Burnet County puts brakes on 3-way stop
The view of oncoming traffic on County Road 410 at Lakeside Beach in Spicewood is blocked by a recently built privacy fence, leading to concerns for public safety. Staff photo by Dakota Morrissiey
The Burnet County Commissioners Court rescinded an order to create a three-way stop on County Road 410 at the entrance to the Lakeside Beach subdivision in Spicewood and will now hold a public hearing on the matter before making a final decision.
The Commissioners Court approved the stop in a 3-2 vote during its Feb. 14 meeting. It was rescinded during the meeting on Tuesday, Feb. 28, after commissioners learned they needed to post a public notice and hold a public hearing. That hearing is at 9:30 a.m. Tuesday, March 14, in the Burnet County Courthouse, 220 S. Pierce St. in Burnet.
The Feb. 14 vote was treated as a public meeting, rather than a public hearing. According to the Texas Transportation Code: “The commissioners court shall publish notice of the hearing in a newspaper of general circulation in the county. The notice must be published not later than the seventh or earlier than the 30th day before the date of the hearing.”
The three-way stop is in Precinct 4, which Commissioner Joe Don Dockery represents. He strongly advocated for its creation but is also seeking other solutions. County Judge James Oakley, who lives in the area, said he understands the fence creates a safety problem but voted against the stop because he was unsure the court was following proper procedures.
“It was just an oversight. There was no malintent there,” Oakley told DailyTrib.com after the Tuesday meeting.
Dockery plans to inquire with the fence’s builder about reconstructing it for a clearer view of the road, negating the need for a three-way stop.
“In the end, (the fence) is a serious impediment to public safety,” Dockery said.