Marble Falls is strongly considering a partnership with the Hill Country Humane Society to solve its stray animal problem. The city could save dollars through the deal and provide higher-quality care for stray dogs and cats. The partnership could also strengthen a federal funding request from HCHS to build a regional facility for all of the Highland Lakes.
While no hard decision was made on an official partnership, the Marble Falls City Council directed city staff during a special workshop Tuesday, Oct. 15, to move forward on negotiations and the necessary work to make the deal happen.
The topic has been discussed among Marble Falls leaders for months due to the struggles of maintaining adequate care and conditions for stray animals in the city shelter. The small Animal Control facility is barebones, run by one beleaguered Animal Control officer and almost entirely dependent on volunteer work and donations.
If everything goes according to plan, Marble Falls would send an estimated 125-160 animals to Hill Country Humane Society a year at a rate of $250 per intake, which amounts to about $30,000 to $40,000 annually. A partnership with the Humane Society, 9150 RR 1431 in Buchanan Dam, would also require an upfront investment of $80,000 to $100,000 to build additional kennels to house the extra animals.
According to Marble Falls Assistant Police Chief Trisha Ratliff, the costs of working with the HCHS are actually less in the long run than improving the current Animal Control facility, hiring more staff, and providing the same level of treatment for the animals.
“If we were to sign an interlocal agreement with the Humane Society, it would completely negate the need for a kennel tech position and likely any additions to the current animal services budget as it is,” Ratliff told the council during a thorough presentation on the subject at the Tuesday workshop.
Ratliff estimated it would cost $20,000 a year to hire a part-time kennel technician to help care for the animals at the city shelter. It would also take about $96,000 to upgrade the facility and increase animal care standards.
The above costs do not include what it would take to spay/neuter, vaccinate, and properly feed intake animals, which the Hill Country Humane Society would take care of through a partnership with the city.
“I think the best way I could describe (the Marble Falls Animal Control facility) is it’s a jail, it really is,” MFPD Chief Glenn Hanson told the City Council. “We take an animal off the streets, we house them, we feed them, we water them, and that’s about it.”
Councilor Griff Morris gave his unabashed support for a partnership with the HCHS and his appreciation for the volunteers who help run the city shelter.
“I am entirely for this (partnership),” he said.
According to Assistant Chief Ratliff, volunteers contributed about 1,000 hours of work to Marble Falls Animal Control in the 2023-24 fiscal year.
As it stands, Marble Falls has one full-time Animal Control officer to handle roughly 1,700 annual calls for service, 195 of which are for animal intakes. Ratliff said this leaves little time for actual animal care, which is where volunteers pick up the slack.
According to volunteer coordinator Mary Jo Callaway, only about 10 consistent volunteers are handling the workload, which is primarily cleaning up after the animals and providing basic necessities.
“(Callaway) has done an incredible amount of work,” Councilor Morris said. “She hasn’t quit when a lot of other people did. I just want to say thank you.”
REGIONAL FACILITY
Ratliff said a city partnership with the Hill Country Humane Society would allow the nonprofit animal rescue to apply for federal grant money through the office of U.S. Rep. John Carter. That money could be used to build a larger facility in a more centralized location that would serve the entirety of the Highland Lakes.
Currently, Marble Falls is the only major local government in the region that does not partner with the HCHS for animal intake services. Once a partnership is in place, Marble Falls can lend a letter of support in the Humane Society’s application for grant funding, which could significantly bolster its request.
“As the last holdout, we are sort of the stop gap between the regional facilities that you have all heard talked about (and grant funding),” Ratliff said.
Hill Country Humane Society Executive Director Paighton Corley spoke up during the Marble Falls workshop and lent her support for a partnership with the city, especially in regards to the possibility of obtaining grant funding for a regional facility.
“We really strive to be more than just a shelter,” she said.
No solid timelines or numbers were presented on when construction would begin or where the regional facility would be, but volunteer coordinator Callaway told DailyTrib.com it could be two years from the time that grant funding is obtained.
