What It’s Really Like to Run a Texas Lake Town | Sunrise Beach Village & Lake LBJ
In this episode of The Building Texas Show host Justin McKenzie sits down with Rob Hardy, Mayor of Sunrise Beach Village, for a deep conversation on small-town leadership, life on Lake LBJ, and what it really takes to run a city of just 800 residents in the Texas Hill Country.
Located in Llano County, Sunrise Beach Village is a unique waterfront community with five public parks, a locally run police department, and a strong culture of volunteerism. Mayor Hardy explains why the city chose incorporation, how municipal services work in rural Texas and the realities of managing infrastructure, emergency services, and water systems in a fast-growing region.
This episode covers:
Why Sunrise Beach Village is incorporated while nearby communities are not
The challenges and benefits of governing a small Texas city
How parks, police, and code enforcement shape quality of life
The role of Emergency Service Districts and volunteer fire departments
Managing water infrastructure after acquiring it from Lower Colorado River Authority
Why mayors of small towns are often unpaid, full-time public servants
Growth pressures spreading west through the Hill Country
If you’re interested in Texas communities, rural leadership, municipal government, or the future of life along the Highland Lakes, this episode offers an honest, inside look at how it all works.
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00:00 – Welcome to Sunrise Beach Village on Lake LBJ
00:42 – Where Sunrise Beach Village fits in Llano County
02:00 – Incorporated vs. unincorporated cities in Texas
04:54 – Taxes, services, and quality of life tradeoffs
05:02 – Maintaining five waterfront parks in a city of 800
06:46 – City structure: general law cities & municipal courts
07:30 – Policing, community safety, and avoiding “speed trap” myths
08:34 – What being a mayor of a small Texas city really means
10:22 – City manager debate: continuity vs. cost
13:02 – Growth pressure in Llano County & the Hill Country
14:08 – Water infrastructure, Lake LBJ & Texas reservoirs
15:14 – Emergency Service Districts & volunteer fire departments
18:47 – Adjusting expectations when moving to rural Texas
19:12 – What visitors should know before coming to Sunrise Beach
