Meet Carol

Who is Carol?

Carol’s personal goals for the community are: All infrastructures with emphasis on streets to rehab or reconstruct, striving for sustainable financially sound city government, and strengthening of community pride.  Improving communication with local citizens, attract quality retail, restaurants, and entertainment to Lancaster.  Transformation of Lancaster into a destination city with true quality of life concepts, while retaining the integrity and heritage of the city, and partnering with the School Board to find common ground that will improve the school system, making Lancaster more attractive to new businesses and families.

Carol is a dedicated citizen who has volunteered countless hours as an elected official. Carol was re-elected in 2013 to again serve her community.  Throughout the years, Carol has used her own personal time and resources to educate herself in the governing process by attending seminars related to planning and zoning, budgeting, sustainable developmental concepts, and other methods and criteria which will aid in stabilizing the city’s finances for the future.

Awards and Recognitions:

• Martin Luther King Foundation of Lancaster Outstanding Leadership Award

• Pioneer Leadership Award from the Masonic Lodge

• Daughters of the American Revolution Leadership Award

• Certified Municipal Officer certification from Texas Municipal League for 10 yrs. (recognition held by less than 75 Texas Elected Officials.)

Carol has initiated many visionary ideas and projects for Lancaster, including:

• Mills Branch Development with the Tribute and Mills Branch Village with the Neighborhood Walmart grocery store and shopping locations. Lancaster Mills a mixed use concept.

• Promoting sustainable commercial development, which builds a firm tax base for now and the future

• Publishing a weekly email newsletter subscribed to by over 550 citizens, Carol is the only City Councilmember to create and publish a weekly newsletter for her District and other interested parties.

• Acquisition and development of Bear Creek Nature Park

• Writing the Tree Preservation Ordinance to help preserve our natural asset

• Participating in the purchase, planting, and care of 128 trees throughout the city

• Creation and fostering of several Neighborhood Associations

• Organized successful educational programs for individuals in the southern sector included Growing with Grace, Growing Greener, and Regional Rail’s Economic Impact Vision North Texas Southeastern Sector

With a background of over 40 years in management, organizational skills, and boundless energy, Carol has worked diligently for her community, volunteering her time to make a difference in Lancaster.

Carol is active within our region representing our city on the following committees:

• Emergency Preparedness Planning Council at the North Texas Council of Governments

• Treasurer and city representative for the Tex21 Transportation for Excellence — a bipartisan group of elected officials and transportation entities promoting transportation locally, statewide and nationally.

• Selected to serve on the Advisory Board of Vision North Texas through the North Texas Council of Governments 2005- 2013

• Leadership Best Southwest Class of 2006

• Advisory Support Committee for Development of Excellence and the Southern Gateway Policy Study Highway 67 south and I-35

Carol has served or is currently serving active roles in the City of Lancaster and local organizations

• Daughters of the American Revolution, Pleasant Run Chapter/ member

• Friends of the Library member

• Treasurer of the Lancaster Historical Society

• Lancaster Cemetery Board - Secretary 18 years

• Co-Chair for the 2009 Lancaster Legacy and Legends exhibit presented at Old Red Museum in Dallas

• Historic Landmark Preservation Committee

• Downtown Revitalization committee for the City of Lancaster (secured grant for Visitor Center and Landscaping of Downtown)

• Farm Service Agency : served 10 years on Committee and 8 years as minority advisor

A graduate of Lancaster High School and recipient of a B.S. Degree in Education from the University of North Texas, Carol’s varied background also included positions as a teacher, commercial model, real estate agent, farm manager, transportation and customer service consultant, and concerned citizen. 

Carol is extremely proud to be part of what makes the Lancaster community such a great place to live. In fact, in 2006, Carol, her sister Mary Sykes, and their husbands gave up development rights to 121 acres of farmland to Texas Land Conservancy. This move, which included the family members giving up any future ability to sell the property for financial gain, was made in order to preserve the landscape for perpetuity.  It was based on a promise given to their father to preserve as much of the farm as possible and also to create an open-space buffer to the historic area from the intense future development around the airport.  The land is preserved for agricultural reasons, to protect the historic landscape, and to conserve the wildlife corridor and habitat for generations to come.  Carol not only talks the talk; she walks the walk as well.  Carol and her family used their own hard work and finances to rebuild and restore the historic Strain Farmstead Complex after severe damage in a 1994 tornado, thus saving a chapter of Lancaster’s historical heritage. Carol has the honor of living on the original 1846 Texas Headright and in the home built by her Grandfather Strain in 1895. Because of her astute commitment to preserving the local historic landscape, the Strain Farmstead is now recognized by the Agricultural Department as a Century Farm (farmed by the same family for over 100 years), is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, a Texas State Landmark, and is a Significant Architectural and Archeological status with the Texas Historical Commission.

In addition to her dedication to protecting Lancaster’s historical and future interests, Carol enjoys a full career and family life. She stays busy as a self-employed consultant/coordinator for the State Fair of Texas Guest Services and as a freelance transportation coordinator for a number of destination management companies in the area.  Carol also manages her agricultural interest in the Strain Farmstead. Ted Burk, Carol’s husband, retired as Sr. Vice President of Corporate Development for Greyhound Lines, Inc. Ted’s daughter, Melissa, teaches for Lancaster Independent School District and her husband is with Halff and Associates in Dallas.  Grandchildren, Justin and Macee are an active part of Carol and Ted’s life and hold a special place in the hearts of the Burks.