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The Knot Hole celebrated its 20th anniversary in Burnet on Thursday, Oct. 17. The vendor-based antiques/vintage shop, 608 S. Water St., marked the milestone with a ribbon-cutting hosted by the Burnet Chamber of Commerce.
Owner Sherry Bitzkie founded the business, originally in a small building in Blanco, over 28 years ago with her mother and aunt.
After her mother passed away, Bitzkie moved the store to its current 18,000-square-foot location in Burnet, keeping the original “Knot Hole” name in memory of her mother.
Bitzkie said the name refers to the old, knotty wood in the Blanco location that gave the store a country charm.
“I’m very thankful that the business keeps going, and I have a lot of good vendors, and I have a lot of good helpers and loyal customers. And I couldn’t do it without any of them,” Bitzkie said.
The Knot Hole houses around 158 vendor booths, many of which have been there since the early days.
“We try really hard to keep our prices reasonable for customers,” Bitzkie said. “I don’t want garage sale items, but quality vintage and antique pieces that our regulars will love.”
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Cottonwood Shores, the recently rebranded “City on Two Lakes,” now has a new logo to go with its updated nickname. Leaders say the upgrades better represent the Highland Lakes city and could help draw visitors.
The City Council picked “The City on Two Lakes” slogan in early spring. It refers to Cottonwood Shores’ unique position between Lake Marble Falls and Lake LBJ. Letters were then sent out to residents requesting logo design submissions through June. Nine were received, and residents voted on their favorites in September.
The top three designs were brought before the council, which chose the winning entry.
“(The design) is simple, it incorporated the theme, and it just fit the bill for everything that the council was looking for,” City Administrator J.C. Hughes told DailyTrib.com.
The winning designer is Cottonwood Shores resident Mason Demarest, who runs a glass repair business in town.
Hughes said it was time to update the city’s logo and slogan as he felt the old logo was outdated and too similar to the seals of other cities, including Meadowlakes, which also features a large, simple tree.
He added that Cottonwood Shores doesn’t actually have any cottonwood trees, but it does have city limits touching two of the iconic Highland Lakes.
“We’re happy and excited about the new logo,” he said.
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Llano County commissioners approved participation in Operation Green Light for Veterans for a second year, promising to light the courthouse in green throughout November to raise awareness of veterans issues, including mental health and suicide risk.
The National Association of Counties program calls upon local governments across the United States to light buildings in green starting Nov. 4 and ending on Nov. 11, which is Veterans Day.
Llano County is also asking businesses and residents to participate, if possible, by lighting buildings and homes in green.
“(Operation Green Light) is such an easy way to remind (veterans) that we are thinking about them, and if they need some type of assistance, it’s available,” Llano County Judge Ron Cunningham said during the Commissioners Court meeting on Tuesday, Oct. 15.
County Treasurer Cheryl Regmund pitched the idea to participate in the progam to commissioners in 2023 as well as this year.
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A major retail center planned for south Marble Falls could be open to shoppers by March 2026, according to its developer. The Marble Falls City Council approved a series of exceptions and amendments for The Shops at Flatrock Crossing during its Oct. 15 meeting.
Plans for the shopping center were made public in April. The $130 million, 350,000-square-foot retail center is being built along U.S. 281 between a 7/11 convenience store and the Charley Taylor Rodeo Arena.
Tenants that were previously speculated, including Academy, Ulta Beauty, Boot Barn, Michaels, and T.J. Maxx, are now confirmed, according to developer Bob Berryhill of Empirita Development Co., who is handling the massive project.
When complete, The Shops at Flatrock Crossing should have about 34 major storefronts/restaurants along with an estimated 1,500 parking spaces.
The Marble Falls City Council approved an array of amendments to the planned development district that was created to manage the Flatrock Crossing project and the Roper Ranch residential development attached to it.
Roper Ranch will have hundreds of homes, apartments, and another retail center, all located on land northeast of Flatrock Crossing, between U.S. 281 and FM 2147 East. According to the latest plans reviewed by the city, development will take place in five phases, with completion dates scattered between 2026 and 2035.
