The city of Burnet begins nearly three months of road construction on Thursday, June 12, along stretches of Wood and Northington Streets. The work will be completed in phases and lead to temporary detours and parking adjustments for residents in the construction zones.
Burnet leaders identified Wood and Northington as high-priority upgrade projects earlier this year and awarded the $1.5 million contract to Gage and Cade Construction on May 9. Work on Wood Street, in particular, must be completed before the first day of school on Aug. 13 as a Burnet Consolidated School District bus depot lies along that span.
“Wood Street is a very highly traveled street to cut through between (FM) 963 and (Texas) 29,” Burnet City Manager David Vaughn told DailyTrib.com. “This is one that has been on the radar and the to-do list for way too long, but it is more complicated on the engineering side and school scheduling.”
The general spans of Wood Street and Northington Street that will be under construction over the summer. Google Maps
Work includes improving drainage, adding curbs and gutters, and repaving two-thirds of a mile of Wood Street between FM 963 and Texas 29 and a quarter-mile of Northington Street south of Texas 29 East. Street parking will be prohibited in construction zones and detours will be established to smooth out travel.
WORK PHASES
Phase 1, June 12-July 12—Wood Street work, Dougherty Creek to FM 963
Phase 2, June 12-July 12—Wood Street work, Brier Street to Kerr Street
Phase 3, July 14-Aug. 15—Wood Street work, Texas 29 to Brier Street
Phase 4, July 14-Aug. 15—Northington Street work, Rhomberg Street to Wallace Riddell parking lot
Phase 5, July 14-Aug. 15—Wood Street work, Kerr Street to Dougherty Creek (open to traffic, but under construction)
Phase 6, Aug. 16-Sept. 3—Northington Street work, Hill Street to Wallace Riddell parking lot
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Three candidates are running for the District 5 seat on the Pedernales Electric Cooperative Board of Directors. Voting opened May 21 and runs through 5 p.m. Friday, June 13.
Alice Price, Douglas A. Vandiford II, and Milton Scott Powell are vying for the District 5 seat, which represents Burnet County and is currently held by former Burnet County Judge James Oakley, who has termed out.
PEC members can vote for candidates online by logging in, in-person in the Marble Falls office at 4302 U.S. 281 North, or by mail via a ballot sent to their home address. Learn more about voting on the PEC website.
The PEC Board of Directors oversees the co-op’s budget and sets the rates and terms for electric service for members. Each director serves three-year terms, with a limit of four consecutive terms.
DISTRICT 5 CANDIDATES
The following candidates will appear in the same order on the ballot. The information presented for each candidate was collected by PEC. Bios have been edited for space. The candidates’ complete responses to questions follow.
ALICE PRICE
Price recently served an assistant district attorney specializing in Asset and Bond Forfeiture Law for the 424th/33rd District Attorney’s Office, which serves Burnet, Llano, San Saba, and Blanco counties. She lives on her family’s ranch in Burnet County, where she and her husband raise cattle.
Price earned a degree in history from the University of Texas at Austin in 1989 and a law degree in 1992. She previously worked with the Texas Department of Criminal Justice’s Special Prosecution Unit, handling cases related to violent crimes across multiple counties.
Price served as a commissioner for Burnet County’s Emergency Services District No. 8, overseeing policy, budgeting, and regulatory compliance. She has also contributed to local organizations, including the Clear Lake Library Board, American Cancer Society, Clear Lake Little League Baseball, Central Texas Youth Football League, Burnet Youth Football League, Parent-Teacher Association, and Lions Club of Burnet.
Her stated goals include maintaining low electric rates, improving public engagement through PEC’s HUB app, expanding scholarship and vocational programs, promoting financial transparency, and educating members about infrastructure costs. Read her full bio here.
QUESTION 1: What makes PEC’s mission meaningful to you, and what interests you about serving on the PEC Board of Directors?
PRICE: I have a deep commitment to secure affordable and reliable energy for our community, inspired by my grandparents’ experiences during the early days of electrification. I believe that electricity is a privilege, not an entitlement. I am seeking a PEC directorship to continue democratic governance, strengthen vital community programs, and promote continuous education for a sustainable future.
QUESTION 2: What education, skills, strengths or life experiences do you have that would benefit PEC?
