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The e-mails to the editor are posted unedited, LNO does not correct spelling or diction errors.  The information contained has not been verified by LNO.  While LNO policy dictates that letters may not be of such a nature to be personally offensive to what may be considered family values, LNO assumes no responsibility, liability or endorses any particular letter.  The letters do not necessarily reflect the opinion, philosophy or beliefs of LNO, LNO staff or anyone with an interest in LNO. Dissenting views are not only welcomed but encouraged with the goal of uplifting knowledge, communication and understanding of all sides of issues in the cities covered.

To view previous e-mails to the Editor, Click on Date:

April  2001 May  2001 June  2001  July 2001 August 2001 
September 2001

LNO Editor 

George Csahanin

Time Stamped 10-23-01 8:24 AM

Editor

Time Stamped 10-22-01 @ 8:12 PM

Dear Editor:

I spent almost fifteen years working as a city planner and city manager with more than thirty different elected city council members.  Working on the front line gives you a real perspective and sense of the highly variable effectiveness of elected officials.  It always seemed difficult for the citizens to find knowledgeable and conscientious leaders with the integrity and drive to devote the time necessary to make informed and well-reasoned decisions.  

Colleyville's present state of affairs, from the unnecessary big bird medians on Highway 26 to the issuance of Colleyville's largest bonds without a public vote (a full year in advance of any need for the proceeds), dictates that we sorely need some new leadership on city council.  We need council members who will re-establish credibility at city hall, not those that seesaw with the political winds. 

We need council members who will maintain citizen driven master plans, not those who sell out to developers by voting for their high density and vague commercial projects as payback for political support.   We need council members who will keep their eye on the ball and guard against slip-ups like the aforementioned medians, not those who run and hide and try to shift the blame to somebody else as cover for their own failure to address or even understand the issues.    

Colleyville has the opportunity to elect a proven, worthy and talented councilman and former mayor, Richard Newton.  Mr. Newton has a firm grasp on the issues facing the city and has the experience and intelligence to reach appropriate decisions.  He is not encumbered by debilitating conflicts of interest like those that caused the current city council to abandon logic and vote for a rare reversal the Planning and Zoning Commission on a zoning case for council’s favorite developer, and political supporter, Raman Chandler.  No, Mr. Newton brings some of the rarest qualities to local elected office in Colleyville: honesty, integrity and experience.

Mr. Newton’s opponent, on the other hand, sends us propaganda that we are more familiar with here in Colleyville.  A flyer that directly attacks Newton with lies and half truths, rather than honestly addressing issues.  A flyer that attempts to hit “touch buttons” of residents, even if the factual information is woefully incorrect.  Haven’t we seen enough of this stuff in Colleyville!  I for one am tired of city council candidates with little or no city advisory board experience.  Mr. Newton’s opponent bills herself as the Chairman of the Planning and Zoning Commission, a position that she has held for all of a month or so.  I am not certain, but I think she has been on the Board for less than a year.  What leads to bad decisions in local government is ill-prepared and inexperienced public officials.

Please vote for Richard Newton for Colleyville City Council.  Early voting has started with the general election on Tuesday, November 6th.

Steven H. Magee
Former Chairman, Colleyville Library Advisory Committee
Former Member, Colleyville Parks and Recreation Board
Former Member, Colleyville Board of Adjustment
Former City Manager, City of Coconut Creek, Florida

Time Stamped 10-19-01 @ 7:41 AM

To the Editor:

Here in Colleyville we are being treated to a re-run of too recent political foolishness. I thought we were finished with the politics of blame and misdirection when we got rid of Clinton. But not so, Mayor Donna and her chums are giving it another try. .

An absolutely ridiculous median was built on our main thoroughfare. Anybody could have seen from the drawings that it was going to make it extremely difficult to get to the north side of the road and the businesses there. The median also 'just happened' to favor the new Villages of Colleyville, that have long been the pet of our Mayor and her handpicked Council. (When will we learn?) Of course, after the median was built, the businesses and their customers complained, bitterly.

What reaction do we get from Mayor Donna and her lackeys? Denial and misdirection! (Does this sound familiar? "I did not have sex with that woman.") First they claim they have no responsibility for, or knowledge of the design of, the median. This misdirection attempt was to shift the blame to the developer of the Villages.  However, they had to turn to plan 'B', when the records showed that Mayor Donna and the Council signed off on the median design in July of this year! Now, as preposterous as it sounds, they are trying to blame former Mayor Richard Newton, who hasn't been in a public office for two years. Of course, the reason for this turn is obvious - Newton is running against Donna's latest selection for Council, so he is a natural target.

We are tired of this nonsense in Colleyville. We want leaders that will exhibit leadership, responsibility, and integrity, instead of what we have now with Donna and her buddies. We will have a start on this by overwhelmingly electing Richard Newton in November.

Clifford Holliday
Colleyville

Time Stamped 10-18-01 @ 5:22 PM

Dear Editor,

I moved to Colleyville 16 years ago. At that time, this was a quiet desirable place to live. That was before the developers, realtors and builders replaced the citizens as the voice of government here with the possible collusion of certain members of the city council.
   
