Soon after the recent meeting of the Burnet County Commissioners Court got underway, County Judge Bryan Wilson mentioned the Public Utilities Commission of Texas (PUCT) had just opened its first hearing in Austin related to an important issue that could affect hundreds of county residents.
"Miss Pemberton is there,” Wilson said at the April 14 meeting in Burnet at the County Courthouse, 220 S.
Pierce.
Wilson referred to Burnet Attorney Margaret Pemberton, who the commissioners have hired to represent the county as an intervener opposed to the installation of a 765-kilovolt electrical transmission line through most of northern Burnet County.
Because of many concerns related to communication breakdowns, environmental hazards, personal health, property rights and more issues, the proposed line has aroused much local concern and controversy.
As the court continued its meeting, the commissioners voted unanimously to increase the salary of Pemberton by $20,000.
EMS Funds Later, Lonestar Faith LLC Manager Joshua Devine asked the commissioners to support his application to provide non-emergency transportation of patients between facilities in Burnet County.
Pct. 4 Commissioner Joe Don Dockery asked Burnet Fire and EMS Chief Mark Ingram and Marble Falls Area EMS Executive Director Johnny Campbell for their views of the Lonestar application, especially with regard to whether it would affect revenue stream. “They (Lonestar) will absolutely influence our revenue," Mark Ingram told the commissioners. “It’s hard to answer that question," Campbell said. “We do not know at this time." Before the Bulletin went to press, the commissioners delayed a decision related to the Lonestar request, pending a letter of good standing from the Texas Secretary of State and other documentation. Also during the meeting, the commissioners: Approved a contract $5,000 with Architexas to assist county officials with a grant request to the Texas Historic Courthouse Preservation Program for repairs to the courthouse basement; Approved a salary supplement of $30,000 to be divided evenly between County Attorney Eddie Arredondo and Assistant County Attorney Colleen Davis through the end of Fiscal Year 2026, which occurs September 30; Approved an engagement letter with the Bickerstaff, Heath and Delgado law firm to assist the county with specialized civil issues on a fee-for-service basis; and Recognized April as Child Abuse Awareness Month and County Government Month.
