BERTRAM — Facing a tight deadline to “use it or lose it,” City Council members  unanimously voted to spend the remaining $15,900 of a 2011 grant on two water utility projects.

The council awarded the low bids to Hoover Construction of Burnet for a total of $17,191.81 — which includes some city funds — for a 2-inch bulk-water connection line at the city’s utility office and a 4-inch turbine meter to gauge the amount of water that reaches the city.

The council had four projects to consider using the remaining funds, and chose to spend an additional $1,246 from the city’s utility fund for the water line and turbine meter on engineer John Bartle’s recommendation.

“It’s like leveraging $17,000 in improvements with just $1,200,” said Bartle, who is with Neptune-Wilkinson Associates Inc. of Austin. “I think both items would be beneficial to the city.”

The funds remain from a $275,000 Community Development Block Grant from the Texas Department of Agriculture that paid for the installation of a new water main across Texas 29 to the north side of town.

The remaining money has to be spent by Sept. 14 or else the city loses the funds. The bid requests specified that the work has to be finished by the deadline.

Chris Walker, director of utilities, said the $4,658 connection line will help with a recent ordinance that says bulk water customers must purchases from the city utility office.

“Instead of getting water wherever you wanted to, you’re required to come to (the water utility) office,” Walker said.

The more expensive of the two items, the $12,533 meter, will allow Walker to determine how much water reaches the city.

Officials know how much water is pumped from the wells and how much is sold, but the meter will help determine the amount that actually flows into the city.

“I want to know what we’re missing,” Walker said.

jared@thepicayune.com

MARBLE FALLS — A capacity crowd unhappy over proposed changes to property and nuisance rules gave the City Council an earful Aug. 21, prompting leaders to say more work needs to be done.

A town hall meeting will be scheduled prior to the Oct. 16 council meeting to hash out any differences.

No action was taken at the latest council meeting on the amended rules, which officials say are needed to address yard furniture, parking restrictions, high grass and other residential nuisances.

But many residents fear the rules will infringe on personal rights.

“Our front porches, our front yards are our pipeline to our neighbors,” said Denise Thornburg, a resident on Third Street. “We love our front yards. We love our porches, but now you’re telling me what I can have in my front yard.”

Council members suggested holding the town-hall meeting after noting a lack of communication between City Hall and the public has led to some of the conflict.

“In a way, we want the same things here, but we’re going about it in different ways,” Councilman John Packer said. “We have to figure it out together.”

“There’s an underlying issue of communication,” Councilman Richard Lewis said.

The goal is to clean up Marble Falls, officials added.

More than 40 people crammed into the Council Chambers and gathered in the hallway to listen and to raise concerns over the proposed amendments.

The council and city staff started working on the issue a year ago, City Manager Ralph Hendricks said.

But the proposals began drawing criticism in July from both residents and council members who felt an early version was too restrictive. During an Aug. 7 meeting, the council and staff revisited the issue, including modifying limits on the number of cars allowed in a driveway and dropping a requirement for paved driveways.

Several residents also took issue with information they said would require permits for private parties at their homes.

Hendricks countered there is no such rule.

Residents can look at copies of the proposed ordinance at City Hall, 800 Third St. It can also be viewed through the city’s website at www.ci.marble-falls.tx.us, going to the “City Council” tab on the left and clicking on “Agendas.”

daniel@thepicayune.com

For more on this story, pick up a copy of the Aug. 25-26 River Cities Sunday Tribune

MARBLE FALLS — The City Council on Aug. 21 approved refinancing nearly $2 million in bonds used to buy the EDC-owned Colt Circle Building to save money over the next five to six years, officials say.

The refinancing will yield a lower interest rate, officials said.

MARBLE FALLS — The city is starting the planning process to possibly annex 1,100 acres south of Marble Falls that will help regulate future development around a new clinic and hospital, officials say.

The tract near U.S. 281 and Texas 71 includes 37 commercial properties, seven residences and one public facility, officials said

MARBLE FALLS — Even if voters nix shifting a penny in the 2012-2013 Marble Falls Independent School District tax rate, officials will find other ways to close a $404,000 gap in the budget, officials said.

Meanwhile, schools are being asked to cut 5 percent across the board to balance a proposed budget of $43.4 million for fiscal year 2012-2013.

HORSESHOE BAY — Three candidates have filed for three City Council seats for the Nov. 6 election, officials said at the close of the filing deadline Aug. 20.

Craig Haydon, Steve Jordan and David Pope turned in applications to place their names on the ballot, said City Secretary Teresa Moore. By the 5 p.m. deadline, three incumbents — Dick Rantzow, Jeff Robinson and Fred Owen — had not turned in paperwork to run for re-election, Moore said.

The at-large seats are two-year terms.

Early voting begins Oct. 22.

However, city leaders have the option of canceling the election.

MARBLE FALLS — Steering committee members for the first time saw estimates on the economic impact of a proposed sports complex, which proponents say could add $1 million to local coffers and attract thousands of visitors the first year.

According to consultants, the first two of four phases of the project could lure 214,000 visitors to Marble Falls and generate revenues of $850,000-$1.1 million.

PHOTO: Damon Boettcher, project manager for CSL International, talks to steering committee members about a sports complex feasibility study Aug. 16 at Lakeside Pavilion in Marble Falls. Staff photo by Jared Fields

MARBLE FALLS — A 27-year-old woman is in the dog house with police after being accused of dragging a white Yorkshire terrier behind her truck on a leash while taking it for a “walk,” according to court documents.

“Its little feet were bloody and raw,” said police Capt. Glenn Hanson. “It must have gone unconscious at one point and fallen because its elbows were bloody and raw as well. It’s appalling what happened to this little dog.”

Police seized the dog, a 5-pound, 2-year-old Yorkie named Mimi, and she is now receiving veterinary care, officers said.

MARBLE FALLS — Administrators are calling for nothing short of a total overhaul for a federal educational accountability system after several Burnet and Marble Falls schools fell short of No Child Left Behind standards.

Under the Bush-era NCLB, Adequate Yearly Progress reports are used to determine if schools are successfully educating pupils in English and math. The state recently reported 56 percent of campuses in Texas did not meet AYP and 72 percent of all districts did not meet AYP.

At stake are federal funds earmarked for certain schools with at-risk students, and staffs at schools that consistently perform poorly can be replaced.

PHOTO: Education curriculum specialist Margaret Kilgo of Kilgo Consulting leads a workshop for Marble Falls Independent School District teachers and paraprofessionals Aug. 17 at Lakeside Pavilion. Earlier this month, the Texas Education Agency released the federal Adequate Yearly Progress reports which revealed MFISD and Burnet Consolidated Independent School District failed to meet tougher standards. Staff photo by Daniel Clifton

The Burnet and Marble Falls school districts both failed to make this year’s tougher standards.

But educators argue the federal ratings are not a true indicator of how a school or a district is doing, and the Obama administration has pledged to change the system.