Burnet County elected officials are struggling over how much their raises should be in the 2025 budget. Legal public notices will announce proposed maximum pay increases of $20,000 a year each for all 18 elected officials, but that most likely will not be the final number, they say. Disputes over pay equality during a special meeting of the Commissioners Court on Wednesday, Aug. 7, delayed a final decision. 

The proposed $20,000 raise represents the highest possible salary increase elected officials can receive in the 2025 budget. The Commissioners Court is required to publicly publish maximum possible raises for all elected officials at least 10 days before a budget hearing. A public hearing is expected to be set for the future during the 9 a.m. Aug. 13 meeting of the Commissioners Court at the Burnet County Courthouse, 220 S. Pierce St. in Burnet. 

After the public hearing, the court will vote on what the actual raises will be for elected officials and all Burnet County employees.

The proposed pay increase for county employees was originally around 6 percent. The proposed raises for all elected officials were set at different levels.

That initial set of salary maximums, which was proposed by Burnet County Judge James Oakley, was presented to the court on July 23. Commissioners voted unanimously to approve those figures for publication in the local paper of record, as required by law. An analysis of these salary changes can be found in the July 26 DailyTrib.com story “Burnet County eyes big raises for electeds and employees.”

Officials protested the proposed raises, and Oakley subsequently presented a new set of higher numbers on Aug. 7. Oakley is tasked with preparing the budget each year.

Following a heated discussion over the new numbers, commissioners decided to rescind Oakley’s initial proposal and advertise raises for elected officials at $20,000 a year each.

Oakley said he made the changes to take into consideration a request by the Burnet County Sheriff’s Office for a larger salary increase using state funds received from Texas Senate Bill 22, which awarded money to rural law enforcement agencies across the state. 

“Subsequent to our vote last time (July 23), we became aware that there were some Senate Bill 22 funds that would go to an increase for the Sheriff’s Office, and there were some other requests that came in,” Oakley said. “Generally speaking, the sheriff, the county judge, and the county attorney are all at the same level.”

The original proposal gave the sheriff a 6.19 percent raise, adding $6,634 a year and bringing the salary up from $105,159 to $111,553. The money from SB22 brings that number up to $122,416, a 16.41 percent increase.

With the new increase for the sheriff, Judge Oakley also upped the proposed salaries of the county judge and the county attorney to make them comparable. The judge’s proposed salary would increase from $106,841 to $124,251; the county attorney’s from $114,599 to $133,274.

Other elected officials questioned Oakley’s methods for setting the raises and asked him to advertise the maximum $20,000-a-year amount so Burnet County could meet the legal deadline for placing the ad. Officials can then use the time between publication date and the next regular meeting on Aug. 13 to explore other options.

“If these numbers don’t matter, put a cap on them at $20,000, let the public come to Commissioners Court, and let us discuss it in open court,” said District Clerk Casie Walker.

Another issue came up when Burnet County Precinct 2 Justice of the Peace Lisa Whitehead pointed out that the four JPs should receive equal base pay to county commissioners in addition to a proposed $6,000 travel allowance for using their own vehicles on the job. Under the current rules, the travel allowance is lumped in with their salary. 

Burnet County commissioners are given a county-owned work truck to use on the job and a gas card to cover fuel expenses.

“We are not looking to get a huge raise in our salary,” Whitehead told DailyTrib.com following the meeting. “We want things to be fair across the board. There are some who get a huge increase, and there are others that get a tiny little tidbit.”

Precinct 3 Commissioner Billy Wall, whose term expires at the end of the year, backed up Walker’s proposal and moved to set the $20,000 maximum in the public notice with the intention of finding the true raises when the budget is actually voted on in two weeks. Precinct 1 Commissioner Jim Luther seconded his motion, and the court, sans Precinct 2 Commissioner Damon Beierle, who was absent, voted in favor of the motion.

Following the meeting, DailyTrib.com asked Oakley how he came to the numbers he proposed.

