Editor: 

Editor: 

For the Colleyville City Council not to have appointed John Eubanks to the State Highway 26 advisory committee deprived the citizens of Colleyville of valuable proven leadership that would not put up with any shenanigans.

John Eubanks worked for my father--Thomas L. Anderson Sr. of Dallas--for more than 25 years and was one of his most valued employees.

As executive vice-president and treasurer of Anderson Industries, Inc. of Dallas he was in charge of the bottom line for our family owned company, which included among its subsidiaries Mesco Metal Buildings of Grapevine, and no one, except for my father probably watched the company's finances and outcome more closely, even auditing my expense reports during the 10 years I worked in the corporate office in Dallas from 1987-1997.  When my father retired as company president in 1996, he selected John Eubanks as company president, knowing John would continue to lead our company in the conservative management style dad
preferred.  John continued to lead our company until we sold it two years later and even the company that bought our subsidiary Mesco Metal Buildings recognized John's value and retained him as Mesco's president until his recent retirement.

Even though I live in the part of Colleyville that is in the
Hurst-Euless-Bedford school district I often watch the G-CISD school board meetings with interest as John, who is the vice chairman of the G-CISD board in his first term, takes administrators to task for expenses or policies that he deems questionable or imprudent and properly acting as the public's watchdog.

As a 20 year former newspaper reporter who has covered dozens of school board meetings throughout Texas  I have seen very few elected board members question school administrators as closely as John Eubanks does and call them to task.

Thomas L. (Tom) Anderson, Jr.
Colleyville, Texas

Editor: 
One more time we have to listen to Brad Rice spout off about putting "the cow museum out to pasture".  Well, first of all it's not a cow museum, it's a "Dairy Museum".

I can't begin to convey how sick and tired I am of Councilman Rice bringing up this issue that has been dead for literally years.

Once upon a time a citizen's committee of Colleyville conceived and approved a plan for McPherson Park that included a Dairy Museum exactly where the old
dairy farm used to be.  The museum was to be funded by the Dairy Association - NOT by the city of Colleyville.  The City of Colleyville was never going to contribute a penny to this enterprise.

However, in typical Colleyville fashion, we dragged our heels.  We used the funds that were supposed to be used for McPherson Park for other things that Donna Arp's council considered more important.  We dragged our heels so long
that the economy changed and the Dairy Association was no longer in a position to fund a museum.

Did the city consider funding the Dairy Museum?  No - never - not once --was city funding of this project brought up.  Like so many other potentially viable proposals this one died a natural death because our City leadership was locked in political combat and never pursued the original plan for McPherson Park - a plan that by the way was also determined by a citizen committee.

And yet every single time the political redesign of McPherson Park comes up on the City council agenda, Brad Rice brings up the "cow museum" with some kind of derogatory comment indicating what a stupid idea he thinks it was.

Well Councilman Rice -- let me tell you- some of us used to buy milk at that dairy farm.  Some of us used to take our kids there so that they could see where the milk comes from.  Some of us think that preserving the "country atmosphere" of Colleyville includes preserving a vestige of things past.
Some of us thought that since the Dairy Association was going to foot the bill, that it was a great idea to build a Dairy Museum.

As far as I am concerned, this is just one more opportunity lost to our city because our city leaders are constantly embroiled in political machinations that would do credit to Enron or WorldCom either one.

Luann Edwards

Editor: 
I think the new theater project for Colleyville is so exciting.   I do hope that in the future a children's learning & acting program and presentation will become part of it. Once again this is great news! and I for one am here to volunteer where needed.

