Two vie for mayor in Granite Shoals

Two candidates for mayor of Granite Shoals will face off Saturday, May 6, in the General Election. They are incumbent Mayor Carl Brugger and challenger Mike Steenbergen.

Filing unopposed for re-election were businesswoman Anita Hisey and Jim Davant, a retiree who has served on the Planning & Zoning Commission and Street and Water Advisory Group, and local surveyor Todd Holland, for Places 1, 3 and 5, respectively.

The Highlander asked the two mayorial candidates five questions about their qualifications and ideas for being the city's chief municipal leader and their responses appear below. In the interest of fairness, we have alternated which candidate's answer appears first.

What area of expertise do you have that you would like to bring with you as a member of the Granite Shoals City Council?

Brugger: “I offer two critical areas of expertise to the office of mayor. Both are time tested leadership skills. First, as a Certified Public Accountant (C.P.A.), I understand budgets, both in planning and implementation. Fiscal conservative leadership is critical to a healthy city.

My second important leadership skill is leading and bringing different people together to achieve workable solutions. I have earned the respect of fellow council members, allowing for meaningful deliberations.

These areas of expertise reflect my experience practicing as a chemical engineer for 20 years, holding positons as plant and general managers, and over 20 years as a practicing C.P.A. My education includes a B.S. & M.S. in Chemical Engineering and additional college hours for C.P.A. licensing.

Beyond these areas of expertise, I have been a dedicated volunteer for the city, both as a private citizen, council member for two plus terms, and as a mayor for one term. My record shows that I will be committed to serving a second term as Mayor.”

Steenbergen: “My strongest qualification to be Mayor of Granite Shoals Texas is running a corporation that started with 3 retail outlets and 15 employees. As General Manager of the Austin-San Antonio Fantastic Sams Franchise (later Shears Plus) I supervised expansion to 12 retail outlets and 75 employees with over $1.35 million in revenue in 1985 dollars ($3 million in today's dollars). The zoning, construction, personnel and regulatory aspects of the job were very similar to running a City of this size with a current budget of around 5 million and less than 40 employees.

In high school, I won two full academic scholarships to college to study Government at the University of Texas and Baylor. I eventually added a Microsoft Certified Professional status to my resume in 2000 and have served as an Information Technology consultant for several U.S. Congressional Campaigns. For the last two and a half years I have been active as a Granite Shoals Citizens' Advocate. In that position I made sure the voices of the people were heard by the Granite Shoals City Council and management. I was instrumental in adding the East side of town to the road project and opposed the grant process as 'pie in the sky' politics. I also led a successful referendum to overturn an unpopular ordinance.”

What do you think can be done to help find property tax relief for property owners while still generating enough money to fund city operations?

Steenbergen: “In the last few years the government of Granite Shoals has focused on raising sales and property taxes to meet revenue needs. I believe the infrastructure funding efforts have not utilized federal and state grants and loans effectively. With 50 percent to 75 percent funding opportunities for water, sewer and roads it would benefit the city to look to the USDA, DOT, TXDOT and TWQB for grants and loans.

Granite Shoals needs a committee specifically dedicated to searching for available funds and programs to accomplish upgrading and paving roads, upgrading water lines and waste water treatment. Instead of placing the entire expense on local residents through tax increases a comprehensive approach to funding would decrease the overall tax burden on citizens. The budget needs to also be reviewed with 'a 'dull scalpel' designed to eliminate waste, duplication and inefficiency.

Brugger: “With minimal growth in the City’s property tax valuations, sales tax and water revenue collections, meaningful property tax reductions can only occur with either an increase in the property tax valuations (see last question) or a major reduction in expenditures. One of the City’s largest expenditures is personnel, at 60 percent of the general fund’s budget. A meaningful tax rate reduction would likely impact personnel. Although, with changes like these, changes in services may not be initially felt, but they will occur.

In 2018, under a 2010 agreement, Web and Beaver islands will be re-annexed and provide for an opportunity for a lower tax rate.”

What is your opinion about the proposed Wirtz Dam bridge project and what impact do you think it would have on the city of Granite Shoals?

Brugger: “The impact of the Wirtz Dam bridge on Granite Shoals will be two-fold, fire safety in the form of response times and potential business development. The cities of Marble Falls, Horseshoe Bay and Granite Shoals immediately send aid when a structure fire is reported. The Wirtz Dam bridge would allow for additional fire equipment resources to have a faster response for a structure fire, and likewise, if additional EMS services are needed. Next, the intersection of FM 1431 and Wirtz Dam road is in the ETJ of the City of Granite Shoals, providing an opportunity for business development.”

Steenbergen: “I fully support the Wirtz Dam project as an economic boost for the Highland Lakes area. It will encourage business development closer to Granite Shoals, increase property values, provide better medical access to our area hospital and encourage City growth and accessibility.”

What are some of the biggest challenges facing Granite Shoals within the next five years?

Steenbergen: “In the next 5 years Granite Shoals will face major work on roads, water lines, and drainage. I will lead a 'full court press' to obtain all funding assistance available. I want to develop a plan to improve the dirt streets along with upgrading paved streets and arteries. Many dirt side streets are not even graded and are becoming impassable with large ruts blocking traffic flow. Then we need to have a plan in place for waste treatment and development of a sewer system by the end of this first five year period or sooner.”

Brugger: “Infrastructure improvements are the biggest challenge facing Granite Shoals. Completing improvements to the city’s five miles of arterial roads is No. 1. Ongoing improvements to the aging water distribution system is second, where past grant funds have offset the majority of the costs.

The city has little leeway to carry additional debt, making it a big challenge to fund infrastructure improvements. Large grants can assist in making infrastructure improvements possible, but the City faces the challenge of paying for its share of matching funds.”

What is your dream project for Granite Shoals within the next 10 years, if funding is available?

Brugger: “The current council and city administration have been working to put in place development agreements covering undeveloped land adjacent to the City. A development agreement covering the Scarbough’s 600-plus acres adjoining Lake LBJ has been completed. Development of this property, which could prove to be a reality within 10 years, would significantly increase the City’s property tax valuations, fostering opportunities for lower tax rates, better City services, business development along FM 1431and resources for other long-term dreams, such as a new community center, a post office or postal substation, library and sewer system, all items normally in a city of this size.”

Steenbergen: “There are possibilities to bring solar energy to Granite Shoals in the form a distributed solar energy farm which would cost nothing to build and would provide a 40-year revenue stream for Granite Shoals. I organized a City Council presentation on the subject to show how feasible it was to make solar energy an active part of Granite Shoals future. I will continue to pursue these projects because they have a net positive effect on revenue which is something that Granite Shoals desperately needs.”