Following the May 3 election, all elected officials have been officially sworn in to begin their new two-year terms.
Gary Wideman was re-elected as mayor, continuing his leadership role. Council members Ricky Langley, Joyce Laudenschlager and Tres Clinton were also re-elected, maintaining their positions on the council. Their continued service reflects the community’s confidence in their leadership and commitment to local progress.
3-Month Workshops To avoid falling into that “urgency trap,” the Burnet City Council has spent the past three months in a series of workshop sessions listening to resident feedback, reviewing data, and identifying priorities to guide the city’s strategic planning and budgeting for the upcoming 2025–2026 fiscal year.
Strategic Priorities
The result of this process is a focused set of seven city council Strategic Priorities, formally adopted on May 13. These priorities reflect both the needs of today and the goals for tomorrow, informing how we allocate resources, plan projects, and serve our community.
It’s important to emphasize that these priorities aren’t meant to replace the daily work of city staff. Critical efforts like employee recruitment and retention, utility reliability, and resident services remain at the forefront. Rather, these priorities serve as a guiding compass helping ensure that our attention stays aligned with what matters most, even when the urgent knocks on our door.
Here’s a closer look at the adopted Strategic Priorities: Beautification – fostering community pride and curb appeal: Focused on enhancing both public and private spaces, enforcing code compliance, and encouraging community- led improvement projects.
Historic Downtown Square – preserving the past, inspiring the future: Investing in infrastructure, beautification, parking, and economic development to keep Burnet’s historic square thriving as the heart of the community.
Parks & Recreation – enhancing community wellness and access to nature: Improving parks, trails, programs, and public spaces that promote healthy living and a strong sense of community.
Public Safety – bestin- class fire, EMS, and police services: Delivering exemplary emergency services with a focus on prevention, rapid response, and public trust.
Smart Growth – balancing development, affordability, and livability: Strategic planning that supports business expansion and housing options while preserving Burnet’s small-town character.
Street Improvement – safe, reliable, and well-maintained infrastructure: Prioritizing road repair, safety enhancements, and longterm investment in transportation networks.
Water Resource Management – securing sustainable and safe water for the future: Investing in infrastructure and conservation strategies to protect water quality, increase supply resilience, and promote responsible usage.
Key Actions
To move these priorities forward, the city will be identifying key actions in areas such as code enforcement, master planning, capital improvement projects, staff development, and service level standards. The goal is simple: translate priorities into progress.
