Burnet County · issues
Civic issues
Topics getting the most attention in Burnet County public meetings, ranked by how frequently they come up.
County homestead tax exemption request
A resident asked the court to consider offering a county homestead or over-65 exemption, which Burnet County currently does not provide.
IT Procurement and Cybersecurity Standards
A six-month effort to buy AI-driven network security software stalled over an unfinalized lease agreement, questions about the building-reserve funding source, and complaints that vendor selection wasn't competitive.
Wirtz Dam Bridge PEC Utility Re-Engineering
TxDOT will handle utility relocations using $10 million in federal funding, keeping the 2029 letting timeline on track and saving the county contractor costs.
New county office building at 110 CR 250
To move the tax office out of the courthouse for renovation, the county is weighing a site-built office building over another portable — but took no action pending the facilities master plan.
CR 337 and CR 340 low-water crossings
Engineering is done and the projects go out to bid, replacing crossings that washed out after FEMA only paid to restore them as-is; the county will later seek partial FEMA reimbursement.
Outdoor warning sirens and flood gauges (Senate Bill 3)
The county's plan covers seven sirens and five gauges, concentrated in southern population centers, leaving northern precincts uncovered. Commissioner Beierle pushed successfully to add three northern sirens, raising the state ask to roughly $1.6 million.
Agate Road acceptance as CR 425A
More than half the Quail Creek landowners petitioned for the county to take over and eventually pave their 400-foot connector road; the court accepted it with a variance from the main-artery rule.
Reinstatement of County Burn Ban
Fire activity has slowed and rain is forecast, so the court debated lifting the ban now versus waiting. No action was taken; the judge can lift it unilaterally but only the court can reinstate it.
Waste Management Transition
Burnet County is switching trash and recycling providers to Texas Disposal Systems starting November 2. You'll get brand new carts delivered and need to leave your old ones at the curb next week so the city can haul them away.
Water Infrastructure Construction
Bertram is making major progress on a $3.43 million water tower and a $2.3 million lift station visible along Highway 29. These upgrades are designed to give the city's growing water and sewer systems a massive boost.
Park Curfew and Boat Launch Access
Cottonwood Shores just updated its park rules to allow 24/7 boat launching and fishing at the Lakeview Drive dock. Night owls and early birds can now access the water whenever they want without worrying about curfews.
Police Chief Appointment
Horseshoe Bay finally has a new top cop after naming Paul Nelson as police chief following a months-long search. City council officially greenlit the appointment, wrapping up the extensive recruitment process.
Low-Water Crossing Engineering Work Order on CR 403
Commissioners will consider approving an engineering work order for hydraulics and design at a low-water crossing on CR 403 at Flat Rock Creek to improve safety during heavy rains.
FY27 County Budget and Departmental Appropriations
Burnet County officials finalized and adopted the $190,000-reduced FY27 budget after debating line items and reclassifications. Elected officials raised questions about fairness in funding staff positions across different county offices.
Rural Ambulance Grant Procurement
The county approved purchasing a new ambulance entirely funded by state grant money, which will be operated by the City of Burnet.
CAMPO Regional Transportation Plan & Committee Appointments
CAPCOG and CAMPO presented a draft long-range transportation plan for Burnet County, outlining 80 proposed projects and gathering public input on road safety, capacity, and right-of-way preservation.
Affordable Housing Guidelines
Marble Falls just made it way harder to build affordable housing by forcing future projects to jump through City Council hoops and chip in for local services. If you're hoping to see more reasonably priced homes built around town, get ready for tougher rules and slower approvals.
Wastewater Treatment Plant
Marble Falls cut an odor control system and scaled back parts of its new wastewater plant to fight rising construction costs, while the city council threw in an extra $88,000. Thankfully, the project's timeline is safe and they are using existing backup cash instead of asking taxpayers for new money.
Park Improvements
Marble Falls just locked in a $750,000 state grant to revamp Westside Park. Expect construction soon on a brand-new inclusive playground, covered basketball courts, and upgraded walking trails.