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This
article begins a new series on LNO called Whatever Happened to? We
will feature articles on individuals that have been active in our local
community and moved away. If you would like to know what happened to
someone or have a suggestion, please e-mail the Publisher at
publisher@LocalNewsOnly.com.
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Bob Stripling,
Colleyville City Manager 1991-2000
Now City Manager of Staunton Va.
Bob
administered a $10 million city budget in Colleyville and in Staunton
works with a budget of $31 million. |
As
the City Manager of Colleyville, Texas for almost a decade, Bob
Stripling earned a well-deserved reputation as a tough negotiator on
behalf of the city. He guided the city through tumultuous
times littered with numerous mayors and multiple council
members.
During
his tenure Bob enjoyed virtually legendary loyalty from a city staff
that continues to work out of sub-standard facilities and, for the
most part, Bob was limited to offering salaries below the regional
competitive market standard.
Bob was beginning the second year of a three year contract, with a
substantial incentive clause to serve out his contracted period. However,
Bob made a surprise announcement that he was accepting the position
of City Manager in Staunton, Virginia. Leaving the Colleyville
position meant the loss of the financial incentive and, it was
reported, the position in Staunton was at a salary less than his
Colleyville position. LNO interviewed Bob by telephone Wednesday
November 14, 2001.
Click on Photos to Enlarge. |
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The Blackfriars Playhouse
in Staunton, Virginia recreates William Shakespeare's favorite
indoor theater in a modern building,
Described by
Bob Stripling as, "The best performance arts structure and
venue he has ever experienced," the Blackfriars Theater opened
September 21, 2001 and plans 280 performances a year.
The cost of the theater was $4.5 million with $500k from the city,
$450k from the state and the remainder in private funding.
The
National Trust for Historic Preservation
, the country's largest private, nonprofit preservation
organization, designated Staunton as one of its "Dozen
Distinctive Destinations",
a list of the best-preserved and most unique communities in the U.S
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Staunton,
Virginia has a population of 24,000 compared to Colleyville at
20,000. While the cities are similar in size, the governmental
structure is substantially different. For example, Bob
explains that in Staunton the city contributes $10 million per year
to operate the city school system. There are numerous city
elected constitutional positions including City Sheriff, City Clerk,
City Treasurer and City Commissioner of Revenue. In addition,
the School Board, while having no taxing authority, is also elected
by city voters. Bob currently supervises 280 employees,
approximately twice as many as Colleyville.
The county has a volunteer fire department and Bob is currently
negotiating a contract on the response area of the city's paid
fire department. He is actively involved with a new jail
facility in partnership with the county.
The
city also administers $1 million in social services and runs a court
system including a Chief Prosecutor and Clerk of Circuit Court.
Compared to Colleyville's two year terms and an election every year,
the Staunton council is elected for 4 years and elections only every
2 years. The current mayor, elected by the council, has been
mayor for the past eight years.
Property
taxes make up 40% of the General Fund in Staunton and the city has a
tax rate of $1.00.
While Colleyville City Council meetings have been known to last from
7:30 PM until after midnight, the Staunton city council, according
to Bob, is usually out in 30 minutes. and, to his recollection, the latest session
lasted until 9:30 PM. The council holds a 2 to 3 hour work
session before the meeting to hear staff reports and discuss various
issues.
Another
contrast is that the Staunton Zoning Board may get one zoning issue
every 3rd or 4th meeting with 4 to 5 people attending.
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The two-story theater is
of post-and-beam construction, designed to resemble the candle-lit
interior of Shakespeare's own venue.
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In
the heart of the Shenandoah Valley, Staunton - the Queen City on the
Great Wagon Road between the Blue Ridge and the Alleghenies - offers
old fashioned Americana at its best.
The city has a significant blue collar work force, and compared to
Colleyville, the population is much more diverse, for example,
Staunton has a 15% African-American population. While there is
some residential development, it is small compared to what Colleyville has experienced in recent years. In fact, most of
the housing was built in late 1800 and early 1900. Around
Staunton there is substantial activity with people buying these
older structures and returning them to their original historic
beauty. |
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Downtown Staunton,
Virginia
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Bob
and wife Mary Ann have joined in the renewed boom of the downtown
area by purchasing a historic structure built in 1877. The
three story building is located on Beverly, the main street of the
city. The Striplings will utilize the top two floors for
living quarters and rent out the bottom for retail. While the
previous owner had done much of the renovation, Bob said that he
has reinforced the roof because the new insulation will not
allow adequate heat to melt the snow and additional snow loads had
to be addressed. In addition, he was in the process of adding
additional exits
to meet city code.
The structure has its original 1877 elevator shaft that operated from a
rope pulley system. |
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Frontier Museum
Staunton, Virginia
The museum is a major tourist attraction for Staunton featuring a
replica of historical farming activity from the US and from the home
countries of area immigrants.
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In
the area of economic development, Bob said that the major sales tax contributors
are two retail stores that are adjacent, Lowes and a Super
Wal-Mart. He said these operations make up 30% of the sales
taxes or approximately $1 million per year for the city. In
addition the city has purchased 126 acres at the intersection of
I-64 & I-81 and is actively looking for a national developer to
attract major retail stores as a destination center.
Looking
out his third story office window, Bob can see the Amtrak
Depot. The city is preparing a campaign to invite train travel
from Baltimore and Washington D.C., both approximately a two hour
trip.
Bob
said a major hotel chain plans to renovate a historical hotel
downtown featuring a new convention center and rooms for visiting
tourists. |
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attracted back to the beautiful Virginia mountains, Bob still has
roots in Texas. His mother lives in College Station and Mary Ann's
family still reside in San Antonio. Asked what Bob misses about Texas, he said that he made some strong friendships
in Texas and of course does miss these individuals. Bob said,
"I certainly don't consider Texas a bad place to live, however
I feel at home in the mountains of Virginia and this is where I want
to live." Regarding his new home, Bob said, "I love
getting up in the morning and seeing the sun rise over the Blue
Ridge mountains, no two days are alike."
Bob
invited everyone in Texas up for a visit, however as far as staying
with Bob and Mary Ann (and working the 1877 elevator), he indicated
this was on a case by case basis!
Bob
Stripling's legacy will be felt in the City of Colleyville for years
to come. He was instrumental in negotiating with the multiple
taxing entities to launch the TIF District in the city. The TIF
could represent a $35 million tax windfall for Colleyville. In
addition, he steered the city through a time of tremendous
residential growth in a city that seems to have a difficult
time coming to a consensus on its own identity and direction.
For
those who served with Bob, including this author, you will find many
that had their disagreements from time to time. However, you
will find few that will not admit that they miss his unique brand of
humor and, without question, his strong hand on the reins of
Colleyville city government.
To
see the City of Staunton, Virginia Web Site -- Click
Here |
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