LCRA, City of Mason award $25,000 grant to Mason VFD for utility task vehicle
New vehicle will improve emergency response capabilities in remote and hard-to-reach areas
Nov. 14, 2025
The community grant, along with $10,445 in matching funds from the Mason VFD, will provide a practical, innovative transportation solution to improve access to essential services such as emergency response, environmental monitoring and infrastructure maintenance in rural or difficult-to-reach locations.
“Reliable off-road transportation makes all the difference during an emergency,” said Rodney Persall, assistant fire chief. “We’ve seen firsthand how critical this kind of vehicle can be. In recent years, flooding washed out roads and made it nearly impossible to reach certain areas. Additionally, the region is popular for rock crawling competitions, and accidents have happened far from accessible roads, forcing our crews to transport patients on foot sometimes 500 yards.”
Persall said UTVs are far more valuable than traditional vehicles in those situations.
“The addition of a UTV is a necessary and valuable investment for our department,” he said. “When used for search and rescue or firefighting operations, they deliver unmatched maneuverability across the diverse terrains we have here in the Mason Hill Country, helping us respond faster and more effectively to emergencies.”
The volunteer fire department serves all 932-square miles of Mason County, including the rural communities of Pontotoc, Fredonia, Streeter and Katemcy. The department also provides mutual aid to Llano, McCulloch, Menard, Kimble, Gillespie and San Saba counties.
This is one of 41 grants awarded recently through LCRA Community Grants. These grants are awarded twice a year as part of LCRA’s effort to give back to communities in its wholesale electric, water and transmission service areas. The City of Mason is one of LCRA’s wholesale electric customers and is a partner in the Community Grants program.
Applications for the next round of grants will be accepted in January. More information is available at lcra.org/cdpp.
About LCRA
The Lower Colorado River Authority serves customers and communities throughout Texas by managing the lower Colorado River; generating and transmitting electric power; providing a clean, reliable water supply; and offering outdoor adventures at more than 40 parks along the Colorado River from the Texas Hill Country to the Gulf Coast. LCRA and its employees are committed to fulfilling our mission to enhance the quality of life of the Texans we serve through water stewardship, energy and community service. LCRA was created by the Texas Legislature in 1934 and receives no state appropriations.
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