HomeMy WebLinkAbout2004-01-16 Euless Articles '(7 -
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MAYOR CITYCOUNCIL CITYATTORNEY CRIM HENNIG MCAAMIE RIDGIVAY(2)
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Cheers & Jeers-
Cheers:To the city of Euless for
its beautifully decorated Christmas
1 tree. I drove past it every day at 6
a.m.,and it was a sight to behold in
all its twinkling glory.
Lew Wentz,Haltom City
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,41A YOR
FAIAYOR CITYCOUNCIL CITYATTORNEY CR1,1/ IIENNIG AICKAMIE RIDGRAY(2)
YOUNG McDONALD COLLINS Ii7LHITE GETCHELL LIBRARYADAIIN LIBRARYREF ANIMAL CNTR ,
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By ELLENA F.MORMSON '
STAR-TELEGRAM STAFF WRITER
Want to check out an aerial photograph of a
Flower Mound neighborhood? Wondering
how many parks are in Keller?Or maybe look
at vacant retail space in Hurst, say, between
3,000 and 10,000 square feet?
A few clicks on area communities' interac-
tive maps can answer these questions and
more,municipal officials said.
"I can tell you the average price of a home," '
Jeff Jones, Hurst assistant city manager, said
after quickly entering
sites
the search on the "I can tell you
city's online map '
page. "I can tell you the average
Web how many males and price of
females live in the
® area, the average a home.I can '
number of people in tellou how
ro"de
a household.I can tell y
you how much they many males and '
spent on apparel and
services and what females live in
occupations they the area,the
have.
data at "The whole map_ average number
ping program is of people in a +
geared to provide as
fingertip
much information as household....possible to citizens This is just
s and visitors, and also
local business owners totally aWeSome
and people consider-
ing
onsider information. '
ing moving to Hurst.
Interactive maps provide Interactive com- —Jeff Jones,Hurst
Information to local munity maps and assistant city manager
residents and business developers quickly Geographic Informa- —
and accurately, city officials say. tion Systems loaded
with census data, property values and eco-
nomic development information are the '
newest tools on municipal Web pages. Other
online resources, such as nongovernment
mapping Web pages and databases, cannot
match the municipalities for accuracy and '
depth of information,municipal officials said.
"This is just totally awesome information,"
Jones said, before continuing to describe the
information available with one search. '
Parents can pull up a map of Flower
Mound's trail system or look at school district
boundaries.
In Southlake, one of the first cities in the
area to have an online map, interested resi-
dents can view an aerial photograph outlining
the Dallas/Fort Worth Airport noise corridor
and the location of every fire hydrant in the
city.
And the North Richland Hills maps will
determine,among other things,where munici-
pal buildings are in relation to the flood plain.
"It is a big topic right now in the area.Most
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MAYOR CITYC'OUNCIL CITYATTORNEY CRIM HL-NNIG MCKAAIIE RIDGIVAY(2)
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cities are wanting to do it to important to most municipali-
promote themselves," said ties," he said. "Things that in
Duane Dankesreiter, North previous days would have tak-
Central Texas Council of Gov- en days, weeks and sometimes
ernments Internet manager, months can be produced
who helps communities build almost instantly and distrib-
interactive maps."What we are uted instantly."
trying to do is give more Map Web pages are full of
resources to better serve the economic development data, a
citizen." fact not lost on business devel-
The council's online map opers, said Allison Lassahn,
site, www dfwmaps.com, con- Flower Mound GIS manager.
tains a large assortment of "If they want to have a little
maps that show biking trails, independent look — without
traffic counts and weather having to make an official
radar. inquiry — it would be a good
Euless and Keller also have way for them to do that," she
interactive maps, and Haltom said."They can look at a poten-
City is considering adding one tial site and see how many peo-
to its Web page. ple they are going to reach if
"Rather than having to call they put their business in a par-
City Hall, you can go to the ticular spot:'
Web and find it in a few button But some information is
clicks,"said David Allen,Euless deliberately left off city map
GIS manager. "It lets us do sites, such as water and sewer
business like a big city, even information. The Department
though we have a small staff." of Homeland Security in 2001
Creating the maps can be asked communities to omit
the most difficult and expen- such information for security
sive part, municipal officials reasons, and most cities com-
said. Most area communities, plied.
many of which added maps Jones said he expects the
' three to four years ago, paid popularity of the maps to
$4,000 to more than $10,000, increase.
