HomeMy WebLinkAbout2003-03-21 Euless Articles DISTRIBUTED TO: PAGE ; OF
MAYOR CITYCOUNCIL CITYATTORNEY GRIM HENNIG MCKAMIE DELA CRUZ RID G IVA
YOUNG MCDONALD COLLINS WILHITE GETCHELL LIBRARYADMIN LIBRARYREF ANIMAL CNTR
DATE DISTRIBUTED _3 ( c2 + t ' DATE OF ARTICLE 3 / t k O '� NEIFSPAPER FWST
COMMUNITY
CALENDAR
Friday
■EULESS-Visual Arts Cele-
bration reception,5:30 p.m.,
Euless Public Library,201 N.Ector
Drive.Tin Roof Tango will perform
at 7 p.m.Free.(817)685-1489.
■GRAPEVINE-Support
group for mothers with children
who are preschool through
kindergarten,4:30 to 11:30 a.m.,
Abundant Life Assembly of God,
1520 W.Wail St.Jennifer Linden,
(817)337-6075.
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MAYOR CITYCOUNCIL CITYATTORNEY CRIM HENNIG MCKAMIE DELA CRUZ RIDGfVAY
YOUNG McDONALD COLLINS FVILHITE GETCHELL LIBRARYADMIN LIBRARYREF ANIMAL CNTR
/ / N
DATE DISTRIBUTED_ ' i f o -3 DATE OF ARTICLE 3 �' NEWSPAPER FWST
SOM-e open
p.
By ELLEN SCHROEDER Making pub- ■Public information isn't always in a'
STAR-TELEGRAM STAFF WRITER PUBLIC INFORMATION
lic informa- easy reach. 11BB
Twenty-four hours a day, seven tion available around the clock on
days a week,governments are striving municipal and school district Web polities and school districts, people
to remain open. sites benefits residents and cuts can get information that used to be
During last month's ice storm, down on costs and staff time. available only by driving to city hail or
many parents found out instantly the school administration building. '
whether their children's schools were And students in the Hurst-Euless- School districts and area communities
' closed. Bedford school district will soon be know that in today's society, people
In Richland Hills, residents will able to find homework assignments expect to shop, get information and
soon be able to pay their water bills anytime by turning on their home conduct business around the clock. j
day or night,and they won't even need computers. Today is Freedom of Information
a postage stamp. Using the Web sites of area munici-
the information online makes customers," Flower Mound
life easier for those seeking it Mayor Lori DeLuca said. "But
and for those who are charged it also is a cost savings."
with digging it up and making Jo Ann Gasper, former '
it available. chairwoman of the Colleyville
Day, sponsored by the Coah- "I think it's a great improve- Planning and Zoning Commis-
tion on Government Informa- ment for the resident," said Sion, said she visits Col- , x.
tion to celebrate the public's Katherine Garner, executive leyville's Web site several
right to know. For area resi- director of the Freedom of times'a week.
dents, these Web sites are Information Foundation of "It's great," she said.
good sources of information Texas. "The citizens have gov- "They.'ve got a public docu-
about their communities,from ernment agency information ment section that has the P&Z
public officials' telephone available, and the government [Planning and Zoning Com-
numbers to meeting agendas agency doesn't have to sit mission] minutes, the City #
and minutes, codes, policies there and copy out the infor- Council minutes.You can do a
...-. ____ and maps. mation." word search,and they just pop
Disseminating information Local government officials up
with such ease is a concern to agreed. Officials say they continual-
some,especially since 9-11.But "The most important thing ly add to the Web sites. At
many residents and govern- is to make information easier least once a week, Keller
ment officials say that putting to access by our residents and updates-its site with items like
Local 9oYe1'liments Roanoke:
Bedford:www.ci.bedford.tx.us www.roanoketexas.com
Colleyville:www.colleyville.com Southlake:www.cityofsouth-
Euless:www.ci.euless.tx.us lake.com or www.ci.southlake.tx.us
Flower Mound:www.flower- Trophy Club:
mound.com www.trophyclub.org
Grapevine: Watauga www.cowtx.org;
www.ci.grapevine.tx.us www.ci.watauga.tx.us
Haltom City: Westlake:www.westiake-tx.org
www.haltomcitytx.com or
www.ci.haltom-citytx.us Schools '
Hurst:www.ci.hurst.tx.us Birdville:www.birdville.kl2.tx:us
Keller:www.cityofkeller.com Carroll:
Northlake:www.town.north- www.southlakecarroll.edu
iake.tx.us(under construction) Grapevine-Colleyville:
North Richland Hills: www.gcisd-kl2.org
www.nrhtx.com or Hurst-Euless-Bedford:
www.ci.north-richland-hills.tx.us www.hebisd.edu
Richland Hills: Keller:www.kellerisd.net
www.richlandhills.com Northwest:
www.northwest.kl2.tx.us
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MAYOR CITYCOUNCIL CITYATTORNEY CRIM IIENNIG MCKAMIE DELA CRUZ RIDGWAY
