Burnet County: Commissioners approve LCRA flood grant applicants

By Raymond V. Whelan • Daily Tribune Staff

BURNET - The Burnet County Commissioners Court has approved four applications to carve up a $20,000 grant the Lower Colorado River Authority has offered the county to pay for June flood debris removal.

The funds are what remain of a $50,000 grant from LCRA after officials a few weeks ago set aside $30,000 to help pay for debris removal in Granite Shoals coves along Lake LBJ.

During their meeting Tuesday at the Burnet County Courthouse, the commissioners approved requests from the Channel Oaks Property Owners Association for $5,000, the Kingsland Cove Property Owners Association for $5,000, the Wilderness Cove Homeowner’s Association for $6,155 and Stop the Runoff (from Lake Mountain) through Burnet County for $3,845 out of the $20,000 remaining from the LCRA grant.

County Judge Donna Klaeger recommended the grant amount for each group prior to the unanimous vote.

“We appreciate LCRA for providing these funds,” Precinct 4 Commissioner Joe Don Dockery said. “These are not county funds.”

Three groups will spend the LCRA funds on removing debris from coves and creeks. Wilderness Cove will spend their $6,155 to pay for “hauling 63 dump-truck loads of debris” from their subdivision.

Prior to the vote, the commissioners discussed whether the Stop the Runoff group would be eligible to receive LCRA funds, since they are a “loose-knit group of people” and not an established POA.

As Precinct 1 Commissioner Bill Neve told his fellow commissioners during a workshop Monday he did not think it was right to deny LCRA grant money to Share the Runoff because “they are not an established organization.”

After consulting with County Attorney Eddie Arredondo, the commissioners agreed to let Share the Runoff receive $3,845 out of the LCRA grant, provided Neve agreed to act as project manager and ensure Stop the Runoff would spend the funds “strictly on the cleanup of public waterways.”

“You can do that,” Arredondo told the commissioners.

In other business, the commissioners voted to appoint Sheriff Joe Pollock, County Auditor Kevin Smith, Billy Don Everett, Klaeger and Neve to the Burnet County Public Finance Corp.

The newly created corporation will oversee the design, construction and administration of a new jail facility Southwestern Corrections LLC will manage and operate on 75 acres near the Ellen Halbert Unit for Women, a state correctional facility.

Also related to the jail, the commissioners approved Hunton and Williams LLP out of Dallas to act as bond counselor to the corporation, following a recommendation from attorney Jim Allison.

Financial consultant Ira Colter told the commissioners Hunton and Williams would issue “revenue bonds” to private mutual fund managers and private investors to pay for the jail with no obligation or liability to the county.

“It is non-rated debt based on speculation,” Colter said. “There are no taxpayers behind it.”

Earlier this year, the commissioners approved a lone bid from Southwestern Corrections to build and equip the jail with 700 beds. Officials have said they expect to break ground on the new jail before the end of the year, provided they follow “an aggressive timetable.”

“We are making good progress,” Allison told the commissioners Tuesday.

Colter said a recent independent feasibility study conducted by Harold Geisler from Dallas indicated potential bondholders would be more comfortable with 500 beds in the new jail, with 200 beds set aside until the time is ripe for future expansion.

However, the commissioners agreed it was more economical to pay for 700 beds now, rather than later, when inflation could drive up building costs.

Certified public accountant Tim Kurpiewski told the commissioners Southwestern might be willing to accept “subordinated debt” and purchase revenue bonds out of their own coffers to pay for the additional 200 beds.

“I think it is a great step for (Southwestern) LLC to take on subordinated debt,” Everett told the commissioners.

Klaeger pointed out Blanco and Llano county officials have already signaled their interest in leasing space in the new jail.

Furthermore, Klaeger said, Lampasas County officials will be “looking for beds” if a November referendum for 100 more beds in the Lampasas County jail fails.

The commissioners agreed to visit the jail issue again during their Oct. 9 meeting.

In other business, the commissioners took no action after a lengthy and spirited discussion on the possibility of establishing an emergency services district within Burnet County.

An ESD is a political subdivision approved by voters that collects property taxes to fund fire protection and emergency medical services. Under the state constitution, an ESD can levy no more than 10 cents per $100 of assessed property value. Currently, Horseshoe Bay is the only local fire district that has organized an ESD.

Both Marble Falls Area Emergency Medical Services Director Johnny Campbell and Chief Mark Ingram from Burnet EMS said they supported the idea of establishing two ESDs for EMS units. One ESD would cover the northern half of the county, the other one would serve the southern half.

“We’re willing to do the work and make it happen,” Campbell told the commissioners.

Without building more substations, Campbell said a Marble Falls Area EMS ESD would need to raise about 2 cents per $100 of valuation to exceed the level of funds it receives now from the county. Ingram said a Burnet EMS ESD would need to raise about 2.5 cents per $100 to top the county contribution.

The county could hold a public election on ESDs for the EMS units as early as May 2008, Campbell said.

However, the commissioners were unsettled by other factors, including which of 11 volunteer fire districts may want to join an ESD with an EMS unit, which fire districts may want to join an ESD without an EMS unit and which fire districts may not want anything to do with an ESD.

Also, the commissioners said they want emergency personnel and the public to consider that the Legislature may impose tax limits on counties and possibly inhibit their ability to raise revenue for emergency services.

With a view toward weighing more pros and cons, forming a consensus and proposing a timetable on the ESD issue, Klaeger said the commissioners would hold a special meeting 7 p.m. Oct. 18 in Bertram, at the Iron Star Building on Texas 29, one block south of the intersection at CR 243.

Also during the meeting, Capital Metro representatives Bill LeJeune and Andrea Lofye told the commissioners the rail company plans to increase the speed of their freight rail cars from 20 mph to 35-40 mph during mid-November between Gandy and Leander, pending federal approval.

New train operators, control and dispatch centers make faster speeds possible, LeJeune said.

“We want the public to be aware, the trains are going to run faster, and it will help them through crossings faster,” LeJeune added.

Neve said he was concerned over the possibility of a collision or automobile accident occurring at crossings with faster train speeds, especially with senior drivers behind the wheel.

Precinct 2 Commissioner Russell Graeter - who did not attend the Tuesday meeting - voiced his concerns about faster train speeds and elderly drivers to Neve before the meeting, the Precinct 1 commissioner said.

“I’m a little concerned, too,” Neve added. “They (senior drivers) aren’t used to this. Some train stops don’t have a stop sign.”

LeJeune assured the commissioners Capital Metro would inspect the crossings for safety equipment and warning systems at least “once a year” and more often as required.

Also, Lofye said the rail company would put notices in newspapers to inform the public of the fastest train speeds.

“We’ll be happy to do that,” Lofye added.

Before the meeting ended, the commissioners appointed Precinct 3 Commissioner Ronny Hibler and Dockery to a committee to review and make recommendations regarding requests for qualifications for engineering services for county road and bridge repair and reconstruction issues related to the June flood.

Also, the commissioners renewed contracts for Fiscal Year 2007-2008 with Marble Falls Area Emergency Medical Services for $23,153, Interface Recycling for $10,000 and Seton Lakes Care-a-Van for $1,666. And, the commissioners approved expending $12,000 from the technology fund to purchase computer systems for the justice of the peace, precincts 1-4, as well as a contract for $94,615 with Austech Engineering and A.D. Willis Co. for roof work on the Herman Brown Free Library at 100 E. Washington St.

raymond@thepicayune.com

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Burnet County: Commissioners approve
LCRA flood grant applicants