depending on the equipment, The Hurst map page is the
software and personnel need- 15th most popular city Web
ed,officials said. page out of about 600 Hurst
Municipal employees can pages,getting almost 1,800 hits
use Global Positioning Satellite last year,he said.That's almost
equipment to determine exact double the number received in
locations for any features want- 2002.
ed in the map, or simply pur- "All the information is right
chase the data. And when a there at anyone's fingertips,"he
map is up and running, it can said.
be tied to different information ONLINE:www.flower-mound.com
sources,such as the 2000 Cen- www.ci.euless.tx.us
sus, and updated daily if need- www.ci.north-richiand-hills.tx.us
ed, said Steve Murdock, the www•cityofkellercom
official state demographer. www.d.southlake.tx.us
computerization of
www.dhurst.tx.us
"The com
P wwwdfwmps.com
maps has made it possible to Ellena F.Morrison;(817)685-3888
update maps quickly, which is emorrison@star-telegram.com .
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MAYOR CITYCOUNCIL CITYATTORNEY CRIA1 IIENNIG AICKAAIIE RIDGM'AY(2) '
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REAL ESTATE
Quikl)rip adding ,
stations in area
Tulsa,Okla.-based
QuikTrip continues to add Other locations are in metro-
fuel stations to the Metroplex. politan markets in the
A 4,900-square-foot gas sta- Midwest and Phoenix.
tion and convenience store at "We continue to look for '
901 E.Division St.in Arlington locations in our markets,"
is expected to open by mid- Walker said.
January.One at Mid-Cities and QuikTrip also puts an
Davis boulevards is beginning emphasis on its store employ- '
construction and is expected ees.The company,rank.2d 41st
to open in May or June. last year on Fortune maga-
In Westworth Village,a zine's list of the best compa-
store is expected to open at nies to work for,has an inten- '
Texas 183 and Roaring Springs sive worker training program.
Road.Another is under con- Those employees often grow
struction in Euless,near the into corporate positions,said '
.intersection of Harwood Road Walker,a former QuikTrip
and Industrial Boulevard. night assistant.
Steve Walker,director of —Andrea Jares
real estate in QuikTrip's Fort
Worth office,said there is no
set formula for adding loca-
tions.They just find the best
locations they can,he said. '
QuikTrip's Texas locations
are all in Dallas-Fort Worth.
EULESS
Mary Kay owners lease
Signet Hill space
18 Mary Kay Cosmetics '
owners Robin
Blackmon-Dunda and
Stacy Winsett, have leased
2,291 square feet at the Signet
Hill Office Building, 400 S.
Industrial Blvd.
Gary Walter of SCM Real
Estate Services represented the
landlord,Euless Trey Ltd.in
the transaction.
—Andrea fares
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11AI'OR CITI'COUNCIL CITI'ATTORNEI' CRIII IIENNIG IICtiAAIIE RIDGIIAY(2)
' I'OUNG A1cDONALD COLLINS 1111,11ITE GETCIIELL LIBRAR I'ADAIIN LIBRAR I'REF ANIAIAL CNTR
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In the next five years,auctions as you and I have known them
are going to be very few and far between:'—Rend Bates of Rent Bates Auctioneers
Rieselick
withonline auetions
By KELLY MELHART I Many local govern- "There's always going to be the
STAR-TELEGRAM STAFF WRITER (plenty are selling used Saturday night junk sales on jacks-
Going once. Going twice. Sold at computers, cars and confiscated boro Highway, at an auction barn
auction for a lot less fuss than usual. items in online auctions. where everybody brings their lamps
That's the buzz among local gov- and their chairs. But in the next five
' ernments, school boards and even those on eBay, have increased rev- years, auctions as you and I have
the Southwestern Baptist Theologi- enues by as much as 30 percent, offi- known them are going to be very few
cal Seminary, which have left live cials said.They save money and staff and far between;' said Rene Bates of
auctions in droves to sell used goods hours and are more convenient. Rene Bates Auctioneers, a McKin-
on the Internet. Anything goes, from Just about the only people not ney-based auction company that has
firetrucks to computers and office buying into the benefits of online catered to governments since 1966.
furniture. auctions are nostalgists who enjoy "We have just nearly done away with
The online auctions, similar to the drama of a live event.
t£ W
>a
F.
Flower Mound is
- offering a tanker truck
in an online auction that
begins today.Local
governments are
increasingly turning to
online bidding,further
endangering the live
'+ events.Desks and
5 # Y chairs are among the
items offered in Flower
Mound's online auction,
which can reach
thousands more people
z(
- than a live event.