PRICE: I grew up in Burnet County, which gave me a deep connection to our community and a strong sense of responsibility for its well-being. Earning my law degree gave me the tools to tackle tough challenges and navigate complex laws and regulations. As an assistant district attorney, I’ve honed my skills in making fair, transparent decisions and handling pressure. Plus, my role as a commissioner for ESD No. 8 has helped me better understand how to serve our region and plan strategically for the future. I am your hometown candidate, and I care for these members and their families.
QUESTION 3: What other boards or committees have you served on or leadership positions have you held in the past?
PRICE: I have had the honor of serving as a commissioner on the Northeast Burnet County Emergency Services District No. 8 board for the past three years. This role has provided me with direct experience in budgeting, strategic planning, and overseeing the policies and procedures of the department.
QUESTION 4: Are you familiar with the elements of the cooperative business model?
PRICE: Yes. The cooperative business model in Texas ensures electricity in historically underserved areas. Member-owned nonprofits reinvest proceeds to provide reliable power, infrastructure, education, and community programs. Our parents and grandparents built these co-ops to guarantee that even rural areas would always have access to electricity, securing a stable future for generations.
QUESTION 5: How would you approach working with your fellow PEC directors to achieve collaboration and consensus?
PRICE: I would start by listening to the current board members to understand their perspectives, priorities, and concerns. Building on that, I’d focus on open communication, collaboration, and aligning our efforts with shared goals to serve the co-op effectively. I’d aim to foster trust and teamwork while ensuring decisions are data-driven and in the best interest of the members.
DOUGLAS A. VANDIFORD II
Vandiford is an attorney based in Marble Falls, currently working with one of the state’s largest firms. He represents Texas-based businesses with domestic and international interests. He lives in the city with his wife and two daughters.
Vandiford has over 20 years of legal experience advising businesses of various sizes. One of his daughters is studying engineering at the University of Texas at Austin and is expected to graduate in 2025. The other daughter participates in theater, choir, and tennis at Marble Falls High School. Read his full bio here.
QUESTION 1: What makes PEC’s mission meaningful to you, and what interests you about serving on the PEC Board of Directors?
VANDIFORD: I am passionate about citizens as the bedrock of American democracy. I am committed preserving and advancing the quality of life in our Hill Country communities.
QUESTION 2: What education, skills, strengths or life experiences do you have that would benefit PEC?
VANDIFORD: As an attorney at one of Texas’ oldest and largest law firms, I have the honor of representing and advising some of Texas’ vital employers in a variety of essential fields, including energy and technology. Our firm even represents the State of Texas in civil matters at the request of the Texas (Attorney General’s) office.
QUESTION 3: What other boards or committees have you served on or leadership positions have you held in the past?
VANDIFORD: I am an Eagle Scout. I served on (Boy Scouts) troop committee boards.
QUESTION 4: Are you familiar with the elements of the cooperative business model?
VANDIFORD: Yes.
QUESTION 5: How would you approach working with your fellow PEC directors to achieve collaboration and consensus?
VANDIFORD: I believe we were given two ears and one mouth for a reason. I endeavor to ask questions and to be an active listener, first. I will see to understand before seeking to be understood.
MILTON SCOTT POWELL
Powell is a retired division vice president of a Fortune 500 company, where he held full profit and loss responsibilities and managed energy sector projects with budgets up to $750 million. He lives in Horseshoe Bay and has been a PEC member for 14 years.
Powell graduated from the Texas A&M Maritime Academy with degrees in marine engineering and business administration and later earned a master’s degree in industrial safety from the University of Houston. He holds a U.S. Coast Guard Master Mariner’s License and has completed professional development programs at institutions such as Harvard Business School, University of St. Thomas, Massachusetts Maritime Academy, and Villanova School of Law.
Early in his career, Powell sailed tankers internationally. He later worked on disaster responses, infrastructure development, and well control in the Gulf of Mexico, Alaska, and the Arctic. He has experience in contract negotiation, regulatory compliance, safety management, and risk assessment. He has conducted infrastructure security reviews post-9/11 and developed related protocols.
Powell has published in trade journals and presented at international conferences. He has been recognized with honorary designations from the Texas Navy and the Naval Order of the United States. He is affiliated with the National Eagle Scout Association and supports the Sea Scouts program. Read his full bio here.
