Local News and Events LocalNewsOnly.com

Time Stamped 9-27-01 @ 8:23 PM

Subject: The Villages of Colleyville

Thank you for another nice article on the Villages. I mean that.

The way I see it, we need more developers like Richard Myers. Developers who will build first class shopping plazas (like the Villages) in Colleyville. I shudder to think what might happen if developers like Mr. Myers start to listen to the "doom and gloom" talk that is out there from supposedly well-intentioned citizens. Colleyville's time is NOW! Shop Colleyville is not a slogan, it is a priority.

Don't listen to the "soothsayers" who predict failure for the Villages of Colleyville. Tell them you intend to spend your money in the Villages. Why? Because we need developments like the Villages and Town Center in order to keep our revenues strong in a very tough economy. Nothing should deter us from investing in our own city.

We have a number of businesses in Colleyville who will not be here next year and it won't have a thing to do with our city council. But they will be blamed by someone. It won't have a thing to do with an ugly yellow median on Hwy 26. But someone will say it did.

What is it going to take to get this community solidified and moving forward again? I don't have the answer to that, but I know for sure criticism and name-calling isn't going to get us there. No one is winning that war.

Shop Colleyville Now! And be proud you did.

Bob Culley
Colleyville

Time Stamped 9-27-01 @ 5:49 PM

Subject: Villages

I've moved away, but happened to go through C'ville last weekend. Glad I got out. And after reading the account in localnews, there is a money trail. This project was not done to be in any way a good thing for the residents, though most being yuppie mindless SUV robots would probably disagree. Colleyville is turning into another Southlake, and that isn't good. When I first came to Colleyville in 1991 it was still a very rural feeling place. Now it isn't suburban, it isn't rural, it's a joke played on the residents by the Chamber, Realtors, and Council. If the Council/Realtors had not built any additional subdivisions no increases would have been needed in the budget, and none of this commercial development would have been needed. So the week need the tax revenue to feed the infrastructure argument doesn't work.

So it seems to be Myers at the center of this all. My advice to him is to not put it in stock, find a "willing" municipality who will go along with your developments.

My timing was good on selling the house, none of this nonsense was very visible yet to lower property value...

George Csahanin
Cedar Park, TX

Time Stamped 9-26-01 @ 06:24 PM

I'm so disappointed in these medians and our city representation. It is so inconsiderate and unfair to our longstanding businesses. I did not appreciate the comments of not having any control with the construction company - as construction companies slide in and slide out. Then, to hear it is Myers construction project, his subcontract with the construction company, and is obviously in control of our town! Give me a break! No biases here!? It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure this one out. I think someone is trying to play dumb - like a blond. This sort of representation makes us sound like a bunch of Colleyville dummies. What is going on with our civic leader? When did she quit standing up for the people of Colleyville?

Anne Osborne-Gifford
Colleyville, TX

Time Stamped 9-25-01 @ 09:05 PM

I saw the medians for the first time this morning. Those are the ugliest things I have ever seen. Reminds me of Belnap Street in Haltom City. How embarrasing for a city that wants an upscale image. I was pleased to see that Hall-Johnson is four lane. I think that is what we told the citizens it would be a couple of years ago. At least we were honest and truthful. Back to the medians on Hwy 26, it is obvious that Colleyville has some major leadership problems.

Steven Helling
City Council 95-99

Time Stamped 9-25-01 @ 10:08 PM

Let Ms Arp and the Council know that we expect the medians removed, and just as fast as they were constructed. I want to know if Richad Myers runs the City of Colleyville.

James Burleson

Colleyville, Tx

Time Stamped 9-23-01 @ 10:57 PM

Dear Editor,

I believe the medians are unsafe, unnecessary and extremely ugly. I have on many occasions decided to go to another business rather than try to get on the east side. I love the Sonic. I was one of the few things in Colleyville that was here before I was. I was leaving Appleby's ( on the west side) the other night and wittnessed a poor soul try to take a left, the stop on 26, reverse, and take a right. The openings in the medians are not even wide enough to safley,at least for me, turn into. Let's get some common sense.