YOUNG McDONALD COLLINS t3ILHITE GETCHELL LIBRARYADMIN LIBRARYREF ANIMAL CNTR
DATE DISTRIBUTED 31� 1 ( 0 :3 DATE OF ARTICLE 3I / 4' /0 !?, NEWSPAPER FWST
' an events calendar,a report on and look at Adult Athletic residents can fill out an online The site will undergo an
water quality,status reports on League scores, form to report road problems, overhaul, likely to cost as
city projects and job listings. The Richland Hills Web such as trouble with potholes much as $10,000,beginning in
The city plans to add the site is scheduled to be upgrad- or traffic signals. The site also the next few months,said City
capability for online utility bill ed this week to accept pay- has free interactive maps. Pre- Manager Jimmy Stathatos. In
payments and building permit ment of water bills and court viously, people who requested the works are online traffic
applications,Keller City Man- fines by credit card.In Watau- copies of maps were charged citation and utility bill pay-
ager Lyle Dresher said. But ga, the same service will be for the cost of paper and ink. ments, as well as a more
even with so much content, it available starting Monday. "It's pretty handy because sophisticated look,he said.
seems people always want While it costs Richland they can type in an address "We want to really do
more,he said. Hills a few cents per transac- and it will zoom right in to something we can show off,"
"We could work on it eight tion, the money is instantly that parcel of land. It's also he said.
hours a day,seven days a week deposited and the city begins good for residents to find out Staff writers Brenda Edwards Bernet,
if we had time to do it," he to earn interest immediately, where school boundaries are Jessamy Brown,Paula Caballero,
said. "It's an all-consuming City Manager James Quin located and where churches Jessica DeLe6n,Kelly Melhart,
Job." said. and schools are located; said Ellen Morrison,Chris Neely,
Jennifer Radcliffe and Josh Shaffer
But some public informa- It's click and pay. It's more Betsy Boyett, economic devel- Jenncontributed to this report.
tion is kept from Web sites to convenient for the customer," opment specialist for South-
rnake it less accessible. After Quin said, lake. Ellen Schroeder,(BIT)685-3815
9-11, Euless removed online The H-E-B school district is Southlake pays $1,200 a eschroeder@star-telegram.com
maps of water and sewer in the process of giving every month for a Webmaster to
infrastructure, although they teacher a Web page to post update information on the site.
are still available through City homework assignments, But some communities cannot
Hall.The maps were taken off upcoming events or other afford to build or maintain a
the Web site on the advice of items. Web site. Haslet, Justin and
the FBI to protect the water The Keller district already Marshall Creek do not have
supply, said David Allen, Geo- has teacher Web sites. Keller Web sites, although Marshall
graphic Information Systems parents also can sign up for a Creek had one before.
�manager for Euless. free a-news subscription, "We don't have anybody
"It's not something we're which sends information that can build it for us,and the
comfortable making available about events, meetings and companies we've talked to
anonymously,"Allen said. school holidays to the person's want to charge us an arm and
, But Euless provides a wide e-mail account. a leg for it, and we just can't
range of other information, Flower Mound also sends afford that," said Jan Files,
_ including_maps that show e-mail news bulletins D any�Marshall-Creek-to_wn secre- -- - -- --- --
property ownership, legal one who signs up for them.On tary.
descriptions,zoning and aerial its Web site, the town posts Northlake has a site, but it
photos. news items, including where has been down for more than
In Westlake, residents can Flower Mound police are a week. When operating, it
the most recent crime sta- planning to target traffic viola- offers agendas, minutes and
fiee
stics, which aren't very tors. maps.
xtensive considering the The Flower Mound site fea- Roanoke's Web site is a
town's population of 207. tures a police beat map where work in progress. Some of the
, On the Bedford Web site, the user can click and obtain pages are outdated or empty.
users can download permits the names and cellphone And clicking on the calendar-
and applications, get informa- numbers of beat officers. of-events link brings up noth- a
tion about having a garage sale On the Southlake Web site, ing more than two pulsating
horizontal lines.
