating the opening of their new men’s clothing line
department. Men and women can find Traditions at the Depot at
518 S. Main Street, Boerne and you can call them at 830-816-2795.
Charlie’s Gun Works’ ribbon cutting ceremony took place at its new loca-
tion in the North Forty Center,41109-G IH 10West,Ste.2 (between Boerne
and Comfort).Charlie Kelley,owner of Charlie’s GunWorks,is joined by his
family and Chamber ambassadors and you can call Charlie at (830) 537-4844.
Co-Owners Rex Jennings, Dave Claflin and Skip Huiatt of Ten Oaks Stor-
age are joined by family members, friends, business associates and Cham-
ber ambassadors at their ribbon cutting ceremony for their new storage
facility located at 131 Old San Antonio Road, Boerne. Ten Oaks Storage
provides special moving and storage services for non-profit organiza-
tions. Call Rex, Dave or Skip at (210) 887-4937 for more information.
www.BoerneBusinessMonthly.com 27
Mague’s Cafe Opens 2nd Location
One of Boerne’s favorite eateries has expanded to include a second location
in the Bulverde/Spring Branch area.
Mague Romero, owner of Mague’s Cafe, has experienced 19+ years of
success at her Boerne location. Having always wanted to open a second
restaurant, she jumped at the chance to expand to another area of the Hill
Country. The Spring Branch/Bulverde area is booming and Mague’s Cafe in
Boerne has many loyal customers from that area already. The new location
will allow these customers, as well as many new ones, to enjoy Mague’s
food a little closer to home.
Essential to the popularity of Mague’s Cafe are Mague’s daughters
Claudia, Corina and Brenda. All three daughters will be rotating between
the two restaurants to ensure the continued success of both locations.
The second restaurant is located in a prime spot across Hwy 46 from the
Bulverde HEB and is almost double the size of the Boerne location. With
around 40 tables this new location will be able to accommodate quite the
breakfast, lunch and dinner crowds! Aside from the larger space, everything
will be the same as the Mague’s in Boerne, but the Bulverde/Spring Branch
cafe will be closed on Sundays.
With all the right ingredients, this second location is sure to be as good
as the original!

28 Boerne Business Monthly n August 2008


THE GREATER BOERNE YOUNG PROFESSIONALS CLUB
W
by Allyson Munsell
HAT WE ARE
Our community
offers a valuable
source of emerg-
ing leaders who
are well-educated,
influential and highly motivated.
The Greater Boerne Young Professionals
Club is an organization designed for
emerging leaders ages 21 to 39 in the
greater Boerne area, to develop themselves
professionally, socially, and civically.
Members of the YPC include profession-
als from many different fields, including
finance and banking, construction and land
development, arts, education, real estate,
legal, government, non-profit, insurance,
and healthcare.
My motivation to develop the YPC
was to compliment, rather than compete
with other area business organizations,
such as the Greater Boerne Chamber of
Commerce. I believe an organization
is needed to specifically encourage the
growing number of young, up and com-
ing professionals moving to Boerne to
begin their careers and families. It became
evidently clear from my own experience,
what is needed is a professional business
organization focused solely on cultivating
tomorrow’s leaders through professional,
social and civic opportunities.
The YPC is not just a networking
group – but collectively through business
development education, social functions
and civic duty, it’s a way for members to
become recognized as a well-respected,
influential group of young leaders who
are extraordinarily eager and motivated to
make names for themselves, and to aggres-
sively compete in providing the highest
quality of goods and services to our com-
munity.
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
To provide personal and professional
development opportunities which empow-
er the lives of YPC members and positions
them as prominent emerging leaders in the
Boerne area.
· Become the first resource businesses
turn to when seeking emerging leaders.
· Support and encourage leadership
development in various organizations.
· Provide members with ongoing
opportunities for personal and professional
growth.
· Encourage entrepreneurship and busi-
ness-building.
