Marble Falls Fire Rescue saw an 11 percent increase in call volume from 2023 to 2024, hired three new firefighters, and should have a new fire engine and renovated fire station in 2025.
According to department leadership, there’s likely no end in sight to the growth as long as Marble Falls continues to boom.
“It’s no secret that our area is growing, and so the result of that is that the number of incidents we respond to is increasing as well,” Capt. Jeff Beltran told the Marble Falls City Council during the fire department’s 2024 review on Tuesday, Jan. 7.
The department responded to 2,349 calls in 2024, which comes out to an average of 6.4 calls a day. According to Beltran, 20 percent of those calls were overlapping, meaning fire crews were being toned out multiple times simultaneously for one out of every five calls.
“We don’t see (the growth in call volume) stopping. We’re forecasting and projecting to see 2,500 calls a year in 2025,” he said. “We don’t see (the number of overlapping calls) slowing down either.”
The 2024 call volume is up 11 percent from 2023 (2,118 calls) and 18 percent from 2022 (1,997 calls). Call volume growth has actually outpaced population growth in Marble Falls, which rose 13 percent from 7,423 in 2022 to 8,395 in 2024, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.
To keep up with the current and projected growth, Marble Falls Fire Rescue brought on three new firefighters using a Department of Homeland Security grant.
The new hires have a collective 13 years’ experience and bring the department’s operational staff to 18, meaning each fire shift has one additional firefighter for a total of six per shift.
“In my opinion, this is one of the strongest hiring classes we’ve had in quite some time,” said Beltran, who has been with the department for nine years.
MFFR still leans on other local agencies, including the Marble Falls Volunteer Fire Department, Granite Shoals Fire Rescue, Horseshoe Bay Fire Department, and Burnet Fire & EMS, when calls overlap or during particularly critical situations.
One such instance occurred Jan. 8, when the Marble Falls department responded to a blaze on Bluebonnet Drive that severely damaged a duplex and displaced two families. Crews from the Granite Shoals and Horseshoe Bay departments helped battle the blaze.
“(Marble Falls) is a great supporter of the fire department, and we do our best to keep up with the amount of calls that are coming in,” Beltran told DailyTrib.com just hours before his crews responded to the duplex fire. “Fortunately, we have some great agencies around us so that, when we have a little bit more than we can handle, we can rely on them.”
In addition to the new staff, Marble Falls Fire Rescue should have another fire engine online by the end of March, bringing its total vehicle fleet to five. A major makeover of the main fire station, 700 Avenue N, should be done by the end of January.
A longer-term project is building a second fire station at the south city limits, which could be operational by late 2026 or early 2027.
“Thank you for your continued support,” said Beltran, addressing Marble Falls residents. “We’re doing the best we can to keep you safe and make you feel that we’re always around.”
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Austin-based Asphalt Inc. LLC submitted a new permit application Jan. 2 to the Lower Colorado River Authority for approval to build a rock quarry just south of the Burnet city limits.
The application is under review for potential impact to water quality in the Highland Lakes area. A public comment period is open until Feb. 7, 2025.
The LCRA, established in 1934, is responsible for managing the lower Colorado River, producing electricity, providing water supply services, and protecting water quality within the Highland Lakes and the lower Colorado River watershed.
The Asphalt Inc. application has been deemed administratively complete, and a technical review is underway. As part of its review, the LCRA will evaluate whether the company’s proposal meets the Highland Lakes Watershed Ordinance requirements. This includes evaluating stormwater management plans, erosion and sediment control measures, and groundwater protection strategies. During the review, the LCRA will only consider water quality issues laid out in the ordinance.
The public may provide input on Asphalt Inc.’s permit application online, by mail, or in person. Comments may be mailed to Mail Stop L106, P.O. Box 220, Austin, TX 78767, or delivered in person to 3700 Lake Austin Blvd. in Austin. Submitted comments will be considered part of the review process.
For more information about the LCRA permit application review process, contact the authority’s Water Quality Protection at 512-578-7500 or hlwo@Icra.org.
ROCK CRUSHER BACKLASH
The proposed site at 3221 FM 3509 has sparked public protest due to its proximity to Camp Longhorn, Longhorn Cavern State Park, and Inks Lake State Park. Asphalt Inc. submitted an air-quality permit application (#176835) to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality in August. It remains active and has received over 4,000 public comments. Around 100 people spoke out against the quarry during a Dec. 10 TCEQ meeting held in Burnet.
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Workforce Solutions Rural Capital Area opened a new office in Llano on Tuesday, Jan. 7, bringing a suite of job training programs and resources for job seekers and employers in the city and the rest of Llano County.
WSRCA is a nonprofit organization dedicated to bridging the gap between the needs of employers and the workforces of communities surrounding Travis County with an overall mission of developing economic prosperity in the region.
The new WSRCA office, located at 102 W. Dallas St., Suite F, in Llano, will offer career development services, training programs, guidance for veterans in the local job market, and more depending on the unique needs of Llano County.
“This new workforce office in Llano County will serve as a valuable resource for both employers and job seekers,” wrote Paul Fletcher, CEO of Workforce Solutions Rural Capital Area, in a Jan. 7 media release. “We encourage the community to visit the office to learn more about the available services.”
