City Manager Ken Nickel

Former Granite Shoals Police Chief J.P. Wilson

Former Granite Shoals police chief Joshua Patrick “J.P.” Wilson has been indicted on a charge of aggravated perjury, a third-degree felony, by a Burnet County grand jury — nearly two years to the date after he stepped down from his job.

Wilson, who turned himself in May 9 to Bee County Jail officials, was released on $15,000 bond the same day. He is scheduled to be arraigned June 15 before Judge Allan Garrett in Burnet County on Case Number 48099 and a status hearing is scheduled for July 27. He is being represented by attorney Charles Baird.

By Glynis Crawford Smith

The Highlander

Victory in a years-long effort to establish a comfortable general fund balance seems to be in sight for the City of Granite Shoals.

City Manager Ken Nickel told the city council Tuesday night, Dec. 12, that he would have to wait for an official pronouncement from the upcoming audit, but the city's own summary of Fiscal Year 2016-2017 is promising.

“Between the increase in revenue and less money expended we are $243,456, net, to the good,” he said. “Added to current reserves, I believe we will hit the 90-day reserve of normal or best practices.

“It is nice to have the balance, but we have to remember, one major expense could knock it out.”

By Glynis Crawford Smith

The Highlander

The Granite Shoals City Council chose a conservative path Tuesday, July 26, delaying a citizen vote on a bond issue that could restore major thoroughfares.

The meeting wore on to midnight as the council weighed the possibility of putting a bond issue for around $2.8 million on the November ballot. In the end, Mayor Carl Brugger's vote decided to delay the ballot option to citizens until May.

The bond issue would buy the city another $3.4 million in grant matching funds if the proposed street project were to cost as much as $6.2 million.