Frank Reilly

By Glynis Crawford Smith

The Highlander

Citizens of Granite Shoals said “yes” Tuesday, Nov. 8, to a $3 million bond issue for major roadway refurbishment but defeated a No Deer Feed Ordinance by a scant seven votes.

The vote of 1,170 citizens was 66.92 percent in favor of the road bond—783, “yes” to 387, “no.”

It is the strong possibility of qualifying for a U.S. Department of Agriculture grant in a 45-55 match, boosting the project from a single road to all three north-south arteries in a $6.8 million project.

“I will be meeting with the USDA next week to develop a road map to move forward,” said City Manager Ken Nickel on Wednesday.

Curiously, 11 of the road bond voters took no stand on a deer feeding ban, a question that failed with 583 voting, “no,” to the ordinance and 576, “yes” votes. Although the council had approved the ordinance, a petition to go to the ballot intervened its implementation and it will not go into effect.

Granite Shoals City Hall will be filled with history at the 50th Year Bash festival on Saturday, April 23—art by its youngest citizens, students of Highland Lakes Elementary School, and historical accounts of its oldest.
It is all part of the plan to look to the future, while remembering the past. Those accounts of the past have been developed with the leadership of former mayor Dennis Maier.
Granite Shoals is a growing city with a population of now estimated at 5,025 citizens.
It is home to Highland Lakes Elementary School, with an enrollment of about 623 students who take an active part in city activities. In fact their art will decorate the 50th Year Bash.

By Glynis Crawford Smith

The Highlander

A record number of voters cast ballots in the March 1 Party Primary Election, a process that will be repeated for the eight candidates in four county runoff races.

“The turnout beat the 2008 primary, which was the biggest we know of,” said Doug Ferguson, Burnet County elections administrator. “The total was 11,751 of about 27,000 registered voters.”