Marble Falls City Council members appointed Lauren Haltom to fill the vacant Place 4 seat during the June 16
regular meeting.
Mayor John Packer, Mayor Pro-tem Craig Magerkurth and Council members Dave Rhodes and Richard Westerman voted for Haltom. The seat became vacant after former council member Karlee Hubble resigned May 7.
Councilman Dave Haddock supported former mayor and retired city manager George Russell for the appointment. Councilman Mark Mayfield did not vote.
“I think you made the right decision,” Russell told the council after the vote.
Haltom previously served as the Place 3 representative until she lost the seat to Rhodes in the May general election.
Assistant City Manager Russell Sander also reported a favorable financial outlook. One year ago, the city issued a certificate of obligation worth more than $6.8 million to finance construction of Fire Station No. 2 south of Lake Marble Falls. The station ultimately cost about $5.4 million to build, Sander said.
“There is more funding available,” he told the council.
State finance law al lows the city to use the remaining $1.3 million for a new fire engine at Station 2 and roof repairs at Fire Station No. 1, Sander added.
The council approved both expenditures.
Finance Director Jeneen Peterson then conducted the first reading of two proposed amendments to the Fiscal Year 2026 budget.
One amendment would cut more than $560,000 from general fund spending, raising the projected Sept. 30 fund balance to roughly $7.8 million - about 7% above earlier estimates.
The second amendment would increase economic development fund spending to nearly $7.9 million, lowering the year- end balance to about $4.2 million, less than 46% projected last October.
The council delayed action on both amendments until the second reading on July 7.
“Obviously, the budget has a lot of moving parts," Mayfield said. "I am looking forward to working on it with you.”
Also during the meeting, the council:
• Recognized Juneteenth in a proclamation by the mayor with a visit from African American History Museum founder Bessie Jackson. On June 20 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., the public is invited to the Marble Falls Juneteenth event at Westside Park. Bring your own chairs. The celebration is hosted by St. Frederick Baptist Church, the City of Marble Falls and the museum. Enjoy barbecue and sides and music. There will be dominoes, corn hole and other activities such as tours at first responder vehicles. A tour of the museum via shuttle will follow. Call 830-693-4499;
• Required council approval for spending of $5,000 or more tied to buying, redeveloping or condemning property that would displace commercial tenants;
• Appointed Packer, Magerkurth and Rhodes to the City Hall Committee; and
• Appointed Packer, Haltom and Westerman to the Highland Lakes Regional Communication Center Committee.