Workforce Solutions-RCA has already made significant contributions to the development of Highland Lakes-area workforces. The organization is in the midst of dispersing $12 million in grant money across its nine-county coverage area, and $4 million of that has gone toward the training of 325 adults in high-demand jobs across Burnet, Llano, and Blanco counties.
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The Marble Falls City Council on Jan. 7 shot down a proposed rate increase from natural gas provider ATMOS Energy. ATMOS will likely appeal the rejection. The company seeks to raise $16.73 million from customers across its Mid-Tex division, which includes Marble Falls and Burnet.
ATMOS’ proposal would have raised average monthly rates for residential users in Marble Falls by 9.41 percent from $84.03 a month to $91.94 a month. The council unanimously passed a resolution that rejected the hike during its Tuesday night meeting.
“ATMOS Energy has not done, in the near past, a lot of upgrades in our community,” Mayor Dave Rhodes said prior to the council’s vote. “I think we’re being asked to pay for capital improvements on a larger scale.”
City staff and legal counsel from Herrera Law & Associates PLLC, which represents a large coalition of cities within ATMOS’ Mid-Tex division, recommended rejecting the rate increase because the company’s application “fails to show that its rates are just and reasonable.”
The natural gas provider submitted an application for the proposed increase on Dec. 16 with the Texas Railroad Commission.
The Mid-Tex division is large, extending from San Angelo in the western portion of the state to Corsicana on the eastern side. In total, the division is made up of 46 towns collectively referred to as “ATM Cities.”
According to Herrera Law & Associates, which represents those cities when it comes to rate changes, ATMOS will likely appeal the rejection of its proposed rate and the matter will be addressed again before April 20.
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The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department is in the process of acquiring thousands of acres of land to add to iconic Hill Country state parks and natural areas, including Enchanted Rock and Colorado Bend in the Highland Lakes area.
The Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission also plans another land purchase near Colorado Bend State Park, located in Burnet and Lampasas counties, a decision on which the public can offer feedback leading up to the commission’s Jan. 22 meeting.
and a whole new state park might be formed with 1,721 acres along the Frio River near Garner State Park.
The commission is also considering buying an additional 1,100 acres near Colorado Bend. With the previously approved purchase and this proposed one, the state park would expand by 58 percent from its current 5,300 acres to 8,420 acres. The park is known for Gorman Falls, spring-fed pools, ample hiking trails, scenic vistas, access to a wild stretch of the Colorado River, and extensive cave systems.
Texas residents can comment online on the latest proposed land purchase for Colorado Bend until 5 p.m. Jan. 22.
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Llano County and Mid Coast Health System are on the verge of a “mutual separation” for the contracted management of Llano Hospital due to the reportedly unsustainable financial situation of operating the facility under its current business model. County officials are determined to keep the hospital open and functional during the coming transition and beyond.
The impending separation was discussed during a special meeting of the Llano County Commissioners Court on Monday, Jan. 6. County Judge Ron Cunningham announced the county was in the midst of working with government consultants to find the best path forward to keep Llano Hospital operational in the absence of Mid Coast.
“We’re doing everything that we can to keep the hospital open,” Cunningham said during the meeting. “The hospital is open, the hospital has not closed; however, the hospital, like all rural hospitals, faces financial challenges.”
The county might continue operating the facility as an acute care hospital, which provides a broad range of services and is dependent upon reimbursements from the federal government for Medicaid patients. Or, it might pursue a Rural Emergency Hospital designation focused on 24-hour emergency care, which would open the door for federal grants and funding.
Llano County owns the hospital and contracts with Mid Coast Health System to operate the facility, which is also known as Mid Coast Medical Center-Central.
Mid Coast paid the county $150,000 a year to lease the hospital and manage it. The county and health system began working together in January 2021 after Baylor Scott & White ceased its management of Llano Hospital the previous December.
According to Mid Coast Health System CEO Brett Kirkham, operating Llano Hospital is no longer financially viable without significant contributions from local, state, or federal government.
“We’ve enjoyed our time (in Llano County), but the challenges facing that region, the state, and nation are just too much, and without local support of some kind, it is not sustainable,” he told DailyTrib.com.
Kirkham said Mid Coast saw a 50 percent drop in patients at the hospital between 2023 and 2024, and the health system reportedly subsidized the facility and three Mid Coast clinics in the area with $3 million in 2024.
Llano County and Mid Coast have been discussing the hospital’s financial viability since at least June 2024, according to Kirkham, who said the county was notified that Mid Coast could no longer afford to operate the hospital without some sort of financial contributions.
According to Judge Cunningham, the county has been open to helping fund the hospital but wanted to see where that money would go before committing.
“We understand that there is money needed to go to the hospital—we get that—but my whole thing with Mid Coast is let’s come to an agreement with what the future of the hospital is,” he told DailyTrib.com.
Llano County held an emergency meeting in November to set aside potential funds for hospital operations and budget for attorney’s fees to negotiate with Mid Coast on keeping the hospital open.