Sincerely  
Diane Pinto

Editor: 

Editor: Copy of Letter to   Bill Lindley City Mgr. Colleyville

 On Monday morning 12/09/2002 at 6:45 a.m. I and other neighbors put our trash out to be picked up, It is now 9:55 p.m. and my trash has not been picked up yet. I am current on my water and trash bill (check your records) and would like to know why my trash has not been picked up.
 This is the second time I have called IESI the "new trash company" and left my name and phone number to return my call and they have not.
 The Mayor and the powers to be market Colleyville as an up scaled city. Well tonight the animals and critters will be in Arbor Estates trash and we will have to clean it up, not IESI the "new trash company". How many people will pass my neighbor hood and not only see trash sitting in our front yards all day waiting to be picked up, but tomorrow morning will see it scattered over yards and streets.
 By this email, I am requesting that you or one of your staff to contact IESI the "new trash company" and  ask the following questions since IESI the "new trash company" will not return my calls.
1 Why did IESI the "new trash company"  miss my pick up, the other company never missed a pick up.
2 Why does IESI the "new trash company" not have an after 5 p.m. number to call so that working people that come home after 5 p.m. can call.
3 Why can they not call me and say we will not pick up your trash today, please put it back in your garage so that
 animals and critters will not get in to it.
4 Why can't they call me the customer, back when I leave my name and phone number.
 I would like the city of Colleyville to credit my next water and trash bill for two missed pick ups. Please respond with any answers IESI the "new trash company" or you may have.

Thank you,
Guy Willingham

Editor:
 I want to thank you for the coverage that you have been giving to the Inaugural Summer Santa "Tour de Peppermint" Bike Rally and Bike Safety Rodeo being held at Southlake Town Square, this Sunday morning. Summer Santa is a non-profit charity that helps thousands of Northeast Tarrant County kids each year.  And these kids thank you too!

Andrew Wayne 

It was nearly impossible to hear on 1190 any of the Southlake Dragons game against Arlington Sam Houston.  We tried 4 different radios including the car and almost nothing!! About the only thing audible were some of the
commercials.  What's wrong with that Fox station?  I applaud the local businesses that spent money on advertising to provide this community service but they certainly didn't get their money's worth.  Does it take group action to complain to Fox.  I urge other in the community to do so.  What a big
disappointment.

Carolyn Hobbs
Southlake Resident

It doesn't try to present one religion as superior to another, nor is it evangelistic.

In the future, Lowry might do well to pay attention to the advance publicity before he attends the performance of a well-known production. Then his review might be more professionally objective and less emotionally reactive.

Mary Anne and David Meier, Hurst

The title of this performance informs us that it is a Christmas spectacular -- i.e., that it has a Christian theme. Why would you go with any other expectation?

If the title has the word Christmas in it, it should absolutely be about the birth of Jesus Christ.

Lowry stated that the creators of this show used dated ideas and ambushed the audience with Christian theology. If Lowry was ambushed, then he set himself up for that.

Laurie Sugiyama
Keller

What a dream program -- all the glitz of commercial Christmas as we know it, topped off by a biblical presentation depicting the real meaning of the season. Our granddaughter can hardly wait.

Jody Garretson
Bedford

Surely we should not object to the same show being performed here in the Bible Belt.

Margaret Daniels
Hurst

Just as the deeper meaning of the Fourth of July goes far beyond fireworks, and should always be expressed, so should the deeper meaning of Christmas always be a part of any Christmas celebration.

Lexie R. Glenn
Saginaw

1.) Why do you find it necessary to have a photo of a small child making an obscene gesture?

2.) Why did you post the names, ages and addresses of children of the Board Members? 

You really should have read the information on the web site instead of just looking at the pictures! They stole $500,000.

1.The picture of the child is representative of what you get when children have poor role models!  People who lie, cheat and steal from their neighbors are certainly poor role models for children. 

   Example: Individual buys a $800,000 house backed up to a park!  He signs a contract to pay for the upkeep on the park at the time of his purchase of the house.  He then finds a condom in the park and promptly has the parking lot chained off so no one else can use his park. He then decides that someone else should assume part of his financial obligation.  He rides around the community in his Mercedes until he sees a retired school teacher who lives in a home valued under $200,000 and so far away that they won't use the park or get in his way.  He then creates fraudulent documents and snookers others into signing a petition. He takes the signature page and has it falsely notorized, attaches it to another document and files it at the court house. Now the school teacher is faced with paying the same $486 as the crook with the $800,000 house on the park. Never mind the simple fact that the fatcat had two legal opinions telling him his actions were illegal.... he did it anyway and told the school teacher to move out of the neighborhood if he didn't like it!  Now the school teacher has to spend thousands of dollars to defend his home.