We're being overdeveloped and traffic on Hwy.26 is going from bad to worse and will continue to worsen. Therefore, I'd like to suggest a new name for the city - " Clutterville TX 76034 " with the slogan, " Just another roadside attraction "

I for one am disgusted with our present city council, beginning with the shaby treatment given the Couches to what appears to be no longer a government of the people, to the short-sighted, lacking in common sense planning.It's high time to vote the scoundrels OUT!

Joseph E.C.Martin
Colleyville, Texas

Dear Editor,

In regards to Jewish council woman Dana Feldman not bowing her head, etc during a pastor's prayer, I would like to make two points.  One, most prayers are usually to a singular "God" and last time I checked, Jews and Christians had the same one.  That doesn't speak to the head bowing
bit but it certainly brings into question her apparent lack of courtesy while others of different faiths are showing reverence to her same God.

Two, tolerance shouldn't be extended to the disrespectful.  If Mr. Wallace is insistent she practice a faith with the group, which doesn't appear to be wholly the case here, that is obviously wrong.  

However, if the focus of Mr. Wallace's complaint was true and Dana created a distraction, could it possibly be the pastor was using his prayer as a bully pulpit to support an agenda?  That happens regularly at Farmers Branch City Council meetings.  If that's the case, I support the active dissention, if not, show some respect, Dana.

Tell us LNO!  What is actually going on here?

Dennis Redwine
Farmers Branch

Time Stamped 10-18-01 @ 11:21 AM

LNO:
As a Christian and resident of Northeast Tarrant County, I am embarrassed by what has gone on in the paper and the Internet. The whole incident reminds us of the divisive nature of some people, even in these times when so many people are trying to come together as a community and a country. 

Mr. Wallace, Mr. Thibodeaux and LNO could use some prayer. Let’s keep them both in mind when we read the words of our Lord and pray that they can find more constructive ways to serve the community and worship. 

Matthew 6:5-6 – “And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men. I tell you the truth; they have received their reward in full. But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.” 

Matthew 7:1-6: “Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in you brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye.?…You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye” 

Matthew 18: 15: “If your brother sins against you, go and show him his fault, just between the two of you. If he listens, you have won your brother over” 

Luke 6:31 - “Do to others as you would have them do to you”
 In Him:
Richard Craft
Grapevine, Tx

Time Stamped 10-17-01 @ 6:01 AM

I am moved to comment on the disrespectful actions shown by Councilwoman Dana Feldman during the October 16, 2001 city council meeting. I suppose that Ms. Feldman was making a statement by looking around, sighing and making a spectacle of herself during the opening prayer by Pastor David Jung.

I understand that she does not share my Christian faith, but I would at least expect some modicum of respect towards the speaker that the Council invited. If the opening prayer had been delivered by a Rabbi, I would have at least honored the speaker by reverently bowing my head and paying attention.

Her actions were disrespectful, antagonistic and not becoming of a public official who represents the citizens of Colleyville.

To Ms. Baker:

The facts are indisputable. LNO did not report the Southlake versus Hansen Concrete story until I inquired about it.  I see now they have added a story about the plight of this poor company. Good for them.  But let's stop and ask this question.  Why is it that LNO has not chosen to launch an attack on Mayor Stacy and the Southlake Council?  Surely, LNO recognizes an anti-business regime when they see one.  The courts ruled against Southlake in this matter and Southlake is still continuing their assault against a legal business.  Why is it that LNO has not taken a more pro-business position in this matter?  If Hansen Concrete were located in Colleyville, do you think LNO would take the same approach?  I don't think so.

Bob Culley
Colleyville

Publisher Note:   While we appreciate input on the site, LNO posted a story on the Hansen/Concrete matter on August 09, 2001 at 10:02 AM.  Mr. Culley's e-mail on this subject was received (posted below) on October 5, 2001. To verify this "indisputable fact" simply Click on Archives and the Month of August 2001, then scroll down to August 09.  If you have questions about previous articles on LNO, please check the Archives section first.  If the article is about a particular interest, such as  something school related, etc., please check the appropriate section.

Subject: Bob Culley letter to the editor

I would like to respond to Mr. Culley's assertion that Colleyville has not forced a business to move as he states Southlake is doing regarding the cement plant.  As reported in LocalNewsOnly.com-there was the Couch property, leased by the Karate studio that was forced out, about a year ago.

The elderly Couch couple were strong-armed to sell to the city months and months in advance to make way for The Villages, as a matter of record.  Mayor Arp signed the lease to Richard Myers and Tom Miller, partners in The Villages, for ten dollars per month rent.

This is old news by now, but since it has been brought up that the reporting is biased and the implication is that any kind of investigative reporting in this town is "negative," let me ask this...Where is Mr. Culley's call for fairness of the recent appointment of Tom Miller, The Villages partner, to the Ethics Committee of Colleyville?  Received after the City Web Page posted closing of September 21, 2001, as were ALL the accepted appointments?  Were the Chosen Ones recruited after the closing date?  These are all available under open records request, as to date received.  The people who did apply on time, Sore Loser Club President myself, included, were not even interviewed.  Some ethical way to start the proceedings, wouldn't Mr. Culley agree?

