LCRA, City of Lexington award $25,000 grant to Lexington VFD

 

New utility task vehicle will help first responders reach remote areas

June 4, 2026

Key Takeaways

  • LCRA and the City of Lexington award a $25,000 grant to Lexington VFD for a utility task vehicle.
  • The UTV will better equip volunteers to respond to wildland fires and search and rescue efforts by helping them navigate difficult terrain.
  • The grant is one of 41 being awarded through LCRA’s Community Grants program through June. LCRA will accept applications in July for the next round of grants.

LCRA and City of Lexington representatives present a $25,000 grant to the Lexington Volunteer Fire Department for a new utility task vehicle. The grant is part of LCRA’s Community Grants program. Pictured, from left to right, are: Kate Ramzinski, LCRA Regional Affairs representative; Melissa K. Blanding, LCRA Board member; Cindy Hoskins, VFD support coordinator; Stephanie Milburn, VFD vice president; Mark Mayo, LCRA Board member; Michael Milburn, fire chief; James Torbit, firefighter; Don Milburn, assistant fire chief; Margaret D. “Meg” Voelter, LCRA Board member; James “Jimmy” Hoskins, firefighter; Micky Milburn, firefighter; Allen Retzlaff, second assistant fire chief and mayor; Jeff Hooper, firefighter; Tina Biehle, city secretary; and Farah Garza, police chief.

LEXINGTON, Texas – The Lexington Volunteer Fire Department soon will purchase a utility task vehicle to aid in crossing rugged, inaccessible terrain for fire suppression and search and rescue efforts, thanks to a $25,000 grant from the Lower Colorado River Authority and City of Lexington.

The LCRA Community Grant, along with $21,011 in matching funds from the VFD, will help first responders access larger and more remote areas and navigate terrain that is inaccessible to larger firefighting vehicles.

“Not too long ago we got a call for mutual aid in Williamson County, and the terrain was so difficult to navigate that two of the three trucks ended up disabled and needing repairs,” said Michael Milburn, Lexington VFD fire chief. “Austin-Travis County ended up relieving us with a fleet of UTVs that were able to get into the areas that our brush trucks struggled with, so we’ve seen first-hand how crucial these vehicles are.”

Milburn said the county is seeing more homes being constructed in remote areas that are challenging for brush trucks to access.

“We’ve had to carry people quite a long way to get them to ambulances or another vehicle to drive them to safety,” Milburn said. “With a UTV, if someone gets hurt on their property, we should be able to get to them quicker and get them help.”

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 Lexington 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 July. More information is available at www.lcra.org/grants.

Contact Info

Clara Tuma
512-578-3292
After hours: 512-944-6719
[email protected]

About LCRA

The Lower Colorado River Authority serves communities across Texas by managing the lower Colorado River, generating and transmitting wholesale electric power, providing clean water supplies, operating telecommunications infrastructure, and owning parks for outdoor recreation. LCRA delivers power, water and infrastructure that support the region’s growth and quality of life. 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. Created by the Texas Legislature in 1934, LCRA receives no state appropriations.