By a close decision, the Burnet County Commissioners recently denied the Lonestar Faith Emergency Medical Services LLC application to provide non-emergency transportation of patients between medical facilities in Burnet County.
The commissioners voted 3-2 to deny the application during the May 12 meeting.
County Judge Bryan Wilson, Pct. 2 Commissioner Damon Beierle and Pct. 3 Commission Chad Collier voted against; Pct. 1 Commissioner Jim Luther Jr. and Pct. 4 Commissioner Joe Don Dockery voted for the application.
Before the vote, Wilson emphasized Texas law mandates the commissioners must consider just three issues related to the application; (1) Will the new emergency management services (EMS) provider interfere with or adversely affect existing EMS providers; (2) Will the new provider remedy an existing shortage that current providers cannot resolve; and (3) Will adding the provider avoid or create an oversupply of providers?
Before the commissioners voted, they coaxed Marble Falls Area EMS Executive Director Johnnie Campbell to offer his opinion.
“From this (Lonestar) group, there is al- ways the possibility, the potential is there if they decide to take off and grow,” Campbell said. “Eventually, the group could cost the county and other entities an increase in their commitments to our service.”
The commissioners deliberated.
“Everyone has a right to do business,” Dockery said. “I do not think it is the job of this court to restrict people from doing business.”
Beierle offered another view.
“I am all for business, but I am not for opening the door (to Lonestar) while knowing my area (Pct. 2) is creating ESDs (emergency services districts) to help cover costs, and (Lonestar) could increase taxes," Beierle said.
Turning to another matter, the commissioners voted unanimously to request bids for a complete, turnkey and fully operational 230-kilowatt diesel generator for the county jail to include equipment, installation, labor and warranty at the cost of no more than $325,000 from the county building reserve fund.
“A couple of months ago, the generator switch went out,” Wilson recalled. “Maintenance was able to kick it back on. But the engine failed a few weeks ago. I think the unit is maybe 30 years old. So, it makes no sense to replace it. We just need to go out to bid.”
The jail will rely on a rental generator until a replacement is received, Wilson said.
Also during the meeting, the commissioners: Approved the final plat for the Thomas Ranch Northwest subdivision Phase 2, Parcel 48; Phase 4, Parcel 46; and Phase 5, Parcel 55 at CR 404; Created a line item by an amount not to exceed $4,000 for county toll and vehicle tags from the Fiscal Year 2026 Non-Departmental budget; and Approved the return of $307 authorized by SB 22 for the Rural Law Enforcement Grant Fund, which expired Sept. 30, 2024.