A citizen,

Steve Kralicke
Colleyville

Time Stamped 9-23-01 @ 8:11 PM

Subject: article on minutes of median meeting

Just read your article summarizing the 9-19 meeting, and just wanted to say "Thanks!" for helping to improve the communication in Colleyville.

This improved communication should help the quality of future Council elections, as more citizens will have a better idea of the past performance of the incumbents.

Thanks! Keep writing.....
David Brockman
Colleyville

Time Stamped 9-21-01 @ 1:58 PM

“If you want to make enemies, try changing something” Woodrow Wilson.

In response to the former Mayor Richard Newton’s article of September 14, and being a member of the Hwy 26 Committee, I find myself with a need to make comment on his “personal observations”.

The Hwy 26 Committee was formed by a city call for 12 ‘interested’ citizens to come together and put together a book of guidelines for the future development of Colleyville Boulevard. Eighteen volunteers stepped forward and the city gracefully expanded the committee to accept all of us who wanted to work on this project.

Some members of the committee are property owners on 26, some are developers, some are business owners and some are just plain ole interested and concerned residents of our city who have a common wish to see Colleyville Blvd come alive with controlled and appealing developments. The kind of developments that will last, by us setting standards today, that will assist in maintaining this city’s reputation as a great and attractive place to live as well as acting as a magnet towards attracting more of those kinds of businesses that one doesn’t see everywhere.

For the past year, this committee has faced the daunting task of disassembling a monumental amount of information into many separate categories of consideration; roadway access, lighting, sidewalks, landscape, set-backs, underground utilities, crossovers, signs, colors, materials used in construction, zoning, just to name a ‘few’ of the most obvious items.

Another consideration and of one great difficulty were the potential problems that will be encountered by the guidelines being developed; the potential ramifications to existing businesses, PID’s and TIF’s, the potential costs to businesses while 26 is under construction and where to request the median cuts on 26. Moreover, what to do with the buildings that are currently too close to the road and what about those parcels too small for the set-backs, and how to implement those new guidelines without causing significant pain. Should there be a design committee formed to handle variances to the ordinances on a case by case basis? In other words, we worked on potentially everything that we could think of that might affect every landowner in the short term and long term. And you know what, we still missed things, water for one. What can we do for all the new landscaping if we have another water shortage?

Everything being assembled was and is today just a guideline to go by, not the end result. The end result will be dictated by all those who become involved, all those with good ideas and those with constructive suggestions. Barry Le Baron has gone beyond the call of duty in assembling all the committee has chosen to be the important elements of this guideline booklet. The elected city council together with an experienced and knowledgeable city staff behind them will set the final guidelines and establish the ordinances to go with them.

However, before that happens, we need more input from the Hwy 26 landowners and business owners and that can only be accomplished by their attending and contributing at the open committee meetings. Hwy 26 will be improved, that’s just the way it is and those who are directly effected should stand up and help us help them before its all said and done.

The meeting Mr. Newton attended was the FIRST presentation to the property/ business owners, not the first and last. Notices were sent out, some got them, some not, (whats new?) but over the next few months, every owner and business on 26 should know about the ‘open’ Hwy 26 Committee meetings and attend them.

Mr. Newton is the former Mayor and I respect that, but as a past elected city official and someone that purports a pro- growth, pro-city attitude, I am dismayed that he chose to overlook the importance of what the Hwy 26 Committee is working to accomplish by focusing the whole article on a more personal issue. I know he loves this city and I hope that in his next ‘personal observation’ writings he tends to the matter at hand and encourages the efforts of the committee, maybe lending to it of his experience as a former mayor, and supporting its desire to contribute intelligent and thoughtful suggestions to the making and re-making of Colleyville Blvd.