I attended the Council meeting last Tuesday.  Not for the first time, the cable company did not air the video tape.  Technical difficulties, once again.  Much like the missing eighteen minutes of the infamous Nixon tapes, this gets a bit tiresome.  This meeting included some pretty grand whoppers being spun and memory loss items, in addition to alleged lost paperwork attributed to everyone BUT the people sitting behind the dais in the big comfy chairs.  I expect a free cable airing would bring out too many people who do remember how the chain of events occurred regarding the complete, stunning surprise of The Median, and the vitriolic verbatim of striping Hall Johnson Road.  Except for Ginny Tigue, who seemed to accept responsibility for things that occurred on her personal watch, the new Council Members (who one never saw much of, if ever, at Council meetings prior to their decisions to run) pretty much helped the Mayor lay the blame on everybody from Bob Stripling, former City Manager, and Jim Foster, former missionary and City Engineer, to the "former" Council members.  Say, didn't Arp serve on that Council also?

So if the Fifth Estate is to be relegated to reporting on Girl Scout cookie sales, and we have no other newspaper other than the one published by the new boss of the Chamber of Commerce, who has already proved by endorsement where they stand, what mischief would the merry men and women in this town be up to?  Collect our taxes and give it to developers for their new residential quasi business startups?  Chase off the existing non-upscale, hometown business people by way of crippling barrier medians or perhaps charge the current business people a new PID tax-just for being there all along?

Hey, they are doing it now, even with LNO reporting the facts.  The difference is that citizens who care about having leadership, not just having our own town Hostess, can work to make others see what is going on behind the closed doors of City Hall.  I am biased, Mr. Culley.  I read.

Linda Baker
Colleyville

I wrote a letter to Donna Arp earlier this year discussing many concerns related to fiscal issues regarding The Villages project in Colleyville.  As an eight year resident of Colleyville, I have seen our city evolve from a mostly rural, sparsely populated town to a suburban community of largely upscale housing. I have also witnessed the demise of businesses along HWY 26 and the lack of a coherent plan to attract new ones. This while Southlake businesses have exploded along 1709, Keller and North Richland Hills have added substantial business on contiguous roads around Colleyville and transportation infrastructure, and Grapevine continued its dramatic commercial expansion in every corner where it could do so while it added the roads to support it.

As we've seen, the results are in. Grapevine has not raised its taxes and in fact may lower its tax rates due to all the commercial development it's been able to attract. Keller and North Richland Hills are beginning to build expensive housing developments now that their infrastructures have been built out to support larger diverse residential and commercial areas.

Southlake's actions also bear close scrutiny. In the last 8 years, instead of fighting development along 1709, they embraced it AND attracted it. This has resulted in commuters from the surrounding cities stopping and buying everything from groceries to furniture to whatever. They didn't fight the residents of Keller, North Richland Hills, Watagua, or whoever from using their main drag (1709) as a commuter access road. Sure they have heavy traffic concerns, but they now have substantial tax revenues so they can apply resources to manage it. They are also beginning to attract housing developments which, if they continue, will eclipse Colleyville's.

The controversy over Colleyville Towne Square versus The Villages has been extremely disturbing to me. The argument between them was one of fiscal responsibility. Even if there were short term savings from locating City Hall and the new Library in The Villages, the long term does not look as good. Ongoing operating expenses of having City Hall in one place and police and fire departments in another will mean our city will have logistical expenses long after the initial savings are realized. In other words, the "investment" of putting City Hall and the Library in Colleyville Towne Center would outweigh locating them in The Villages. And as far as the medians which are ugly, no town that wants to support businesses on BOTH sides of a road puts up medians. Instead, they WIDEN the road and put in a wide turning lane to support traffic attempting to turn into parking lots for those businesses.

Letter to LNO:

I found it interesting that the City of Colleyville in conjunction with the Villages of Colleyville decided to have a ribbon cutting to open the city's new "Main Street."  This may be the first "Main Street" in the United States with no buildings along its frontage.  Well I guess we may eventually have two, city hall and the city library.  I believe the Mayor and current Council will live to regret their decision to move these facilities to the Village property.  While I certainly hope the Village will be successful, the Council's decision relocate our primary public facilities to this location before the project demonstrated any success whatsoever was a foolhardy risk of public money.  

By the way, many of us have not forgotten that we are paying a high amount of interest to finance these facilities long before the proceeds are needed.  I guess we can chalk that up to the financial genius of Dennis Marlin.  We could have saved thousands more as interest rates have plummeted since the Council's latest bond issue without a public vote.  Is it to late for a city referendum concerning the city hall and library locations and funding levels?

When GM left Flint, Michigan it created a ghost town on Main Street, but at least Flint had some buildings.  Our vacancy in Colleyville is in the leadership department.   

Steve Magee
Colleyville

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