2. The names and ages of the children on the web site came from the WHHA address book that was published and freely distributed by WHHA members.  The names, addresses, phone numbers (including some unlisted numbers), childrens's names and ages of non-members of the WHHA were also included in the address book without the permission of those individuals.  They also used the book to defame non members.

Author WHHAsucks.com

Jennifer Gray, CCIM
Colleyville

Martin Solomon

Letter to the Editor:

Give us a break Donna! Please! It's a long time till the next election! You don't have to exercise your nasty muscles yet! We all know that you are going to try to get your two lackeys reelected and probably will try to bring in a third. (Where do you get these people willing and eager to do
anything you say? Are they really all from Colleyville?)

It's way too early to bore us all with your parading of the lackeys around to every groundbreaking, opening, dedication and street fight. (If they went to 'closings' there would be more opportunities.) If somebody (particularly a newspaperperson) with a camera were taking pictures of two dogs in a
heated exchange on Glade road, you'd probably be there, your two or three Lackeys parading behind you.

We all know you are going to do this, but couldn't it wait a few months? Then after May, we'll be rid of all of you. In the meantime, is there any possibility that you and your lackeys could act with just a modicum of decorum? Could you cease asking harassing, personal questions of candidates
for volunteer positions? Could you pretend you were trained in common decency towards your fellow Councilmen? And, most of all, could you at least act like you care anything at all about the future of this city?

Come on Donna; give us a break!

Clifford Holliday

Dear Editor:

When is SPECIAL no longer SPECIAL?

Colleyville’s ordinances have provisions for the city to issue Special Use Permits (SUPs) to businesses that desire to dispense alcoholic beverages. The use of the word SPECIAL in this term would lead a rationale person to believe that the issuance of a SUP for sale of alcoholic beverages is something that is “outside the norm”. In the past such SUPs have been issued to a specific individual business only after these business presented a request that usually showed a reason the such a “special” permit should be issued and evidence that the sale of these beverages would not harm the community at large.

At the August 20, 2002 council meeting the Colleyville City Council took action that issued what was called a Blanket SUP for any future business that might locate in the Villages of Colleyville development. How can a BLANKET permit be considered a SPECIAL permit?

In my opinion this action by our City Council was extremely unwise.  The Villages of Colleyville development is located adjacent to our premier city park. In a bit over a year our library will open in the Village of Colleyville.  Youth of our city will be using both of these extensively. No one can be sure what kind of businesses will locate within the Villages of Colleyville.  In coming years will it resemble Quincy Market or will it resemble Bourbon Street?

I quote from 1998 Colleyville Master Plan (Resolution R-98-1402, Sept. 15, 1998):

“We, the Citizens of Colleyville, are dedicated to preserving and enhancing strong family and community values, gracious suburban living, natural beauty, and historical settings.”

Does the recent council action regarding this BLANKET SUP support the above objective or does it contribute to erosion our stated values in the interest of economic development?

Joe Deupree

To the Editor;

It seems that we have a new "Donnagate" here in Colleyville. We have so many
it would be useless to try to name them all. Maybe we just start numbering
them.

The latest involves Councilman Newton in the Council pre-meeting two weeks
ago when he asked for a report that had been addressed to the Mayor and
Council about the Ethics ordnance. (As unusual as it may seem, this
Councilman likes to know what he is voting on, rather than just doing as
Donna says.)

This request either surprised Donna (not being used to Council persons that
had to be told more than merely how high to jump), and she responded that no
one had the report.

Ginny promptly answered that she had a copy. (Ginny must not have gotten the
script for the night.)

 Donna told her she didn't. To which Ginny replied, "Oh."

Since he had asked for the report from the staff before the meeting,
Councilman Newton was still insisting that he should have the report, before
he voted.

Donna, now insulted, suggested that Newton should apologize. Later this was
made to seem to be a request for an apology for an alleged slight of the
staff (which it wasn't), but it seems more that Donna wanted Councilman
Newton to apologize for asking for the information. (Such a hateful thing to
do - it spoils ones plans when people demand to know the facts.)

When someone is embarrassed to share information, with those duly entitled
to receive it, especially someone in elected office, there is only one
question.

Donna what are you hiding this time?

