Message from the City Manager

September 13, 2024

“On the Road Again” is a song written and recorded by Willie Nelson, but I probably didn’t need to tell you that. In fact, most people probably instantly had the tune come to mind when they read the song title. Maintaining City roads is a vital part of upkeeping the City of Burnet’s infrastructure and allowing residents to be on the road again.

While there is still plenty of work to be done, the City has begun to take a more strategic approach to ensure the 45 miles of roadways in the City are well-maintained and safe for residents. The process starts with evaluating the condition of the roads, which involves assessing various types of pavement distress, and determining the overall state of the roads and what kind of maintenance is needed.

There are several methods to evaluate road conditions, most of which focus on the current state of the pavement. However, the method preferred by the City is the Remaining Service Life (RSL) approach. This method is more informative because it focuses on how much life remains in the pavement rather than just its current condition. When a road's RSL falls below 10 years, rehabilitation costs, such as overlays or full-depth replacements, tend to increase significantly.

In 2021, Burnet undertook a comprehensive road assessment. At that time, the assessment showed that the average road in the City had a remaining lifespan of only 8 years. Given that a well-maintained road typically lasts over 20 years, this meant on average, Burnet’s roads had less than half of their expected life left.

To address this, the City invested approximately $5 million in road rehabilitation and maintenance over the last 2-3 years. This investment has led to the rehabilitation of over 11 miles of roads and preventative maintenance on an additional 10 miles. These efforts have paid off, as the overall condition of the roads has improved significantly. The average remaining lifespan has increased from 8 years to over 12 years. This improvement underscores the importance of preventative maintenance. It requires far less effort and money to maintain a road in good condition than to let it deteriorate to the point where major repairs are needed. In fact, for every $1 spent today to keep a road in good shape, the City can potentially avoid a $4-$6 expense 10 or more years down the road.

To support these efforts, the City uses computer software to monitor road conditions and recommend the appropriate types of improvements. After a road is reconstructed, this planning tool helps schedule the next round of preventative maintenance, with the goal of performing maintenance on each street once every 7 years.

Burnet’s approach to road management is a balanced one. While the City is committed to bringing every road to an acceptable condition, a significant portion of the effort will be directed towards preventative maintenance. As a sign of its ongoing commitment to maintaining and improving roadways throughout the City, the City Council recently approved the 2024-2025 budget which contains $3.8 million in funds for street improvements.

Finally, a significant street rehab process is currently underway that will assist with our RSL number. The following streets are being addressed, and the overall project is expected to be completed within the next 60 days.

The proposed overlay will consist of placing 2 inches of Hot Mix Asphalt Concrete (HMAC) over the existing pavement to extend the life of the road. Certain roads that are severely cracked will be both milled and overlayed. Milling will consist of removing the existing asphalt to expose the base material underneath, proof rolling, adding tack oil, and then going over with HMAC.

September 6, 2024

National Patriot Day, observed every September 11th, honors the memory of those who lost their lives in the 2001 terrorist attacks. I encourage all residents of the City of Burnet to display flags at their homes and join in a national moment of silence at 7:46 a.m. on this solemn day. As we remember the lives lost, we also pay tribute to the bravery of our first responders who continue to serve our community and many others across the nation.

In an important step towards continuing to enhance medical first responder services, the City of Burnet has introduced its newest ambulance, Medic 2, into service. This latest addition is a 2023 International CV515, custom-built by Frazer, a leading manufacturer of emergency service vehicles. The new ambulance reflects the City’s commitment to the health and safety of its citizens by providing cutting-edge technology for patient care.

Equipped with the most advanced patient care technology available, Medic 2 features a 5.5 kW generator, which allows the patient compartment to function independently from the truck's heating, cooling, and electrical systems. This innovative design ensures that the patient area remains fully operational even in the event of a mechanical issue with the truck chassis, providing a stable and reliable environment for critical care.

