Marble Falls is moving ahead with a long-planned expansion of parking at Falls Creek Park with the approval of a contractor for the project on Feb. 4.  

The Marble Falls Economic Development Corporation approved the $472,105.15 project, which will add 60 parking spaces and upgrade sidewalks and lighting at Falls Creek Park. The improvements are needed to support growing use of the area and its amenities, according to city leadership.

Falls Creek Park, at 900 Yett St., includes a 12,000-square-foot skate park, picnic tables, barbecue pits, a canoe launch area and restrooms. The park adjoins Lakeside Park to the east and Johnson Park to the west, and is just a short walk from downtown Marble Falls. 

Construction is set to begin Feb. 16 with KRPS Contractors LLC and is expected to take about 90 days.

“We’re looking forward to kicking off the Falls Creek parking lot project,” Marble Falls EDC Executive Director Christian Fletcher told DailyTrib. “We know that new and improved parking will be necessary to accommodate the number of guests that we expect to enjoy the parks and all the new amenities.”

maci@thepicayune.com

The Texas Housing Foundation is seeking local input through a newly launched housing survey focused on local housing conditions in the Highland Lakes area and Hill Country region of Central Texas.

The survey is brief, anonymous, and accessible here. Responses will be used to support future housing planning and help shape programs and projects for affordable housing based on collected data.

In a social media post shared by the Marble Falls Economic Development Corporation, organizers said the survey aims to identify housing challenges faced by local residents and determine which solutions could be most effective. 

The survey is geared toward residents of Burnet, Llano, Blanco, Lampasas, San Saba, and Bastrop counties, but anyone from anywhere can fill it out. 

Currently, housing prices in Marble Falls remain higher than national figures. According to data from the Highland Lakes Association of Realtors provided by the Marble Falls EDC to DailyTrib, the average sales price for all homes in Marble Falls in 2025 was $429,372. By comparison, Zillow reported the average sale price of a U.S. home was $361,000.

maci@thepicayune.com

The Burnet City Council and Economic Development Corporation moved to purchase two properties located off U.S. 281 near the historic downtown square at two Feb. 10 meetings. The properties are planned to be demolished and replaced with a parking lot to ease downtown congestion during peak hours.

Pending a second reading and approval at a Feb. 11 special council meeting, the city will purchase the two properties, located at 209 and 211 S. Water Street respectively, for $750,000. The city expects anywhere from 30 to 50-plus parking spaces once the project is completed.

The property purchase, demolition, and parking additions are not to exceed a total of $2 million, however, City Manager David Vaughn told the council that the project will likely fall well below that mark.

“While the resolution says $2 million, I don’t anticipate it’s going to be anywhere near that,” Vaughn said. “I think it’s probably more in the $1.1 or $1.2 (million) range.”

City officials were vocal about the necessity of additional parking on the square, especially during events and major festivals, and thought that the future lot’s location off U.S. 281 would be ideal.

“It’s just one of those things that you have to have,” BEDC President Philip Thurman said.

“You’re going to give all of those businesses (on the square) a place to park and leave the front open for more customers,” Vaughn said.

The BEDC was first given the opportunity to purchase one of the two properties months ago, but the property’s L-shaped layout would have made it difficult for the city to garner many parking spaces from it. The BEDC then began discussion with the second property owner to purchase both plots and combine them for expanded parking.

For more information or questions about the project, visit the city of Burnet website or call 512-756-6093.

caden@thepicayune.com

Since Llano County took over operations of the Llano Regional Hospital in early 2025, the facility has reportedly doubled its operating revenue, quintupled its average daily patients, and dramatically increased its services. While the hospital is not yet profitable, its leadership is optimistic about its financial future in the aftermath of its separation from its previous operator. 

Llano County owns the Llano Regional Hospital, but it also took over operations of the facility in March 2025 after a messy separation from the former operator, Mid Coast Health System. At the time, Mid Coast was contemplating ending operations amid concerns about the overall financial viability of the hospital, and furloughed 12 employees, including the CEO, to cut costs and services.