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MAYOR CITYCOUNCIL CITYATTORNEY CRIM HENNIG MCKAMIE DELACRUZ RIDGI[V Y `
YOUNG McDONALD COLLINS WILHITE GETCHELL LIBRARYADMIN LIBRARYREF ANIMAL CNTR p°
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DA TE DISTRIB UTED 3 f I V OA TE OF ARTICLE .3 I �i ' C NEWSPAPER FWST
1
Library materials
z
rs
a
a i
' F
f North Richland Hills library , 1
has the largest catalog of
i library materials.It's more
than*six times as large as
l Roanoke's,one of greater
Northeast Tarrant County's
smallest libraries.
community Library materials
North Richland Hills 152,961
`i Bedford 127,235'
Grapevine 124,817
Hurst 116,037
Euless 103,431
Haltom City 96,949
Flower Mound 65,305
Keller 54,000
Richland Hills 31,099 ,
Southlake 29,196
Roanoke 24,797
-----
Colleyville '0
Westlake 0
'Colleyville has bought 7,500 books for
the Grapevine library,which many resi-
dents use.Colleyville is expected to start
buying books for its first library soon.
SotlRCti:Greater Northeast Tarrant cdmmunities:
STAR TELEGRAM
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' MAYOR CITYCOUNCIL CITYATTORNEY CRIM HENNIG MCKAMIE DELA CRUZ RIDGWAY
YOUNG McDONALD COLLINS WILHITE GETCHELL LIBRARYADMIN LIBRARYREF ANIMAL CNTR
DATE DISTRIBUTED t N3 DATE OFARTICLE 3/1 -1 /b-3 NEWSPAPER FWST
Euless City Council
' Greg Black is running for
Place 6 against incumbent
Veva Lou Massey. Black,who
serves on the city's Economic
Development Advisory
Board, said be wants to
' expand the city's economic
growth with mow aggressive
marketing.
"We seem to be waiting
' for something to happen," he
said. "We have vacant land
and major highways, unuti-
lized."
' Black also wants to
expand the city's preschool
program in the Parks and
Community Services Depart-
ment. If elected, he would
like to establish more youth
sem,orm.lengues-and create......._ ^__ -- ------
more outdoor recreation
areas for children and fami-
lies,he said.
Black, 52, is a real estate
' broker who owns DFW Real
Estate in Euless.
Staff writer Ellen Schroeder
' contributed to this report.
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MAYOR CITYCOUNCIL CITYATTORNEY CRIM HENNIG MCKAMIE DELACRUZ RIDGWAY '
YOUNG McDONALD COLLINS WILHITE GETCHELL LIBRARYADMIN LIBRARYREF ANIMAL CNTR
DATE DISTRIBUTED 3 l f 1 DATE OFARTICLE /
NEWSPAPER FWST
Aslin9t
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k
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cri-m--e eontrol t
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XBy SALLY Cl fM H F City leaders say a we're going to look like Ameri- equipment and training — th
j.TAYLOR RUSHING
Airlines:' tools we need for better la
STAR TELEGRAM STAFF WRITERS ® quarter-cent sales can
tax for crime control could In recent weeks, the council enforcement,"he said.
ARLINGTON —Arlin ons
raise$10 million a year, has cut funding for the county-
budget crisis might be breathing wide Crime Stoppers relievingpp program, Other cities
the stress from p g
life into a dormant idea: a sales Arlington's ailing budget. deferred spending,on firefighter Crime taxes have been'
tax for crime control that could training and supplies and laid off allowed in Texas since 1995 and
pay for police cruisers,camput- among the council's nine mem- 29 employees,among other bud-
now exist in at least 16 Tarran
ers and salaries. bers, most of whom have said get cuts. County cities, including Hurst
A quarter-cent tax—already they haven't seen citywide sup- Since 1998,voters have reject- Euless, Fort Worth,Keller, Col-
' in place in several area cities — port for a crime tax beyond a ed sales tax issues for Johnson leyville, Haltom City, North
could raise about $10 million a small core group in southeast Creek flood control and a public Richland Hills, S'outhlake and
year, enough to wipe out the Arlington. transit systen-L Watauga ,
deficit projected for the 2003-04 "We should look at it and dis- But voters passed a quarter- Hurst adapted a half cent tax
fiscal year, which begins Oct. 1. cuss it," Councilman Ron cent street repair sales tax in in 1995 and renewed it in 2000
Arlington's sales tax rate of 7.5 Wright said. `But until we see 2002, and some council mem- for 10 more years. The city has
s cents per dollar is three-quarters some widespread support, it's bers say voters' strong support used the revenue to expand
of a cent below the state maxi- not going to happen:' of such core services makes a police patrols and to establish
MUM. Other council members note crime tax more viable. traffic enforcement and bicycle
Led by Mayor Pro Tem that the current budget crisis A southeast Arlington group patrol divisions.