It is ironic to note, that shortly after this, Donna was quoted in the paper
concerning the upcoming elections - she's not running but she has already
published her list of lackeys that she has to take care of - about her
supposed opponents, "They distort the facts to promote their own agenda."
Seems Donna has, again, taken the lead on the rest of us in distorting the
facts.


Clifford Holliday
Colleyville

Dear Publisher,

Please post the attached response to Ms. Kahle's e-mail

Dear Ms. Kahle:

Thank you for taking the time to send me your questions. 

Patsy Smith had prepared three documents for the city to consider: 1) a Special Warranty Deed to convey 4.111 acres for the city hall and .912 acres for parking, 2) a Special Warranty Deed to convey the road leading up to the city hall site, and 3) a Reciprocal Easement and Parking Agreement between Town Center and the city. 

The conditions in the deed for the city hall site and the parking site were: 1) the city had 15 days to sign a reciprocal easement for parking, 2) the city had three years to complete construction of city hall, 3) the city had to continuously use the property for a city hall, library, or general administrative offices of the city (there could be breaks, but not greater than 90 days), and 4) the city could not use the property for any purposes other than a city hall, library or general administrative offices for a period exceeding 30 days. The last two conditions ended after October 1, 2029, which would have been approximately the 30-year useful life of the city hall structure.

There was one other condition in the deed for the city hall site and the parking area. Ms. Smith reserved the right to reacquire the .912 acre of parking area as long as she provided a similar area adjacent to the 4.111 acre tract where city hall would be built.

The Special Warranty Deed for the road leading to the city hall from state highway 26 had two conditions: 1) the city had 15 days to sign a reciprocal easement for parking, and 2) the city had to construct the road within a time period to be stipulated at a cost of not less than $625,000. 

None of these conditions allowed Patsy Smith to retain control over the 4.111 acres on which the city hall would be built. Since Ms. Smith reserved the right to reacquire the parking area in exchange for a similar area, it might be seen by some that she retained some control over that .912 acre. However, the city would have had full control over the city hall site. Ms. Smith had no control over the land the road would be built on as long as the city built the road. This was not too consequential anyway since the developer would have built the road if the city didn’t build it, and the right of way would have to be dedicated to the city based on Colleyville’s Land Development Code.

During the past year my wife and I have both put much time and energy into researching the decisions made by our city during the last few years and the actual documents associated with those decisions.  Much changed between the time I left office in May 1999 and my election in November 2001.  It had not been my intention to return to a position in city government, but my concern over the misinformation that I had personally heard greatly concerned me. We found that many things citizens had been told by the elected officials (via newspaper articles, the Communicator, public comments, etc.) cannot be substantiated when you actually research the documents. 

In the LNO column I said Donna Arp arbitrarily found fault with the donation because she was telling people (including me) that if the building burned down and had to be rebuilt that the ownership of the property would revert. She also enlisted the assistance of Dana Feldman in claiming this issue. However, it is my opinion that this idea was far-fetched and simply used as a reason for killing the deal. It does not stand up to reason. 

I talked to Patsy Smith about this and she told me she was only interested in insuring that the city used the land for the purpose that it was donated. She was concerned that she would donate the land and the city would put the city hall somewhere else. I can’t say that I blame her in that the elected officials were not negotiating in good faith with her during this time. Ms. Smith confirmed that the mayor or other city officials did not discuss any concerns they claimed to have had with Ms. Smith, nor did they try to negotiate any changes in the Special Warranty Deed that Ms. Smith’s attorney prepared. 

The property that Herman Smith dedicated for the Community Center had nearly identical stipulations placed on it and we managed to get a first class Community Center built without any concern from anyone. 

The information I have shared with you is summarized from the actual documents that Patsy Smith’s attorney sent to the city. I will be happy to share any information or copies with you.  As a resident of Kingswood I can understand your concern about the Town Center development. I reside in Highland Meadows not far away and have the same concerns.

Thank you for your questions. 
Richard Newton 

Publisher note: Mr. Newton currently serves on the Colleyville City Council Place 4 and is a former mayor of the city, his response was to the email to the editor listed immediately below.

