Beautification, downtown development, and water management are just three of seven priorities for the city of Burnet during its 2025-26 budget year, which begins in October. The City Council approved the list of strategic priorities after three months of workshops and public input.
“These priorities reflect both the needs of today and the goals for tomorrow, informing how we allocate resources, plan projects, and serve our community,” City Manager David Vaughn said in a media release. “These priorities serve as a guiding compass helping ensure that our attention stays aligned with what matters most, even when the urgent knocks on our door.”
Workshop sessions included listening to resident feedback, reviewing data, and identifying priorities to guide the city’s strategic planning and budgeting for 2025-26, Vaughn continued.
The adopted strategic priorities are:
Beautification—Foster community pride and curb appeal by focusing on enhancements to public and private spaces, enforcing code compliance, and encouraging community-led improvement projects.
Historic Downtown Square—Preserve the past and inspire the future by investing in infrastructure, beautification, parking, and economic development to keep Burnet’s historic square thriving as the heart of the community.
Parks & Recreation—Enhance community wellness and access to nature by improving parks, trails, programs, and public spaces that promote healthy living and a strong sense of community.
Public Safety—Fire, EMS, and police will focus on prevention, rapid response, and public trust.
Smart Growth—Balance development with affordability and livability via strategic planning that supports business expansion and housing options while preserving Burnet’s small-town character.
Street Improvement—Prioritize road repair, safety enhancements, and long-term investment in transportation networks.
Water Resource Management—Invest in infrastructure and conservation strategies to protect water quality, increase supply resilience, and promote responsible usage.
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The city of Meadowlakes began a roadwork project Monday, June 16. Construction is starting with general repairs to deteriorated cut-and-patch areas and resurfacing the parking lot and installing curbs at the city’s Lakeside Park pavilion.
A concrete drainage swale will be installed from curb to curb and the intersection of Firestone Drive and Firestone Place resurfaced during a three-day period. Crews will work on one lane at a time during the day to allow for traffic flow. Street plates will be placed over the concrete section at night so both lanes can be open.
Work began to repave the parking lot at Lakeside Park in Meadowlakes on June 16. The project should be completed within one to two days. The boat ramp is closed until then.
A flagman will direct traffic around barricades. The city’s boat ramp will be closed until park renovations are complete this week.
“(We are) sorry for the inconvenience, but this work has to be done and this is the most efficient way to do it,” said Michael Shaw in a notice to residents. Shaw is the vice president of Parks and Streets for the Meadowlakes Property Owners Association.
During the week of June 21, crews will begin resurfacing Firestone Drive from the cul-de-sac on the north end to past Dove Lane. Also up for resurfacing that week are Dog Leg from the cul-de-sac to in front of 101 Dog Leg and the small loop road on Columbine toward Meadowlakes Drive.
“The entire project will take a couple of weeks so your patience during this period is appreciated,” Shaw said. “Trash and recycle (pickup) will not be interrupted.”
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Agendas for Highland Lakes governments are posted 72 hours before a meeting so are not always ready by the time this story is published. Check links for more information.
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After weeks of deliberation and community input, the Burnet City Council on June 10 selected Fourth Street as the location of a future pedestrian bridge over U.S. 281.
The project has been in the making since 2024 and will serve as a safe crossing over the highway for residents, especially students from nearby Burnet middle and high schools.
“The location was selected because it aligns well with school access points,” wrote City Manager David Vaughn in a recent media release. “Finalizing the site allows the city to move forward with the (U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development) grant agreement and begin environmental and design work.”
The pedestrian bridge will be paid for entirely by a $5 million grant awarded to the city in August 2024 from HUD thanks to support from U.S. Rep. John Carter, whose District 31 includes Burnet County.
The City Council made the bridge site decision during its Tuesday meeting. The council had previously narrowed the location to between Third and Seventh streets and then asked for public input. Based off of feedback from a May 29 town hall and consultations with Burnet school district and city staff, Fourth Street was selected.
