Granite Shoals Faith Alliance

By Glynis Crawford Smith

The Highlander

In another lengthy Granite Shoals City Council Meeting Tuesday, Aug. 22, the council and Burnet County Emergency Service District 3 (ESD #3) remained at loggerheads over a contract for fire coverage.

The two had moved closer but, to finance in one year, three additional firefighters for 24/7, two-man coverage, a proposal for a five-year contract from the ESD #3 falls short of the budget the city has planned. So, the debate continues and the council has sent City Manager Ken Nickel and Finance Director Wendy Gholson back to the drawing board for an even more detailed set of options to be presented at the first formal public hearing on the budget tonight, Thursday, Aug. 24.

By Glynis Crawford Smith

The Highlander

A presentation by the Granite Shoals Faith Alliance and discussion of a new social media initiative aimed at drawing neighborhoods together captured the interest of the Granite Shoals City Council Tuesday, July 11.

“We at the Alliance have been working for the past two years to bring our city together,” said Ray Keesler of Abundant Heart Ministries. “This is a way to bring neighbors together block by block.

“We were delighted when Alan Williams of Chick-fil-A came along and offered a simple, fun way with the Know Your Neighbor program.”

Alliance members Jackie English of Christ Redeemer Church and Mike Mitchell of Granite Fellowship Church were also at the meeting where they made it clear they were supporting the new program, not an a church program, but as willing workers to bring the program together.

Family fun festivals set for Sunday, Monday

Two events are being sponsored by the Highland Lakes religious community this Halloween but the emphasis is not on Halloween; instead on the bywords “free,” “family,” “fun” and “safe.”

Sunday

The first Family Fun Fest of the Granite Shoals Faith Alliance will take place Sunday, Oct. 30, at Veterans Memorial Park, located on the south end of Phillips Ranch Road in Granite Shoals.

An all-city worship service will be held at 11 a.m. at the park pavilion.

From 1-5 p.m. activities for the whole family will be sponsored by the Granite Shoals police and fire departments. In addition to food, music, door prizes and giveaways, activities for children are planned to include a petting zoo, games and contests.

Monday

On Monday night, Oct. 31, the First Assembly of God Church of Marble Falls will hold its FUNFEST from 6-8 p.m.

By Glynis Crawford Smith

The Highlander

The Granite Shoals City Council last week voted final approval for the ordinance that place a bond issue on the November ballot and reached an accord on budget concessions that will likely result in a tax rate lower than the maximum considered.

On Monday night, Aug. 22, the bond election ordinance specified Nov. 8 ballot language allowing voters to choose “for” or “against” the issuance of $3 million in tax bonds for improvements to Phillips Ranch Road, Prairie Creek Road And Valley View Lane.

The bonds amount would represent about 45 percent of the proposed improvement costs. The city is seeking U.S. Department of Agriculture grant support for the balance of the project. It was not only the prospect of grant support for more than half the cost that convinced the council that the time was right for the project.