Burnet celebrates two city employees with annual awards
Burnet city equipment operator Matt Feild (left) being presented with the Employee of the Year award on May 12 by City Manager David Vaughn. Staff photo by Caden Senn
Burnet recognized the efforts of two diligent employees at its last two city council meetings, awarding them with the city’s annual City Manager Award of Excellence and Employee of the Year Award.
Burnet Police Officer Justin Ornelas was named the recipient of the City Manager Award on April 28, and city equipment operator Matt Feild was named the recipient of the Employee of the Year Award on May 12.
City Manager David Vaughn spoke highly of Officer Ornelas’ service to the city, which he has patrolled since 2023. Beginning as a non-certified officer, Ornelas worked his way through the police academy, graduating six months later in October, and later became a K-9 officer alongside his partner, Enzo, in January 2026.
“Every year we give out an award to an employee who has shown an outstanding dedication to serving our community,” Vaughn said at the April 28 meeting. “I think nobody epitomizes that more than Justin. Even though you’re (addressing Ornelas) one of the newer officers to the force, I think you’ve set an incredible example for everybody.”
At the May 12 council meeting, Vaughn also touted Feild’s dedication to the city, which he joined in 2023, especially in times of need like the July floods and the brief ice storm in January.
“When you’re sitting with the leaders that run this city, and they say ‘this person is an outstanding employee,’ and they recognize it, it says a lot,” Vaughn said of Feild’s nomination. “Often people think (their work) is going unnoticed, and people are not seeing the effort. They absolutely see it.”