Kirkham told DailyTrib.com that Mid Coast shared data and finances with the county, but communication between the organizations had hit a wall.
“We’re doing everything we can to keep the hospital open, but we have to have trust and we are at the point of mutual separation,” he said.
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Retro gaming is making a comeback in Burnet. Itsy-Bit Arcade holds a grand opening on Jan. 17 at 1201 E. Polk St. The family-friendly micro-arcade with snack bar lets gamers reconnect with the joy of in-person play.
Owners Mandy and Blake Lowry of Burnet drew on their 15-plus years of experience in the gaming industry to create a unique space for the community. Plans include hosting family game nights and role-playing game sessions.
The 600-square-foot arcade features a curated selection of retro games, including classic pinball machines and multiplayer games—all set to free play. Gamers just pay for an hour or all-day pass.
“We’ve designed Itsy-Bit Arcade to be more than just a place to play games,” Mandy Lowry said. “It’s about creating a community space where families and friends can come together and make memories.”
Handmade gamer gifts are available for purchase, including beaded keychains created by the Lowrys’ 10-year-old son, Joel.
Itsy-Bit Arcade officially opens Friday with special perks and giveways to mark the occasion. Weekend hours are 3-9 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 3-6 p.m. Sunday. Friday features a Pizza Happy Hour from 5-7 p.m.
Gamers choose from two play passes:
Fast Pass—One hour of play currently priced between $5 and $7.
All-Day Pass—Unlimited play for the day ranging from $10 to $12 and including a small drink and snack bar item.
Prices are subject to change in the future.
BEYOND THE GAMES
Itsy-Bit Arcade also serves as home base for Code Monkeys, the Lowrys’ nonprofit initiative that teaches children coding, game design, and animation through workshops and camps.
“We wanted to create a space that blends fun with learning,” Mandy Lowry said. “Itsy-Bit Arcade is more than a gaming lounge; it’s a hub for creativity and connection.”
Learn more about Itsy-Bit Arcade and stay updated on events on its Facebook page.
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A training session on government open records is Friday, Jan. 10, from 9 a.m. to noon in the main courtroom of the Burnet County Courthouse, 220 S. Pierce St. in Burnet. Staff from the Texas Attorney General’s Office will go over the rules and processes related to public information and answer questions from attendees.
The free session is open to the public.
“This training provides a valuable refresher for our (Burnet County government) departments and a unique opportunity for the public to understand the rules, expectations, and limitations of open records requests,” First Assistant County Attorney Colleen Davis told DailyTrib.com.
In Texas, government bodies are required by law to respond to or fulfill requests for public information within 10 business days. The full open records policy and its intricacies are outlined in Chapter 552 of the Texas Government Code.
Burnet County requested the training due to a recent increase in open records requests.
“It’s all about fostering transparency and ensuring everyone understands the rules and processes we follow in county government,” Davis said.
With winter weather expected toward the end of the week, organizers will assess road conditions before the event and offer updates on the county website if rescheduling is necessary. For more information, call the Burnet County Attorney’s Office at 512-756-5476.
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Septic haulers might have to raise their prices to keep up with a 300-plus-percent increase in septic intake rates from the Kingsland Municipal Utility District. The utility district’s Board of Directors voted in October 2024 to increase its septic intake rate from 8.25 cents per gallon to 25 cents per gallon. The new rate kicked in on Jan. 1.
“We don’t know exactly how it’s going to impact us,” Gary Kinard, owner of Kindard’s Plumbing and Septic in Kingsland, told DailyTrib.com. “What are we going to do? How are we going to overcome this?”
KMUD is building a $14.8 million septic processing facility to replace its aging system. The new facility is expected to go into operation in late 2026 or early 2027.
The KMUD facility is the primary disposal site for the Highland Lakes septic tanks and is heavily used by local septic haulers serving homes and businesses not on a wastewater system. Recreational vehicles and property owners with the ability to pump and transport their own septic waste use the facility to a lesser extent.
“Nobody likes a rate increase, but we had to do this to justify the new facility,” KMUD General Manager J. Horry told DailyTrib.com following the rate hike.
Most KMUD customers use the district’s wastewater system rather than septic, Horry said.
“To justify building and operating (the new septic facility), we had to have a rate increase,” he said. “It’s not fair to the taxpayers to raise tax rates when they aren’t utilizing the service.”
KMUD’s septic drop-off rate has been 8.25 cents since 2008. The increase was overdue, according to Horry, and recommended by engineers working on the design for the new facility.
Cody Young, owner of Septic and Maintenance by Cody Young in Kingsland, said his company is likely the largest user of KMUD’s septic intake services, with 35 employees hauling across the Highland Lakes area. He estimates his current rate of $375 for pumping out a standard home’s septic system (a 750-gallon tank) will have to rise to about $550.
“We’re all going to have to go up,” Young said. “The sad part is the only person it is really going to affect is the customer.”
KMUD is the primary provider of septic intake services in the area. The city of Marble Falls takes in a small amount, 10,000 to 15,000 gallons a day, at a rate of 10 cents per gallon. The other option is hauling waste to Austin.
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