· Connect with career advancement
opportunities, and business and commu-
nity leaders.
Ideas for activities include, but are
not limited to professional development
seminars, advanced leadership develop-
ment classes, mentoring program, CEO
breakfast series, and entrepreneur brown
bag sessions.
SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT
Create unique opportunities for Boerne’s
young leaders to network and interact
at a variety of cultural, arts and sporting
events throughout the Greater Boerne area.
Build relationships with Boerne area busi-
nesses and organizations through regular
networking, educational events and social
functions in order to successfully promote
members’ business ventures.
Ideas for social activities include, but
are not lim-
ited to monthly
spotlight lun-
cheons where
each member
has the opportu-
nity to showcase
their businesses,
cocktail parties
held at numerous
restaurants, orga-
nized sporting
events, and an
annual black tie
networking
event to recognize the remarkable accom-
plishments of the Young Professionals
Club.
CIVIC DEVELOPMENT
To introduce and promote future lead-
ers to community service organizations,
events and government while recogniz-
ing the importance of these organizations
in developing and maintaining a vibrant
Greater Boerne community. All activities
promote civic engagement and respect for
Boerne traditions and quality of life.
· Promote community involvement
through organizing and publicizing activi-
ties for Young Professional Club members.
· Create awareness of area organiza-
tions and resources by distributing and
communicating area organizational infor-
mation.
· Connect club members with opportu-
nities in other community organizations.
· To cultivate awareness and involve-
ment among emerging leaders on issues
and policies affecting our communities in
the Greater Boerne area.
· Cultivate interest in local public
affairs.
· Generate government involvement.
· Provide access to community leaders.
CONCLUSION
This organization and its young pro-
fessionals will be instrumental in Boerne's
growth and success in the future. Boerne's
future depends on its ability to cultivate
and encourage young bright minds.
And as the YPC develops and matures,
it will continue to add new members, and
infuse greater diversity, vitality and new
ideas to benefit all of our members, and
our community.
If you are interested in becoming a
member or learning more about the Greater
Boerne Young Professionals Club, please
contact Allyson Munsell at (830) 815-1404
for more information. BBM
Allyson Munsell is a Financial Advisor
for Edward Jones Investments, a full
service brokerage firm at 512 E. Blanco
Rd. in Boerne. Allyson builds one-on-one
relationships with clients, offering per-
sonalized attention and financial advice
to plan for the future. Mrs. Munsell was
raised in Boerne, and recevied her BS
from Southern Methodist University.
www.BoerneBusinessMonthly.com 29
Q
opinion
Are gas prices affecting your business?
A
“Yes! While before we
could offer our local
clients free delivery, or a
nominal fee, we have had
to charge them because of
the gas prices. And, then,
because there is tax on a
delivery charge, they pay
even more. I love my clients, and really hate to
see them spend an extra dime that they don’t
have to, but with all the trucking surcharges
that have been accessed to our freight bills for
merchandise, this will cause some increases in
the cost of merchandise. Boo!”
Catrina Hoelke
Catrina’s at the Ranch
“Gas is something we think about all the time
now. We are combining trips, shipping items
rather than delivering them ourselves and even
mailing fabric samples to our clients. It has
become very important to coordinate with our
installers so we don’t have to make multiple trips.
Unfortunately some of the added cost must be
passed on the client.”
Debbie Wilcox & Kathy Senkbeil
30 Boerne Business Monthly August 2008
Store•House Decor
n
“The gas prices have affected
us in many ways from rising
cost of goods to employee
travel expenses. These rising
costs have reduced our profit
margin and to compensate
we are planning on raising our
prices in 2009.”
Holly DeLaune
Erickson USA
“It hasn’t affected our business.
We are focusing on the things we
can control and we’re not wor-
rying about it. There’s 70 lines
on a financial statement, and only
one of those is fuel. One year it’s
gas prices, and the next year it’s
something else. We manage our
business effectively through best
practices, and year after year we
experience a positive result.”
