Blog

On Wednesday, August 13, as part of the Horseshoe Bay POA’s Community Education Series, TxDOT Project Engineer Joe Muck delivered a detailed and engaging presentation at Quail Point Lodge about the proposed Wirtz Dam Road Project. The project aims to create a new roadway connection between RM 1431 in Marble Falls and RM 2147 in Cottonwood Shores, a 3.68-mile stretch, and to construct a new bridge over Lake Marble Falls.

 

 

The proposed plan would reconstruct Wirtz Dam Road as a two-lane, undivided roadway with 12-foot-wide lanes and 10-foot shoulders in each direction. The project’s stated purpose is to reduce congestion on US Highway 281, improve mobility and emergency response times, and provide another crossing over the Colorado River. Traffic analysis indicates that 14% of vehicles on RM 1431 are traveling to a destination along RM 2147 via US 281. The new bridge could divert an estimated 4,600 northbound and 3,300 southbound vehicles from US 281 each day.

 

Joe Muck explained that large-scale infrastructure projects like this can take many years—often decades—from conception to completion. TxDOT’s process involves continuous input from both the public and local officials, and feedback is welcome at any stage. Burnet County is currently completing an environmental study in compliance with national policy, and importantly, the proposal involves no residential displacements.

 

The Wirtz Dam Road Project is a joint effort between Burnet County and TxDOT. Current efforts include coordinating with utilities such as PEC and LCRA for relocation designs, working with landowners to address project impacts, and finalizing drainage easement requirements. Heather Ashley-Nguyen, Director of Transportation Planning and Development for TxDOT’s Austin District, joined the presentation to assist with the Q&A session.

 

Audience members were attentive and asked thoughtful questions, with some expressing concern about potential traffic increases along RM 2147. TxDOT encouraged ongoing community involvement and emphasized that public engagement is an integral part of the project’s planning process.

For more information or to share feedback, call TxDOT’s Burnet Office at 512-756-2316 or visit www.txdot.gov.

For a copy of the entire presentation, click here. The HSBPOA Community Education Series strives to inform and engage Horseshoe Bay residents by connecting them with experts, resources, and timely topics that impact our community.

On the morning of August 6, the Hill Country Choir and Gun Club hosted a highly informative session at Quail Point Lodge featuring Llano County Elections Administrator Andrea Wilson, who offered an inside look at how elections are run, and how they’re changing.                               

 

 

Wilson, who has served as Llano County’s Elections Administrator for the past three years, described her role as “the most challenging job I’ve ever had,” adding that she absolutely loves it. Her presentation shed light on the immense effort required to plan and execute elections, from rigorous ballot security to navigating constantly evolving laws. “Most people have no idea what we do to make an election happen,” she said, and by the end of the presentation, attendees left with a newfound appreciation for the work her office does.

 

 A large portion of the conversation centered around Senate Bill 2753, which introduces significant changes to how early voting will operate in Texas. Wilson clarified that no part of the bill will go into effect this fall. Instead, local officials will begin planning to start this fall, with the latest required implementation date being August 1, 2027. Realistically, Wilson anticipates the first statewide election conducted under the new rules may occur in May 2027, due to the complexity and coordination required across all 254 Texas counties.

 

Key changes under SB 2753 include a later start to early voting (moving from Monday to Thursday), expanded daily hours, and the inclusion of weekend voting and holidays. Early voting will be extended to the Monday prior to the Tuesday Election Day. These changes are designed to improve access but will also require significant planning and resources to execute smoothly. Wilson also noted that under the bill, early and absentee ballots will no longer be counted right after the polls close on election night, meaning final results may take longer to report.

 

She also addressed curbside voting, emphasizing that it's intended only for voters who are physically unable to enter the polling place. New safeguards are being introduced to ensure this service is used as originally intended, not as a convenient alternative to in-person voting.

 

Wilson spoke about the possibility of Llano County adopting a county-wide voting model in the future, where voters can cast their ballots at any polling place in the county rather than being tied to a specific precinct. She made clear that this is not yet confirmed, but is something she hopes can coincide with the SB 2753 rollout. Importantly, the final decision lies with the Llano County Commissioners’ Court.

 

Attendees also learned about the differences between primary elections, which are funded and requested by political parties, and general elections, which are administered by the county. Throughout the presentation, Wilson highlighted the strict chain-of-custody protocols that safeguard ballots and equipment, reinforcing the transparency and integrity built into the election process.

 

 

 To learn more or to volunteer during an election, residents can visit the official Llano County Elections Office website at https://www.co.llano.tx.us/page/llano.elections.

 

The Hill Country Choir and Gun Club meets some alternating Wednesday and Thursday mornings at Quail Point Lodge at 9:00 AM.