F a`
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MAYOR CITYCOUNCIL CITYATTORNEY CRIA1 HENNIG AICKAMIE RIDGIfAY(2)
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all the live auctions most of In Dallas-Fort Worth,sever-
the people we work with al governments and school dis-
offered." tricts are cashing in.Arlington, '
In the past, auctioneers Euless, Grapevine, Haltom
:.uch as Bates were lucky if City the Hurst-Euless-Bedford
tl Bey got 200 bidders to an auc- school district,Tarrant County
tion. And that was after they and Southwestern Baptist The-
spent hundreds of dollars on ological Seminary have recent-
advertisements. ly had online auctions.
Now Bates says he reaches "It really was cool.I just did '
7,000 registered bidders and it from my desk," said Betty
an additional 8,000 potential Kurecka, a purchasing agent
buyers through e-mail. The who handled Haltom City's
auctions last for several days online auction of a firetruck. '
instead of a few hours, and
anyone with access to a com- /ructions
puter can bid at any hour from For those who want the real deal, Bates is having a live auction
any country. for Tarrant County at 9 a.m.Jan.24 at the North Texas Rodeo
Flower Mound had its first Association's Windy Ryan Rodeo Arena,at the northwest corner of
online auction in June, hoping Main Street(U.S. Business 287)and Interstate 820 in Saginaw.The
to gain more bidders, said auction will include confiscated property from the county's auto '
Michelle Pittard, a town theft and narcotics task forces. Items can be viewed beginning at
administrative secretary. The I 8 a.m.Call Rene Bates Auctioneers at(972) 548-9636.
success has prompted Flower Flower Mound's online auction beings at 10 a.m.today at
Mound to have its third in www.renebates.com. Bidding will last about 30 days.Bidders can '
eight months,for which online view items online and can look at the items in person during sched-
bidding begins today. uled hours.Call Michelle Pittard at(972)724-1188.
The town previously had Bates, who has been an
about two live auctions a year. "I've never done a live auction
"I think the frequency has for the city,but I've done it for old-time, fast-talking said auction-
increased because of the con- corporations. It's a nightmare. eer for 38 years, said technol-
venience of doing it online," Very costly. You have to have °�'cuts the personality out of
the process.
Pittard said. people come out. ...And if you "When I would go to the
Houston,which had its first don't sell your stuff, you're live auction, I would know 98
online auction through stuck — you've got to stage it percent of the people sitting in
esurplusauction.com in March, all over again" front of me," he said. "We '
has replaced quarterly live With live auctions, sellers two or
r would see each other t
auctions with about 100 active had to carry equipment and three times a week, r t least
online auctions at any given drive vehicles to the auction two or three times a month,
time, said Kevin Keifer, super- sites, then stay with the items and I'd see them all over the '
visor of Houston's property
disposal management office. United States.I could look at a
"We don't do live [auctions] until they sold. But in an man and know he bought
anymore except for weapons, online auction,an official takes dump trucks or cars, and I
which are special items," he a digital picture and puts it on miss that terribly."
I said a Web site, and the items stay Staff writer Ellen Morrison
He said that online auctions Put until they are sold. contributed to this story.
bring higher prices. "Now, people come here, ONLINE:www.renebates.com '
"On the Internet,people get they pick it up and we don't www.esurplusauction.com
caught up in bidding fever," have to move it anywhere," Kelly Melhart,(817)685-3854
Keifer said. "They have a ten- said Charles Dent, Grapevine's kmelhart@star-telegram.com
deny to overbid." purchasing agent. '
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• MAYOR CITY COUNCIL CITY ATTORNEY CRIA1 IIENNIG AICKAMIE RIDGH;41'(2)
YOUNG A1cDONALD COLLINS FVILHITE GETCHELL LIBRARYADMIN LIBRARYREF ANIMAL CNTR
DATE DISTRIBUTE-D_1 � (- /C_ L I DATE OFARTICLE �� J . � 01_1. NEJ1`SPAPER F1VST
American Indian rehabilitation
centerursues bankruptcy
p p Y
' By ELLENA F.MORRISON
STAR-TELEGRAM STAFF WRITER
The finan- EULESS — The Euless-based American
cial woes of Indian Center, an alcohol- and drug-rehabilita-
the center tion center, is pursuing bankruptcy after incur-
leave little ring more than$500,000 in debt plus fines from
hope that the Texas Department of Criminal Justice, cen-
the pro- ter officials said.