“When we regained full control of the hospital in 2025, we were effectively starting from scratch,” David Willmann, chairman of the Llano Regional Hospital, wrote in a Feb. 9 media release. “We inherited significant financial challenges, including more than $2.2 million in legacy debt, and at one point, were operating only an emergency room with no inpatient capacity.”

Since the March 2025 takeover, the hospital has hired a new CEO, Linda Walker. New leadership has secured over $1 million in state and federal grants for the hospital, and more financial support from local donors, the city of Llano, the Llano Economic Development Corporation, the Llano Hospital Foundation, and other charitable organizations. 

According to the Feb. 9 media release, the hospital has increased its revenue from $263,000 to $539,000 in the last six months, and increased its daily average inpatient population from less than one to five per day. 

“We cleared many hurdles and challenges, and while we still have a tall mountain to climb, we have a committed team and local indicators that reveal a demand for existing and additional Services,” Walker said. “We are positioning ourselves to fulfill those needs to ensure convenient, dependable, high-quality service.”

Future plans for the hospital include a new computer tomography (CT) scanner, refurbished beds, expanded rehabilitation services, and more on-site procedures.

“Population growth in Llano County will continue to increase the need for local healthcare services,” Chairman Willmann said. “Without a local hospital, emergency care is delayed, and families face needless tragedy. Otherwise, they travel farther for basic primary care services, and the entire community bears the costs and as employers experience more absenteeism the lifestyle suffers.”

dakota@thepicayune.com

Marble Falls has added new stop signs at two intersections near Main Street, converting them into four-way stops in an effort to improve traffic safety.

According to a city update issued on Wednesday, Feb. 10, installation began on Tuesday this week and was completed the same-day.

The changes were made at Avenue J and 2nd Street and at Avenue J and 3rd Street. Previously, both intersections operated as two-way stops, requiring traffic on 2nd and 3rd streets to stop while vehicles traveling along Avenue J did not.

The city installed additional stop signs to create four-way stops at both locations. The upgrades include flashing lights on the new signs and pavement stop bars at all approaches to enhance visibility and improve safety for drivers.

maci@thepicayune.com

TEAM NAME: Marble Falls High School Mustangs 2026 softball team

HEAD COACH: Alejandro Lozoya 

LAST SEASON RECORD: 10-16 (2-10 in District)

SCHEDULE: Subject to change; additional games may be added.

Feb. 9, 7 p.m. – Away at Round Rock McNeil

Feb. 12-14, TBD – Away (NFCA-College Station Tournament)

Feb. 17, 7 p.m. – Away at Canyon Lake

Feb. 19-21, TBD – Home (Mustang Tournament)

Feb. 24, 7 p.m. – Home vs. Copperas Cove

Feb. 26-28, TBD – Away (Georgetown Tournament)

Mar. 3, 7 p.m. – Away at Taylor

Mar. 6, 7 p.m. – Home vs. Gateway

Mar. 10, 7 p.m. – Home vs. Lampasas

Mar. 13, 7 p.m. – Away at Salado

Mar. 17, 7 p.m. – Home vs. Burnet (Spring Break)

Mar. 20, 7 p.m. – Away at Jarrell (Spring Break)

Mar. 24, 7 p.m. – Home vs. Elgin

Mar. 27, 7 p.m. – Home vs. Taylor

Mar. 31, 7 p.m. – Away at Gateway

Apr. 2, 7 p.m. – Away at Lampasas

Apr. 7, 7 p.m. – Home vs. Salado

Apr. 10, 7 p.m. – Away at Burnet

Apr. 14, 7 p.m. – Home vs. Jarrell

Apr. 17 – Bye

TEAM ROSTER:

#2 – Hollingsworth, Khloe

#3 – Damico, Brooklynn

#4 – Floyd, Ady

#5 – Frisch, Rylee

#7 – Thompson, Cheyenne

#10 – Suarez, Jocelyn

#12 – Phillips, Calli

#12 – Graham, Hannah

#13  – Holden, Kaylie

#15 –  Suarez, Abigail

#18 – King, Matti

#27 – Mykolaitis, Vivienne

The Marble Falls High School Mustangs softball team is off to a strong start this season, earning a victory over the McNeil Mavericks on Feb. 9. After finishing last year with a 10-6 record and only a few district wins, the Mustangs fell short of playoff contention. This season, however, the team is determined to turn things around by improving its district performance and securing a postseason spot. 

