Oakalla VFD

By Connie Swinney
Staff Writer

Burnet County Commissioners on Tuesday, Feb. 12, approved bids for companies to remove, dispose and monitor the process of disposing of large piles of debris, trash and flood-damaged structures collected in the wake of the October 2018 Highland Lakes flood event.

The court chose Texas Disposal Systems (TDS) to remove the piles, stored in a section of Quarry Park, adjacent to Granite Shoals.

“We would like to thank the city of Granite Shoals for being the host of this debris that was collected all along the Highland Lakes,” Burnet County Judge James Oakley said.

On Oct. 16, historic flooding from the Llano River swept down the Colorado River into the Highland Lakes causing massive shoreline flooding in communities including Kingsland, Horseshoe Bay, Granite Shoals and Marble Falls.

By Savanna Gregg

Staff Writer

The Highlander

Many unanswered questions are circulating through the Briggs community in light of a recent decision by the Board of Emergency Services Commissioners for Burnet County ESD No. 8 to terminate its contract with the Briggs Volunteer Fire Department effective March 1.

In a statement issued by the ESD No. 8, “all operations by Briggs VFD within the District will cease effective March 1, 2019, and all Briggs VFD assets that have been paid for by the District...will be returned to the District at that time.”

ESD No. 8 plans to assign the District's emergency services to Oakalla VFD following the dismantling of Briggs VFD.

“The Board believes this change in service will benefit the entire District by enhancing the level of service across the community,” the release stated.

Briggs VFD Fire Chief Melinda Wessels-Renfro stated the VFD was not enlightened on the reasoning behind the ESD's decision.