QUESTION 1: What makes PEC’s mission meaningful to you, and what interests you about serving on the PEC Board of Directors?
POWELL: With a career spanning over 45 years in the energy and energy transportation industries as a problem solver in senior management roles, I have the proven management skills and working within a board environment to represent the desires of the membership and help guide the co-op to deliver low-cost, reliable energy, while meeting safety and environmental considerations while making sure the PEC continues to improve as a leader in the electrical service provider industry.
QUESTION 2: What education, skills, strengths or life experiences do you have that would benefit PEC?
POWELL: Professional credentials include honest with integrity, good listener and respectful to all. Degrees in marine engineering and business administration. Master’s degree in industrial safety. Holds a highly respected United States Coast Guard master mariner’s license. Continuing professional development courses included The Harvard School of Business in Contract Negotiations, The University of St. Thomas in International Trade and Finance, MMA School of Environmental Studies environmental management program, and Villanova School of Law’s program in government contracts. The combination of engineering, business and management skills formed a solid basis for transition into corporate leadership and the management of interfaces with and expectations of major energy company clients as well as local, state and federal governmental entities. Major projects have required interactions with governmental agencies, working with mayors, governors, members of Congress and political appointees, all who had a stake in the success of multi-million dollar projects.
QUESTION 3: What other boards or committees have you served on or leadership positions have you held in the past?
POWELL:
President and chairman of the board—Texas Navy Association—1,250-member Association
Division vice president and general manager—Superior Energy/Wild Well Control a 1,000-man Division
Chairman—Bayside Technical Solutions and Engineering
10 years on Shell Oil international Safety Advisory Committee
7 years on EXXON Safety Advisory Committee
DOE Pipeline and Energy Threat Assessment and Protection review Subcommittee
QUESTION 4: Are you familiar with the elements of the cooperative business model?
POWELL: Yes.
QUESTION 5: How would you approach working with your fellow PEC directors to achieve collaboration and consensus?
POWELL: Each director is elected by the members from the district in which they reside for the purpose of representing their membership and the specific needs of their districts. The makeup of the districts varies from urban, suburban to rural, and understanding the differing needs of their district members is vital to use as a decision-making platform when collaborating within the collective board. To achieve consensus through collaboration involves being able to clearly represent your members’ needs in the decision-making process and finding the correct final answer that fits the PEC as a whole.
To learn more about the PEC Board of Directors District 5 election, contact 830-868-4967 or email election@peci.com.
CORRECTION: A previous version of this story said James Oakley chose not to run for re-election. Oakley has actually reached the limit of terms for a PEC director and cannot run again.DailyTrib.com apologizes for the error.
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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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The march of progress is unmistakable in Marble Falls, and four major projects are on their way to completion.
DailyTrib.com reached out to city officials for updates on The Ophelia Hotel and Conference Center, Flatrock Crossing shopping center, Thunder Rock sports complex, and renovations to the Bella Sera building on U.S. 281.
The Ophelia
The Ophelia Hotel and Conference Center in Marble Falls should be finished by October 2026 if everything goes according to plan. The project has been in the works since 2019, and despite major delays, construction is well underway. Staff photo by Dakota Morrissiey
The Ophelia Hotel and Conference Center has been in the works since 2019 but did not break ground until August 2024. A change in lenders prolonged any serious work for months, but as of Friday, June 6, major construction at 305 Buena Vista Drive is well underway.
“It’s mostly pre-foundation work, but we’re getting close to drilling the piers and having utilities on site,” Marble Falls Economic Development Corp. Executive Director Christian Fletcher told DailyTrib.com.
The five-story, 127-room hotel is scheduled for an October 2026 completion date if everything stays on track. It is being built just outside of Lakeside Park and overlooks Lake Marble Falls.
The public-private partnership between developers and the city of Marble Falls is expected to have a $200 million economic impact within the first 10 years of its completion.
Flatrock Crossing
These digital renderings show a rudimentary layout of the storefronts at the future Flatrock Crossing shopping center south of Marble Falls on U.S. 281. Courtesy images
A major retail center south of the U.S. 281 bridge in Marble Falls is still moving toward a spring/summer 2026 completion date.
