By LYNETTE HAALAND, Four Points News
The Steiner Ranch Lake Club dock is not structurally sound and has been closed for months. The pier is in need of significant repairs and possibly reconstruction, depending on what is voted on by the Steiner Ranch Master Association board.
The Lake Club located at 12300 River Bend on Lake Austin includes eight boat slips, a pavilion, playground, basketball court and restrooms. Currently it has a large sign that says “do not use the pier” and there is a chain on the entrance gate to lock it down.
The July 16 SRMA Board meeting addressed the subject with comments from board members and community members.
The board is considering two paths forward: to replace or to repair. Each path needs three bids per state law.
At the board meeting, it was highlighted that Paul Boomgaart, SRMA president who was elected to the board in April, got a bid on his own with his own money without letting the rest of the board know or get the board’s approval.
There was discussion about proper protocols. A motion was made to remove Boomgaart as president. There were not enough votes to remove him. Ultimately he apologized for seeking the permit without board approval.
“We need to design and build the right stuff by listening to the community,” Boomgaart said. “A different layout based on feedback from the community would create the most usable space for the community.” In addition to places for boats to load and unload, some feedback includes better paddleboard and fishing accommodations, as well as places to sit by Lake Austin.
The SRMA formed an Ad Hoc Pier Repair Committee, a temporary advisory group established to support the oversight and progress of the community pier repair project.
The committee has volunteers who have a background in marina, boat docks, piers, repair and replacements.
“We want to hear from Steiner Ranch on the direction where we’re going,” Boomgaart said.
In the near-term, SRMA will repair the pier, said Boomgaart said, then the plan is to work on the more major construction in 2026, in the September time frame with the right permitting in place. The more extensive work is estimated to take three to six months.