“The numbers that are in the proposed ad are merely that (proposed),” he said. “I’m trying to strike a balance that is fiscally responsible but also makes us competitive in the marketplace for the professionals that we need to make this ship run.”

Oakley was referring to the fact that the county had provided raises for staff to attract more applicants and retain skilled workers, which in turn, he said, warranted raises for the elected officials who oversee the employees.

“I understand the sensitivity of taxpayers with what we’re talking about,” he said. “There’s just a lot of things to fit into the budget, and these requested changes do fit within the balanced budget that I am proposing. Anytime you’re talking about salaries, whether it be staff level or elected officials, it becomes a daisy chain effect because when you make a change, it tends to affect a lot of other things.”

CORRECTION: A previous version of this story stated that a public hearing on the budget would be held on Aug. 13. The Burnet County Commissioners Court is expected to set a date for the public hearing during its regular meeting on Aug. 13. No hearing date has yet been set.

dakota@thepicayune.com

The Texas Housing Foundation informed about 75 employees, including 15 at the Community Resource Center in Marble Falls, that their jobs would end on Oct. 31 due to reorganization. 

“The majority of people will keep their jobs,” THF board Chair Susan Hamm of Blanco County told DailyTrib.com. “A few will lose their jobs, probably those in upper management.” 

A media release from the foundation referred to the change as a “strategic reorganization in response to economic constraints.” It also announced that the Kingsland satellite office will be a new hub for CRC services in Llano County. A satellite office in the city of Llano will close, with services moving to Kingsland.

“We are working with the Kingsland First Baptist Church to open a CRC in their Education Building in August of 2024,” reads a quote from CRC Executive Director Lucy Murphy in the media release. 

The nonprofit Texas Housing Foundation provides affordable housing and services for communities across Texas. 

The Community Resource Centers of Texas, headquartered in Marble Falls, covers four counties: Burnet, Llano, Williamson, and Blanco. All CRC sites provide funds, referrals, and other help for people in need. For its 20-year existence, the CRC has been funded by the Texas Housing Foundation and all employees are paid through the foundation.

THF general counsel Dominic “Nick” Audino objected to the use of the term “laid off” when he spoke to DailyTrib.com and said the Marble Falls office would continue to operate as it has in the past. The Kingsland facility is an addition and expansion of services, he said, adding that the foundation is hiring a management company to take over both the housing and CRC properties. 

“A lot of the people will be reporting to the same place and doing the same job, just not for the Texas Housing Foundation,” Audino said. “They will be picked up by the new management company. They will be interviewed and given first consideration for the jobs.” 

The THF board is currently looking to hire one of three management companies under consideration. The board meets at 10 a.m. on the fourth Tuesday of the month at 1110 Broadway in Marble Falls. The next meeting is Aug. 27, when the board will hold an estimated two-hour executive session to interview people for chief executive officer. CEO Mark Mayfield, who was instrumental in founding the Texas Housing Authority and establishing the CRC, retired in July. 

According to information given to DailyTrib.com, all Texas Housing Foundation employees were on an online call at 9 a.m. Aug. 2 when the changes were announced. That included all CRC employees. Audino said the call included 75 people total.

A statement read to the employees by foundation CEO Allison Milliorn attributed the change in management services to “declining occupancy, soaring interest rates and inflation.” 

“Despite some success with various measures, our board concluded that we must reduce our workforce to ensure the company’s viability,” Milliorn said. “We understand the gravity of this decision and the impact it will have on each of you.”

She also reassured everyone that a new management company would most likely retain site staff.

“We have never seen it otherwise,” she continued.

A subsequent online call at 9:17 a.m. the same day informed a smaller group of employees that their jobs with the Texas Housing Foundation would end on Oct. 31. That call was followed by an email at 11:41 a.m. from THF Human Resources Director Sarita Stotts Smith to 66 people. 

“I want to take a moment to clarify that despite any recent changes or discussions, everyone is expected to continue reporting to work as usual,” Smith wrote. “Your regular attendance and commitment are crucial to maintaining the operation of our business and ensuring we continue to meet our goals.” 

