Fiscal year ends on high note in Marble Falls

Glynis Crawford Smith/The Highlander

The larger portion of the open session of the Marble Falls City Council on Tuesday, Dec. 5, was devoted to reports and recognitions.

Perhaps the most significant council action followed the closed executive session with City Attorney Patty Akers. It resulted in a formal letter, responding to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) approval of a permit for the Asphalt, Inc. rock crushing facility in south Burnet County. (See related story in The Highlander.)

The reports were important as well, however.

“You have good news in your Fourth Quarter Revenue and Expense Report,” said Finance Director Margie Cardenas of year-to-date figures from the first week of November.

She said the General Fund ended the fiscal year with a surplus of $318,934, adding to the cash reserves balance.

“This will grow our cash reserves fund balance to $1,912,552 or 21 percent of operating expenditures,” said Cardenas. “This gets us closer to our target goal of 25 percent of operating expenditures.

“The major sources of revenue that contributed to the surplus are sales taxes and building permits and fees. The majority of the departments held their expenditures below 100 percent of their budgeted amounts. This combination allows us to end the fiscal year with a healthy surplus.”

Cardenas said the Water and Wastewater Fund also ended the fiscal year with a positive surplus, adding $129,651 to cash reserves.

“The fund balance is growing (there, too), just at a slower pace than General Fund,” she said.

Johnny Campbell, executive director of the Marble Falls Area Emergency Medical Service (MFAEMS) opened his report with the presentation of new portable automated external defibrillators (AEDs) to the Marble Falls Police Department.

“We received a grant from the Rotary Club to get AEDs into sergeant's patrol cars...and hopefully save lives,” he said.

He said also that the new 3,800-square-foot EMS station in Spicewood was coming along ahead of schedule. It's opening, expected by mid-February, should greatly reduce the response time to the far southeastern county that now stands at an average 25 minutes.

Assistant City Manager Caleb Kraenzel introduced the city's new code enforcement officer, Max Johnson. He said Johnson brings expertise gained as an Austin Police Department officer to help with community education in why code compliance is beneficial to residents as well as the city.

In the course of his update on strategic priorities set by the council in May, City Manager Mike Hodge said new Public Works Director James Kennedy was outlining work to accomplish under the new $300,000 budget for streets.

“We are looking at software to prioritize and evaluate the work to present in a month for capital improvement projects,” he said.

No threat to boat races

Robert Moss, director of the Parks and Recreation Department, had two key items on the agenda—a regular departmental report and an update on discussions about the Lakeside Park boat ramp changes indicated in Phase 1a of the Parks Capital Improvement Plan (CIP).

Regarding the boat ramps, Mayor John Packer was quick to comment: “I just hope we can make it clear we are not getting rid of the (LakeFest) boat races.”

“That is correct,” said Moss, outlining accommodations for racing team access to Lake Marble Falls.

As important as the annual drag boat event is to some residents, the parks department is also aware of use by everyday residents and the city's commitment to abide by the terms under which the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) provided space for the current Lakeside ramp.

He said TxDOT had been provided daily use figures and has agreed that improvements to the most heavily-used Johnson Park ramp and least heavily-used Hays Addition ramp should be able to meet the access conditions set out in the city's agreement with TxDOT.

Moss gave a nod to his staff in his departmental report.

“Our administrative assistant, Monique Breaux, has completed her very difficult Certified Parks and Recreation Professional (CPRP) exam,” he said, calling up the admin who serves both parks and public works departments for a presentation of her certificate.

Moss clearly enjoyed the other presentation at the meeting, as well.

“All our staff went to the Texas Recreation and Parks Society (TRAPS) Maintenance Rodeo and this year we had a winner,” said Moss. “Brian Murphy. He won the zero-turn obstacle course competition. He qualifies for state.”

Park superintendent Lewis Fincher was ready with a plaque devised by the staff bearing a model of a zero-turn mower.

Moss reported on work in response to a council request that he gather new data on contracting city landscaping tasks, rather that using full-time employees. The City of Marble Falls has issued a request for proposals (RFPs) and a request for quotations (RFQs) concerning those tasks. Details are found on the city website, www.marblefallstx.gov, or by using this link: http://bit.ly/2ACxV9Q.