News

By Lew K. Cohn

Managing Editor

The Highlander

For 30 years, law enforcement agencies have been required by the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure to report felony and non-fine misdemeanor criminal offense histories to the Texas Department of Public Safety in order to maintain eligibility for state grant funds.

Now, a new law which went into effect Sept. 1 will require these agencies also to report fine-only Class C family violence offenses to DPS, which will put additional pressure on counties and cities to make sure their reporting meets compliance.

“Every county in the state of Texas is obligated to be reporting criminal histories to the state,” County Attorney Eddie Arredondo said. “They are obligated to meet a 90 percent reporting rate, and if they fall below that standard, all of a sudden, every nonprofit or county agency or city government becomes ineligible to receive grants from state of Texas.

By Lew K. Cohn

Managing Editor

The Highlander

Burnet County commissioners adopted a proposed $29.92 million budget for fiscal year 2020 and set an overall tax rate of 39.99 cents per $100 valuation at their regular meeting Tuesday, Sept. 10.

The passage of the budget and tax rate came after Burnet County held two public hearings in August. No public comments were made at any of the hearings or at Tuesday's meeting at the Burnet County Courthouse.

The new tax rate is 0.99 cents more than the preceding year's tax rate of 39 cents per $100 valuation and more than 2 cents higher than the effective tax rate of 37.06 cents, which would generate the same amount of tax revenue as last year.

Burnet County officials projected they will receive an additional $2,030,360 in tax revenue in fiscal year 2020 from the new tax rate, which would be an increase of 8.5 percent, which includes $858,194 coming from new construction added to the tax roll.

City of Burnet Mayor Crista Goble Bromley issued a proclamation declaring September as Burnet County Hunger Awareness Month at the regular City Council meeting Tuesday, Sept. 10.

Bromley was joined by LACare Director Lottie McCorkle (left) and Burnet County Hunger Alliance member Shauna Thrane at the meeting, who shared statistics regarding hunger in the Burnet County area and invited Council and citizens to do their part in combating it.

In 2018, LACare served 2,376 families, 6,958 individuals, and 139 new families in need of assistance in the Burnet Consolidated Independent School District – an approximately 750-square-mile region reaching from Tow to Briggs. Just last month, LACare helped 338 families (including 29 new families), consisting of 989 individuals.

“Our numbers are increasing big time, and our food bills go up,” said McCorkle. “We are fortunate that our community does help, but our numbers are going up.

From staff reports

An accident-prone stretch of Texas 29 outside Bertram in Burnet County will undergo safety improvements and upgrades, after the Texas Transportation Commission approved a 10-year state transportation plan last week.

The 2020 Unified Transportation Plan includes more than $77 billion in funding meant to improve public roadway safety and address congestion and connectivity issues throughout the state during the next decade.

Project BUC12RD will involve construction funds for Texas 29 to reconstruct to four 11-foot lane, a 12-foot continuous turn lane and 10-foot shoulders from Ranch-to-market Road 243 in Bertram to the Williamson County line. Burnet County/TxDOT are sponsoring entities, at a cost of $5,184,000.

Three other local projects included in the Texas Department of Transportation 2020 UTP are:

By Connie Swinney

Staff Writer

Burnet Bulletin

Rough terrain and rocky hill sides challenged fire crews to douse a nearly 60-acre blaze Sept. 8 in the Spring Creek Hills subdivision, about five miles west of Burnet, officials said.

The fire erupted from a ground fire spark around 1:30 p.m. on Sunday and spread quickly, threatening at least two homes and destroying an 8-by-8 outbuilding on one property, just off Yucca Drive.

“It was accidental from a ground fire,” Burnet Fire Marshal John Erskine said. “It looks like it was a cooking fire from a squatter's camp.

“By the time it was contained, it was approximately 60 acres,” he added.

Erskine added by about 7 p.m., there was no “active fire.” As of 10:30 a.m. the following day, the blaze was considered “100 percent under control.”

From Staff Reports

The 2019 Bluebonnet Airshow will be flying and rolling into the Burnet Municipal Airport this Saturday, Sept. 14.

The “Wings and Wheels” themed Airshow will feature the beloved variety of aircraft looked forward to each year, including the Trojan Phlyers, the T-6 Twisted Texan, two C-47's, and many more aerobatic aircraft and pyrotechnics.

Newcomers this year include approximately 150 cars from the Lake Area Rods and Classics Car Club, a Mini-Jet Subsonex JSX003, and a Jet-Fueled Dragster guaranteed to blow every guest away with its power.

Gates open at 9 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 14. Static displays will be set out for visitors to view and learn about before the aircraft take to the sky at 12 p.m.

Savanna Gregg

Staff Writer

Burnet Bulletin

The Burnet Bulletin office recently welcomed back a beloved member, and great things are on the horizon for the Burnet Bulletin staff as she catches up with current employees and gets to know the newer ones.

“It feels amazing being back with my work family,” said Senior Account Manager Jaymie Parks upon returning after living in Minnesota for over a year. “They really are my second family, and it is amazing to work with such great people.”

Parks began working for the Burnet Bulletin in Aug. 2017 and built a great client base, as well as relationships with her coworkers and the community before she and her husband, Chase, and their daughter, Aria, decided to leave Burnet in May 2018 to follow dreams and make their home somewhere new. They recently made the decision to move back to the area, which has always felt more like home.

Special to the Bulletin

The Burnet CISD Board of Trustees met on September 3 for the annual summative evaluation of the Superintendent. In addition to conducting the evaluation, the Board of Trustees unanimously voted to extend the contract of Superintendent Keith McBurnett through June 30, 2023. McBurnett became the Superintendent of Burnet CISD on March 27, 2012.

By Lew K. Cohn

Managing Editor

Burnet Bulletin

Burnet County commissioners have authorized County Judge James Oakley to draft a letter to LCRA, requesting the lowering of Lake LBJ next January.

Commissioners cited homeowners' concerns about being able to shore up their boat docks and moorings, as well as drastic changes to the lake from the historic October 2018 flood, which have created unnavigable hazards for boaters.

They also noted that two Llano County commissioners, Peter Jones (Pct. 1) and Mike Sandoval (Pct. 3), also supported lowering the lake to let homeowners perform repairs to their property. (See related story, page 14).

By Savanna Gregg

Staff Writer

Burnet Bulletin

Planes, and jets, and cars, oh my! This year's Bluebonnet Airshow is going to be jam-packed with entertainment of all calibers, and it is less than two weeks away.

Always a tribute to the “Greatest Generation” and the wonderful world of aviation, the Bluebonnet Airshow has provided the community and its visitors with a day full of fun for all ages, with shows put on by a variety of aircraft big and small, lumbering down the runway and zipping through the clouds.

Saturday, Sept. 14, is going to be just as fun, though things will be a little different than they have been in the past. The Highland Lakes Squadron of the Commemorative Air Force is teaming up with the Lake Area Rods and Classics Car Club to bring two elements of entertainment to aviation and car enthusiasts alike with a “Wings and Wheels” themed show.