The turnover could happen sooner than Oct. 31, Audino told DailyTrib.com. 

“That’s the target date, but we expect it to happen much sooner,” he said. 

Services at the CRC will not be cut, but “the staff will be leaner,” he continued. 

suzanne@thepicayune.com

The city of Burnet lifted Stage 4 emergency water restrictions Thursday morning after fixing an issue with its water disinfectant system. The restrictions were put in place on Wednesday afternoon.

Burnet residents were told to cease all outdoor watering and irrigation at around 4:30 p.m. Aug. 7 to help conserve water.

“The truth is, we probably could have gotten through (Wednesday night) without doing anything, but when it comes to water, you don’t want to take any chances,” Burnet City Manager David Vaughn told DailyTrib.com following the fix. 

Vaughn explained that a disinfectant canister the city uses to sterilize its water supply was either empty or malfunctioned, meaning water could not be sent safely into the distribution system. The city had to rely on its reserves while the issue was worked on, and Vaughn made the call to impose mandatory restrictions.

“God forbid you have a line break or a fire (while the system is down),” he said. “Then you’ve got real issues.”

Vaughn asked that residents sign up for city alerts using the Voyent notification system to stay up to date on city announcements and emergencies.

“We only had about 25 (water lines) that we had to cut off overnight, but they were turned on by the morning. (Residents) probably didn’t even know (their water) was turned off,” he said. “The community did a great job with limiting their outdoor irrigation.”

dakota@thepicayune.com

Feeding ducks, geese, and other wildlife in public places in Marble Falls can now result in a fine of up to $500.

The Marble Falls City Council approved Ordinance 2024-0-07A on Tuesday, Aug. 6, to curb the messy impact of waterfowl on Johnson and Lakeside parks. The ordinance prohibits feeding wildlife within city parks and city-owned streets and sidewalks. 

While the ordinance applies to all wildlife, it was created in large part due to the ducks and geese that populate city parks along the water.

“Our main problem right now is waterfowl,” said Marble Falls Parks Director Lacey Dingman during a presentation to the City Council on Tuesday. “For the parks staff … this feels pretty high on our priority list because it’s something we deal with every day in the park.” 

Dingman first pitched the feeding ban to the City Council on July 16 and then asked for public feedback on the issue before the Aug. 6 meeting.

According to Dingman, roughly 300 wild waterfowl reside in Johnson and Lakeside parks. The flock is mostly made up of domestic ducks and geese, Canada geese, and invasive Egyptian geese. A DailyTrib.com reporter recently counted 119 waterfowl within eyesight standing at the Johnson Park entrance sign on Avenue J.

The city hopes the wildlife feeding ban curbs serial offenders, people who bring in buckets of feed at a time, to reduce the local population of waterfowl and the mess it creates. 

“This (ordinance) aims to encourage waterfowl to return to their natural behaviors, such as foraging, and reduce their congregation in the parks,” Dingman wrote in a response to questions from DailyTrib.com. “While the issue won’t be fixed overnight, this is an important step in managing the wildlife population effectively. Ultimately, the ordinance will help create a safer and cleaner park environment for both residents and wildlife. We aim to enhance the overall park experience for everyone.”

Marble Falls Mayor Dave Rhodes did not mince words about his problem with the waterfowl.

“The real issue is defecation in the parks,” he said on Tuesday night. “The parks are a massive asset for us and our city in a lot of different ways. As much as ducks are cute, ducks are fun, ducks are ornamental, parks are for the people. We didn’t build the parks for ducks.”

Rhodes was referring to the large amounts of waterfowl excrement that can be found throughout Johnson Park.

City parks staff currently spend an estimated eight to 10 hours a month cleaning up after the birds.

According to Dingman and Marble Falls Police Chief Glenn Hanson, the main issue can be traced back to a few individuals who reportedly bring buckets and sacks of feed for the waterfowl on a regular basis.

