OUR TURN: Kingsland deserves a chance to be real city

Kingsland is one of the largest settlements in the Highland Lakes, yet residents have no mechanism to control growth and planning, nor pay for fire and police protection.

That could all change Nov. 8, unless voter apathy or nay-sayers once again put the brakes on what should be Kingsland’s natural social evolution.

Residents could have a chance that day to vote for incorporation of Kingsland, making it a full-fledged city.

It remains mind-boggling to think such a large township isn’t already incorporated.

Kingsland equals or dwarfs Burnet, Horseshoe Bay, Llano and Marble Falls in the number of residents. The U.S. Census Bureau puts the population at 6,000 and the United States Postal Service delivers to 3,500 mailboxes.

As we have noted before, there are businesses, schools, a library, a thriving Chamber — even the annual Aqua Boom celebration July Fourth, which draws thousands — that have put Kingsland on the map.

On the flip side, there is no City Hall, no city government, no police force, no permanent fire department, no public works office or other amenities one associates with such a large population to service the area.

There are no zoning ordinances to control growth and planning, no boundaries, no codes. A host of quasi-public entities provide water, electricity and sewage needs.

The responsibility for running Kingsland has always primarily fallen on the commissioners courts of Llano and Burnet counties. Services are paid by all the taxpayers in the unincorporated areas, not just Kingsland residents.

There is no doubt Kingsland has enough inhabitants on its own to incorporate and generate property and sales taxes to fund the operation of a true city government and infrastructure.

Horseshoe Bay made the transition a few years ago from resort community and retiree enclave to an incorporated city with all the benefits that implies, and so far, very few are complaining.

Still, in Kingsland there always has been resistance from those afraid of change.

Kingsland voters defeated a ballot initiative in favor of incorporation in 1974. In another effort 11 years ago, several residents promoted incorporation and failed.

Another effort bit the dust in 2008 as interest waned.

Three years ago, we predicted the topic of incorporation would reach critical mass and be raised again.

That day has come. The Say Yes! to Kingsland nonprofit has managed to get a petition signed by enough residents for Llano County commissioners to consider putting the matter on the Nov. 8 ballot.

The fact the group only got 109 signatures in a township with 6,000 people doesn’t bode well, but there still is two months to spread the message, advertise and increase awareness.

Of course, the Say Yes! to Kingsland group has to do a better job of getting the message out, too. They failed to appear this past week at an informational session in which nearly 300 people showed up.

Since part of Kingsland also is in Burnet County, voters in at least two precincts in that county also will have to vote.

In the past, there have been those who complained that taxes will rise, that they don’t want zoning laws, that they don’t want to pay for additional infrastructure, that they don’t want to have city elections that lead to a mayor and a council telling them what to do …

These are the complaints of people who are against progress, who want to bury their heads in the sand while buildings haphazardly go up, while there is no police force or fire department, while there is no central administration to guide the city’s growth so it can become the place it is meant to be.

It is time for Kingsland to grow up and become a city. Residents will only fare the better for it, and the quality of life will rise.