1 Wayne Ogle, the City Council has imperiled programs with called Back the Badge has Euless adopted a quarter-
has asked c�attorneys to study citywide sup ort and-might pushed.-for a crime`control tax cen Y in and-renewed.it--__
the idea. Ogle has scheduled a make a crime tax more viable. for years.Group leader Pat Stru- in 2000 for 20 years, Police
town hall meeting on the subject Yet, Councilman Joe Bruner ble said Arlington police officers Chief Leonard Cormack said the,
for 7 p.m. Thursday at the questioned whether the timing should have the same benefits as tax provides about $1 million of
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Arlington Municipal Airport. is right for a crime tax because their counterparts in other the department's$7 million bud-
"We have been hit with a the city might need sales tax cities. get and is mostly used for
double whammy," said Ogle, increases for later budget crises. "We want to make sure our salaries, capital improvements
who represents southeast "Crime and security is priori- police have the best equipment and training.
Arlington."We live in dangerous ty No.l," Bruner said. 'But I'm so they can go home to their "It's been very successful for
x times, and that's no time to cut not sure how we should use the families safe,"Struble said. us," Carmack.said. "These are
law enforcement. But we also tax dollars now. Our situation is Randle Meadows, president things we need regardless o
have a decrease in income." more serious than the public of the Arlington Police Associa- whether they come from the tax
Ogle has long been one of the generally knows. Unless more tion,said the time is now or the general fund. They're
only proponents of a crime tax drastic reductions are made, "The tax would give us more basic necessities."
' DISTRIBUTED TO: PAGE OF
' MAYOR CITYCOUNCIL CITYATTORNEY CRIM HENNIG MCKAMIE DELA CRUZ RID G6YAY
YOUNG McDONALD COLLINS UILHITE GETCHELL LIBRARYADMIN LIBRARYREF ANIMAL CNTR
DATE DISTRIBUTED 3 J I ' 3 DATE OFARTICLE 3/ 1 -7 / 03 NEWSPAPER F1f'ST
' In Fort Worth, voters Renewal
approved a half-cent crime sales To officials, a traditional
tax increase in 1995.Police plan- drawback of a crime tax is the
ner David Garrett said the tax potential that it could expire if
has generated about$40 million voters fail to renew it.If voters
annually, allowing the depart- reject a renewal,funds that were
ment to replace patrol cars year- in place for years could sudden-
ly and to post a dice officer in ly be jeopardized.
junior high and high schools. But Ogle said an exit strategy
The department also has can prepare the city for such a
used crime tax dollars to buy scenario. He proposed that the
newer computers, a helicopter
and an infrared vision unit and share of officers' salaries sup-
to subsidize salaries for special Ported by the tax could shrink
units, Garrett laid. One unit over the life of the tax.If the tax
increased monitoring of sex wasn't renewed, all salaries
' offenders and updated their would shift to the general fund
names and addresses in the budget.
department's registration data- During the fust five years of
base. Fort Worth's crime tax, Garrett
In .Arlington, Ogle said the said the department stashed
money could be used to build a about $27 million in a reserve
southside police station, to free account. If voters chose not to
' up bond money for other pro- renew the tax, Garrett said the
jects and for neighborhood funds would allow the depart-
crime prevention groups. ment to trim its force through
' Police would not be the only attrition. Voters renewed the
beneficiary.Ogle said sales tax five-year tax in May 2000.
funds also could be used to help Ogle said the tax could give
-the Fire-Depatrtment' pay-for-the-counc-il--a-rreprie-ve-whiff it _-arson investigations and bomb works on budget cuts.
squad units. "Rather than getting behind
"rm not sure we will do any on public safety,we can use the
of these, but we'll discuss and tax to get ahead and staying
' open it up for debate,"he said. caught up."he said.
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MAYOR CITY COUNCIL CITYATTORNEY CRIM HENNIG MCKAMIE DE LA CRUZ RID GIVAY x
YOUNG McDONALD COLLINS WILHITE GETCHELL LIBRARYADMIN LIBRARYREF ANIMAL CNTR
�-- DATE OF ARTICLE �1 I' C NEWSPAPER DMN
DATE DISTRIBUTED - �'� � � J - � `
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ortTexas, wig ove
From___
a h
during the holidays.He has since In Garland, Lakeview Cen- —
Communities organize returned to the United States. tennial High School officials re- HOW M HELP
Ms. McClain said military quested the addresses of former
efforts to send support, personnel appreciate interna- students serving in the Middle The following groups are cond-
ucting '
tional calling cards,money,pack- East. efforts to help troops:
goodies to troops g y ■Dallas Area Red Cross,
aged candy and other goodies. "rhe school plans to send
By KIM HORNER Waxahachie Chamber of words of encouragement and 214-678-4800; €
r staff writer Commerce volunteers tied yellow support to these Lakeview www,redcrossdallas.org
Letter-writing campaigns. ribbons around car antennas Patriots who are...protecting us a Salvation Army,Greater Dallas g
Collecting edible goodies. Thursday while motorists were during a time of national crisis," Metroplex,214-424-7100;
Sending calling cards. And stopped at traffic lights. said Cheryl Jacobs,studentactiv- www.salvationamaydallas.org
money "The least we can do is show ities director.The Lakeview pro- !Friends&Families of the U.S.