grams will The Jan. 6 foreclosure on the building and
be revived. subsequent sale to another rehabilitation center
and$21,827 in fines imposed by the TDCJ leave
little hope that the center will patient co-payments top the cover the cost of hiring a
be able to regroup, a board list.The fines were connected lawyer. Estimated cost begins
member said. to those problems. at about$2,000,and the center
"There is no way we can "We are still in the process is looking for donations,Smith
get out of this," said Gilbert of looking into the situation," said. The center's liabilities
Smith, the American Indian said Mike Viesca, TDCJ include delinquent mortgage
Center's board president."The spokesman. He had no com- payments, utility bills, payroll
people running the boat didn't ment on the fines or noncom- costs and the TDCJ fines.
do their job. The debt ratio is pliance issues. The fact that the bulk of the
so high there is no way we can The nonprofit center was .center's business came from
continue anywhere., purchased by The Right Step, non-American Indians was
In November, the center at a Houston-based drug- and part of the problem, as well,
2219 W. Euless Blvd. closed alcohol-rehabilitation pro- said Elton Yellowfish, the cen-
F because of debt,officials said. gram The Right Step officials ter's executive director.
Previously, it received could not be reached to com- Yellowfish said that only
slightly less than $200,000 a ment. about 20 percent of the cen-
t year for services to 14 patients Political infighting and mis- ter's clients were American
from Indian Health Services,a management, such as inaccu- Indians. "That is not consis-
division of the U.S. Depart- rate record keeping and poor tent with the original purpose
ment of Health and Human communication, led to the of the American Indian Center
Services.The center also con- center's demise,officials said. when it was chartered about
tracted with the TDCJ for Center officials said they 30 years ago,"he said.
89 slots for prisoners in jail for would file for bankruptcy as Ellena F.Morrison.(817)685-8888
alcohol- and drug-related soon as funds are found to emorrison@star-telegram.com
' crimes.
The inmates completed
inpatient and outpatient pro-
grams. For fiscal 2003-04, the
center was allotted $882,984
by TDCJ.
In a closeout audit by the
TDCJ, more than 14 instances
of contract noncompliance
were reported, according to a
Dec. 29 TDCJ memo. Billing
discrepancies, unallowable
bank fees and uncollected out-
'
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MAYOR CITYCOUNCIL CITYATTORNEY CRIAI HENNIG MCKAMIE RIDGWAY(2)
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2Cc c et
Buxton rolls out new
corporate branding
comet. The company's to line
tagline,
Fort Worth,Texas—Buxton,the IDentifying Customers,is strategi-
leader in customer research, has cally positioned under the right
launched a fresh corporate brand- half of the Buxton name to empha-
ing campaign that includes a new size the company's mission—iden-
streamlined logo, reflecting the tifying customers.The design more
company's focus for the future and clearly projects the company's
commitment to its clients.The new strength and focus,while maintain-
branding carries over into company ing its brand recognition as a cut-
collateral materials, including a ting-edge company known for its
new advertising campaign, trade state-of-the-art technology and
show presence with a new state-of- product innovation.
the-art multi-functional booth and Since 1994, with its CustomerID
a new and improved Web site. product,Buxton has been identify-
"The goal of our branding initia- ing customers and site locations for
tive is to strengthen the brand and hundreds of retailers,based on ex-
take the company to the next level," tensive psychographics research
said Tom Buxton, president and that accurately analyzes individual
CEO. "We want people to identify lifestyle,behavior and buying pat-
the Buxton brand as the company terns.Its CommunitylD product is
that 'provides unique, industry- a state-of-the-art research product
leading customer research prod- designed specifically for use in com-
ucts to major retail firms and munity economic development pro-
communities throughout the grams, providing cities with clear,
United States. Our new branding precise and meaningful direction in
now reflects who we are and where order to effectively market their
we are going." communities to retailers and res-
Buxton's updated name logo, taurateurs.
which preserves elements of the Among Buxton's 600 clients are
original logo,is a deep forest green Pier 1 Imports, Bass Pro Shop,
bold typeface with a vibrant splash Fedex, 7-Eleven and more than 50
of golden sunset yellow striking cities throughout the United
through the "x" like the tail of a States.
