The LCRA Board of Directors this week approved new members to its seven Regional Councils that act as communication links between LCRA and the communities it serves in the Colorado River basin.
The council program is a mechanism for two-way communication between LCRA and communities in its service area on LCRA issues, projects and activities. The members play a key role in providing feedback, helping LCRA identify and analyze regional issues and consider solutions.
The councils were created to build trust, improve understanding and strengthen relationships in the LCRA service territory. Altogether, 140 people hold positions on the seven councils.
Regional Council names are Bastrop/Fayette (Bastrop, Fayette, and parts of Lee, Caldwell and Washington counties), Buchanan/Inks (Burnet and Llano counties), Colorado/Wharton/Matagorda (Colorado, Wharton, Matagorda counties), LBJ/Marble Falls (Burnet and Llano counties), Pedernales (Gillespie, Blanco, Kerr, Kendall, Bandera and Comal counties), San Saba/Llano (Hamilton, Mills, Lampasas, San Saba, McCulloch, Menard, Kimble, Mason and Llano counties) and Travis/Austin (Williamson, Travis and Hays counties).
The Regional Councils soon are beginning their third year of operation. The councils meet every other month to discuss regional issues related to LCRA’s mission, which is to provide energy, water and community services and to help ensure the protection and constructive use of natural resources in the lower Colorado River basin.
“Each Regional Council is working well, providing us with much-needed and much-appreciated input from the communities we serve,” said Gail Oliver, LCRA’s manager of Public Affairs. “We look forward to enhancing our communication efforts through learning and sharing together for the betterment of the citizens living in our service territory.
“LCRA very much appreciates the time and effort each of our council members volunteers to this worthwhile effort. We welcome each of our new members.”
LCRA Buchanan/Inks Regional Council
Joining the LCRA Buchanan/Inks Regional Council are Barbara Booth and Stephen G. Smith, Bluffton; Pat Hudson and Judy Parker, Buchanan Dam; and Paul Dorman and Lee Kinard, Burnet.
Members of the council who are continuing to serve are Ronald Abshier and George A. Bold, Bluffton; Jane Allison, Ray Buchanan and Candace Cooke, Buchanan Dam; Eugene Ehler, Terry Kennedy, County Commissioner Bill Neve, Terry Rodgers, Jim Smitherman, David Smothers and Michael Wortham, Burnet; Tom Harrison, Austin; and William Wenson, Bee Cave.
Heather Richardson is LCRA’s Public Affairs representative to the Buchanan/Inks Regional Council. Richardson can be reached at 1-800-776-5272, Ext. 2621, and heather.richardson@lcra.org.
LCRA Colorado/Wharton/Matagorda Regional Council
Joining the LCRA Colorado/Wharton/Matagorda Regional Council are James Allen, Tami Savage and Jerry West, Bay City; County Judge-Elect Phillip Spenrath, Rebecca Lundy Fitts and Richard Young, El Campo; Stephen Bludau, Hallettsville; and City Councilmember Milton Koller, Weimar.
Members of the council who are continuing to serve are Julius Bartek, Weimar; Jim Brasher, Columbus; Owen Bludau, Robert Noster and Haskell Simon, Bay City; Andres Garza Jr., Mayor Domingo Montalvo Jr. and David Schroeder, Wharton; Sam Kana, Eagle Lake; Delmar Krenek, Garwood; and David Melanson and Leeanna Shimek, El Campo.
Amy Brandt is LCRA’s Public Affairs representative to the Colorado/Wharton/Matagorda Regional Council. Brandt can be reached at 1-800-776-5272, Ext. 7774, and amy.brandt@lcra.org.
LCRA LBJ/Marble Falls Regional Council
Joining the LCRA LBJ/Marble Falls Regional Council are Roy Busse, Horseshoe Bay; Christian Fletcher and Robert Moss, Marble Falls; and Sue Luedecke and Duane Stueven, Kingsland.
Members of the council who are continuing to serve are Dan Bauerle and Dewey Hollingsworth, Spicewood; Sylvia Breen and William Plumley, Cottonwood Shores; Mark Chapman, Mary Ann Hefner, Charles Henicke and Jayne Mortensen, Kingsland; County Commissioner Joe Don Dockery, Burnet; Stan Farmer and Ray Gill, Horseshoe Bay; Paul Horton, Sunrise Beach; Mike Kersey and Cindy Schroeder, Marble Falls; and Bill Whiting, Highland Haven.
