The Horseshoe Bay Fire Department held a public demonstration on Thursday, July 18, of recently purchased lifesaving equipment.
Every Horseshoe Bay firefighter is now equipped with a LEVR Escape System, which allows them to descend out of second-story windows without risking serious injury.
According to Fire Chief Doug Fowler, the equipment is necessary because of the growing number of multi-story buildings in the city and, due to their moderate numbers, each firefighter needs to be as self-sufficient as possible.
“We have 40 structures in the city that are three stories or higher,” Fowler told DailyTrib.com. “Twenty years ago, the only three-story structures were in (Horseshoe Bay Resort).”
The LEVR system is simple but effective. It includes lengths of rope and a hook that can be used to anchor firefighters to the building so they can repel out of a window to safety if their exit is blocked by flames, intense heat, or fallen debris.
“We don’t have many fires, but we also don’t have many firefighters,” Fowler explained, adding that the department only has 26 on staff to protect the city of 4,700. “There could be a situation where a firefighter needs help, and there is nobody to send. This equipment allows them to take matters into their own hands.”
Fowler became the Horseshoe Bay fire chief in October 2023 and brings 43 years of experience in emergency services.
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“Today, we are here to make our first of what I hope will be many semi-annual donations to Burnet County,” Friends board President Colleen Davis said during the July 9 meeting of the Commissioners Court. “We are proud to do that.”
Davis presented the $40,000 check to Burnet County Treasurer Karrie Crownover.
The Friends group is a nonprofit volunteer organization dedicated to funding new books, supporting children’s and adult programs, and improving library services. To join, sign up online or fill out a membership application at the Herman Brown Free Library, 100 E. Washington St.
The Burnet library is open from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday and 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday. It also serves as a genealogical research center, providing access to source documents and archived materials related to the history of the Highland Lakes and the state of Texas.
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A computer software upgrade with a bug wreaked havoc on businesses worldwide on Friday, July 19, including in the Highland Lakes.
Austin-based cybersecurity company CrowdStrike began a routine upgrade to its Falcon Sensor software late Thursday, July 18. The hacking protection software scans computers for signs of intruders.
The issue has been a minor inconvenience for some and a major disaster for others.
By mid-Friday morning, the corrupted software shut down over 2,000 American, Delta, and United Airlines flights, leaving thousands of passengers stranded in airports, including Austin-Bergstrom International Airport.
Maryland state courts and the Georgia Department of Driver Services were closed on Friday. Harris Health system, which runs the public hospitals and clinics in Houston, had to shut down for several hours.
In the Highland Lakes, Baylor Scott & White Medical Center in Marble Falls was affected but is still open for business.
“Patient care is safely continuing as we work through issues related to the technical disruption that is impacting computer systems across the globe,” a BSW spokesperson said in an email to DailyTrib.com. “Our priority is the health, safety, and well-being of those we serve and our team members.”
Llano County Judge Ron Cunningham reported no direct disruptions with the county’s computer systems but said some of its vendors were having issues.
Many of the problems centered on making payments with credit cards, including in Granite Shoals.
“Our accounting software is down, which impacts our ability to accept credit card payments,” City Manager Sarah Novo said. “We are accepting cash and check payments until everything is restored.”
A fix has been sent out to software users, said CrowdStrike CEO George Kurtz, who issued an early morning statement on NBC’s “Today” show on Friday.
“We’re deeply sorry for the impact that we’ve caused to customers, to travelers, to anyone affected by this,” he said.
While the fix will automatically update on some computers, many will need to be rebooted to manually remove the old software before being restarted with the new, bug-free version.
CrowdStrike assured the public that the software problem was not part of a ransomware attack. Recently, separate cyberattacks shut down computer systems at Ascension Seton medical facilities and AutoNation Toyota car dealerships across the United States.
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A proposed ordinance for the city of Marble Falls would levy fines of up to $500 for people feeding wild animals on public property, including the ducks and geese living at Backbone Creek in Johnson Park.
The ordinance was introduced during the City Council’s meeting on July 16 and is scheduled for a vote on Aug. 6. That meeting begins at 6 p.m. at City Hall, 800 Third St.