.rl
.rlE
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AIA YOR CITYCOUNCIL CITYATTORNEY CRIM HENNIG MCKAMIE RIDGIVAY(2)
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' EUUSS
erican Indian Center
1 forced
to temporarfly �close
months after a utility company In a statement, Elton Yellow-
Fiscal woes are cited; shut off services to the facility be- fish,the center's former executive
rehab facility will open cause ofunpaidelectricbills. director, said his research into fi-
P American Indian Center offi- nancial records showed serious ev-
again with new owner cials said the residential alcohol idence of mismanagement dating
and drug rehabilitation program, to 2001.
By JENNIFER PACKER at 2219 West Euless Blvd.,faced a The Texas DepartrhentofCrim-
StaffWriter deficit of more than$300,000. incl Justice funded 80 percent of
The American Indian Center in The budget deficit that plagued the center's operations, monies
Euless;after facing years offinan- the organization for more than two that provided treatmentofnon-In-
cial struggles, has been forced to years involved personnel,property than clients who were transition-
shutter its facility but will reopen management and food purchase ingoutofprison.
under a new owner. issues, said Gilbert Smith, presi- -rhe Indian community were
Euless law enforcement carried dent of the center's board of direc-
out the foreclosure last week,two tors.
never comfortable with this mix- The organization moved to Fu-
ture of Indian and non-Indian," less in the mid-1990s to a building
Mr. Smith said in a statement that previously housed the Harris
"AIC is not a criminal or correction Methodist H-E-B hospital.It pro-
institution and was never intended vided space for more than 100
to be." beds and additional services.
The contract with the depart- The new owner is The Right
' ment of criminal justice was termi- Step, a residential inpatient and
nated in November,center officials day treatment program that pro-
said. vides a full range of alcohol and
The center also had a contract drug treatment services.The for-
with the federal Indian Health profit organization based in Hous-
Service. ton runs several facilities across
The center is now struggling to Texas and in Louisiana.
cover creditors'bills and past due Euless City Manager Joe Hen-
salaries to employees laid off in nig said he was pleased the facility
mid-October. would be reopened.
The nonprofit organization was "Vacant facilities are not
established three decades ago in a healthy for any community, and
10,000-square-foot,32-bedbuild- this appears to be a bona fide Ber-
ing in Grand Prairie. Its purpose, vice that can serve our area and re-
officials said, was to keep alive Bion,"Mr.Hennig said.
American Indian traditional val- The center at times caused con-
ues for the 20,000 American Indi- cern for the city,he said,because
ans in the Dallas-Fort Worth area most of the clients had criminal
It was envisioned as the new fo- backgrounds and weren't Ameri-
' cal point for the North Texas can Indian.
American Indian community and
expected to provide space for E-mailjpacker@dallasnews.com
groups to hold meetings and other or call 817-865-4969
activities. The center receives re-
ferrals from tribes in neighboring
Oklahoma and New Mexico and as
far away as Florida and South Da-
kota.
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MAYOR CITYCOUNCIL CITYATTORNEY CRIM HENNIG MCKAMIE RIDGWAY(2)
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DATE DISTRIBUTED lU ' DA TE OF ARTICLE O "I NEWSPAPER DMN
Softball registration
to begin in Euless '
The Euless Girls Softball Asso-
ciation will begin accepting regis-
tration for the spring season Jan.
24.
Registration days will be 10
am.to 4 p.m.Jan.24 and 31 and '
Feb.7 and 14 and6 to 9 p.m.Feb.5
and 12.Registration will be at the
recreation center,300 W Midway
Drive,and will cost$75 per girl. '
The cost includes a team T-
shirt and end-of-the-year awards.
The season is 10 games.
Practice will start March 1 and
play will begin March 29. Games
will be at the Parks at Texas Star.
Chris Thames, city athletics
and aquatics supervisor, said the
league is open to anyone ages 5 to
16.
He said its a good opportunity
for girls to learn about athletics,
teamwork and leadership. How-
ever,the girls also can find out if
they want to pursue softball in the '
future.
"The more of the possibility of
college scholarships gives girls
something to shoot for,"he said. '
For more information,call 817-
543-4410 or visit www eidess-
girlssoftball.org:
E-mail pgillesp�@dallasnewsxc (,6 '
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MAYOR CITY COUNCIL CITYATTORNEY CRIM HENNIG AICKAAIIE RIDGFiAI'(2)
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Requiem for a tannenbaum
� qK
The earl -rend
ti a'
'i
sk. y
LISA LeVRIER/Special Contributor -
Euless city employee Javier Resio loaded Christmas
into a chipper for recycling Saturday at Midway Yzk545 ""
r .
