MARBLE FALLS — The City Council approved a request March 6 to shift EDC budget money to fund more community marketing, a road extension in the business park and other efforts.
“It’s not moving money around for the sake of moving money around,” said Christian Fletcher, executive director of the Economic Development Corp. “It’s to present a more accurate picture of what our budget looks like.”
MARBLE FALLS — The U.S. 281 twin-bridge replacement project could be finished by the last quarter of 2014, the City Council heard during an update March 6.
“Everything looks good,” said Project Manager Eric Heimke. “We are progressing as expected.”
Mayor George Russell praised Archer-Western Contractors Ltd., which has tackled the $28.6 million project financed by the Texas Department of Transportation.
MARBLE FALLS — A verbal agreement to pay a Round Rock firm $50,000 to study the feasibility of a sports complex is on the table, Parks and Recreation commissioners heard March 5.
Now, the Economic Development Corp. will be asked to chip in to help with the cost, said Robert Moss, director of the Parks and Recreation Department.
Discussion about staffing concerns and delayed projects also highlighted the commissioners’ meeting.
GRANITE SHOALS — Six candidates are vying for two open seats on the City Council in the May 12 election.
In the meantime, incumbent Councilwoman Slayton Marks is unopposed in her re-election bid.
Place 4 incumbent David Dittmar and Bessie Jackson of Place 6 have met their term limits and are stepping down.
Running for Place 4 are Susie Hardy, Thomas Dillard and Terry Hartman.
Running for Place 6 are Don Harrison, Ted Gulden and Peggy Metzger.
The council members hold two-year terms.
Early voting is April 30-May 8.
COTTONWOOD SHORES – Three candidates are running without opposition during the election May 12.
Travis Hockensmith is seeking the Place 1 seat, Place 3 incumbent Mary Ann Houser is running for re-election and Roger Wayson is asking voters to elect him to Place 5.
Also during the election, voters will be asked whether to continue the Crime Control and Prevention District for 20 years, as well as approving the district sales-and-use tax for another 20 years.
Early voting is 8 a.m.-5 p.m. April 30, May 1-2, May 4 and 8 and 7 a.m.-7 p.m. May 3 and 7 at the Courthouse Annex, 810 Steve Hawkins Parkway in Marble Falls.
Election Day voting is 7 a.m.-7 p.m. May 12 at the annex.
BURNET — Police are asking for the public’s help locating a group of vandals who used black paint to deface several signs and a school bus at Burnet High School Feb. 13.
Capt. Steve Vollmar of the Burnet Police Department said the offenders painted over a sign at the high school’s baseball field, defaced a bus and the school’s entry sign sometime from midnight-4:30 a.m.
Anyone with information leading to a conviction of the mischief-makers could receive a cash reward of up to $2,000, according to Hill Country Crime Stoppers coordinator Jaine Prew.
For anonymous tips, call (866) 756-8477 or leave tips online at www.hcacrimestoppers.com.
Vollmar can be reached at (512) 756-6404.
BURNET — Burnet County is getting closer to closing the financial books on the 2007 flood. Officials held the final public hearing on state disaster recovery funds issued to the county for the disaster Wednesday in the courthouse.
Several months ago, the Texas Department of Rural Affairs approved a disaster relief grant of $350,000 for repair and reconstruction of several roads damaged by what’s been called a “rain bomb” that deluged the county with 19 inches June 26 and June 27, 2007.
The grant also provided the county with the 25 percent cost share required by the Federal Emergency Management Agency to secure federal disaster relief funds, Assistant County Auditor Karen Lester said.
“We have expended the entire grant,” Lester added.
About $73,500 of the state grant was used to improve the culvert on CR 125 at Dry Creek in Highland Haven.
The remainder of state funding was spent on major repairs to CR 328 at Cow Creek; CR 340 at Hamilton Creek; CR 343 at Camp Creek; and CR 404, as well as minor repairs to 72 smaller areas in the county damaged during the flood, Lester said.
The Texas Division of Emergency Management is expected to complete its financial audit of the Highland Haven culvert repairs next week, she added.
Meanwhile, the division has completed the audit for repairs at the respective creeks and CR 404.
“The audit is favorable,” Lester said.
It may take state officials several weeks before they complete their financial review of the 72 smaller projects in the county related to flood recovery, Lester added.
“We are not at the top of their list because they are still working on Hurricane Ike,” Lester said, referring to the major storm that hit Galveston, Houston and much of the Gulf Coast in 2008.
BURNET — An election will be held May 8 in Hoover’s Valley for the proposed Emergency Services District No. 3 to fund fire support, officials said.
ESDs are approved by voters to fund EMS and fire protection in usually rural areas through a property tax at no more than 10 cents per $100 of property valuation.
Residents petitioned the Burnet County Commissioners Court to call the election, which they did Tuesday.
“This (proposed ESD) is not a (proposed) tax by the commissioner’s court,” Klaeger said. “It is a petition from the people.”
Though the commissioners cannot levy taxes for ESDs, they will continue funding local volunteer firefighters and EMS crews, Klaeger said.
“I really respect our first responders,” Klaeger said. “We will continue to give them what we feel is a small percentage of our (county) budget.”
The commissioners previously have asked volunteer firefighters and EMS crews to consider creating ESDs. They say because the Legislature may approve new property-tax restrictions, land-use regulations and increased county contributions to state-mandated programs, county funding for emergency services could be reduced.
Also related to ESDs, the commissioners reviewed the financial audit for ESD No. 2 in the Cassie area for fiscal year 2008-2009.
ESD No. 2 collected more than $159,500 in property taxes and showed a fund balance of more than $45,590 during FY 2008-2009. Also, the district conformed to “accounting principles generally accepted,” according to an audit .
In addition to ESD No. 2, five other ESDs currently exist in the county, including ESD No. 1 in Horseshoe Bay for EMS only, ESD No. 4 in Bertram, ESD No. 5 in the East Lake Buchanan area, ESD No. 7 in Burnet and ESD No. 8 in Briggs/Oakalla for fire protection.
Attempts to establish ESD No. 3 in Bertram for EMS and ESD No. 6 in Granite Shoals for fire protection failed during recent elections.
Early voting for the Hoover’s Valley ESD is April 26-May 4.
BURNET — Being hauled before a judge for unpaid fines during a warrant roundup Saturday is easily avoided by paying those fees now, Burnet County officials say.
“A law enforcement person may show up at their door Saturday,” County Judge Donna Klaeger said.
As part of the state-sponsored “2010 Great Texas Warrant Round-Up,” the county clerk, district clerk and the Precinct 1 and 2 justices of the peace will collect unpaid fees and fines owed by residents 6 a.m.- 2:30 p.m. Saturday in the Courthouse on the Square, 220 S. Pierce St.
Also this Saturday, law enforcement officials may contact residents at their homes for payment, said Stephanie McCormick, the county collections officer.
Area cities also are taking part in the roundup across the region. Those fines can be paid at municipal courts.
Residents may be subject to a jail sentence if they fail to pay what they owe for traffic tickets, failure to appear in court, hot checks and several other violations, McCormick added.
About 2,500 postcards have already been mailed to residents named in arrest warrants because they owe payments to the county, Klaeger said.
So far, the County Attorney’s Office has collected about $10,000, Klaeger said.
Those who believe the county has a warrant for their arrest because of unpaid fines or fees can call the County Collection Compliance Office at (512) 715-5272.