The amendments approved by the council on Tuesday were from among several favorable recommendations made by the Marble Falls Planning and Zoning Commission, including allowing larger-than-normal signage, taller light poles, and adjustments to sidewalk requirements.
The Planning and Zoning Commission did differ with the developer on one thing: the requirement of canopy trees in the shopping center’s parking lot.
The previous planned development district policy stated that each parking row should have a landscaped island with at least one large shade tree. The developer asked that this requirement be waived because the trees would limit storefront visibility. The trees will still be planted but on different portions of the property.
“We’re fine with the number of trees that are required by city code. We just would like to have them out of the center parking area,” Berryhill told the Marble Falls council on Tuesday. “Retailers are having some major angst and issues (about potential visibility issues with the trees).”
The Planning and Zoning Commission had recommended that 28 percent of the parking islands still have shade trees, but the City Council decided against that and granted the developer’s request to remove all large shade trees from the parking lot.
Adequate landscaping and smaller trees/shrubs are still necessary to fulfill the agreement between the city and the developer.
“We want to make an impression. We don’t want a sea of asphalt,” Councilor Richard Westerman said.
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The Central Texas Groundwater Conservation District has a new water law attorney to help guide policy development and negotiations with landowners. Ty Embrey of Lloyd Gosselink will take over Nov. 1 for Bill Dugat, who is retiring as the district’s attorney after six years.
The district regulates Burnet County groundwater and wells to ensure a sustainable, quality, and cost-effective water supply for residents. With that mission, it needs a water law attorney to advise its Board of Directors on regulatory matters, including permitting, human resources, and elections.
The attorney is present at every district board meeting.
“I like having legal representation (at meetings),” board President Ryan Rowney told DailyTrib.com. “In the past, we’ve had several issues that come up that require Texas water law knowledge. Even though we have a great set of board members, none of us are experts in water law. It also helps us to keep up with rapid growth (in Burnet County). Water law is a complex issue, like anything, so we just need that expertise.”
Embrey brings a wealth of experience in environmental law and governmental relations to the district. Since joining Lloyd Gosselink in 2003, he has represented a wide range of clients in areas related to groundwater, water, and sewer utility service, surface water, and water resource planning.
“I look forward to the opportunity to work with everyone,” Embrey said about his new job. “It’s a great community, and I’m eager to help continue the important work that Bill has done for many years.”
Rowney reflected on the role the retiring Dugat has played during his years with the Central Texas Groundwater Conservation District.
“He’s been that steady hand for us and helped us deal with various issues. He has 35 to 40 years of water law experience. Plus, he represents a lot of other water districts in the state, so he can provide added oversight,” Rowney said. “We’re going to miss him, but he’s retiring, so we’re happy for him.”
As Dugat bid farewell, he praised the GCD board and General Manager Mitchell Sodek.
“It’s a highly professional board. They’re well-prepared and educated on the subject matter, and they take their job seriously to protect the groundwater and their constituents,” Dugat said. “And Mitchell is bright, young, and proactive. It’s been an honor to work with all of them.”
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The Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization is seeking public feedback on its 2050 regional transportation plan, which will ultimately dictate the future of travel in Burnet, Travis, Williamson, Hays, and Bastrop counties.
CAMPO released an online survey on Oct. 10 for residents within its coverage area to help develop its 2050 plan. The survey is open through Dec. 9. Another one will be released in early 2025 to gain further insight from the public.
CAMPO is responsible for planning transportation infrastructure in the counties surrounding Austin. The 2050 plan will assess the region’s needs, forecast funding, and identify projects and programs to implement in the coming decades.
“Ever think about ways to make it easier to get around our region?” asks the organization in a briefing on the 2050 plan. “CAMPO wants to hear your thoughts. Your participation and input are key in determining preferences and priorities for the 2050 Regional Transportation Plan.”
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A June 2024 email exchange between Burnet County Judge James Oakley and international accounting firm Baker Tilly shows the judge’s heavy involvement in a forensic audit of the Sheriff’s Office. The audit was ordered following an allegation of payroll fraud. A selection of those emails, acquired through a public information request from a county resident, were read aloud during public comments at the Burnet County Commissioners Court meeting on Tuesday, Oct. 8.