“Flatrock Crossing is in the final stages of working with the city on some amendments to their development agreement,” Fletcher said.
Major site preparation for the 350,000-square-foot shopping plaza is already taking place, but substantial work like road cuts and land clearing are expected to begin in the next four to six weeks. The center is being built near the intersection of U.S. 281 and FM 2147 East near the 7-Eleven convenience store.
News of the retail center broke in April 2024. The $130 million project will bring dozens of new businesses to Marble Falls, including:
The last update on the outdoor mall was in October 2024 when the Marble Falls City Council approved several amendments to a development agreement allowing for larger-than-normal signage, taller light poles, adjustments to sidewalk requirements, and tweaks to required landscaping.
Thunder Rock sports complex
The 26-acre Thunder Rock sports complex should be finished by the fall of 2025. It will belong to the city of Marble Falls and be open to the public. Staff photo by Dakota Morrissiey
A 26-acre sports complex being built as part of the Thunder Rock housing and commercial development at Texas 71 and U.S. 281 south of the city should be finished by the fall of 2025, according to Marble Falls Parks and Recreation Director Lacey Dingman.
The complex will be city-owned and open to the public and hold four baseball fields, four soccer fields, restrooms, a concession stand, and large multi-purpose areas off of Flatrock Boulevard near the intersection of Centurion Parkway.
The project was announced in September 2020, fulfilling a decade-old wishlist item for city officials.
Bella Sera Italian restaurant
The Bella Sera building on U.S. 281 in Marble Falls is nearly finished after months of renovations. Staff photo by Dakota Morrissiey
While not a city project, renovations at Bella Sera at 1125 U.S. 281 North have been a consistent sight for drivers over the past few years.
The Italian restaurant has been operating out of a temporary location at 701 U.S. 281 North while its main building gets a major makeover.
According to Marble Falls Development Services Director Scarlet Moreno, the project is about 75 percent complete and expected to be finished by August or September of this year.
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A 19-year-old Marble Falls High School graduate was killed in a head-on collision with a large fuel truck on Texas 71 near CR 413 in Spicewood at around 2:30 p.m. Thursday, June 5.
According to a preliminary report by the Texas Department of Public Safety, Quincy Jette was driving a 2020 Subaru Outback eastbound on the wrong side of Texas 71 when his vehicle hit a westbound 2015 Peterbilt diesel tanker.
Jette was pronounced dead at the scene. The fuel truck driver received minor injuries.
“For an unknown reason, the Subaru was traveling on the wrong side of the road, resulting in a head-on collision,” according to the DPS report.
The accident resulted in a major traffic delay Thursday afternoon and evening, shutting down travel in both direction for hours.
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Llano Regional Hospital is in the throes of a currently costly operational change with the departure of service provider Mid Coast Health System. Since January, Llano County has set aside $750,000 to keep the facility at 200 W. Ollie St. running, with $300,000 of that allocated June 2 during the Commissioners Court meeting.
However, the county, which owns and now fully operates the hospital, is confident the situation will stabilize and the hospital will be self-sustaining in the near future.
“We feel good about the hospital long term. We’re going to be fine. These are just transitional costs,” said Pat McDowell, president of the Llano County Hospital Authority Board, which manages the hospital for the county. “I feel confident, and I feel excited about this.”
He told DailyTrib.com that more funding could be needed in the coming months but that the situation would be better by October or so.
“This money is to keep us going until we get the revenue stream flowing,” McDowell said. “We’re still going to be looking for support from the county, from the city, and the local trust.”
The authority board only recently gained access to hospital revenues after fully taking over operations and costs in April. Mid Coast maintained some level of involvement until separating fully on May 31. The parting of ways between the health care services provider and the county began in January amid disagreements about the cost-effectiveness of keeping the hospital running.
According to McDowell, the board also had to cover unforeseen penalties, bills, and costs left behind by Mid Coast that were only revealed when the county had full access to the accounts.
The Llano hospital has been reliant upon funding from other sources, including the county, which allocated $450,000 in January to the facility’s management when a separation from Mid Coast seemed inevitable.
“That hospital is very important to the city of Llano and the county of Llano,” Precinct 4 Commissioner Jerry Don Moss told DailyTrib.com. “The Hospital Authority Board just has some costs that they are trying to cover. (The hospital) will make its own money.”