“We feel like this is a necessary action,” Marble Falls Parks and Recreation Director Lacey Dingman said at the Tuesday meeting.
The ordinance would ban the feeding of all undomesticated animals in city parks and on public streets and city-owned sidewalks.
“I certainly can remember going to duck ponds and feeding ducks, and it is certainly something that is very fun for kids, so I’m not trying to be the Grinch that stole that. But for our waterfowl, specifically at Johnson Park, it’s not good for (the waterfowl), and it’s not good for the public use of that space,” Dingman said.
A hoard of ducks and geese scarf up feed left by a visitor at Johnson Park in Marble Falls. Staff photo by Nathan Bush
People feeding the large populations of ducks and geese at city parks has created problems, Dingman continued.
“(Feeding) causes (waterfowl) to populate spaces in really high numbers,” she said. “They don’t spread out and try to naturally forage.”
Park cleanliness is another concern, Councilor Richard Westerman added.
“The real problem is the defecation,” he said. “It’s tremendous. There’s more defecation than there is grass down there (Johnson Park).”
Dingman agreed, calling the ordinance a “critical component” of the Marble Falls Parks and Recreation Department’s overall goal of better managing wildlife in the city.
“Two times a year, we do a removal of excess populations of waterfowl in our parks system,” she said. “However, we are seeing that the migratory birds return back to (Johnson Park) because there is supplemental feeding occurring. If we threw a bunch of Snickers bars out, all the kids would be running to the park, too.”
If approved, the Marble Falls Police Department and the city’s code enforcement officers would make sure the new rules are followed.
“If it is passed, we will certainly go on a campaign to inform the public,” Dingman said. “We’re not trying to immediately go out and ticket people.”
She hopes the ordinance will teach residents the health and safety impacts of feeding wild animals.
“Our goal is to educate,” Dingman said. “This is not an attempt to write some $500 tickets.”
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reappointment of Sara Ray and Paul Kowalik to Emergency Services District No. 5
discussion and action to apply for the fiscal year 2025 Rural Law Enforcement Grant Program for the sheriff’s, county attorney, and district attorney’s offices
acceptance of a temporary raw water agreement application for Lake Buchanan with the LCRA
interlocal agreement with the city of Bertram for joint cost-sharing of the collection of hydrological data in association with a hydrological investigation
discussion and action on an emergency operating permit request for Whitewater Springs Water Supply Corp.
discussion and action on request of qualifications for legal counsel
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The Llano County Commissioners Court approved a $10,000 environmental study that could greenlight about $4.8 million in federal funds to build a criminal justice center.
“(The project) is still in its preliminary stages,” Llano County Judge Ron Cunningham told DailyTrib.com. “If all the stars fell in line and we were able to move forward, we’re still looking at 2025 before we get anything going.”
The county applied for a grant through U.S. Rep. August Pfluger’s office in 2023, Cunningham said. The grant would bring in millions from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to build the justice center, which the judge said is badly needed.
“The challenge that we have is that we balance this (Llano County Courthouse) between two district judges, a family court judge, and a county court judge,” he said.
The proposed center would house offices for local and visiting judges and the district attorney and provide a second courtroom for Llano County, which would allow more sessions in less time.
The $10,000 environmental study will be conducted by Riley Mountain Engineering, the firm handling the building and design of the criminal justice center.
“(The study) is really procedural; we just need to document if there are any threatened or endangered species, any potential impacts of cultural or historical resources, any historical artifacts, that type of stuff, and impacts to water,” subcontractor Greg Wine said during a July 8 meeting of the Llano County Commissioners Court. “This should be fairly routine.”
The proposed center would be on the same property as the Llano County Sheriff’s Office at 2001 Texas 16 North in Llano.
The Commissioners Court unanimously approved moving forward with the study.
According to Judge Cunningham, the court began seriously looking at building a justice center in 2022 when Riley Mountain Engineering was brought on board to start developing plans for its construction.
“Before we can do anything, we need that environmental study,” Cunningham said. “It’s been a long time coming.”
