Burnet City Council bid adieu to 2025 during a brief session Dec. 9 at City Hall.
The last council meeting of the current year lasted 30 minutes.
During that time, the council heard Police Chief Brian Lee deliver his final quarterly report before his imminent retirement. (A public farewell reception is planned for the outgoing Burnet Police Chief Brian Lee on Dec. 31).
Lee mentioned Bur- net police answered more than 3,400 calls for service since October.
Lee retreated quietly from the podium after he finished his report.
“All right, brother,” Mayor Gary Wideman told Lee. “We appreciate you!”
Lee has served as the Burnet police chief since May 2021. He plans to retire Dec. 31.
As the meeting continued, the council approved $15,000 to add a second K-9 to enhance the police narcotics detection unit.
“The presence of K-9 units is an important factor,” Lee said. “Besides detecting narcotics, they deter their presence in our city. And, they make a pretty good connection to our community.”
Also during the meeting, the council formally accepted the resignation of Tres Clinton, who announced Dec. 1 he would be leaving the council.
After serving nine years, Clinton has indicated he plans to purchase an aircraft maintenance business located in a city-owned hangar at Burnet Municipal Airport.
The council directed city administration staff “to proceed with the vacancy-filling process in accordance with the city charter and state law.”
Also during the meeting, the council approved payment of no more than $190,000 to the Goodman Corporation to help the city administer a federal community project grant of more than $5 million needed to construct the future pedestrian bridge in Burnet over U.S. 281.
“They (the Goodman Corporation) will be valuable to the city of Burnet,” City Engineer Eric Belaj told council members.
Too, the council agreed to contract Alsay Inc. at more than $195,000 to rehabilitate the Valley Street well near Washington and South Main streets. The project will include the installation of new casing in the well and cleaning the well pump.
According to city officials, the entire well rehabilitation could the cost the city more than $1.8 million, including a total of $700,000 already collected from impact fees for the work.
“The benefits will be tremendous,” City David Manager David Vaughn said.
Before the meeting ended, the council appointed Maria Gonzales and Leslie Kimbler to the Burnet Historic Preservation Board and approved the preliminary plat for the Eagles Nest residential subdivision, including 13 lots over approximately 17 acres.