Dear Editor:
Dear Mr. Newton,

I live in Kingswood Estates, off of Bluebonnet. I have been interested
and concerned about what will be built on and around the "Town Center"
property.  I was the only citizen that made it to the meeting at Mr.
Howe's office in August of 2000 to see the plans of Mrs. Smith's land.

There is something that I don't understand.  In your article, you
mentioned that the Donna Arp or city council "found fault with the
conditions of the donation".  I would like to ask you, what are the
conditions of the donation?  When I talked to Mrs. Arp, I understood it
to mean that Mrs. Smith would not fully give the land to the city.  Once
Mrs. Smith gave the land to the city, she could somehow still have
control over it.  Could you please explain this to me in more detail?

Thank you for your time,

Angela Kahle

Dear Editor:
Enjoyed your coverage of the "Ethics" ordinance although I can't imagine what it's going to change. As one of my good friends says, "You either have ethics or you don't."

I'm just curious. Does moral turpitude include telling a developer that the City is about to sue him?

Luann Edwards

Dear Editor,

Ken Green

Publisher Note:  We really appreciate the comments, the story ran on November 5, 2001.  Of course, a really great feature about LNO is that you can read the articles anytime you get ready!  This one is in the archives.  If you didn't see the Colleyville's motorcycle gang article, click on the photo.

In recent news stories about Wal-Mart closing in Southlake and moving to Grapevine, there were lots of quotes from officials in both cities. Isn't it interesting that there has been no reaction from Colleyville city officials over the possible closing of the city's largest generators of sales tax? I doubt there has been any contact between Colleyville City Hall and K-Mart. Sad.

Jerome Davis
Colleyville

To the Editor

To the Editor

To the Editor

Thank you for publishing Former Mayor and now City Councilman Richard Newton's column in the guest editorial section.  Fellow citizens please take the time to read this excellent column.  

Mr. Newton's analytical, measured and balanced approach to the issues facing Colleyville gives us hope that our local leadership may at some point quit telling us only what they think we want to hear.  We need to face the fact that the City has done a poor job at attracting commercial development.  Our main arterial Texas 26 or Colleyville Boulevard is doted with strip retail development in an odd mixture of auto service related uses and dry cleaners.  While the idea of the Village of Colleyville to create a town center was novel, it just has not been successful.  While I along with everyone I know in town hopes the Village will make it, the signs are not there.  

The "of like mind" City Council, led by Mayor Arp, except for former Mayor Newton, have decided to put all our economic development eggs in one basket.  In the past couple of years we have moved the site for the new city hall from where it was well planned and accessible, near the new public safety complex, the post office and the City's community center, to the Village.  We went from a prominent site to a cramped one behind Krogers.  There the new city hall and library will be built on a whopping 1-acre site without adequate parking.  We have increased spending on the new library to almost double the initial plans at the expense of other sorely needed capital improvement projects.  We have spent thousands on redesigning the finished plans for city hall.  Now we are about to build these two very prominent city facilities, the library and the city hall, to stand virtually by themselves in the Village (behind our Krogers, at least until Krogers closes its doors in favor of the new Krogers down the road in Hurst).  What is the justification for all this?  

I vividly remember visiting with then Florida Governor and now U.S. Senator Bob Graham at the opening of the new city government complex we had just built in Coconut Creek, Florida in 1990.  After touring the facility, Bob turned to myself and Mayor Bob Shelley and without explanation said "at least you guys realized you only build these once."  He went on to explain, "if you build a house in the wrong place, you can usually sell it and try again, but when you use the people's money to build major public facilities you have to get it right the first time because you live with the results."  

Unfortunately fellow citizens I am of the opinion that we "didn't get it right" when Donna and crew decided to build our major public facilities behind the Krogers store.    The next time you see Donna's smiling face in the Colleyville communicator telling you how great things are, just think about the businesses closing their doors, the "big bird" medians, and the new Krogers town hall.  Who knows, maybe it will work out for the best and we can change the name of the city to "Krogerville."

Steve Magee
Colleyville, TX
(former City Manager, Coconut Creek, Florida)

To the Editor,
Thank you for letting me know that the Editorial Task Force has had a
name change and is now the Editorial Advisory Board.

