What It’s Really Like to Run a Texas Lake Town | Sunrise Beach Village & Lake LBJ

In this episode of @thebuildingtexasshow 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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