Baker Tilly was contracted for $20,000 by a unanimous vote of the Commissioners Court in September 2023 to conduct an unbiased, third-party forensic audit of the Burnet County Sheriff’s Office’s payroll records. The audit results, which Oakley presented in August 2024, showed questionable labeling of overtime hours but no definitive proof of payroll fraud.
The email correspondence between Oakley and Baker Tilly representatives reveals the judge had requested certain details be excluded from the final version of the audit report, such as background information and specific comments from Sheriff’s Office management.
Oakley also seemingly directed Baker Tilly to limit its interviews to specific individuals and provided his own questions to be asked.
The judge asserts he did not attempt to influence the investigation but rather kept the accounting firm focused on the contracted scope of work.
The investigation into alleged payroll fraud by the Burnet County Sheriff’s Office has been hotly debated in the Commissioners Court for over a year.
The specific allegation is that certain BCSO employees were paid overtime hours that weren’t actually worked as an incentive to serve as training officers for new staff. Oakley has repeatedly stated in public meetings that the allegation came from an anonymous “whistleblower” who was a former employee of the Sheriff’s Office
The matter escalated on Sept. 24 when 33rd/424th Judicial District District Attorney Wiley “Sonny” McAfee gave a presentation on his office’s investigation into alleged payroll fraud that found no wrongdoing.
The email exchanges between Judge Oakley and Baker Tilly shared during the Commissioner Court’s Tuesday meeting came from a public information request made by Burnet County resident Claire Nybro in July. The PIR’s fulfillment was delayed for months due to initial exemptions made by the county that were later overturned by the Texas Attorney General’s Office. Nybro and other residents read aloud from the 122-page email chain during the meeting’s public comment portion.
Claire Nybro reads aloud emails between Burnet County Judge James Oakley and accounting firm Baker Tilly during the Oct. 8 Commissioners Court meeting. Staff photo by Elizabeth De Los Santos
DailyTrib.com has made the entire email exchange available online. The content of this article refers mostly to pages 87-122.
EXCERPTS FROM OAKLEY’S EMAILS TO BAKER TILLY
“The (Baker Tilly) team did not contact everyone they were instructed to contact,” reads a June 13, 2024, email from Oakley to Baker Tilly representative Paul Nash. “The report only documents rhetoric from the Sheriff and Chief Deputy. Please Remove. The Sheriff was not asked the questions (Baker Tilly) team was directed to ask.”
“The report should not include any perceptions of an investigation by the (district attorney),” Oakley continued.
“About the only good part of the draft report is it illustrates the number of instances of FTO & CTO was used in the time sheet edits. It does not show that the time added to the entry was added by a supervisor later and not part of the original entry,” the judge wrote.
Oakley was referring to field training officer (FTO) and communications training officer (CTO). The Baker Tilly report showed the FTO and CTO labels were used 957 times collectively, but nothing more.
Nash responded to Oakley in an email on June 27, 2024, addressing some of the judge’s concerns:
“As a general observation, I have to reiterate the assumptions we set out in the original engagement letter … which states that delivery of our scope of work is reliant on: your internal investigation and data analysis being performed using a data set for which completeness, accuracy, and integrity have been validated,” Nash wrote. “Unfortunately, the internal investigations and data analysis did not meet the aforementioned threshold.”
OAKLEY’S RESPONSES TO DAILYTRIB.COM
When asked by DailyTrib.com to respond to the contents of the emails, Judge Oakley said his involvement was necessary to ensure the Sheriff’s Office audit focused on key issues and provided accurate findings to support any potential legal action.
In his correspondence with Baker Tilly, Oakley initially requested that several people be interviewed, then that only Sheriff Boyd be interviewed, and then that Sheriff Calvin Boyd’s and Chief Deputy Alan Trevino’s responses be omitted from the final report.
“The purpose of the report was to confirm or deny the allegations and then serve as a basis for the county attorney to take the next steps,” he said.
Regarding his request to remove the responses from Baker Tilly’s interviews with Sheriff Boyd and Chief Deputy Trevino, Oakley said he felt the report was unbalanced.