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Burnet County’s average home price has more than doubled since 2018, shooting up from $245,000 to over $500,000 as of 2024, according to the Burnet Central Appraisal District. The county’s growth is still trending upward but not quite at the pace of COVID-19 pandemic levels, said Herb Darling, the county’s Development Services director.
Darling gave a presentation on growth in Burnet County during a Burnet Chamber of Commerce Coffee and Conversation event on Tuesday, July 16.
“Right now, on the whiteboard in my office, I’m sitting on 863 lots with preliminary plat approval working toward final approval,” he told those in attendance.
The majority of growth is in the Spicewood area and the rural unincorporated areas of northeast Burnet County near U.S. 183, Darling said. His office issued 2,700 building permits in unincorporated areas alone between 2019 and 2023. Another 223 building permits have been issued since January 2024. These numbers don’t include permits in Burnet County municipalities.
Darling ascribed the growth in Spicewood to water access and proximity to Texas 71 and the growth in northeast Burnet County to western migration from Williamson and Travis counties and southern migration from the Killeen metropolitan area.
“It’s easy for us in Burnet County to forget that we’ve got one of the biggest military installations in the United States sitting in Killeen,” he said. “We’re seeing a push from up north.”
He also pointed to the Firefly Aerospace manufacturing and testing facility in Briggs as a potential draw for new homes and economic development. That facility has over 300 employees.
“It is totally amazing that an enterprise like that is occurring in Burnet County,” Darling said.
A graphic shows Burnet County immigration patterns and how they correlate to household income for 2021-22, according to data from the Internal Revenue Service. Image courtesy of Marble Falls Economic Development Corp.
The primary concern with all that growth is water availability. Darling said the county’s hands are tied when it comes to regulating development due to restrictions in the Texas Local Government Code, which can only be altered by a vote of the Texas Legislature.
“We cannot make up rules,” he said. “We have seen our statute, not gutted, but altered in favor of developers. In each (legislative session), we are losing regulatory authority.”
He was referring to Chapter 232 of the Texas Local Government Code, which dictates what counties can and can’t do regarding regulating developers in unincorporated areas. These restrictions were made evident when the Burnet County Commissioners Court was forced to approve the high-density Spicewood Gardens subdivision in June because it met all statutory requirements, even though officials had concerns over water availability.
“It’s pretty hard to overhaul an engine with a crescent wrench and a pair of pliers, but that’s what the county government does,” Darling explained. “What we look to do, what I feel like my chief goal is for Burnet County, is that we’ve got to have sustainable development.”
While Darling advocates for moderate development, he also said it is important to create an affordable environment for young people who are struggling to purchase a home in the current market.
“Burnet County has become a very expensive place to live,” he said. “It’s pretty tough for a kid to go buy a starter home in Burnet County.”
According to Burnet Central Appraisal District Chief Appraiser Stan Hemphill, the average price of a homestead in Burnet County is about $500,000 as of July 2024. This is more than double the 2018 average price of $245,000. These numbers refer to the average market value of “homesteads,” meaning actual homes, not rental properties or vacation homes.
Marble Falls Economic Development Corp. Executive Director Christian Fletcher shared data with DailyTrib.com from the Internal Revenue Service that shows how average household income hasn’t kept pace with development.
The average household income for a Burnet County resident was $85,641 in 2018-19. It jumped to $119,062 in 2021-22, the most current data available from the IRS, according to Fletcher.
He explained that the rise in average income wasn’t necessarily due to Burnet County natives earning more but to a massive influx of higher-income individuals and families moving into the area. The county saw the single-largest increase in Texas household income change due to migration in 2021, rising 26 percent from 2020.
Fletcher attributed that migration to the pandemic.
“People got out of Dodge (referring to major cities),” he said. “They wanted a higher quality of life, so they came to the Highland Lakes.”
Unincorporated Burnet County isn’t alone in its development spike.
The Thunder Rock subdivision in Marble Falls has plans for around 1,966 single-family homes, 924 multifamily units, and 150 active adult units. The Gregg Ranch subdivision, also in Marble Falls, is expecting 700 single-family homes and 250 multifamily homes.
“We can only put so much cattle on a pasture before you’ve got to start hauling their feed,” said Darling in his presentation, referring to the population growth. “That’s the sort of attitude I’ve tried to take with Burnet County.”
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Marble Falls Inclusive Play Group recently inked an agreement with the city of Marble Falls to build a 20,000-square-foot playground at Westside Park, 1610 Second St.
The City Council unanimously approved the deal on July 16, formalizing the collaboration with the nonprofit, which started in 2022 with the sole intention of creating a park that children of all physical and sensory abilities can enjoy. The group originally wanted to put the playground on Marble Falls Independent School District property near Colt Elementary.
Per the new deal, the city will match up to $400,000 of contributions collected by MFIPG, while the nonprofit must raise a minimum of that same figure.
“I think this is a phenomenal project,” Mayor Dave Rhodes said at the Tuesday meeting.
MFIPG Treasurer Taylor Smith told DailyTrib.com that almost $165,000 has been raised so far since efforts began in July 2022.
The city’s application to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department for a $750,000 grant was also approved during the Tuesday meeting.
Rhodes said the project should be eligible for more grants in the future.
“Typically, once these kinds of things coalesce, our grant opportunities are much greater as a general rule,” he said. “I think that’s one of the main functions of tonight.”
The agreement follows years of conversations about bringing an inclusive playground to Marble Falls.
Smith said the group ditched its original plan with MFISD to build the park near Colt Elementary on Manzano Mile after learning about the city’s interest.
“Once this opportunity with the city was presented, with the city’s commitment of matching funds, a level site with existing infrastructure, and the opportunity for the TPWD grant, we all felt this was the quickest route to getting the park built and open for the community,” he said.
Per the agreement, the playground will be called Wyatt’s Clubhouse for the next 10 years before the city may change or reinstate its name.
Inclusive, or all-abilities, playgrounds typically feature accessible features such as ramps and harnesses as well as equipment for different sensory abilities. Similar parks exist in Round Rock and Temple.
“‘Inclusive’ really just means included,” Marble Falls Inclusive Play Group Secretary Ashley Crouse said at the Tuesday meeting. The playground will be named after her 6-year-old son, Wyatt.
Councilor Bryan Walker was absent from the July 16 meeting.
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Granite Shoals is closing in on a new lease agreement that will allow pilots to park their planes for a small fee at the Bob Sylvester Airport. The city’s attorney is putting the finishing touches on the deal after one councilor expressed several concerns about city liability when it came to parked planes.
The Granite Shoals Airport Advisory Committee pitched the idea of leasing out five tie-down spaces at the airport during the regular meeting of the City Council in February. City Attorney Joshua Katz was directed to draft a lease agreement alongside the Advisory Committee. The draft was presented to the council on July 9.
The lease agreement would allow pilots to park their small-engine planes at airport tie-downs at a rate of $10 per day or $50 per month.
Place 4 Councilor Steve Hougen voiced concern about the city’s possible liability when it came to potential damages to the privately owned planes.
“I think this lease agreement is great; I’m just trying to discuss various points,” he said. “We can’t protect these airplanes out here from hail storm, tornado or vandalism, and maybe we should mention that specifically, that acts of god and acts of vandalism are not under the city’s responsibilities.”
City Attorney Katz stated that he would rather handle matters of liability during executive sessions.
“I can review (the lease) and make sure that we have language that protects the city,” Katz said.
Advisory Committee President Robin Ruff told DailyTrib.com he was “optimistic” about the airport’s future and hopes to have a locked-down lease agreement ready for the council for its scheduled July 23 meeting.
“(The lease agreement) is a new venture for us,” Ruff said. “We’re also in a situation where we’ve got to build this airport, and we’ve got to start somewhere.”
The airport has been in a state of consistent improvement since 2022 with the addition of a helipad, runway markers, a portable toilet, picnic benches, and a check-in kiosk. The Advisory Committee has also drummed up community engagement with Meet the Pilots events, a future pilot seminar, and a successful Kite Day.
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