F
The mulch was then given to residents.
sy+7_
1LISA UVRIER/Special Contributo
David Eanuna recruited his daughter Catherine,10,to help bag mulch Saturday during
the 16th annual Christmas wee Recycle Day at Midway Park in Euless.
1
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MAYOR CITYCOUNCIL CITYATTORNEY CRIM IIENNIG MCI►AMIE RIDGIVAY(2)
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DATE DISTRIBUTED 1 /JL I04 DATE OFARTICLE j/ 1 D� NEWSPAPER FII ST
Tax freezeap"vroved
1
for seniors, disabled
By ELLENA F.MORRISON The City Council
STAR-TELEGRAM STAFF WRITER unanimously '
EULESS — Pausing during approves a property tax
the Euless precouncil meeting break made possible by a
Tuesday, City Manager Joe change in the state consti- '
Hennig made a guarantee to tution.
Della Ferris.
Freezing property values for to pay more than they did in
senior citizens 65 and older and 2004," said Loretta Getchell, '
for disabled Euless residents is the city's director of fiscal and
a good move,he said. administrative services.
"It's good for you," Hennig Euless does not offer a prop-
told her. "It should help any erty tax exemption for the dis- '
senior citizen:' abled, so it does not track the
With a unanimous vote at number of disabled residents.
the City Council meeting, The freeze cannot be
Euless joins the growing num- rescinded once it is in place. '
ber of communities that have However, if improvements are
taken advantage of a recent made on the property, those
state constitution amendment improvements would be fac-
giving cities,counties and com- tored in to the property tax val-
munity colleges the option of ue. If a city's property tax rate
freezing the property taxes of decreases, so would the
senior citizens and the dis- amount a senior citizen pays. '
abled This is good news in Euless,
"It's a great thing," said Fer- where the property tax rate —
ris, a self-described senior Citi- currently 49.5 cents per$100 of
zen who estimated her total value—has decreased for sev- '
property taxes go up about$100 eral years, Mayor Mary Lib
every year."I think they should Saleh said.
have done it a long time ago:' City property tax payments
The freeze will take effect for senior citizens and the dis-
this year, but a monetary gain abled"can go down, but it will
will not be seen until 2005. In not go up,"she said.
2003, Euless had 1,482 senior Other cities that have adopt-
citizens out of a population of ed the property tax freeze for
about 49,750. That number his- seniors and the disabled
torically increases by about 6.25 include Roanoke, Trophy Club,
percent annually. So by 2005, Haslet and Southlake. Haltom '
the tax freeze is estimated to City and Colleyville are consid-
cost the city about $41,000 out ering a freeze. The Bedford
of a$11.9 million estimated bud- City Council was to vote on the
get. issue Tuesday night. '
"It gives them a cap that Ellena F.Morrison,(817)685-8888
they will know they never have emorrison@star-telegram.com
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Arts council changes name to ARTSNET
' STAR-TELEGRAM "We don't care what it's year, among them an April 3
The Arts Council of North- called, as long as it gets the "Toast and Boast" for former
East Tarrant County has short- work done,"he said. Hurst Mayor C.A. Sanford, an
ened its name. ARTSNET, like other Texas arts supporter.
The organization will be arts groups, was hurt by state It also plans to court corpo-
called ARTSNET, to go with budget cuts. Last year, the rations more aggressively for
its recently revamped role, council approved a $393,000 sponsorships and to raise
council officials said Thursday. budge' .e:r 2004 — down 13 money selling items, including
Last year, the group shifted its percent from 2003. It plans to art,on eBay.
focus from organizing events host more fund-raisers this —Terry Lee Goodrich
to raising money for arts pro-
grams at area schools,commu-
nities, nonprofit organizations
and churches, council Presi-
dent Karin Newell said.
"The old name was so busy.
You got dizzy looking at it,"
she said. "We wanted some-
thing crisper and more visual,
which will be seen in the
artists' brush stroke across the
W in our logo."
"NET"stands for Northeast
Tarrant County, but "it also
screams technology— and we
live in a technological age,"
Newell said.
The council, founded in
1975,serves about 400,000 res-
idents.It has 18 arts and enter-
tainment affiliated groups that
it helps through grants and
publicity.They include a ballet
company, an opera company,
an orchestra, theater groups
and an arts guild.
Barry Marsh, board mem-
ber of council affiliate Taps'N
Tunes Productions, a tap
dance company,said the name
change is fine with him.