NEWS

Saturday, November 03, 2001

Exclusively on LNO

Colleyville Mayor Pro Tem Ginny Tigue Blasts State Rep Truitt

Check these dates in Archives on LNO for additional information on Colleyville's Hwy 26 Median Controversry
8-31
9-7
9-14
9-21
9-21
9-25
10-4
10-24
10-28

COLLEYVILLE MAYOR PRO TEM GINNY TIGUE BLASTS STATE REPRESENTATIVE VICKI TRUITT FOR ROLE IN COLLEYVILLE MEDIAN RESOLUTION…by Linda Newton

Colleyville Mayor Pro Tem Ginny Tigue criticized State Representative Vicki Truitt for intervening in the Colleyville median dispute in a letter written to Truitt on official City of Colleyville letterhead dated October 26, 2001. 

Representative Truitt called the City of Colleyville on September 21^st, 2001 after being approached by businesses adversely affected by the medians.  A letter to the editor from Tigue critical of Truitt’s actions also appeared in the November 3^rd issue of the Star Telegram.  Click here to see letter to editor. 

The issue began in August when businesses suddenly found access to their stores hampered by the surprise appearance of the medians.  On September 6^th at a Colleyville Boulevard Corridor Committee meeting representatives from those businesses began asking questions about why the medians appeared and who was responsible for them.  Mayor Donna Arp promised those businesses at that meeting that the city would look into the issue and schedule a follow-up meeting with them.  Initially city officials told businesses and residents that little was known about the medians and that limited documentation could be found at the city.

The follow-up meeting with the businesses was held September 19^th.  Representative Truitt made the first stop on her annual District 98 Coffee Tour at Braums in Colleyville on September 21^st. At that coffee several residents and businesses informed Truitt of the problems they were encountering with the medians.  They also informed her that Mayor Arp had implied that the State Highway Department was responsible for the installation of the medians.  Arp had appeared that morning at the Colleyville Lions Club weekly meeting and addressed the issue there.

Truitt phoned the City of Colleyville on September 21^st and spoke to Mayor Arp and City Manager Bill Lindley.  During that conversation Truitt said Mr. Lindley asked for her assistance with TxDOT as they dealt with the median issue.  She initiated a series of conversations with TxDOT to determine what role they had played in the situation.  Truitt expressed concerns about the statements made by City of Colleyville officials that TxDOT had initiated the medians.  

On October 4^th Truitt wrote an editorial about the medians which appeared in the Star Telegram and on LNO.  Click here to see copy of editorial. In that editorial Truitt stated that she had been advised that TxDOT did not design or construct the median.  She further stated that TxDOT merely approved the plans that were submitted and recommended by city consultants.

The reaction to the median controversy has generated a variety of responses from current elected officials.  Initially claims were made avowing no knowledge of their history and that there were few records at city hall about them.  Council members then alternately blamed the developer and TxDOT for their presence.  Previous articles on LNO have included documents showing that the design and installation of the medians were approved by the council in the developer’s agreements executed in 2000 and 2001.   

Ginny Tigue, Colleyville Mayor Pro Tem

The majority of the medians were recently removed and it was assumed that the crisis was over.  However, Representative Truitt received a letter from Mayor Pro Tem Tigue dated October 26th that implies that the situation is anything but over.  Tigue took Truitt to task saying “you jumped into the situation backed by our political detractors and a person currently running for our City Council”.  She further stated “You have embarrassed us as City Officials”.  Click here to see copy of letter from Tigue.

Representative Truitt responded to Tigue’s letter on October 31st.  In her letter Truitt stated that she had read about the median issue in the newspapers but had no plan to intervene.  However, acting on concerns expressed to her by constituents during her coffee in Colleyville, she contacted TxDOT to determine their role in the issue.  She immediately called Mayor Donna Arp and discussed the situation with her and City Manager Lindley. According to Truitt’s letter, she was asked by city officials to help, and was acting in response to those requests.  Click to see copy of letter from Truitt Page 1 Page 2 Page 3

District 98 State Rep.  Vicki Truitt

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