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JENNIFER FIERRO • PICAYUNE STAFF

GRANITE SHOALS — The Granite Shoals city council approved a $10 non-resident boat ramp launch fee during its May 12 regular meeting.

The reason is to raise money to help repair and maintain the Park 6 boat ramp, launch pad and road with a turn-about.

“It was not in our general fee schedule, so a sign couldn’t be put up for donation without council approval,” Assistant City Manager Peggy Smith said.

The cost of the signs, collection box and post is $175. Granite Shoals residents are exempt from the new launch fee.

In addition, the council also reviewed actions that will be taken to improve parking including installing 40-foot telephone poles that will be laid down along the west side driveway for a total length of 404 feet. The 10 poles were donated by Pedernales Electric Cooperative. Staff members will place the poles in the appropriate places from the corner of West Blue Brier through the west side of the park, which is in front of the playground equipment, down to the water’s edge.

The council also was briefed on what’s happening with the Christ-Yoder Animal Shelter by Mayor Pro-Tem Carl Brugger and Police Chief J.P. Wilson.

The two met with Burnet County Judge James Oakley and others representing Llano County and the cities of Burnet, Bertram, Horseshoe Bay and Sunrise Beach to explore options to keep the facility in operation.

Brugger presented a summary sheet of the main points of the meeting including the fact the facility doesn’t have debts, checkbook balances were reviewed and appeared sufficient, and there were no plans to terminate any employees. The shelter, 9150 RR 1431 in Buchanan Dam, sits on nine acres and lists $409,000 in assets.

Smith said the city of Granite Shoals doesn’t hold an animal that is not registered at city hall for more than 24 hours. If that animal is not claimed before the 24 hours ends, it is taken to Christ-Yoder Animal Shelter.

The group agreed to meet again before the end of May, though a date wasn’t decided on, Smith said.

The council tentatively scheduled June 23 to present the first John Rinehart Award to the Rinehart family. John Rinehart was a volunteer who served on the streets committee, the Planning and Zoning Commission and was instrumental in helping to create Manzano’s Hike, Bike and Run Trail honoring 2012 Olympic 1,500-meter silver medalist and hometown hero Leonel Manzano.

“He was one of those guys,” Smith said, “that when he saw a need, he stepped up and filled it.”

Rinehart died this past year.

If the Rinehart family is able to attend June 23, the presentation will occur during the annual Volunteer Appreciation Reception before the regular city council meeting.

jfierro@thepicayune.com