Sincerely,
Kipp Whitman
Colleyville

Time Stamped 9-20-01 @ 8:35AM

The following is an e-mail to the Mayor of Colleyville and her response. It is the opinion of those associated with LNO that the city government should support ALL businesses located or headquartered in Colleyville.

Mayor Donna Arp:

I read Mr. Guthrie's e-mail and your response today.

I am particularly interested in your observation about comments made in haste and anger. This brings me to the subject of Local News Only.com.

LNO editors are Ms. Newton and Ms. Connor. They have worked tremendously hard to provide a fair handed reporting of local events. In fact, there is as much reported on social and general events as there is on political related subject matter.

I have taken a very hands off approach to the news site concerning selection of content. From time to time, I will continue to provide my comments and columns on subject matters, just as I do with the other major newspapers.

When the Chandlers, owned the Colleyville News and Times, I do not recall any objections by you..

As was the News and Times, LNO is based in Colleyville. However in a very different manner LNO is working to pioneer and deliver a unique, informative and complete form of local news.

Considering your statements of support for businesses located in Colleyville, I would hope that you would extend that support to our organization. However, it appears you may have isolated this Colleyville based business and made comments concerning the character of those directly involved in a disparaging manner.

Should this be the case, one could conclude, considering your position representing our city, that any detrimental statements or references could and are harmful to the ability of LNO to conduct business in this market.

We take our business effort and service to the public very seriously. Therefore, rather than jump to conclusions that you have actually made statements designed to harm the business of LNO, I am asking you for clarification of same.

In other words, I am asking the Mayor, of the city our business(es) have chosen to locate, if she has in any way made public statements or utilized taxpayer's funds in a manner that could be interpreted as deliberately designed to harm LNO. In addition, has the Mayor of Colleyville abused her position ,in any fashion, in an attempt to harm businesses of those who may or may not agree with her politically?

The employees, volunteers and supporters of LNO are hereby awaiting your quick response to this personal inquiry.

Frankly, the failure to respond can only be seen as a confirmation of the question above.

Nelson Thibodeaux
Local News Only.com
Publisher

Response from Mayor
Dear Mr. Thibodeaux,

In answer to your questions, the city and I personally respond to your
newspaper's requests in the most timely manner available to us. There are
times with your news agency I, as other elected officials, have the right to
do is to say ,"No comment., if I have no comment on the subject.
In these times of much hatred in the world and sadness in our country, I
would ask you to please help all of us lead and not destroy each other's
spirits and efforts. We all do so much better when we work together.
I want all Colleyville businesses to do well. I am glad to have heard from
you directly, as much of the time all each of us get are third-hand comments
taken out of context. You will continue to see the city respond to your
paper in the most timely manner possible.

Thank you,
Donna Arp
Mayor of Colleyville

p.s. I am copying Bill Lindley, our new city manager so he will know of your
concerns with me and/or possibly the city's responses to your agency

Time Stamped 9-14-01 @ 8:58 PM

We are encouraged to display or flags, which I do proudly all the time, but I have been disappointed these past few days to see a lack of patriotism displayed by our city. In the past I have seen our main thoroughfare adorned with flags, but not now in this time when our show of unity is so vital. I work in Grapevine. The main street there is awesome with the display of flags and the red, white and blue. Please relay this message to whoever---get our flags out!!!

Thanks for your help

Betty Bickett

Colleyville

Time Stamped 9-14-01 @ 2:34 PM

Dear Editor:

These are indeed sobering pictures ! It is obvious that most of the pictures were taken after 8:00 AM on September 11, 2001. However; I can not be sure that the following picture was taken then. It could have been taken in 1991.

I encourage us all to remember that there are many descendants of Abraham. Some worship on Sunday, some worship on Saturday and some worship on Friday. Most of all three groups are good and decent people who abhor violence. Please let us not allow such a picture (which may not be completely authentic) to influence our emotions.

