As folks say in the boxing ring, the Burnet County commissioners are “throwing down.”
During the Jan. 13 meeting, through the announcement of formal and lengthy resolution, the commissioners spoke out against approval in the county of any unjustifiable groundwater permit action.
“Basically, it is our task as a county government to protect our citizens,” County Judge Bryan Wilson before he introduced the resolution, approved by Pct. 1 Commissioner Jim Luther Jr., Pct. 2 Commissioner Damon Beierle, Pct. 3 Commissioner Chad Collier and Pct. 4 Commissioner Joe Don Dockery.
According to the resolution: “Burnet County formally opposes the issuance of any new groundwater production permit - temporary or permanent - without a thorough study having been presented to the Central Texas Groundwater Conservation District (CTGCD) and finding is made by CTGCD that said permit application and issuance poses no risk to domestic wells, agricultural operations, public water systems, natural resources, or the longterm sustainability of the Hickory Aquifer or any groundwater source within Burnet County.”
The resolution was well-received by Burnet County rancher Randy Printz, one of the main organizers of SaveBurnet. com, one local organization opposed strongly to the opening of a rock-crusher quarry in Hoover Valley near FM 3509.
“We feel it (the resolution) is very important,” Printz told the commissioners. “It (the proposed quarry) will take as many gallons of groundwater as the whole city of Burnet needs for groundwater.”
Also during the meeting, Wilson announced the commissioners plan to conduct a workshop 9 a.m. Jan. 16 to consider and discuss another environmentallysensitive topic – the 765-kilovolt transmission line proposed to cut through the northern portion of Burnet County from the Bell County East substation.
The workshop is set to be held in the Burnet County AgriLife Extension, 607 N. Vandeveer.
According to the workshop agenda, the commissioners will discuss the breadth and depth of their authority and several other issues related to the line proposed by the Lower Colorado River Authority and Oncor, the private-utility firm. During previous weeks, the commissioners have listened to several protests against the line uttered by local residents who live near part of the proposed line.
For the most part, those residents oppose the line because of longterm risks it may pose toward health and safety.
Currently, the proposed line is under review by the Texas Public Utility Commission.
As the meeting continued, the commissioners agreed to forward a letter to the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) to express continued support for the Capital Area Rural Transportation System (CARTS) and their application for a TxDOT grant.
“It (CARTS) is extremely helpful,” Collier said.
Also during the meeting, the commissioners:
• Accepted a donation of $20,000 from Lavonia Fry to the Burnet Herman Brown Free Library for renovation of the library children’s room, its printing station and supplies for its genealogy section;
• Agreed to apply for a grant of $10,000 from Tex Treasures to support preservation of the Burnet County genealogy and history sections housed in the Free Library;
• Appointed Diane Arredondo to the Burnet County Emergency Services District (ESD) board No. 1; and
• Re-appointed Steve Hallmark to ESD board no. 7 and accepted the retirement of Roy Hallmark from ESD no. 7.
“He (Hallmark) did a great job,” Beierle said. “We appreciate his service.”
Also, the commissioners re-appointed Karen Bruett to ESD board no. 9; and to the ESD board No. 10, appointed Opal Campbell, Gary Harrell, Ned Ewart, Barker Keith II and James Shamard and to ESD board No. 11, appointed Eugene H. Broadway, Kenneth (Pete) Fuselier, Lurenda Henry and Kenny Schnell.