“There were a lot of people asked to be interviewed, so why only include that? I think it’s inappropriate because it’s not balanced. You need a quote from more than one person,” he told DailyTrib.com.
He also added that his reason for previously requesting the interviews be limited to the sheriff was due to budget constraints. The county approved a $20,000 budget for the audit, which was eaten up in Baker Tilly’s 11-month-long process.
“They were running into cost overruns interviewing multiple people. Just go ahead and interview the sheriff just for efficiency’s sake,” Oakley said.
The judge also told DailyTrib.com that he asked Baker Tilly to ignore the district attorney’s investigation because “any discussions with the DA is not within their scope or services, within the payroll records. We’re not paying (Baker Tilly) to be talking with the DA (about the office’s investigation) since they were doing something completely independent.”
When asked why he requested the removal of Baker Tilly’s recommendations, Oakley said they were not important to the audit.
“In the draft report, the recommendations were all for upsell—they wanted to engage further for more fees. I had no interest in that, and it wasn’t relevant to the scope of work they were hired to do,” he said.
The judge emphasized that his input on the report’s scope was not an attempt to interfere with the audit’s independence but rather to clarify what information was necessary for the investigation.
“The scope of their services included drafts and reviews. That’s well within our right to do that,” he said. “It wasn’t about steering or altering anything, but I felt like the quotes provided in the draft were not relevant to the questions agreed upon.”
COMMISSIONERS’ RESPONSES
Burnet County commissioners had mixed responses when asked by DailyTrib.com about the email exchanges. One said Baker Tilly should have been left to complete the audit without outside input, another supported Judge Oakley’s involvement, and a third expressed regret over voting in favor of the audit.
Precinct 1 Commissioner Jim Luther, who was included in some of the email correspondence, pointed out his lack of involvement in the exchange and expressed frustration over how long the audit took.
“Those emails were just to provide a status update. I was not the original recipient, nor did I respond to the emails,” he told DailyTrib.com. “My biggest question through the whole thing was why was it taking so long.”
Luther did say the auditors should have completed their work independently.
“Baker Tilly should have completed their investigation without outside input, other than where to find the information in records,” he said.
Precinct 2 Commissioner Damon Beierle voiced regret about supporting the audit in the first place.
“Voting for this audit was a huge mistake. I wish I could take it back. It was a huge waste of taxpayer money, and I owe everyone an apology,” he said.
Beierle added that the Commissioners Court should have listened to Sheriff Boyd’s plea at the Sept. 26 meeting.
“Sheriff Boyd told us in court that, if we went ahead with the audit, we would find out what we already knew, and that is the amount of overtime worked by training officers. He was right. Baker Tilly confirmed the amount of hours logged into our system.”
Due to the Texas Open Records Act, only two members of the Commissioners Court could be involved in the email correspondence. Aside from Luther, commissioners did not receive audit progress updates.
Beierle criticized the lack of status reports.
“The best way to send updates would have been during a public meeting,” he said. “Status reports should have been given throughout the process.”
He was also critical of Oakley’s involvement in the auditing process.
“The attempts by the county judge to manipulate the report and its findings is an embarrassment to the Commissioners Court,” Beierle said. “The whole point of an outside audit is to get a third-party point of view without injecting your own narrative.”
The lack of updates was not an issue for Precinct 3 Commissioner Billy Wall.
“Everybody likes to know as much as they can, but it’s just like going into executive session—there’s a need-to-know basis. Only certain people can know until things get nailed down, and nobody else could truly know about it,” he said.
Wall said Oakley’s involvement in the forensic audit was necessary
“I was on the outside looking in just like all the constituents,” he told DailyTrib.com. “The judge did what he felt like he needed to do.”
Precinct 4 Commissioner Joe Don Dockery had no comment.
“At this point in time, I feel like it still needs to be looked into. The taxpayers need to be taken care of no matter what,” Wall said.
Beierle had a different opinion.
“The DA indicated he had a few more interviews to conduct, once he wraps his final report, then we can go from there. But it seems this matter can be put behind us,” he said.
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