Joe Deupree
Colleyville

Editors Note: The pictures were forwarded to us and we posted them as we received them. However, we have removed the photo due to the above email.

Time Stamped 9-12-01 @ 10:47 PM

Our Mayor has added still another "'yes man" to her entourage, a Colleyville Chamber of Commerce director whose business is in Grapevine. Any hope of frank, open discussion at council meetings has been dashed. No one wants to buck the mayor and you can bet Mr. Orrell will not be the exception. You can almost bet he will be a candidate in the special election in November, despite the Mayor's protestations that they didn't want to give anyone an advantage in the election.

First it was the council majority, then it was the library board, then came planning and zoning. Now, the Mayor's got it all. Now she can move forward with her plan to make The Villages (whose project is it anyway?) a "special" place in her "special" city.

We have a city economic development department and a chamber of commerce that should be promoting new businesses for Colleyville. However, both are dominated by a mayor who has run roughshod over existing business in the city, falling all over herself to give the Villages and developer Raman Chandler every advantage. She cares little about those businesses who have been good corporate citizens and have had a significant impact on the city's finances.

We will be able to blame only ourselves a year or two down the road when much of Colleyville's business and sales tax revenues have dried up, property values have leveled out, and we have to actually "raise" the city's tax rate. Without those businesses, our taxes can only go up, what with the Mayor's new library and city hall to support.

Congratulations, Ms. Mayor. You're a great politician and manipulator, which, unfortunately, doesn't equate to being a good public servant.

Jerome Davis
Colleyville

Time Stamped 9-10-01 @ 9:45 PM

I would like to thank the citizens of Colleyville for allowing me to serve on the Planning and Zoning Commission. It has been a wonderful five years to serve my community. My five years as a member of this commission has given me a look at the inner workings of the building of a community. My wife would ask me how things went at the meeting and my stock answer was "we made some people happy and others not so happy." Some of the decisions we made had an immediate impact on peoples lives. Other resolutions that were decided upon were slow to impact Colleyville, but they did so just the same. We were placed in these trusted positions to serve all citizens of Colleyville, not just the mayor and the city council. In the most recent selection of Commissioners, I was not surprised that the current city council and mayor would deny my application. I probably know too much and they feel threatened by my presence. As my final meeting approached this evening I thought of many things that I could say to the commissioners who were staying and to those who would be joining the board. I kept most of my thoughts to myself but I did remind them that they were here to serve Colleyville and not its council or mayor. The outgoing commissioners were honored by our peers with words that really meant something. We were then thanked by the mayor for our service to our community. I could see her talking and I could make out the words but they really did not seem heart felt. I believe that it was just another opportunity for her to get her face out in the crowd and try to impress those seated in the audience. I for one was not impressed. In closing I would like to say that I did my best to have a balanced and ethical approach to the decisions that I made. I pray that the city council and mayor will grasp these virtues as well.

Tom Hart
Colleyville, TX 76034

Time Stamped 9-9-01 @ 8:31 PM

Please tell me it's just a dream.....Is that yellow and black monstrosity part of the Hwy 26 beautification program or was it just a temporary brain-freeze our council had. What were the leaders of Colleyville thinking? Did they go on a summer drinking binge and this is the result? Our (we have more money than you do) mayor wants the citizens of Colleyville to spend their money within the community but navigating the medians on Highway 26 is like being in a Pac Man game. (And it's REALLY UGLY!!!!) Colleyville once had high standards and they were so particular about attracting high-quality development. What went wrong? It is painful to watch this long, slow downward spiral that was once called Colleyville. Hall-Johnson looks beautiful with no businesses to showcase. Central Colleyville has the business but navigating the maze of Hwy 26 gives me a headache. I think I'll have a relaxing cup of cappuccino at Southlake Town Square and enjoy the ambiance. (Rick Stacy you can stop laughing now).

Bobbie Schillo
Colleyville

		E-Mails to Editor September 2001