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City leaders detail upcoming year for Lewisville
By Heather M. Goodwin, hgoodwin@starlocalnews.com
Among the achievements for Lewisville during 2012, city leaders acknowledged the passing of the smoking ordinance and maintaining its bond rating. But not every project came to fruition and now looking ahead 2013, officials hope for further progress on those projects.
When asked what the top accomplishments were for Lewisville during 2012, Mayor Pro Tem Rudy Durham said it is pushing forward with the expansion of Interstate 35E. Council John Gorena said it is continued investment in neighborhood streets such as the Westwood Estates project. He said the city should be focusing on getting curbs and sidewalks for areas in old town as well.
"Some of the achievements of the past year that I'm particularly proud of is that our budget continues to be balanced, our tax rate has stayed the same for several years even through the recession, and we continue to have a AAA bond rating," said Councilman TJ Gilmore.
"It is the debt that we should be focusing in on. We should be striving for a pay-as-you-go paradigm," Gorena said. "The interest alone from the bond liabilities is staggering in my opinion - roughly 34 percent is interest or $54.6 million in interest from 2009 to 2032 according to the Certified Annual Financial Report (CAFR)."
Mayor Dean Ueckert said some of the top achievements were the Interstate 35E project going to request for proposal, which is when the description of the project is sent out and companies submit proposals.
"The I-35 project has finally started moving, and while it's not as expansive as once discussed, it will give Lewisville a much-needed update, and the corridor businesses some stability moving forward," Gilmore said.
Ueckert also said the implementation of the first full year of the Crime Control District and Fire Protection District was a success. He said it included the hiring of additional police officers, firefighters, a new ambulance that went into service recently and code enforcement officers.
Gorena said he did not like that the city is hiring personnel with the sales tax increase.
"If the tax payers vote against the renewal on the fifth year, then how is that salary going to get paid? Will employees be laid off? Blaming it on the tax payer?" Gorena said. "This sales tax money should have been used solely for those non-yearly recurring items like new equipment, cars, engines, buildings, etc. Salaries should come from the regular city budgets only."
Some of the other accomplishments city leaders discussed were the upcoming public safety training center expansion, the smoking ordinance and the newly built animal shelter.
Not every goal and project was reached during 2012. Ueckert said the construction of the Wayne Ferguson Plaza will happen this year, and he hopes for a better Western Days festival.
"Western Days being rained out was a disappointment and a short delay on the build out of the Old Town Plaza," Gilmore said. "We're discussing accelerating the build out on the plaza and expect Western Day to be even bigger this coming year."
Gorena said the plaza project has been delayed too long, and he would like to see it completed soon - but done correctly.
"As far as Western Day, we are spending way too much money on this and should direct it back to the Christmas Event. I am not a fan of giving that radio guy all that money and free reign," Gorena said. "The 'ticket process' is something that I still feel should be eliminated. No one has yet to convince me that that actually works. It is nothing but a hassle, and I still do not see the benefit."
Looking ahead, some of the key issues and projects the city will face in 2013 will be the solid waste contract renegotiation and the I-35E construction. Ueckert said the city would also focus on the potential annexation of Castle Hills East, the Valley Ridge extension, the final year of the 2003 bond program and decision about future CIP financing and the refinement of the park master plan.
"We'll be working with businesses along I-35 during construction, implementing the Lake Park Development near the DCTA station, Main and Mill St. Corridor Design improvements, and I'm most excited by the 2025 Vision Plan beginning," Gilmore said.
Durham said a major project the city will deal with right away is the Old Town, or Wayne Ferguson Plaza.
Looking at some of the projects, Gorena said he is against annexing Castle Hills until it gets the debt down so that Lewisville does not have to raise its tax rate. He also said the 2025 Vision Plan is really a question of how much the city is paying a consultant to facilitate a committee that will include volunteers for 12 to 14 meetings.
"$160,000 was approved, and I was the only one who voted against this. That is the real story here," Gorena said. "And what are they really going to do besides come up with ideas that may never change the course of what the members of council or the citizens will actually do? What did the 2010 committee actually do? No one has given me an example of what they really accomplished."
During 2013, some of the changes Lewisville residents could expect would be a possible new storm water utility to deal with EPA and TCEQ mandates and possibly a water conservation rate structure to prepare for future state restrictions on water consumption, Ueckert said.
"The city should determine the cost of producing the water and develop a fair and equitable rate for the water and services. We should educate the importance of conserving water. Only get involved when water is wasted like running down the street and wasted," Gorena said. "I do not like any of the ideas proposed about trying to force people to conserve water by charging more per gallon if used more in a customer class. I do see charging accordingly if large users are a separate commercial class over a huge limit."
City leaders have already begun dealing with some of the agenda for 2013. But this early in the year, it is still unknown what will be accomplished.
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