The Future

Your elected officials will be making some very important decisions about our city that will affect you. They should be seeking your input on these important matters. Here are just a few examples:

NE Loop 820 Expansion

While TXDOT has primary control over this project, your City Council will have some influence over whether TXDOT makes Loop 820 into a toll road. The Councils of all the cities along TX Hwy 121 cast votes regarding whether or not it would become a toll road. Mayor Trevino actively promoted the tolling of Hwy 121 as a member of the North Central Texas Council of Governments (NCTCOG) and he wants to see them used throughout North Texas. His construction business, J.L. Steel, is in the road building business and is likely to bid on many of the toll road projects he so favors. The incumbents on our City Council seem to blindly follow his lead. Do you want NE Loop 820 to become a toll road? Remaining silent and uninvolved is a good way to insure that does. Don't underestimate the cost of the tolls. They could be quite significant.

North Hills Mall and South Grapevine Hwy

The North Hills Mall redevelopment project is a very good thing for our city. I think we all breathed big a sigh of relief when it was recently announced that a private developer had plans underway to resurrect the area and eliminate the derelict facility. As significant as this development is, it is the easy part of revitalizing South Grapevine Highway because it is empty and not in use. The remainder of South Grapevine Hwy is targeted for redevelopment by the city but, unlike the mall, most of it is occupied. Will the planned redevelopment be done by bulldozing existing homes and businesses? John Lewis is on record as favoring the use of Eminent Domain and apparently sees no problem with this approach if it means more revenue for the city. He obviously considers your interests to be secondary compared to increasing city revenue. There are currently plans for eight “villages” to be built along this corridor. Were you aware of it? If you own property there, do you know if your home or business will be impacted or replaced by one of the proposed villages? Do you trust the city to deal fairly with you?

Strategic Plan 2010

“Examine gas drilling on city properties” - Our current leaders want to “examine” putting gas wells on city property to generate revenue. What land does the city own that has room for gas wells? Fort Worth is reportedly considering city parks as potential sites for their wells. Do you want gas wells in your city parks or near your home?

“Land bank property in key development areas if possible” – What does this mean and what is its purpose? Is the city entering the real estate business or acquiring property for gas exploration?

“Phase signals” – I heard the Mayor speak about this recently. He claimed that the challengers were against it (we’re not) and he gave himself and the incumbents credit for it being done. My question is, why wasn’t it done a long time ago? Is this election year politicking?

“Maintain current tax rate” - The city has been incorporating projections of new revenue based on increased TAD appraisals into the city budget for many years. Maintaining the rate means that the city will collect more tax money from you every year as appraised values rise. They have absolutely no intention of lowering taxes on anyone. Incumbents Lewis and Welch have recently attempted to portray themselves as being open to tax relief but this is also simply election year politicking.

“Consistent treatment” – Not currently enforced and will not be with current leadership in place.

“Code of Conduct Applies to All” – Except the Mayor and the incumbents. Should this be allowed to continue?

More to come...

Pol. Adv. paid for by Kerry West