The introduction of this advanced ambulance reinforces Burnet's dedication to delivering high-quality emergency medical services, ensuring that residents receive prompt and effective care when it matters most.

Did you know that Burnet residents have four options to avoid credit card fees when paying their monthly utility bills? Payments made with cash, check, or a debit card in person at City Hall (1001 Buchanan Drive, Suite 4) are always free of charge. Checks can also be mailed or placed in the drop box at the front door of City Hall. The most convenient fee-free method is the bank draft option, where the City automatically withdraws the billed amount from your bank account. This offers a simple and cost-effective alternative to using a credit card.

To enroll in bank draft payments, residents need to complete a Bank Draft Request Form, available online at www.cityofburnet.com/utilities under "Utility Applications & Forms." The completed form can be submitted in person at City Hall or mailed to P.O. Box 1369, Burnet, Texas 78611. Once set up, the utility bill amount will be automatically deducted from the resident's bank account each month. This not only eliminates credit card fees, but also ensures timely payments, making bill management easier and more secure.

August 30, 2024

In the wake of the tragic Uvalde school shooting, Advanced Law Enforcement Rapid Response Training (ALERRT) has become a Texas Commission on Law Enforcement (TCOLE)-mandated requirement for all officers every two years. I'm proud to say that Burnet PD was ahead of the curve, having already begun hosting this critical training well before the incident in Uvalde. We've since taken steps to further strengthen our capabilities by sending our officers to instructor schools, enabling us to independently train our own team as well as officers from other agencies.

Over two weekends in August, Burnet PD conducted training sessions that brought together BCISD Guardians, Burnet Police, Bertram Police, non-commissioned officers, and retirees who are maintaining their TCOLE licenses. These sessions incorporated the use of simunitions, allowing officers to engage in realistic scenarios designed to teach them how to respond effectively to an active shooter situation. This is just one of the ways we're intensifying our training efforts to better prepare and protect our community.

In preparation for the upcoming new fiscal year, the City is making two adjustments in utility billing to fully cover the cost of services provided, including increasing the credit card convenience fee and recalculating how the cost of lost power is recovered.

There is no doubt that credit cards provide convenience when making payments for goods and services, but as we all know, that convenience comes at a cost. The City of Burnet began charging a credit card processing fee for the first time in 2022, but that 2% fee falls short of covering the actual costs that credit card companies charge the City on every transaction. This gap has resulted in a loss to the City of approximately $80,000 in the current fiscal year. To address this issue, the City Council recently approved an increase in credit card processing fees. A 3% credit card processing fee will now be charged for City-provided utilities, golf course services and purchases, and other municipal fees. A 5% credit card processing fee will now be charged for Hotel Occupancy Taxes, municipal court fines and fees, building permits, and development service fees.

The City of Burnet purchases electricity for its residents from the Lower Colorado River Authority (LCRA), but did you know that the City never delivers or sells all of the electricity it buys each month to customers? This is due to power loss. As electricity flows through transmission lines, the resistance in the wires causes some of the electrical power to be converted into heat, resulting in a loss. In Burnet, this accounts for a 6.23% loss, or approximately $357,000 annually.

To address this issue, the City Council has approved revisions to the Purchased Power Cost Adjustment ordinance. Now, when calculating the monthly electrical rate, the City will use adjusted kilowatt-hours purchased—taking power loss into account—rather than the total amount of kilowatt-hours purchased. When I applied this change to my own July electricity bill, it increased by 3.6%, or $8.79 of the month of July.  Many people are surprised to learn that even with this small increase, power is cheaper today than it was 10 years ago.

Finally, mark your calendars to join us for Jackson Street Jams with a Selena Forever Tribute Band on September 7 at 8:30 p.m. Come out early for a Salsa-making contest, a Mariachi band, and Folklorico dancers. This free concert series on the downtown square features live music, food, dancing, and shopping opportunities at local downtown businesses.