“We’ve had some serial violators, and they won’t listen, so that’s what has kind of brought us to this point of having some consequences,” Hanson told DailyTrib.com after the ordinance’s approval. “We will certainly start with education, then move into asking for compliance, then move into enforcing compliance.”

Signage will be developed and posted throughout the parks to educate residents and visitors on the new policy, Dingman said.

“We hope to see voluntary compliance from our park patrons,” she continued. “Signage will be installed and literature will be provided to educate visitors on the new measures. Our goal is to open a dialogue with the community and ensure everyone understands the reasons behind the ordinance.”

Contact Dingman with questions about the changes at LDingman@marblefallstx.gov or the City Council at CityCouncil@marblefallstx.gov.

dakota@thepicayune.com

A groundbreaking ceremony for the Ophelia Hotel and Conference Center in Marble Falls is at 10 a.m. Aug. 23 at a site near Lakeside Park, 305 Buena Vista Drive. The project has been in the works for 10 years and could be completed as early as late 2025 if the current construction schedule holds.

Marble Falls Economic Development Corp. Executive Director Christian Fletcher announced the groundbreaking during a luncheon at the Marble Falls/Highland Lakes Chamber of Commerce on Tuesday, Aug. 6.

“You guys are all invited; we’d love to have you,” Fletcher told attendees. “This has been kind of a labor of love. There’s been a lot of stops and starts, and there was a pandemic in the middle of that.”

The Marble Falls EDC purchased land in 2014 with the goal of building a boutique hotel and conference center to bolster the city’s downtown economy. 

“Currently we have limited service hotels within the city limits,” Fletcher said. “We felt like downtown Marble Falls deserved something that was more unique and completely custom, not cookie-cutter.”

The Ophelia is named after Ophelia “Birdie” Harwood, the first woman mayor of Marble Falls, who was also the first woman mayor in Texas. She was elected before women had the right to vote.

The hotel and conference center will feature 127 guest rooms, a 9,000-square-foot ballroom and meeting space, and a signature restaurant/bar/cafe.

“One of the key points in situating the hotel where it is is that people can walk out of the front door and turn left to rent a paddleboard and get on the lake or turn right and walk downtown,” Fletcher said.

The Ophelia is a Tapestry Collection by Hilton project, meaning it is an independent, unique hotel under the hospitality titan’s brand. The hotel-conference center combo and the land beneath it are owned by Marble Falls Hotel Group, a partnership between Phoenix Hospitality Group and Castle Hospitality.

The Marble Falls EDC contributed roughly $7.6 million in incentives to bring The Ophelia to the city, including the around $2.5 million property. The long-awaited venue is expected to have an estimated $200 million economic impact on Marble Falls in the 10 years following its completion. 

The EDC is funded by a half-cent sales tax in the city limits that Marble Falls residents voted to establish in 1991. Its funds can only be used to retain, expand, and attract businesses and industry to the city and foster the retention, creation, and reinvestment of wealth in the Marble Falls community.

dakota@thepicayune.com

Highland Lakes waters have mostly returned to normal after heavy flooding of the Llano River on July 24 washed large amounts of debris and mud downstream. Lake LBJ took the brunt, and floodgates at Max Starcke Dam had to be opened to regulate the level of Lake Marble Falls.

Lake LBJ

The Lower Colorado River Authority opened Wirtz Dam floodgates and lowered the level of Lake LBJ by about one foot between July 23 and July 24 to accommodate a flooded Llano River. 

The lake, which normally appears stagnant, could be seen flowing throughout the morning of July 24. Debris, mud, and foam was pushed downstream toward Wirtz Dam.

The difference in water coloration can be seen in the photos above.

The Llano River

The Llano River is still flowing strong by August standards. Water is moving over the Llano city dam at 200 cubic-feet per second as of Aug. 6. 

The river had ceased to flow at Llano County Road 307, better known as the Kingsland Slab Road, in August 2023, but it is currently flowing just below the surface of the river crossing.

The Kingsland Slab Road was shut down from July 23-29 to accommodate the river flooding. 

