Marble Falls City Council approved funds to support the Second Street Improvements Project.
During the Dec. 3 meeting at city hall, the following were in attendance: Mayor Dave Rhodes, Mayor Pro-tem Craig Magerkurth and councilors Griff Morris, Lauren Haltom, Bryan Walker and Richard Westerman. Councilwoman Karlee Hubble was absent.
As they considered the regular agenda, the council voted 5-0 to contract Pyramid Construction (doing business as Wellcraft Builders) to improve Second Street crosswalks, electrical supply for lighting fixtures, irrigation of green spaces, parking stall stripes, pavement repairs, sidewalk installation and south side right of way.
Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone 2024 bond proceeds of no more than $296,375 will fund the work, officials said.
The high bid for the job totaled more than $653,000, City Engineer Jeff Prato told the council.
Council member Griff Morris was curious as to why the high bid was considerable more than the low bid.
“Sometimes pricing (of bids) can be dependent upon where materials are sourced,” Prato replied.
Also, some contractors could be prone to submit a bid for general purposes without any serious intention, Prato speculated.
Reclamation Plant
As the meeting continued, the council approved the fourth amendment of a contract with Plummer Associates for administration, management, quality control and other engineering services related to construction of the One Water Marble Falls Reclamation Plant near Walmart at 2700 U.S. 281. Magerkurth recused himself from the vote.
According to officials, the Texas Water Development Board and the U.S. Clear Water State Revolving Fund will finance about 80% of the $3.7 million contract, city bond sales about 20%.
“I am excited at this point,” Rhodes said. “This has taken a long time and a lot of effort.”
Magerkurth declared his recusal from the vote, citing possible conflict of interest concerns.
Then the council approved (with one dissenting vote) the hiring of Cramar Solutions as the Phase 1 Project Manager of the One Water Marble Falls Project, at the price of $175,000 from the Utility Capital Improvement Fund bond proceeds.
Again, Magerkurth recused himself. Walker dissented without comment.
The One Water project is expected to begin during early 2025, City Manager Mike Hodge said.
Animal Shelter Donation As Magerkurth rejoined the council and council member Lauren Haltom arrived later to the meeting, the council voted 6-0 to donate $140,000 to the Hill Country Humane Society.
The donation will help build to a new kennel to house abandoned animals from the Marble Falls Police Department’s Animal Services Division, beginning March 2025, officials said.
Annually, Marble Falls Police Chief Glenn Hanson estimated more than 100 animals held by the city will be transferred safely to the facility in Buchanan Dam.
Also, the donation would support local efforts to secure grants to fund a new Burnet and Llano County Regional Animal Control Facility.
“This (donation) will elevate service to the level our community thinks it should be,” Hanson said.
Landscape Code
During her presentation, Development Services Director Kim Foutz indicated that the city Planning and Zoning Commission currently recommends several changes to the city development code that regulates landscapes, lighting, parking and several other functions.
“We want to put some more clarity in the code,” Foutz told the council.
For instance, to conserve water, the city could order property owners to observe a “maximum turf area no more than 75% of a front-yard pervious cover.”
“That is not going to work,” Morris said. “I can see many people ignoring it.”
Perhaps the city could fly drones over front yards to enforce to such an ordinance, Magerkurth quipped, followed by laughter.
No public comment by any meeting attendees followed the lengthy presentation by Foutz.
“These are challenging issues,” Rhodes concluded. “We are not going to figure this out tonight.”
In turn, Rhodes urged Foutz to gather “more feedback” and encourage more “cognitive discussion” between Development Services and Planning and Zoning Commission members.
During its consent agenda, the council approved:
• For Park View Park, the bid of more than $70,000 to Play-Works for the installation of the playground equipment, more than $32,240 to Playground Solutions of Texas for a nest bench and more than $162,000 to Whirlix Design for lunar burst net climber and playground fall zone surfacing;
• The bid of more than $237,000 to Ape Studio for various playground amenities at Park View Park;
• Applying to the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program for the Nature Heights Drainage Improvement project;
• The transfer of property at 1001 Main Street from the Marble Falls Economic Development Corporation to the city;
• The provision of water service and annexation of more than 17 acres near Hamilton Creek and east RR 1431 within the city’s extra-territorial jurisdiction; and
• A utility easement requested by the Pedernales Electric Cooperative for the Thunder Rock Sports Complex.
Before the council began its deliberations Rhodes announced the Dec. 3 meeting is the final council meeting of 2024.
Also, the council recognized Development Services Coordinator Hanna Kadow as the Employee of the Quarter, and conferred on Melinda Kirkpatrick (the owner of Edward Jones Investments at 767 Third Street) and Boyd and Lu Bruchmiller (Marble Falls, 920 Pecan Circle) the 2024 Community Pride Award.