Your response to my earlier request, who was on the Editorial Task Force
(renamed Editorial Advisory Board), was not answered.

Please let me know who is on the Editorial Advisory Board. Either
provide the information or let me know where on LNO the information is
available.

Thanks,
Jo Ann Gasper
Colleyville

Publisher Note: There is no Editorial Advisory Board please re-read the previous Publisher Note and e-mail response, there has been no reference to same.

To the Editor,
Thank you for sending out e-mails (Headline Alerts) concerning the pro-tem mayor's comment. I saw it on T.V. and was upset this woman was so sure of her self, people need to know this!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Thank you for letting the public know who missed Ms. Tigues performance and comment concerning picking straws!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! this woman has an attitude!!!!
Carole Paul
Colleyville

Dear Editor,

Does anyone at LNO have any information about the future of Colleyville's Kroger at 26 and Glade?  I recently noticed that a Kroger "Signature" store will soon be opening where Minyards used to be on 26, near Kohl's -- I believe that's in Hurst.  I'm assuming this means that Kroger is going to be pulling out of its
Colleyville location and that we will have lost yet another business.  Any word?

Thanks,
Jenifer Zimmerman
Colleyville

Publisher Note: At the time of posting LNO has not been able to verify the future status of Kroger.  However, there seems to be a growing consensus amongst viewers that the Hurst opening does not play out well for the Colleyville store.  LNO will continue our efforts to obtain a definitive statement.

Dear Editor,

Since we don't get Colleyville News & TImes anymore, I rely on your Website for openings and closings of local businesses. I have not seen anything mentioned about the Taco Bell closing, or Ruby's changing to Finz.
I called Taco Bell and the owner called me back and told me that we will have to drive south on 26  to Harwood Rd.  "I don't think so." Were there any reasons given for this sudden closure, other than the median? It was
always busy, and was very convenient.

Who owns Finz, and is it their first store?
I have also heard that Cafe Panache on Harwood is considering moving to the vacant Taco Bell building, which would be good as it serves excellent
food.

I hope the replacement for Skillman Wok is better than the first two occupants.  Who is the replacement, and what is their previous experience? I am hoping someone from the Chamber of Commerce will contact a chain called Westlake Hardware out of Lenexa,KS about taking over the old Payless Cashways store. They are a very well managed chain of hardware stores and compete very well when near Lowes and Home Depot.
They acquired the Arlington Hardware store several years ago, and have a few other stores in the DFW area.
Thanks.
Melvin Manuel
Colleyville

Publisher Note: LNO is preparing an article on the many recent closings.

I am not able to locate your Editorial Task Force. Have you done away
with the Task Force? If so, who is functioning as your Editorial Board.

If I am wrong. Please direct me to the correct link.
thanks
Jo Ann Gasper
Colleyville

Publisher Note:  The previously named Editorial Task Force has been renamed  the LNO Advisory Board.  The primary function of the Task Force was to gather individually written columns for posting.  As previously indicated,  LNO is happy to accept columns for posting, as long as they adhere to our family oriented site policy and are issue oriented.

Dear Editor,

Monday is Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s observed birthday. Observed by Colleyville?  No.  All employees are scheduled to report for duty.

Recognized in any fashion by Colleyville?  No.  The Ethics Committee, blissfully unaware of their own public perception, will be meeting that night.

Diversity in recruiting or naming minority members to Boards and Committees?  No.  What representation there used to be on those citizen advisory groups was kicked to the curb and replaced by political sycophants in favor with the Mayor and Council majority.

So far as Colleyville is concerned, Dr. King was only dreaming.

Linda Baker

Dave Peck

In your December 5 article on the home tour you list Scott Simmons Web address. There is nothing there! Do you have a correct address or is he still building his Web site?

Editor's Note:

Mr. Simmons website should be active in approximately a week.  The website address is www.simmonsestatehomes.com.  Until then, you can reach him at 817-329-0207.

Time Stamped 01-05-02 6:47 A.M.

Dear Editor:

As an eleven year resident of Colleyville, my frustrations are finally
forcing me to put pen to paper with the wish there will be more hope for
Colleyville in 2002.