Bill Bird
General Partner – Mercedes
Benz of Boerne
“Gas prices aren’t affecting
us at all. Everyone from New
Braunfels, Austin, San Antonio,
and everywhere else are
pushing our direction. People
want to be in Boerne, and so
we have seen no negative
effect from gas prices.”
Brittany Hardy
General Manager – Holiday Inn
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RECORD WATER USAGE CAUSES CITY OF BOERNE TO ANNOUNCE STAGE 2 “MANDATORY” WATER RESTRICTIONS
On Tuesday, July 1, Boerne City Manager, Ron Bowman, put into effect Stage 2 water
restrictions for all City residential and commercial water customers. The Stage 2 Water Alert
requires “mandatory” conservation measures in order to reduce overall water consumption
by 35%.
Customers must now observe more restrictions, especially related to outdoor watering
uses such as landscape irrigation. Both residential and commercial customers are permit-
ted to use individual sprinklers or sprinkler systems for lawns, gardens or other landscaped
areas only on “designated outdoor water use days”.
On the designated watering day, sprinkler irrigation is allowed between the hours of
3:00 am to 8:00 am and 8:00 pm to 10:00 pm.
Designated watering days will be implemented according to the last number of the
street address as follows:
0 or 1 Monday 6 or 7 Thursday
2 or 3 Tuesday 8 or 9 Friday
4 or 5 Wednesday
The City Manager declared Stage 2 water restrictions for all City of Boerne customers
because consumption and daily usage peaks are continuing to rise. City water customers
rely on a combined water resource which includes ground water from wells, and surface
water from both the Boerne City Lake and Canyon Lake, through a contract with the
Guadalupe Blanco River Authority.
The water from wells is subject to Cow Creek Groundwater Conservation District
drought management rules, and to comply with mandated restrictions for this single source
of water, the City has now reduced pumping from wells by more than the 40% as required
by the Cow Creek “Stage 5” restrictions.
“While the City of Boerne continues to have adequate total water supplies from its
three water sources, meeting the daily peak while complying with a 40% reduction in well
use is challenging due to current high levels of irrigation,” reports assistant city manager,
Jeff Thompson.
“Half of the 3 million gallons sold during record
setting peak usage days these last few weeks is being
used for outdoor landscape watering. That kind of
usage needs to decrease immediately,” Thompson
added.
In Stage 2, City of Boerne water customers are
required to curtail non-essential water use; however
watering of lawns or landscaped areas is permitted any-
time if using a hand-held hose, a drip irrigation system,
or a hand-held bucket no larger than 5 gallons.
Other Stage 2 conservation requirements include:
•Washing of automobiles, trailers, rv’s, boats,
airplanes or any other type of mobile equipment is
prohibited unless using a bucket or pail. However, com-
mercial car washing businesses are not restricted.
•Restaurants are prohibited from serving water to customers except when specifically
requested by the customer.
•Those residents that have swimming pools or hot tubs may refill these as needed
but only on the designated outdoor water use day and during the hours of 12:00 midnight
to 12:00 noon or 7:00 pm to 12:00 midnight.
Mayor Heckler and the City Council together urge all City of Boerne customers to
curtail non-essential water use to ensure the City can meet the daily peaking requirements
and to help those area residents that depend on groundwater for their domestic water
needs. “Conservation is good for everyone”, states Mayor Heckler.
For a full list of the City of Boerne water conservation measures and/or restrictions by
Stage, please contact the Utility Customer Service office at (830)249-9511 or view the City’s
Conservation and Emergency Drought Management Plan online at www.ci.boerne.tx.us by
looking for Chapter 22 (Utilities) of the Code of Ordinances.
 Mercedes-Benz of Boerne
8 Miles North of La Cantera Resort, Exit 543 @ IH10
830-981-6000
mbboerne.com