The road ahead will not be easy. The Mustangs are set to compete in tournaments against formidable opponents such as the Southlake Carroll Dragons, who posted a 20-14 record last season, and the College Station Cougars, who finished 22-10. Both teams placed second in their respective districts last year, presenting early tests that should help Marble Falls prepare for the challenges ahead.

Still, the most critical games will come in district play. Matchups against rivals like Lampasas and Burnet, most of which are scheduled for March, will likely determine the Mustangs’ playoff hopes. With time to prepare and momentum already building, Marble Falls is focused on making this season a successful one.

maci@thepicayune.com

The 2026 primary elections are fast approaching, and there are contested races for the Republican nomination for some of the highest offices in Llano County government. DailyTrib has compiled candidate profiles on the Republican candidates that are running for Llano County judge and Llano County Precinct 4 commissioner. 

DailyTrib is also hosting a forum featuring all of the Republican candidates starting at 6 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 12 at the Llano County Community Center, 2340 W. Haynie Street in Llano. Doors will open at 5 p.m. for meet and greet opportunities with the candidates.

The forum will also be livestreamed and available for later viewing on the DailyTrib Youtube channel. 

The winner of the Republican nomination for county judge will almost certainly take office in 2027 due to the lack of a Democratic challenger in the general election. The winner of the nomination for Precinct 4 commissioner will likely go on to face the Democratic candidate, Leila Green Little, in the November general election. 

Important election dates and information

• The last day to register to vote in the primary election was Feb. 2
• Early voting runs Feb. 17-27
• Election Day is March 3

Learn more about the upcoming election on the Texas Secretary of State website and the Llano County Elections Office website. 

Candidate profiles

Each candidate was contacted by email and asked the same questions to assemble the following profiles. The information provided is from the candidates themselves, but it has been edited for spelling, grammar, punctuation, and space by DailyTrib staff.

Llano County judge

The Llano County judge serves as the chair of the Llano County Commissioners Court and as the chief budget officer for the county. They are one of five voting members of the Commissioners Court that decide on county policies, determine the county’s budget, and represent the county at the local, state, and federal levels. 

The Llano County judge serves a four-year term and, as of 2025, earns an annual salary of $80,009. There are no term limits for serving as county judge.

Incumbent Llano County Judge Ron Cunningham did not file for reelection.

Rob Hardy

Rob Hardy is the mayor of Sunrise Beach Village and has a background in healthcare and also serves on the Llano Regional Hospital Board of Directors.

DailyTrib: Why are you running for office?

Hardy:

I feel that I have the ability to serve the county. I will say that I am what you might call a “reluctant politician,” as I do not especially enjoy the running of a campaign. However, I do embrace the service aspect of the job. I have seen the great work that the Commissioners Court and other elected county officials and staff have done and will continue to do, and want to be able to contribute to that.

DailyTrib: Can you offer a brief work history accompanied by years on the job?

Hardy:

• 2024-Present: Mayor – City of Sunrise Beach
• 2023-2024: Councilmember – City of Sunrise Beach
• 2015-Present: Medical Practice/Healthcare Consultant
• 2022-Present: Licensed Realtor
• 2012-2013: CEO – Kings Daughters Clinic-Temple
• 2007-2013: Chief Administrative Officer – Austin Pathology Associates
• 2003-2007: Chief Operating Officer/Associate Executive Director – Scott and White
• 2000-2003: CEO – Murfreesboro Medical Center
• 1996-2000: Administrator – Austin Diagnostic Clinic
• 1992-1996: Administrator-Travis Physician Associates
• 1977-1991: Commander/Senior Paramedic – Austin Emergency Medical Services

DailyTrib: Can you share any experience you have with public service or volunteerism?

Hardy: 

• Rotarian from 2000-2015. President of Rotary Club of Georgetown
• Vice Chair/Trustee Llano Regional Hospital. Served as Interim CEO after County took back operations February 4, 2025.
• Sunrise Beach VFD/ESD 5 Commander
• President/Captain-Williamson County Sheriff’s Posse
• Chairman of the Board/Director – Federated Church of SRB – termed out
• City Representative – Capitol Area Council of Governments
• Williamson County ESD 8 Commissioner
• Director-Williamson County Board of Health
• Founding Board Member – Georgetown Neuroscience Institute

DailyTrib: If you had five key points about your platform or intentions if elected, what would they be?

