March 4
New city hall site contract under review
Marble Falls City Council plans to discuss a contract proposal that could open the door to a new city hall and other civic administration departments. Businesses in the two-story building at 110 Avenue H, built in 1984, will make room for Marble Falls City Hall offices.
March 7
State rep. takes steps to block crusher permit
A state representative has filed a “Motion to Overturn” an air quality permit granted by Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) for a planned Burnet County rock crusher operation. State. Rep. Ellen Troxclair (HD-19) filed the motion to overturn (MTO) the approval by the TCEQ executive director of an aggregate company’s application.
March 11
Continuing drought triggers LCRA restrictions
The Lower Colorado River Authority in March announced two significant drought responses that affect all LCRA water customers. LCRA moved from Stage 1 to Stage 2 of its drought response, requiring all LCRA firm water customers – including cities, industries and retail water suppliers – to increase water saving measures and limit outdoor watering to no more than once a week.
March 14
The deadlock is over. Unanimously, during the March 11 meeting, the Burnet County commissioners voted for retired state official Bryan Wilson as the interim county judge. Pct. 1 Commissioner Jim Luther Jr., Pct. 2 Commissioner Damon Beierle, Pct. 3 Commissioner Chad Collier and Pct. 4 Commissioner Joe Dockery each picked Wilson to succeed former county judge James Oakley, who resigned Jan. 2. Wilson was bonded and sworn in as county judge March 12
March 14
School district names new principals
Marble Falls ISD is excited to announce the appointment of Heather Metzgar as the new principal of Spicewood Elementary School and Kara Gasaway as the principal of Marble Falls Elementary School for the 2025-2026 school year. Both leaders bring extensive experience and a deep commitment to student success.
March 18
Marble Falls couple showcases invention on Shark Tank
A couple of Texans from Marble Falls made their way to Los Angeles to pitch a novel product that has changed ball cap storage in a big way. John and Chelsea Giles appeared on ABC on Friday, March 14, to pitch their invention called the DomeDock.
March 18 March 21
Rep files bill to protect venues from mining
A local state representative has taken aim at the aggregate industry with a bill in the 89th Texas Legislative Session that would limit mining proximity to sites that families frequent.
March 21
Marble Falls picks builder for $3M bridge
The Marble Falls City Council recently approved a contractor to build a new bridge to span Backbone Creek near Avenue N.
During its March 18 meeting at city hall, 800 Third St., the council approved Liberty Civil Construction LLC’s proposal to build the bridge for about $3.6 million.
March 25 Commissioners, residents say stop work on the railroad
A commercial group plans to plow ahead with a train track project despite local environmental and quality of life concerns.
Things like excessive noise, potential harm to protected species, lower property values, air pollution and traffic safety are raising concerns among those who live along U.S. 281 between Burnet and Lampasas. In that area, the Texas Materials Group plans to reactivate a railroad for hauling loads of crushed granite between quarries.
March 28
Representatives wishing to build a consortium for aerospace development, visited Burnet County commissioners March to attempt to include them in a budding corporation. After much discussion, the commissioners discussed but took no immediate action related to the request by Cedar Park Assistant Economic Director Scott Smith for Burnet County to join Williamson County with official acceptance of the Central Texas Spaceport Development Corporation. The nonprofit group aims to boost private firms (such as Fire Fly Aerospace in Briggs and Cedar Park) with new initiatives for outer space exploration and tests.
April 1
Legal counsel asks TCEQ to remove quarry permit
The Office of Public Interest Counsel (OPIC) released a response March 28 to a state legislator’s call to overturn the permit of a proposed rock crushing operation in Burnet County. OPIC issued their review following a complaint about an air quality permit granted by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ).
April 1
Fired librarian accepts $225K settlement
A former Kingsland librarian will be paid $225,000 in a wrongful termination settlement following a year-long lawsuit against Llano County and the commissioners court, according to documents. The insurance arm of the Texas Association of Counties, of which the county is insured with, will pay the settlement. Suzette Baker, 58, accused the county of firing her in 2022 because she refused to pull out of the library materials that a group of conservative community members had deemed inappropriate for children.
April 1
BCSO: cockfighting ring probe underway
Local law enforcement is zeroing in on an alleged cockfighting operation that may involve a number of locations in Burnet and adjacent counties. The most recent arrest involved an illegal alien suspect from Mexico. On March 16, an investigating deputy witnessed signs of possible organized crime, including a security detail at the entryway of a property in the north end of the county. A seizure of suspected gamecocks as well as the arrest of the alleged perpetrator followed.
April 4
Burnet, Lampasas counties to host rail line town hall
Burnet County Commissioners Court will host a joint town hall meeting with Lampasas County commissioners to discuss the planned re-activation of railroad tracks through the connecting area. Both the U.S. Surface Transportation Board and the Texas Railroad Commission are reviewing the Texas Materials Group plan to revive the railroad, which ceased to run about 80 years ago.
April 8
Bill committee to hear from public on rock crushers
Members of the public will air their concerns and share their support for state legislation that would place parameters on where aggregate companies can operate. Rep. Ellen Troxclair’s HB 3482 regarding quarries will be heard in the Texas House of Representatives Natural Resources Committee.
April 11
Resolution approved opposing rail line
No new aggregate rail line. Basically, that is the loud and clear message the Burnet County Commissioners Court issued during their April 8 regular meeting at the courthouse.