Heather Richardson is LCRA’s Public Affairs representative to the LBJ/Marble Falls Regional Council. Richardson can be reached at 1-800-776-5272, Ext. 2621, and heather.richardson@lcra.org.
LCRA Pedernales Regional Council
Joining the LCRA Pedernales Regional Council are Allen Goodwin, Comfort; Mayor Pro Tem Jacques DuBose, Boerne; Kyle Bond, Kerrville; John McClintock, Johnson City; Brad Vollmar, Fredericksburg; and John Archer, New Braunfels.
Members of the council who are continuing to serve are Marianne Bonenberger, Pipe Creek; Carson Conklin and Mindy Wendele, Kerrville; County Commissioner Donna Eccleston, Canyon Lake; Gary Guenthner and Alfred Weinzierl, Harper; Dwayne Hoppe and County Commissioner James Sultemeier, Johnson City; Robert Koimn, Bandera; Tim Lehmberg and Charles Wilson, Fredericksburg; Robert Madey, Spicewood; Ruby Perez, New Braunfels; and Kerry Sweatt, Leakey.
Barbara Hofmann is LCRA’s Public Affairs representative to the Pedernales Regional Council. Hofmann can be reached at 1-800-776-5272, Ext. 7753, and barbara.hofmann@lcra.org.
LCRA San Saba/Llano Regional Council
Joining the LCRA San Saba/Llano Regional Council are Grant Appelton, Brady; Don Daniel, Mason; and Tom Guthrie, Goldthwaite.
Members of the council who are continuing to serve are County Judge Wayne Boultinghouse and Gilley Riojas, Lampasas; Terry Bray and Tracey O’Shay, Austin; Walter Curry and J.D. Kidwell, Junction; Roy B. Inks II, Llano; Teresa King, Dallas; David Leonard, Fort Worth; Rob Lindsey, Goldthwaite; Martha Long, Cherokee; Pat Reardon, Mason; Caroline Runge, Fort McKavett; City Councilmember James Stewart, Brady; Earl Theiss and Robert Yantis, Kingsland; and Sam Warren, Sunrise Beach.
Steve Dyer is LCRA’s Public Affairs representative to the San Saba/Llano Regional Council. Dyer can be reached at 1-800-776-5272, Ext. 2401, and steve.dyer@lcra.org.
LCRA Travis/Austin Regional Council
Joining the LCRA Travis/Austin Regional Council are City Councilman Robert Eskridge, Round Rock; City Councilmember Mitchell Fuller II, Cedar Park; Daniel Guerrero, San Marcos; Frank Harren, Austin; Michael Makuch, Bee Cave; Antonio Sosa, Buda; Mayor Pro Tem Alan Tye, Lakeway; Julia (Judy) Wisdom, Spicewood.
Members of the council who are continuing to serve are Larry Barnett, Leander; Roger Durden, Katherine Holtz, Cliff Ladd, F. Scott LaGrone and Marceline Lasater, Austin; David Gavenda, Volente; Mayor Pro Tem Victor Gonzales, Pflugerville; Willie Kopecky, Georgetown; Hondo Powell, Bastrop; and Bob Walker, Jonestown.
Roland Pena is LCRA’s Public Affairs specialist to the Travis/Austin Regional Council. Pena can be reached at 1-800-776-5272, Ext. 7438, and roland.pena@lcra.org.
LCRA Bastrop/Fayette Regional Council
Joining the LCRA Bastrop/Fayette Regional Council is Terah Lux of Schulenburg.
Members of the council who are continuing to serve are Joe Bailey, Flatonia; Douglas R. Borchardt and Carol Babcock Muegge, Brenham; City Councilmember Chris Cannon and Jeff Carter, Elgin; Blake Clampffer and Philip Cook, Cedar Creek; James A. Cowan, Bastrop; Mark Johnson, Giddings; Gene Kruppa, Plum; Michael Kuck, Luling; Adena Lewis and Cathy Meek, Smithville; Sherry Murphy, Winchester; Timothy Pylant and Mike G. Wallace, La Grange; Philip A. Ruiz, Lockhart; Kevin Ustynik, Schulenburg; and City Councilmember Tony Tavary, Lexington.
Rick Arnic is LCRA’s Public Affairs representative to the Bastrop/Fayette Regional Council. Arnic can be reached at 1-800-776-5272, Ext. 2398, and rick.arnic@lcra.org.