Lake Marble Falls

Max Starcke Dam floodgates were opened on July 23 due to the flood, sending over 24 billion gallons of water into Lake Travis.

The level of Lake Marble Falls rose by about 0.64 feet during the flood, but this was closely regulated by the LCRA through floodgate operations.

The lake’s clarity has mostly returned to normal and boaters are back on the water.

dakota@thepicayune.com

The Texas Department of Transportation began resurfacing U.S. 281 between Third Street and FM 2147 East in Marble Falls on July 21.

The work is taking place at night, from around 7 p.m. and until the early morning hours. 

The original completion date was two weeks from the start date, but work is continuing past that mark.

Lanes are being closed as the project progresses, so expect delays in the evening.

RR 1431 PHASE

TxDOT said the resurfacing project will move to RR 1431 around Aug. 11 and take about four weeks to complete. That phase will span from Avenue U to the Marble Falls city limits and also be done at night.

editor@thepicayune.com

Alligators could be lurking in Lake Marble Falls. A resident and the city’s Animal Control officer reportedly saw one or more of the toothy creatures in late July. No other sightings have been reported, and the Marble Falls Police Department is taking a live-and-let-live approach to the situation.

“(MFPD) did get a call about a woman seeing alligators (in Lake Marble Falls),” MFPD Capt. Jimmy Cole told DailyTrib.com on Monday, Aug. 5. “Our Animal Control officer did identify and see alligators.”

Cole said the Animal Control officer saw what they believed to be an alligator after responding to a call on July 26 in the Pecan Valley neighborhood near Lake Marble Falls. The caller said they spotted multiple alligators and estimated one of the animals to be about 5 feet long.

“We really don’t have any policies or procedures for handling alligators,” Cole said. “We don’t have to make a decision yet because it’s not an issue. Until (it is an issue), it’s just another animal—a wild animal.”

He said no other calls or sightings of alligators in the lake have happened since July 26.

Texas Parks and Wildlife Department biologist Erin Wehland told DailyTrib.com it is not completely out of the question for an alligator to live in the Highland Lakes.

“Burnet County is within the known normal range for alligators, although it is approaching the western edge,” she wrote in an emailed response to questions from DailyTrib.com. “Alligators are a native species, and as long as they are not being a nuisance, they are left alone.”

Wehland said alligators typically avoid humans and that humans should avoid alligators. She stressed that people should not feed alligators to keep them from becoming desensitized to humans.

It is illegal for a private citizen to possess alligators in Texas without proper permitting.

dakota@thepicayune.com

A reported cyberattack disrupted 9-1-1 service at dispatch centers in the Highland Lakes and across Central Texas for over five hours on Sunday, Aug. 4. Emergency calls were rerouted during the incident and full service restored by Sunday evening.

Marble Falls, Burnet County, and Llano County dispatch centers were among those impacted by a large-scale “robocall attack” on the AT&T network between 1 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. Sunday. During this timeframe, 9-1-1 callers and dispatchers were unable to hear each other clearly, addresses were not displayed on 9-1-1 calls, and, in some cases, 9-1-1 calls weren’t going through.

“(The disruption) was created by a ‘directed denial of service’,” explained Burnet County Sheriff’s Office Capt. Mike Sorenson to DailyTrib.com. “It was an attack on 9-1-1 (service) with a large number of robocalls.”

“Robocall” refers to an automated phone call from a fake number. Sorenson said he was told by a Capital Area Council of Governments official that the CAPCOG’s 9-1-1 service through AT&T was interrupted by a mass number of robocalls that jammed it up.

CAPCOG manages 9-1-1 service for Burnet, Llano, Travis, Williamson, Fayette, Caldwell, Lee, Blanco, Hays, and Bastrop counties. Along with Burnet County, Llano County, and Marble Falls, the attack also reportedly impacted Travis, Hayes, and possibly Williamson counties.

According to representatives from the Highland Lakes dispatch centers, the 9-1-1 issue was mitigated by rerouting calls through other call centers.

dakota@thepicayune.com