The Burnet County Commissioners Court recently convened in cheery fashion three days before Christmas.
The court met Dec. 21, instead of its meeting scheduled for Dec. 26, the day after Christmas.
“This is a regular meeting but not on a regular date,” County Judge James Oakley explained, as the meeting began.
During time allowed for public comment, Burnet resident Steve Anderson played mandolin and sang solo the traditional Christmas carol “Joy to the World.”
The court and all attendees stood and applauded after the recital.
"That was definitely a first," Oakley said.
During her monthly report, County Treasurer Karrie Crownover men tioned the county collected interest earned at more than $207,000 and recorded a cash and investment balance of more than $47.7 million through the end of November.
“We are in a good, healthy position, and that is something to be proud of," Oakley said, after the court accepted the report.
Jail Committee
During a brief update, Pct. 2 Commissioner Da mon Beierle mentioned the special jail committee recently held its first meet ing to study how to make county jail operations more efficient.
“We don’t have anything to report now, but we are moving forward constructively," Beierle said.
Besides Beierle, the committee includes Pct. 2 Commissioner Jim Luther Jr., County Attorney Eddie Arredondo, Chief Deputy Alan Trevino, Sheriff’s Office Jail Administra - tion Capt. Matt Kimbler, County Auditor Karin Smith and Marble Falls resident Patricia Cope. Also during the meeting, the court:
• Re-appointed sev- eral Emergency Services District board members including, Sharon Barclay and Bill Proffer to ESD 2; Bucky Brady and Steve Tatom to ESD 3; Thomas Guess to ESD 4; Nancy Hansen to ESD 6; Randy Hartman and John Smallwood to ESD 7 and; James Shamard to ESD 8, all re-appointments effec-
tive Jan. 1, 2024;
• Approved bonds for Pct. 4 Constable Milli cent Bindseil, and Bur- net County Tax Assessor Sheri Frazier;
• Approved out-ofstate travel to the 2024 Tyler Connect Odyssey Conference May 19-24 in Indianapolis recommend- ed by Jackie Haynes, the county Internet Software
and Technology Support Chief;
• Approved the Sentry Security & Investigation of Austin donation of $5,000 to the Coun ty Sheriff Discretionary Fund; and
• The court also approved renewal of the Tex- as Association of Counties Risk Management Pool liability insurance.