Granite Shoals pub- lic works officials have mastered high-tech amenities to streamline and coordinate street projects throughout the city.
Assistant City Manager Tim Campbell, who is also the fire chief, addressed the Granite Shoals City Council April 28 to recap changes on protocols for repairs, maintenance and upgrades in the streets department.
“Most of these are from them (street department staff), going out and studying the materials, getting it back to us and getting it approved through y’all and making those changes.”
Changes impact how potholes are approached and fixed. In the past, crews would receive a call and patch the hole, which would wash out in the rain, he said.
“It was creating an endless cycle,” Campbell said.
The budget consists of a 1-cent stipend from sales tax going to street repairs, totaling about $400,000 per year for the work.
Also, recent upgrades to work amenities include new equipment such as skid steers and attachments.
Officials moved from “cold patches,” to new materials that resemble “hot mix in the form of a cold mix,” Campbell explained.
To date, crews have used about $60,000 in “easy asphalt material” for the work.
The goal is to pave three roads this year, he told councilors. Officials are also using an AI software program, known as vialytics, for work orders, work progress and projects such as grading streets, culverts and street signs.
“We’re really at the brink of where we’re going to start seeing a lot more progress through the city,” Campbell said.
Next month the city council is expected to receive bids for major road work from private firms to compare to doing the work in-house.
“You’re going to see the bids and savings from doing this in-house. It’s substantial,” Campbell said, adding in some areas it has “tripled” in cost.
Factors that prompted the move for more in-house work as well as the easy asphalt material include inflation and oil prices. He mentioned that the city has $200,000 remaining as part of a bond issue for paving this year. Residents will continue to see use of extensive road upgrades with hot mix as well.
Mayor Ron Munos applauded the work and high-tech advancements by the streets department.
“Nice to see as we publicize our efforts so the citizens can see we’re actually trying to respond (to cost and repairs) as best we can,” Munos said. “All of these things are dollar limited.”
Probe Dropped
Turning to other matters, the mayor shared that Burnet County Sheriff’s Office has closed a probe involving an ex-employee who accused city administrators of money mismanagement.
Munos said, “I just wanted everybody to know that we were exonerated of any wrong doing. ... It’s nice to have that put behind us.
“Sarah (Novo, city manager) and Tim (Campbell, fire chief) were both exonerated, found at no fault,” he added. “Thank you very much. We’ve always had faith in you.”
In council action, city council members addressed an update of the city’s Drought Contingency Plan. Councilors voted to replace the municipality’s plan with an updated version, as required by the Texas Water Development Board (TWDB). The city’s application for wastewater grants, prompted the requirement.
Lake Patrols
City council members also voted unanimously to approve a “Memorandum of Understanding” to strike a partnership between Granite Shoals Police Department and Sunrise Beach Village Police Department for lake patrols. Sunrise Beach, located in Llano County, is across Lake LBJ from Granite Shoals, located in Burnet County. On certain weekends, the two agencies would work together in each jurisdiction for enforcement.
“They have marine enforcement officers just like we do ourselves,” Police Chief John Ortis said of the partnership launched last year. “We have to have a minimum staffing of two on that vessel anytime it hits the water.
“What we would do is on days they would provide us on days with that (second) officer; we would not only patrol the City of Granite Shoals, but also the shoreline of Sunrise Beach Village (and) vice versa,” he added. “They would offer up their boat and at times we would offer up an offer to be on their boat. ... Chief (Lori) Brock and I, we co-command this.
“This is a way to keep continuing what we’re doing but keeping the cost at a minimum.”
Set patrol days are Memorial Day, Labor Day and Independence Day weekends.
In other business, council members:
• Approved moving money from water bond funds ($100,000) to pay for the upgrade and replacement of the water treatment plant’s “critical components” such as electrical components and actuators.
• Received an update about the Fraternal Order of Eagles encroachment agreement in which the council authorized on-site improvements with limited set back encroachments. The buildings, 6929 W. FM 1431, are located on the south side of FM 1431.
• Approved the police department seeking a grant from the Texas Department of Motor Vehicle Crime Prevention Authority towards $24,083 for six license plate reader devices, hardware and signs. If awarded any grant amount, the city would be responsible for a 20% match for that specific grant. Also:
• The police chief recognized volunteers for the 14th Annual Easter Egg Hunt; the police department and fire department distributed 30,000 Easter eggs, during the hunt which was successful despite the rain.
• The mayor proclaimed the week of May 3-9 as Municipal Clerks Week in honor of overseeing tasks such as elections, agenda and city history preservation. Also, the mayor announced appreciation for Administrative Professionals Day;
• Munos recognized and offered condolences for the recent deaths of citizens who contributed to Granite Shoals, including parks and animal shelter volunteer L.E. Dunn who passed away on April 10; former planning and zoning commission member Dan Romasko, who died on March 19, and was known for key code updates; and Abundant Heart Church Pastor Raymond Kessler, who died March 27, and was known as the community Santa Claus;
• The mayor announced events including the Howdy Roo Chili Cookoff at Quarry Park on Saturday, May 2, and the April 25 High School Barbecue Cookoff Championship that featured 120 entries;
• Munos also shared that the Hill Country Humane Society Wags to Riches event organizers recognized the city for its humane programs for feral cats and wildlife; and
• He reminded attendees that Election Day is Saturday, May 2.
For Granite Shoals City Council, incumbent Mike Pfister, who has no opponent, will retain his Place 2 seat; Mark Henshaw and Todd Sifleet both filed for Place 4; and incumbent Catherine Bell is unopposed for Place 6.
The Burnet County Elections Office is handling the elections for the cities. Voters can cast their ballots at any of the four polling locations: The Texas Tech Marble Falls, 806 Steve Hawkins Pkwy.; Granite Shoals Community Center, 1208 N. Phillips Ranch Road; as well as the AgriLife Building, 607 N. Vandeveer St., in Burnet and Bertram Community Center, 340 S. Gabriel St. Voters can cast their ballots from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. at all four voting centers.
For more information, visit burnetcountyelections. com.