Dallas-Fort Worth residents our support and keep them in our ject began with longtime English Military,214-529-1698;
wasted no time Thursday, hearts and thoughts and teacher Elizabeth Driver. Dmkpinkcadlilac@aoi.cam
g launching campaigns of support prayers," said. Laurie McPike "I have quite a few former stu- KUF AM{570},
for military personnel as the na- Mosley director of the Conven- dents who probably are over
214-526-2400;
tion entered war with Iraq. tion and Visitors Bureau,which there,"Ms. Driver said. "I hope www•big570.com
"They're away from home, is part of the chamber, we can get a good response."
p p g y campaigns
■Volunteer Center of Dallas
they're not with their families,
The war's impact hit especial- Although man cam ai s
`= and they need to know that we ly close to home for many chil- focused on helping the military, County,214-826-6767;
appreciate them," said Deirdre dren at Celina Intermediate others turned their attention to www•volunteemorthtexas.arg
McClain,president and CEO of School,who collected videos and Iraqi civilians. ■Carter BloadCare,
Families and Friends of the U.S. Kool-Aid,among other things. Medical attention is one ofthe www.carLerbloodcare.org bloods
Military."They need to have this "Several students have par- strongest needs in Iraq,said Ju-
inspiration and encouragement." ents serving in the military.They dith Ritchie,president of Peace- ■Peacemakers Inc.,
The Bedford resident said she were wanting to do something to makers Inc., a Dallas-based . 972-680-4477;
helped start the group because get involved,"said Katherine Cal- ,Aromen's. peace organiza- www.p6consulting.com/
her son,who serves in the Navy, laham,a fourth-grade teacher at PeaceMakers
was stationed in the Middle East the school.
tion, which announced Arts for ltidany—area residentsave—before we barrage an area vcithT eta writers z o g�
Peace, an April 5 fund-raiser to called the local Red Cross wanting things they don't need." Kathy A. Goolsby contributt t
help Iraqi families. to donate blood for U.S. troops. In The Wind flag store in gyt- this report.
"We saw the need to help the The military will call on the Red less was one of many drop-off sites
people in Iraq because there's not in the area for Dallas radio station E-mail khorner@dallasnews.coi�
a lot of support there now," Ms. Cross and other agencies — in- KLIF-AM(570),which is collect-
Ritchie said. eluding Carter BloodCare locally ing care packages through at least
—if it runs out of supplies.Mean-
In addition,the Dallas chapter April 16.
Of the American Red Cross is tak- while,the agency asks residents to "The troops need to be sup-
ing donations for the agency's In- start donating blood regularly so ported by everybody, no matter
ternational Relief Fund, which the Red Cross will be prepared. what their opinion of the war is,"
"Folks want to help in times of
provides services to military,pris- Crisis, but that help's going to be said Susan Masure,store owner.
oners of war and refugees. Nine-year-old Collin Chitwood
Although many people have of- and classmates at Grapevine Ele-
fered food and other goods,money needed down the line," spokes- mentary School already have sent
often makes the best gift, Red Woman Avonelle Chitwood said. cards geared toward one service-
Cross spokeswoman Lisa A.Lem- The Salvation Army also man: Collin's brother, Andy
ons said. Canned food, for exam- stands ready,but like many ager- Slauenwhite,24.Mr.Slauenwhite,
cies,it's waiting to find out what's
ple,is costly to ship. who serves in the Army,is in Ger-
"Financial assistance is nor- needed, spokesman Patrick Patey many expecting to be deployed to
mally the easiest thing to do,"Ms. said. Kuwait in 30 days. '
Lemons said."It helps the econo- "Let's see what's really needed His mother, Cheryl Chitwood
my there,and it makes it easier for of Grapevine,said the letters put
the organization that's doing it. things in perspective for her son.
And,the food is native to the coun- "He told me he was going to
try), take them to the desert."