This pedestrian bridge in Foley, Alabama, was used as a reference and inspiration for a similar project coming to the city of Burnet. A bridge over U.S. 281 at Fourth Street is planned to create a safe crossing for pedestrians and students at nearby campuses. Courtesy photo
Design has not begun on the project, but the bridge will have stairs, elevators, and ramps; a fully enclosed walkway; ample lighting and security features; and be built with aesthetics in mind.
Preliminary estimates show a tentative construction start date around April 2027 and possible completion by mid-2028.
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The Burnet County Commissioners Court recently filed a “letter of no objection” in regard to the refuge seeking to buy 310 acres of land along FM 1174 in the southeast portion of the county. The letter serves as a sort of blessing from local officials, making it easier to acquire the $3.5 million in Land and Water Conservation Fund money needed for the purchase.
If everything goes as planned, the new land would connect a larger tract that does not have easy access to the main body of the refuge, adding about 970 acres of accessible property.
“(Burnet County’s letter of no objection) means that we can continue to provide conservation of land and provide access to the public,” refuge Manager Kelly Purkey told DailyTrib.com. “Between habitat conservation, water conservation, and access to the public, I think it’s a good thing.”
The Balcones Canyonlands NWR spans over 20,000 acres at the intersection of Burnet, Travis, and Williamson counties, offering protection to critical habitat for a variety of species and exceptional public land access to residents in Central Texas. Aside from conservation, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service refuge offers hiking, hunting, birdwatching, and other recreational opportunities, with over 100,000 visitors a year to the Doeskin Ranch trail system, 10645 FM 1174 in Bertram.
The Commissioners Court filed its letter of no objection after a presentation from Purkey during its Tuesday, June 10, meeting. She said the land the refuge planned to purchase was from a willing seller. The refuge has about 6,000 acres total in Burnet County and, in lieu of taxes, pays around $50,000 to the county annually through a federal refuge revenue-sharing program.
Purkey explained that the request for the letter was to maintain transparency with the public and keep the Burnet County in the loop on the refuge’s decisions.
“Right now, I think the most important thing I can do for conservation is protect land because there is so much urbanization that is occurring (near the refuge),” she said. “We’re completely surrounded by subdivisions.”
The Balcones Canyonlands National Wildlife Refuge was founded in 1992 to protect two endangered songbirds, the golden-cheeked warbler and the black-capped vireo, as well as pristine habitat in the rugged hills northwest of Austin. The efforts have been fruitful, with the black-capped vireo delisted from the endangered species list in 2018 and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service recommending downlisting the golden-cheeked warbler earlier this year.
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Hays County homebuilder Wayne Alan Erickson was convicted of first-degree felony theft by deception for an unscrupulous home construction fraud scheme involving six families across Llano and Travis counties.
After a Llano County jury found Erickson guilty following his May 22 trial, a visiting judge sentenced him to 10 years’ probation and ordered him to pay $539,785 in restitution to his victims and to never work in the construction field again.
“There are many honorable contractors in the area. But people like Wayne Alan Erickson damage not only the lives of their victims, but the integrity of the industry itself,” said Sonny McAfee, retired 33rd/424th district attorney, who prosecuted the case.
According to a media release from the 33rd/424th District Attorney’s Office announcing the conviction, Erickson deceived his victims into giving him large payments for work that he would never actually complete. He also invoiced for work that was never done or significantly overcharged on projects.
Erickson was first indicted in 2018 after an investigation by the Horseshoe Bay Police Department revealed he had taken payments from customers on work he did not finish. Horseshoe Bay investigators formed a case against Erickson that found six families impacted by the scheme, two from Llano County and four from Travis County.
Due to a litany of setbacks, including the untimely deaths of Erickson’s attorney, a key defense witness, and Judge Burt Carnes, who was overseeing the trial, it took almost seven years for the case to be brought to its conclusion.