I have heard the city government say we urgently need to attract
commercial business for ten of those eleven years . . . but all to no
avail.  Hundreds of Colleyville residents can turn out to protest new
subdivisions and get overruled by the City Council and Planning and
Zoning or exceptions are passed without the voter's knowledge . . . it
seems the builders and developers run this town.

When we had a great piece of commercially zoned property on the far
western outskirts of Colleyville that would have been ideal for a large
sales tax generating business, our town leaders decided to rezone it for
a private school.  The reasoning was all the parents would shop in
Colleyville to and from transporting their children to school.  Where
might I ask are these stores and would it make up for all the lost
revenue?  Note - about 200 yards from this intersection of McDowell
School Road and Precinct Line a Super Wal Mart is under construction . .
. just over the border from Colleyville.

By the way, the school leaders could not get financing.  Did we rezone
that property back to commercial?  NO!!  It was changed to high density
residential and will become Westgate Villas with the exception that a 9
hole golf course would occupy the open land but probably won't be built
for several years.  If you are still living here then, see if that golf
course is ever built.  My guess is the 9 hole par 3 course will give way
to more high density housing.

If the current direction continues, why does Colleyville need a head of
economic development?  Save the dollars.  Open up 3 more oil change
places, 4 dry cleaners and 6 more banks along Highway 26, and be sure
not to tell these businesses how their structures should look.  Instead,
build much larger arches at the two entrances to Colleyville along 26;
then rezone all other land to residential.

When we moved to Colleyville, it had immense charm and a rural feel.
Six years ago, Colleyville was called Highland Park West.  While all the
political bickering and hidden agendas were taking place, our neighbors
to the north in Southlake were reaching the economic development goals
Colleyville has been talking about all these years.  The prestige stores
and restaurants are locating to our north, bringing increased tax
dollars and higher land/home values to that area.  By the time the
Village of Colleyville is built, there will be no business wanting to
occupy any of the space.

I do hope Colleyville's leaders can do something before it is too late.
Only if they demonstrate a united front and stop trying to fool a well
educated community will they achieve their personal, community, and
business goals.  In the end, our vote is what counts.

Jim Nadeau
Colleyville

Time Stamped 01-05-02 6:47 A.M.

Dear Editor:

RE: the "Monopoly Hotel Group"

 1.  John Mavrak, the Monopoly President, lists his residence as the Hotel's business address in Jupiter, Florida.  There are no other hotels built by Mr. Mavrak.
 2.  Everywhere in the proposal and letter from the Mayor, the word "kickback" can be substituted for "incentive", "rebate", "forgive", "grant", "reimbursement" and "waiver".
 3. The proposal includes awarding the janitorial services to the Monopoly Hotel, without bid, for the new City Hall and Library.  Beverage and catering services awarded, without bid, for all other city functions, which may include the Community Center.
 4.  Colleyville taxpayers shared in the cost of an earlier hotel study to benefit Capital Realty and the Sinclair Hotel; the latter finding the income projections laughable.
 5.  The latest secret officially unapproved plan for the Villages bumps the residential apartments count up to 160.  Most of us in Colleyville expected the TIF funds to be used for commercial development.

Thank you, LNO.  None of us would be aware of these backdoor agreements without the documentation you provided.  
Can we, the citizens, financially last until next May to light the torches, march to City Hall and vote out the Mayor's perpetrators?  

Frank Baker
Colleyville

Time Stamped 01-04-02 12:04 PM

Dear Editor:

I'm confused........isn't this site already under construction?  Isn't the
big hole in the ground in the Village for the hotel?

From your article, it sounds like the deal could fall apart.

David Brockman
Colleyville

Publisher Note:

Actually the "big hole" area is lot # 27.  The Village reports this is a
group of retail stores.  LNO first covered this area in June 2001, a link to
that article is shown below.

The hotel property includes the McNosky property. The latest information
available to LNO is that the McNosky property has not closed, although the
developer informed LNO in December that he anticipated the property to close
soon.

The other information, as reported, is the latest news LNO has on the
property.

http://www.localnewsonly.com/atcoJUN1301.htm

Time Stamped 01-04-02 10:32 AM

Dear Editor: