The Colleyville City Council announced last night that both regular November city council meetings have been rescheduled.  Regular meetings are usually held on the first and third Tuesdays of each month.  The first meeting will be Wednesday, November 7, rather than Tuesday due to elections.  The second meeting was rescheduled to November 27 because of the Thanksgiving holiday.

Mayor Donna Arp presented proclamations at the beginning of the meeting to Fire Chief Mike Johnston for National Fire Prevention Month, and to Police Chief John Young and Officer Bill Hudgins for Crime Prevention Month.  The presentation of the proclamations was deferred at the October 2 council meeting because of the three house fires and automobile accident that occurred on that date shortly before the commencement of the council meeting.   

The first reading and public hearing on a zoning change request submitted by Claire Edwards was scheduled for last night, but the applicant requested that the council allow her to withdraw her request and return to the Planning and Zoning commission with a revised submission.  However, the council discussed the request and permitted twelve citizens to speak before granting her request.  She was attempting to rezone her property at the corner of Felps Drive and Cheek Sparger Road from R-20 to CPO to allow the property to be used as an accounting office.  Edwards purchased and remodeled the property and was using it as an office when complaints were filed with the city by neighbors.  She indicated she would pursue a different zoning category with P&Z.  Seven people spoke in favor of her zoning change request.  

In other business the council conducted the first reading and public hearing on an ordinance that would ban the use of any type of wood shingle roofing material on new residential and commercial construction in the city.  After some discussion the council determined that more research was needed before this item could be pursued and indicated that the issue would probably be tabled at the next meeting. 

A resolution to establish the McPherson Park Master Plan Committee was approved by the council.  During the public hearing on this item several citizens expressed displeasure over comments that have been made by the council regarding the initial plan for this park.  Linda Baker questioned the need for a new committee and recommended that members of the original planning committee be allowed to serve if they so desired.  Former Councilman Nelson Thibodeaux challenged recent statements in the media that the dairy museum considered in the original plan would cost $7.8 million dollars, saying the correct amount was $1.8 million and the plan had been for donations to fund the construction.  Councilman Brad Rice was appointed the council liaison to this committee.  Citizens interested in serving on the committee may obtain information from the city website www.colleyville.com or by calling city secretary Cynthia Singleton. 

At the end of the meeting during the time allotted for citizens to speak to the council about items not on the agenda former Mayor Richard Newton addressed the council concerning remarks made during the October 2 council meeting. Roger Wallace and Luann Edwards helped Newton read a lengthy prepared statement containing information that contradicted remarks made by Mayor Donna Arp and council members during a discussion of the Highway 26 medians at the previous meeting.  Click on following to read entire statement by former Mayor Richard Newton 

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Additional information about the Claire Edwards zoning case and the McPherson Park Master Plan Committee will be presented in LNO at a later date.