Fire risk for Burnet County remains low
BURNET – The fire risk for unincorporated areas of the county remains low, thanks to recent rains, the Burnet County Commissioners Court learned this week.
In addition to discussing the wildfire risk, the commissioners met Tuesday to consider a number of items, including delinquent hotel-occupancy taxes and a low bid rejected by the court on a some land.
During time set aside for public comment, Precinct 4 Commissioner Joe Don Dockery said the Texas Forest Service Keetch-Byram Drought Index for the Highland Lakes recently dropped to 23, a very low figure.
KBDI measures the potential for forest fires based on daily water balance, and the highest index of 800 indicates extremely dry conditions.
During summer in the Highland Lakes — and particularly during periods when the commissioners declare burn bans for rural areas — KBDI may climb well over 600.
Rain has reduced the fire danger to moderate levels during recent weeks, Dockery said.
Before that, the region was parched by a 2.5-year drought that dropped lakes Buchanan and Travis to nearly half their traditional levels.
“It is sure good to see the lakes getting full,” Dockery said. “Lake Travis is full, and Lake Buchanan is getting close to full.”
Lower Colorado River Authority officials said Lake Buchanan was about four feet below its historic March average. Meanwhile, Lake Travis is about 10 feet above its historic March average.
Also, LCRA reported total combined storage for the lakes was more than 1.7 acre-feet, about 88 percent of capacity. An acre-foot is the volume of water — 43,560 cubic feet or 325,851 gallons — that will cover an area to a depth of one foot.
In addition, a bid for 10 acres acquired through foreclosure by the Burnet Central Appraisal District has been rejected by Commissioners Court for being too low.
During a recent sheriff’s auction, a bid of $12,000 was offered for two lots in the Briggs Estates, District Chief Appraiser Stan Hemphill told the commissioners.
However, the lots are appraised at $37,500, Hemphill said.
The commissioners indicated $12,000 was too low for the property and voted unanimously to reject the bid. No date was set for more bids.
However, Precinct 2 Commissioner Russell Graeter instructed Hemphill to monitor new bids and “work out a plan” to let potential buyers know the land is for sale.
Michael Stephens and Robert Leggett submitted a $12,000 bid for the property, according to county records.
“They may come back with a different bid,” Hemphill said.
In other business, County Tourism Director Teri Freitag said 18 local businesses failed to remit their hotel occupancy taxes to the county through the end of December.
County Attorney Eddie Arredondo has reminded the businesses to pay up, Freitag added.
About nine businesses remain on the list for delinquent HOT taxes, Freitag said.
Also during the meeting, the commissioners:
• Approved the use of the historic Burnet County Jail at Pierce and Washington streets near the Courthouse on the Square for the Cowboy Breakfast during the Burnet Bluebonnet Festival 8-10:30 a.m. April 11.
• Declared April as Child Abuse Prevention Month and County Government Month.
Also, while the main courtroom in the courthouse undergoes ceiling repairs, County Judge Donna Klaeger said commissioners will hold their meetings in the Herman Brown Free Library, 100 E. Washington St.