Hardy:

I will phrase that in terms of priorities, in no particular order:

•  Water – this is not just an issue in Llano County, or in the Hill Country, but the entire state. I intend to engage our elected officials in Austin to make sure this issue stays uppermost, and to work with landowners, municipalities, and regulatory agencies such as LCRA and TCEQ to make sure we have representation.

• Growth – Llano County is an absolute jewel in the Texas Hill Country, but we must manage growth. Kingsland is an essential part of our County, but due to it being unincorporated, it is left up to the county to manage. I will work closely with the Precinct 3 commissioner, the Chamber of Commerce, as well as Kingsland Water and Kingsland Municipal Utility District to manage growth in the middle of the County. In Llano and points west, I will work closely with the Precinct 4 commissioner, the Llano City Council, and the Llano Economic Development Committee, to promote tourism and manage those growth industries that may approach us as to their impact on our environment.

• Public Safety/Health Care – Working with the Llano Sheriff’s Department, the county emergency coordinator, and the various volunteer fire departments and emergency service districts and municipal governments, I will do everything in my power to make sure they have sufficient resources to continue to provide these essential services to our citizens. The Llano Regional Hospital will continue to be a central focus in our ability to provide essential service in our County, and I will continue to work very closely with their leadership to ensure their continued viability.

• County Staff – I will work closely with our county’s human resource department to make sure our staff are compensated fairly, and that we are getting the very best benefits package that we can. Staff are a critical piece of our infrastructure, and we must focus on staff retention as well as being competitive with recruitment.

• Above all, I believe in transparency. Being responsive to the citizens is paramount. I intend to work closely with the Cities of Llano, Sunrise Beach, and Horseshoe Bay, as well as our unincorporated communities, to ensure that they have a voice in County government. I think this Commissioners Court does an excellent job of providing information to citizens, but we can always improve.

DailyTrib: Can you share where you were born, where you grew up, places you have lived, and your history in Llano County?

Hardy:

• Born Frankfurt Germany on military base– father was career Army

• Grew up in Fort Worth, Texas. Father 4th generation from Fort Worth, Mother 4th generation Central Texas. Have ancestors buried in City Cemetery in San Marcos dating to the 1800’s

• Been coming to Lakes LBJ and Buchanan since college days, as I was an avid sailor (Captain of the UT Sailing Team)

• Owned weekend lake house in Kingsland since 2013 – moved full time to Sunrise Beach in 2001.

Richard Kepp

Richard Kepp has a background in safety and risk management. He is also an active member of the Llano community. 

DailyTrib: Why are you running for office?

Kepp:

This is a demanding job, and I understand why few people are willing to take it on. I have spent over 30 years managing people, processes, and assets in high-pressure environments, and I am comfortable with the weight of this position.

I am running to serve my community and to earn the trust of Llano County. I bring a practical, steady approach to leadership, with a focus on team building, fiscal responsibility, and developing people to serve the county well.

DailyTrib: Can you offer a brief work history accompanied by years on the job?

Kepp:

• General (1991–2000)
  -Contract Manager, IBM
  -Division Manager, Motorola Sourcing Team

• KIK Corporation (11 years Consumer Goods)
  -International Employee Relations & Benefits Manager – 3 years
  -Director of EHS overseeing Insurance, Chemical Security, and Critical Processes – 8 years

• Shintech (3 years Highly Hazardous Chemical Production)
  -EHS Superintendent

• Halliburton / Athlon (3 years  Highly Hazardous Chemical Production) hank
  -EHS Superintendent

• Montrose (7 years, current Consultation, Testing and Treatment)
  -Director of Insurance and Risk Management

DailyTrib: Can you share any experience you have with public service or volunteerism?

Kepp:

Much of my professional career has centered on emergency response, public safety, and community protection. I have served on community advisory committees, local emergency planning committees, and mutual aid organizations.

Personally, I have served as a firefighter, medical responder, board member for a local community college, and volunteer with youth sports and civic organizations like Lions and Rotary.

DailyTrib: If you had five key points about your platform or intentions if elected, what would they be?

Kepp:

1. Stabilize the County Budget
   Prepare for the budget process with fellow elected officials, maintaining consistency with recent years and meeting the August deadline. The goal is to remain steady or reduce this tax burden.

1. Ensure Fiscal Discipline and Compliance
   Build a responsible budget that controls costs while meeting audit requirements, public safety needs, and state mandates. First 30–60 days will focus on capital projects, legislation, required judicial training, and understanding county staff and resources.

1. Protect Conservative Governance
   Llano County has become a target for liberal legal organizations. I will continue the current administration’s efforts to defend conservative values and local control.

1. Responsible Growth and Development
   Most of Llano County lacks the water resources to support large-scale residential or industrial development. We must plan carefully and work with economic development partners to protect our county long-term.

1. Improve Efficiency Through Partnerships
   Explore opportunities to better leverage county assets—hospital growth, senior care programs, shared services, youth sports, agriculture engagement, animal shelter support, and economic development.  Although these are not all priorities, they are opportunities for improvement which may positively impact the citizens of Llano.

DailyTrib: Can you share where you were born, where you grew up, places you have lived, and your history in Llano County?

Kepp:

I was born and raised in Corpus Christi, Texas. My father was a well-known physician, and our family was deeply involved in civic and community organizations.

I graduated from Southwest Texas State in 1991 and began my career in Dallas, later working in Houston and Austin. During my time with Motorola, I was assigned to major projects in Fort Worth and Seguin until the post-9/11 downturn in the tech industry.

I have had my eye on Llano County since marrying here in 1995. My wife and I spent most weekends here—on the lake or at our family ranch. In 2000, we rebuilt the original family rock home with my in-laws. During COVID, we left the city permanently and moved here full-time.

My wife’s family includes the Myers, Moss, Schneider, and Kassel families, who settled in Llano County in the 1860s. Giving back to this community has always been part of our lives. My children are 6th generation Texans.

Precinct 4 commissioner

The Llano County Precinct 4 commissioner is one of five voting members of the Llano County Commissioners Court. The court is the governing body of the county and responsible for determining county policy; setting the budget; and representing the county at the local, state, and federal levels. The Precinct 4 commissioner represents one of the four precincts in the county and is also responsible for maintaining the roads, bridges, and county-owned infrastructure within that precinct that is outside of city limits. Precinct 4 includes the city of Llano and much of western Llano County.

Llano County commissioners serve four-year terms and, as of 2025, earn an annual salary of $73,786. There are no term limits for serving as a county commissioner.

Jerry Don Moss

Jerry Don Moss is the senior member of the Llano County Commissioners Court, having served as the Llano County Precinct 4 commissioner since 2007. 

DailyTrib: Why are you running for office?

Moss: 

I am running for reelection for Llano County commissioner because that is what I do. I like working for the public and serving the community. I’ve proven that I will stand up for you and do what is best for Llano County.

DailyTrib: Can you offer a brief work history accompanied by years on the job?

Moss:

I started working for a mechanic and then as a mechanic in high school and a year out of high school.then I started working for a local home builder and after three years I was running one of his crews.

At the age of 22 I started working in Precinct 4 for Llano County Road and Bridge. After four years I became crew chief in Precinct 4. I remained crew chief until I decided to run for county commissioner in 2006 and was elected. I have been a Llano County Commissioner in Precinct 4 since 2007.

DailyTrib: Can you share any experience you have with public service or volunteerism?

Moss:

1- I was on the Llano County Community Center Board from 2005 through 2006.

2- I was on the Llano Little League board from 2000 through 2011. I coached my son’s baseball team for 10 years and my daughters softball team for eight years during my first time on the board. I’m on that board again now 2023 to present. I also coach my grandson’s baseball team.

3- I’ve been on the Llano Crawfish Open board for 21 years. I received an award in 2025 for volunteering and supporting the Llano Crawfish Open.

4- I have managed the Llano County School Land from 2007-present.

5- I have volunteered for the Llano County stock show and sale for the last 25 years.

6- I have been on the live stock show sales committee for the last six years.

7- I have volunteered for the Llano County wild game dinner for the last 11 years.

8- I have been on the leadership advisory board for the Llano County 4-H since 2018. I received an award from the Texas AgriLife extension in 2022 for being a volunteer and friend of the AgriLife extension office.

9- I am a five-year board member of the Llano Cowboy Christmas for kids.

10- I have been a director at the Farm Bureau for 20 years

DailyTrib: If you had five key points about your platform or intentions if elected, what would they be?

Moss:

1- I will continue maintaining and upgrading the Llano County road system.

2- I will continue to listen to the public and do what is right for this community.

3- I will continue to work with the commissioners court to upgrade Llano County policies, facilities, and infrastructure.

4- I will continue working with other municipalities, securing adequate EMS, and law enforcement, to protect our citizens.

5- I will support all of this and at the same time work hard and maintain a low tax rate.

DailyTrib: Can you share where you were born, where you grew up, places you have lived, and your history in Llano County?

Moss:

I was actually born in Fredericksburg, but we lived in Llano. I was raised and grew up in Llano County in Precinct 4. I’ve never moved away, always lived here. My family has been in Llano County since the 1850s.

Robert Little

Robert Little has background in finance and lives in Precinct 4. He is also married to Leila Green Little, who is running for the Precinct 4 commissioner seat as a Democrat in the November General Election.

DailyTrib: Why are you running for office?

Little:

I’m running because our current commissioner has been in the job for too long, and it shows. I want to bring professionalism, adherence to decorum and rules, and openness to this office. 

Service to Llano runs generations deep in my family. It’s my turn to serve this community, and I intend to bring approachability to the residents of Llano. 

I am tired of the commissioners’ court granting themselves raises and not paying attention to what’s important to you. I’m not in the pocket of any special interest groups, and I won’t favor one person over another. 

DailyTrib: Can you offer a brief work history accompanied by years on the job?

Little:

I have worked as a financial advisor for the last 20 years. I started my own firm in 2015 and have successfully grown it into 200 households. Additionally, I’m an entrepreneur who has owned multiple successful businesses. 

DailyTrib: Can you share any experience you have with public service or volunteerism?

Little:

I have for the last 4 years served on the board of the Hill Country Community Action Association. 

DailyTrib: If you had five key points about your platform or intentions if elected, what would they be?

Little:

1. Make a motion and advocate during the budget workshop to reduce county commissioners’ pay to match the median county employee salary. Commissioners shouldn’t make more than twice what other full-time county employees make.

2. Make a motion and advocate during the budget workshop to increase base pay for the other full-time county employees that are below the median salary. All of our county employees work hard every day for us, and they should be compensated well.

3. Provide increased scrutiny and oversight of conflicts of interest with respect to vendors who do business with the county. This will ensure that friends aren’t favored over the best contractor/vendor for the job.

4. Make a motion and advocate for the creation of a hospital district tax to support our local hospital.

5. Attend city council meetings and have regular communication with city officials about how the county and city can collaborate to best serve the city’s and the county’s mutual needs.

DailyTrib: Can you share where you were born, where you grew up, places you have lived, and your history in Llano County?

Little:

I was born in Austin and grew up in Llano.  I moved to Lubbock to attend Texas Tech University, and lived there for a decade.  My wife and I moved to Houston to pursue career opportunities, and then moved back to Llano in 2017.  We are fortunate to live on our cattle ranch, which has been in the family since it was started in 1881.

Service to Llano runs generations deep in my family, with my grandparents having been very involved in the library’s auxiliary group, and a grandmother and mother who taught in Llano’s public schools.

About DailyTrib

DailyTrib is under the umbrella of Victory Media, a Burnet County-based, family-owned company that has been publishing news in the Highland Lakes since 1991. DailyTrib is strictly dedicated to covering the people, places, and happenings of Burnet and Llano counties at the local level.

dakota@thepicayune.com

Granite Shoals Finance Director Kevin Rule was terminated in mid-January, weeks after raising complaints alleging financial mismanagement and policy violations by City Manager Sarah Novo and Assistant City Manager/Fire Chief Tim Campbell. 

Rule had been placed on a mutually agreed upon paid administrative leave on Dec. 22, with a scheduled return on Jan. 14. He received notice of termination on Jan. 14. Account Specialist Debbie Jennings was terminated one day after Rule’s leave began, on Dec. 23. Both positions remain vacant, according to the Granite Shoals jobs page.

“I believe that my termination was due to the fact that I filed a complaint against the city manager and the assistant city manager. Before that, I was held in high regard for my work,” Rule told DailyTrib.

City Manager Novo did not wish to provide comment on Rule’s complaints or termination.

Assistant City Manager/Fire Chief Campbell confirmed with DailyTrib that Rule was terminated and that the ex-finance director had filed a grievance with the city over the matter. Campbell also said that the Burnet County Sheriff’s Office had completed an investigation into the complaints, with findings expected in the coming weeks. 

City leadership, including Novo and Campbell, referred Rule’s complaints to the BCSO after a lengthy  Dec. 17 City Council meeting, asking for a thorough investigation into the matter. At that same meeting, City Council chose to not engage an outside contractor for the investigation.

According to Rule, his complaints involved alleged misuse of city funds, improper reimbursements, fire equipment funding shortfalls, and a city manager pay increase.

“City Council wants the citizens of Granite Shoals to believe that things have changed. They do not want anybody to believe that there are any problems,” he told DailyTrib. “I was told to ‘play ball,’ and ‘don’t rock the boat’. They don’t want any hint of trouble like there has been in the last four or five years.”

Background

Rule was hired in May 2024, filling a position that had been vacant for nearly two years. 

Granite Shoals had been without a finance director from June 2022, when Russel Martin resigned from the position. Former City Manager Peggy Smith chose not to hire a finance director throughout her tenure as interim city manager and full-time city manager in 2022 and 2023. 

After being hired in 2024, Rule spent weeks unraveling the city’s untracked spending, determining that it had gone $1.5 million over budget in the previous fiscal year. 

maci@thepicayune.com

The Burnet Consolidated Independent School District Board of Trustees voted unanimously to approve an election for a $135 million bond package at a Monday, Feb. 9, special meeting. The bond, addressing vital campus changes and district-wide maintenance, will be placed on the May 2 ballot.

Voters have until April 2 to register to vote for the election. Early voting runs from April 20-28, with Election Day on May 2.

If passed by voters, the bulk of the bond package will be split into three main sections, including construction of a new Burnet Middle School, classroom additions at RJ Richey Elementary, and various maintenance improvements throughout the district. A full breakdown of the projects can be found towards the bottom of this article.

BCISD Superintendent Dr. Aaron Peña told DailyTrib that the bond would likely not directly cause a tax increase for district residents.

“(The bond will) likely be structured without a tax rate increase, meaning the proposed projects could be funded using the district’s existing Interest and Sinking (I and S) tax rate of $0.195,” Dr. Peña said.

A BCISD press release issued on Tuesday added to Dr. Peña‘s statement, clarifying possible personal tax changes.

“While individual tax bills may vary due to property value changes, the (I and S) tax rate is not expected to rise,” the release states.

In Texas school financing, a school district’s overall tax rate is divided between the M&O rate (maintenance and operations) and the I&S rate (interest and sinking). The M&O rate can only be used to fund day-to-day operations, like salaries and utilities. The I&S rate can only be used to pay down debt. By design, school districts take out voter-approved bonds to accomplish major infrastructure projects, like those proposed by BCISD in this upcoming election, which are then paid down using the funds levied from the I&S rate.

The current total BCISD property tax rate for the 2025-26 fiscal year is $0.8710 per $100 property valuation. Of that total rate, $0.6760 is dedicated to the M&O rate and $0.195 is dedicated to the I&S rate. 

While the bond is still in the early planning stages, Dr. Peña also told DailyTrib that the bond projects would be phased to allow for the least amount of academic disruptions during the school year. This phased approach is planned to include completing the new Burnet Middle School prior to deconstruction of the current campus.

The community can expect various maintenance projects and the design of the new Burnet Middle School to begin immediately after approval. The timeline for the new middle school is unknown, but is likely to be a multi-year project.

Upon passing the bond election, board members took a moment to share their praises of the BCISD Facilities Advisory Committee for guiding them through the process, and share some final thoughts on the bond.

“I trust the work the (Facilities Advisory) Committee did, the work they put in, the time they put in,” Board Secretary Mark Kincaid said. “It’s scary, but it’s time to let the voters decide. And they’ll tell us.”

“This is the time that we have to do this, and none of us here will take this lightly,” Board Trustee Katy Duke said.

“I’m excited for our kids,” Board Trustee Suzanne Brown said. “I think we’re making a bold decision, and I hope that we can communicate this to our voters and our community.”

The bond approval process

The board of trustees’ approval of the bond vote was the culmination of over six months of planning led by the BCISD Facilities Advisory Committee, and multiple special meetings deliberating the exact parameters and cost of the bond package.

Initial feedback from the Facilities Advisory Committee, which consisted of parents, staff, students and community members, led to a $141 million bond recommendation presented to the board of trustees at a Jan. 19 meeting.

During preliminary discussions, not all members of the board were ready to jump at the presented price tag. Two special meetings were called, for Feb. 2 and 9, to further discuss the final sum, scope, and scale of the bond and its projects.

Amongst the hesitations were concerns over the bond’s hefty price tag, nearly triple the district’s previous $52.5 million bond in 2021, and about other glaring projects in the district not being addressed in the bond recommendation.

Board Secretary Mark Kincaid pointed to needed upgrades at Bertram and Shady Grove elementaries, which were not included in the initial bond package presentation.

“If we were leaving that out,” he said. “That would worry me down the road.”

Board Vice President Angela Moore had similar concerns surrounding the RJ Richey renovations that were part of the recommendation, which would leave out key upgrades to the library.

“If we’re going to bring up capacity (of RJ Richey) to 750, and it still has the smallest library (in the district) to service 750 students, that concerns me a great deal,” Moore said.

After further deliberation during the special meetings, the board agreed on a smaller $135 million bond amount, and discussed with Pfluger Architects, the board’s chosen architectural planning firm for the project, reworking the scope of some projects to allow for others, like security concerns and the library.

The bond breakdown

BCISD’s proposed $135 million bond will be split into two propositions on the May 2 ballot: Proposition A and B.

Proposition A, roughly $133 million, allows for funds to be used on general facilities, modernization, deferred maintenance, and land acquisition.

Proposition B, roughly $2 million, allows for funds to be used on district-wide technology upgrades.

Both funds can only be used on school facilities, new construction, renovations, safety and security, buses, and infrastructure. They cannot be used for salary increases, school supplies, or operating costs.

BCISD included an at-a-glance look at the planned projects in a press release for the bond. The projects listed are:

Burnet Middle School – New Academic Facility and Renovations

• New academic building and performance space designed for 900 students, with capacity to expand to 1,200 students in the future
• Classrooms and collaborative learning spaces
• Science labs and elective spaces
• Library/media center
• Cafeteria and kitchen
• Special education spaces
• Renovation of existing Fine Arts and Athletics spaces

RJ Richey Elementary – Campus Improvements

• Redesigned interior spaces to improve capacity and flow
• New academic classrooms built within existing cafeteria and courtyard space
• Conversion of interior gym into a cafetorium and kitchen
• Dedicated art and music rooms
• Right-sized special education spaces
• Increases student capacity to better match the district’s other elementary schools and delay the need for an additional new elementary campus

Deferred Maintenance at Campuses

• Roof replacement
• Electrical system upgrades
• HVAC replacements
• Replacement of selected interior finishes
• Building protection system upgrades
• Conversion to energy-efficient LED lighting

Bertram Elementary School

• New secure front entry to improve safety and controlled access

Districtwide Needs and Future Planning

• Replacement of aging buses to support safe and reliable transportation
• Refresh of student technology devices used for instruction and assessments (Proposition B)
• Purchase of land for a future elementary school and a future middle school near Bertram

Note that these projects and the bond itself are still early in the planning process, and may be subject to change.

For more information on the bond, contact BCISD administration at 512-756-2124, or visit the board’s website.

caden@thepicayune.com