Presiding Judge Daryl Coffey and the jury originally planned to sentence Erickson to 10 years in prison, but his defense negotiated an agreement for 10 years’ probation in exchange for $539,785 in restitution and the promise to never work in construction again.
“Ultimately, (the jury) concluded that Mr. Erickson lacked honesty and integrity in both his words and deeds—and that he stole from families who trusted him with their homes and dreams,” said Llano County First Assistant Attorney Matt Rienstra in the media release. “Their verdict is a clear statement that honesty and integrity still matter in Llano County.”
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The Lower Colorado River Authority and energy delivery company Oncor are tag teaming one of the largest energy infrastructure projects Texas has ever seen: a high-voltage transmission line between Bell and Schleicher counties with all potential routes cutting through northern Burnet County.
The exact details, timeline, and impact of the project are still being sussed out by Burnet County leaders, but it would likely mean right-of-way acquisitions and major construction to accommodate the 765-kilovolt transmission line along its chosen route.
Preliminary designs all show the line passing through some portion of Burnet County, likely impacting private property along the way.
The general layout of a proposed major transmission line that will almost certainly be built across northern Burnet County. Courtesy image
Public information meetings on the project are scheduled for the following dates and locations:
June 16, 5-7 p.m.—Salado ISD Meadows Room, 601 N. Main St. in Salado
June 17, 5-7 p.m.—Lampasas Middle School, 208 E. Avenue B in Lampasas
June 18, 5-7 p.m.—Menard Community Center, 303 Travis St. in Menard
“This (line) is just mammoth across the entire state,” Burnet County Judge Bryan Wilson told DailyTrib.com. “At this point, (LCRA and Oncor) got the authority from the (Public Utility Commission of Texas) to build, and now they have to select their path. We have no idea where exactly it is going to go and how it is going to be done.”
Wilson said he plans to coordinate with the LCRA to provide more information on the project during the June 24 meeting of the Burnet County Commissioners Court.
The transmission line would connect an LCRA substation near El Dorado in Schleicher County to an Oncor substation near Temple in Bell County. It is part of a greater strategy to strengthen the Texas power grid through the Permian Basin Reliability Plan, which aims to bring reliable power to West Texas.
According to all five members of the Commissioners Court, the project came as somewhat of a surprise, with Wilson, Precinct 2 Commissioner Damon Beierle, Precinct 1 Commissioner Jim Luther, and Precinct 4 Commissioner Joe Don Dockery all stating they only became fully aware of it within the past two weeks after the LCRA informed the judge of updated plans. Precinct 3 Commissioner Chad Collier told DailyTrib.com he had received some sort of email about it in January, but it was never followed up on.
Judge Wilson brought the matter before commissioners during their June 10 meeting, explaining the court would seek further information but that it seems the project will inevitably impact the county.
A letter from engineering and design firm Kimley-Horn was sent to the official email account of the Burnet County judge on Jan. 24, providing notification of the project and requesting comments or concerns to be sent as plans were being made. That letter asked that all comments be made by Feb. 14.
Wilson told DailyTrib.com that this correspondence was likely lost in the shuffle of communication during the turbulent months following the resignation of former county Judge James Oakley in December 2024. During the chaos, no commissioner had access to the judge’s email, and Wilson was not brought on board until the court selected him in March.
Commissioner Beierle, who was serving as head of the court during that time, said he was not aware of the proposed powerline project.
“I didn’t have access to (the county judge’s email),” he told DailyTrib.com. “I don’t know how we missed it, but we did.”
Based on the line’s preliminary routes, much of it would run through precincts 1 and 2. According to Beierle, in his experience, utility projects have a lot of weight behind them once they get started.
“These utility type projects, once they get traction, they seem like they can’t be stopped,” he explained. “I’m hoping we can run this in a way that will impact landowners the least.”
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The Burnet County Sheriff’s Office needs the public’s help in its investigation of a burglary in the Legends subdivision in Kingsland. The suspected thieves are believed to have used a large, red van during the crime, which law enforcement hopes will make them easier to track down.
According to a statement issued by the BCSO on Monday, June 9, a burglary took place on the morning of Friday, June 6, at a home in the 1900 block of Legends Parkway. Law enforcement obtained footage of what looks like an early 2000s model Ford E series van, red in color, entering the Legends subdivision at around 6:05 a.m. and leaving some time later.
The van was also believed to have stopped at Hoover’s Valley Country Store, 7203 Park Road 4 West, after the burglary. It stayed at the store for a few minutes before heading northbound on Park Road 4.
If anyone has information regarding the van, possible suspects, or the case overall, they should contact the BCSO at 512-756-8080 ext. 23059 or cidadmin@burnetsheriff.com or Crime Stoppers at 830-613-0467.
“We’ll have more eyes and ears out there, especially as time goes on,” BCSO Capt. Mike Sorenson told DailyTrib.com.
According to Sorenson, there have been no significant developments in the case since Friday, but he is optimistic about more information coming forward, noting the van stands out because of its vivid color.
He also said the thieves are likely local and know the area well, and that the items they stole could pop up at a pawn shop, where it is necessary to show photo identification.
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A man is reportedly in critical condition after jumping from the Llano city dam Sunday, June 8. The incident highlights the risks associated with summer fun at popular swimming destinations across the Highland Lakes.
According to the Llano Police Department, a man dove from the dam into the Llano River on Sunday afternoon and did not immediately resurface. Bystanders reportedly pulled the diver from the water, and first responders retrieved him for medical transport. The man apparently struck his head against a rock, suffering a severe head injury, and was taken to Llano Regional Hospital before being transported by helicopter to another medical facility.
As of Monday afternoon, law enforcement does not have an official update on the diver’s condition.
According to Facebook user Barbara Zapata, the diver is her brother, Steven Benson of Brownwood. A Go Fund Me account was established to raise money for medical expenses. He is reportedly scheduled for major surgery on Wednesday.
Walking on and diving from the dam is prohibited by Llano city ordinances, and law enforcement highlighted the importance of those rules following the incident.
“While our prayers are certainly with all involved, and especially with the victim and his recovery, we must also point out that the dam is not a place to jump or dive from. As evidenced by today’s events, the water is shallow and what is below the surface cannot be seen,” reads a June 8 media release issued by the Llano Police Department.
LPD’s stance is backed up by other agencies, including the Lower Colorado River Authority, which warns of unseen dangers in area lakes.
“Lakes aren’t swimming pools,” reads an LCRA safety guide. “The bottom of a lake is uneven and sudden drop-offs are common.”
The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department also cautions swimmers about submerged hazards.
“Be aware of your surroundings,” reads an excerpt from the TPWD’s water recreation safety guidelines. “Lakes, rivers and streams are natural environments. Watch for sudden drop-offs, changing bottoms and unseen limbs, rocks, and other objects.”
Notably, the TPWD oversees Devil’s Waterhole at Inks Lake State Park, a popular rock-jumping location in Central Texas. Diving and jumping are allowed at the swimming hole, but caution is recommended.
The Marble Falls Police Department also warns against diving or jumping from structures into Lake Marble Falls.
“What may appear to be deep may not be deep at all,” MFPD Capt. Jimmy Cole told DailyTrib.com. “If you’re injured, it’s going to be hard to get you out.”
Cole noted that people have tried to jump from the U.S. 281 bridge into the lake, which is against city ordinances. They have also trespassed on Marble Falls Economic Development Corp. property near River City Grille to jump into the water.
A primary concern for Cole is how challenging it is to rescue someone from the lake, especially if they are unconscious in the murky water.
“Nobody has been injured (diving from the EDC property), but if somebody is injured, (first responders) are going to have a heck of a time trying to conduct a rescue.”
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