Moss said the county is still putting together its 2025-26 budget, so it is too early to say if more funds will be dedicated to the hospital.
Of the $300,000 allocated by the Commissioners Court on Monday, $200,000 came from the county’s miscellaneous contingency fund and $100,000 from its election contingency fund.
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The Alliance of Business Leaders, or ABLe, officially launched June 2 to empower, elevate, encourage, and educate women across the Highland Lakes business community, according to the Marble Falls/Highland Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce. The group’s kickoff event is June 11.
ABLe is open to women from all industries and backgrounds, chamber members and non-members.
“This is more than a networking group—it’s a movement,” said Mitzi Birdsong, chair of ABLe’s board, in a media release about the group. “ABLe is here to create space for women to support one another, grow professionally, and strengthen our local economy through leadership and community.”
The group’s first networking event, “Wine, Women & Whiskey,” is Wednesday from 5-6:30 p.m. at Highpoint Insurance, 602 Steve Hawkins Parkway in Marble Falls. Expect heavy hors d’oeuvres, beverages, and a lively, welcoming environment for women to connect, collaborate, and learn more about the group’s upcoming programs and membership. Event registration is online.
Other upcoming gatherings include a networking event, a bingo/game night, and an Adopt a Charity event.
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The city of Marble Falls was the recipient of the 2025 Comprehensive Plan Award from the Texas Chapter-Central Section of the American Planning Association. The city is now nominated for the state award, which will be announced in October. The award acknowledges the high quality of the city’s 2024 comprehensive plan and the fact that Marble Falls leadership has followed through on it. City Manager Mike Hodge (left) poses alongside Director of Development Services Scarlet Moreno and city planners Hannah Kadow and Kristen Jones, who accepted the award on behalf of the city. Staff photo by Dakota Morrissiey
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Marble Falls is considering changing its solid waste pickup provider following a series of service hiccups by Waste Management.
The City Council discussed what a potential switch would look like during its regular meeting Tuesday, June 3. No firm decisions were made, but City Manager Mike Hodge and some council members expressed concern about consistent problems with Waste Management.
“My overall issue is that (the service) doesn’t seem to be getting better,” Hodge said during the meeting. “We told (Waste Management) during our internal meeting last week that we were talking about what to do as far as extending the contract.”
The city’s contract with the company is up at the end of September 2025.
According to a customer service report provided by Waste Management to the council, the company has averaged 17 missed pickups per month in 2025. This was disproportionately demonstrated in January with 30 missed pickups, which led to a public apology in February from Jason Kjar, Waste Management’s director of Collections and Operations for the Texoma region.
“I want to recognize our failure,” Kjar told the council during its Feb. 4 meeting. “Our service lately has not been up to your standards and ours either, and we take that seriously.”
Since then, reported missed pickups have been fewer, with five in March, 18 in April, and six in May.
“It is our goal to reach zero missed pickups per month,” said Waste Management representative Matt Myers during Tuesday night’s council meeting.
The issues go beyond missed pickups, according to city leaders.
“We do need to make sure that we’re competitive with our pricing and things like that,” Mayor John Packer said during the meeting. “More importantly, it’s the (customer) service side of things.”
Marble Falls residents pay a base fee of $26.86 per month for once-a-week curbside collections through Waste Management on a calendar schedule that can be found here. The price is about 27 percent higher than it was in 2022, rising $5.71 from $21.15 over that time period.
Customer service issues have been brought up since February’s meeting, when councilors noted that residents complained of not being able to contact Waste Management when a problem arose. These same sentiments were echoed during Tuesday’s meeting.
“The way it used to work, we could drive in (to the Waste Management office)—anyone—a citizen could go in, the gates were open, there was somebody in the office. We could have a conversation and get some things done,” City Manager Hodge said. “It’s not that way anymore.”
According to WM representative Myers, the gates of the company’s facility at 2101 Commerce St. will remain open from now on. DailyTrib.com saw open gates on Wednesday morning.
Myers also noted that the proper line of communication for a customer service complaint would be a resident calling Marble Falls Utilities, which would then contact Waste Management, which would then address the concern.
Residents may call Marble Falls Utilities at 830-693-3615.
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