A sigh of relief!

Once again, and the second time in two weeks, I am so very proud to be a member of this community. Amidst claims of being fear mongerers, Communists, anti-Americans, and worst of all "liberals", I witnessed countless members of our community stand up and without emotion, without hate, and just stating the facts, make the clearest case ever against urban drilling.

The mineral rights owners were diametrically opposite by spewing hate, emotion and lots of hearsay. The presentation by Titan representative Bobby Dollack was a lesson in how to talk down to a governing group and showing he was discusted to have to be there explaining how great a job he will do instead of being at a Monster Truck rally.

It was so clear that the only need for this facility was wealth and greed hidden behind to guise of wanting to get away from foreign dependence of fossil fuels. Don't they realize that the mood in this country is to get away from the dependence of fossil fuels altogether.

If Mr Hilliard had proposed to erect wind turbines to generate energy or solar panels to harvest a pure clean source of energy, he would have had people lined up to shake his hand and tell him he is truly a fine American with the interests of saving the environment instead of raping it.

I was appalled at the mention of Titan drilling through not one, not two, but three aquifiers enroute to the Barnett motherlode. Knowing that they will have cement encasings of the drills to "protect" those aquafiers. The same cement encasing that Halliburton assured us were poured to protect the Gulf of Mexico. Oh yes one of those water sources is owned by Hilliard. What? A underground water source knows where Hilliards land starts and ends? Totally mindblowing.

A warm thank you to the O and G board for standing up for what is so obviously right even with the death threats that followed their decisions. I was contemplating publishing the rant by Mr Chris Tomlinson on his blog, Shiloh Drilling, but it is so filled with obscenities and hateful threats against anyone that went against his wishes, it even shocked me! I kept a copy of it though, even when he took that post down and replaced it with a milder, but still violence filled and enough veiled threats to cause some serious alarm. Mr Tomlinson, you owe this entire town an apology, and would not be suprised if The F.B.I. hasn't been alerted to his behavior and hopefully he is under surveillance.

Its not over, by any means. This group of "good, christian, Americans" have threatened to bankrupt the town and laugh all the way to the bank. Yes our town is under attack from Oil and Gas companies from Oklahoma with their big money and smarmy tactics of energizing the likes of Tomlinson (who was seated right next to former councilwoman, Jean Levenick and everyones sweetheart, Patsy Mizuer) to reak havoc on our town.

Its good to see the 2010 chapter of this towns ugly past is starting off with a bang.

My rights versus yours

Now that the election is behind us and we have regained common sense to our town, another hurdle is approaching.

Tomorrow night, the Oil and Gas Review board for the town of Flower Mound, will meet to discuss variances for drilling on a large piece of property known as "The Hilliard Airfield". This time its Titan/Cherokee Horn and associates that have purchased Mr Hilliard's mineral rights. As you know The Hilliard Airfield is right there on 2499 before you get to 3040, as you enter our town from the south. Mr Hilliard and his family have owned that land for a long, long time and could be considered some of the most prime real estate in our town. In a letter that Mr Hilliard sent out to his neighbors recently urging them to write in his favor to the Oil and Gas board, he stated, "this radical group of "anti-drillers" want to take away his "right" to claim his minerals, after all, we live in the United States of America and not Communist China". his letter in its entirety is posted here.

Which brings me to my point of his rights versus mine.

I too have the right as a citizen of the United States, to live in a safe environment.
I too have the right as a citizen of the United States, to breath clean air and drink clean water.
I too have the right as a citizen of the United States, to protest the fact that Mr Hilliard is threatening my rights by exercising his own.

Who is right? Who takes the priority here?

A few weeks ago at the town council meeting, the gas leasers all wore stickers saying "Common Sense".

Erecting a drilling platform within 1000 feet of two schools? Is that Common Sense?

Having an eyesore of a drilling platform surrounded by a 40 foot tall "blast Fence" as prospective home buyers or first time guest are greeted as they enter our town? Where is that common sense?

In a town that doesn't allow billboards or business signs to exceed a certain height to allow this monolithic monstrosity to greet everyone that drives that road every day that Mr Hilliard has "his" rights? this is just senseless.

This group of radical "anti-drillers" as we have been called, are being unfairly labeled as Un-American? When in all honesty, most of us feel it is important to harvest the Barnett Shale in a responsible manor and NOT smack dab in the middle of an suburban environment. That can be nothing but common sense.

Seven decades ago when the Hilliard family bought that 96 acres of land in the middle of nowhere and probably for a very small amount of money. Did they know that all us city folk were eventually going to wander out to the country and develop and live and make a community of responsible citizens? Had they known that then maybe they would have settled further north. They had no earthly idea or premonition that a town would develop around them, I'm sure they settled there just to survive with a few crops and some live stock. Did they know they were sitting on a vast empire called the Barnett Shale? Hell, Barnett didn't even know that.

So now, 70 years later, Hilliard wants to cash in 10 thousand fold on his original investment and blight his new neighbors for his prospect of wealth?

Please plan to attend the Oil and Gas board meeting tomorrow at town hall at 6:30 and voice your displeasure, if you can't attend, send an email to environmentalservices@flower-mound.com to be entered on public record.

We do not want even a slightly remote chance of a catastrophe such as what is happening in the Gulf of Mexico to occur "in our back yards".

*title of thread courtesy of A.C. Newman of the New Pornographers. ( its a band)

Mr, Harlan Jefferson

I must say that last year during our town council dealings, I was at odds with Mr Jefferson and was a harsh critic of some of his statements. However, I will be the first to admit, I was wrong and I offer a humble apology.

Mr Jefferson's actions in the last few months have impressed me and the capper of all capers came early Monday morning following the election, Harlan instituted the Moratorium. He followed the will of the people and averted a bold move by Williams by cutting their request for the CCF by an hour. Who couldn't see it coming, Williams trying to sneak one in after their stunning defeat on Saturday.

A cold slap in the face to big business and a heroic gesture to the many residents that set the mandate.

Thank you again, Harlan, and I look forward to future discussions regarding phase two.

Peaceful, Easy Feeling

Yesterday was truly amazing.

As I watched the events wind down after two months of hectic, not knowing what was coming next feelings, it was over by 7:30 last night. The crowds at the Police and Courts Building were dizzying, the constant flow of traffic, all the same minded people not caring if it took an hour or 3 hours to get the task done, it was getting done. The volunteers finding that last wind to go out and stand in the blazing sun holding up a sign was more important than the simplicity of the task. The fact that we were one step ahead of the opposition in everything we did, from the NFL express shuttle, to food and water. The one difference was we were so focus driven they could not match that as hard as they tried.

As the first results rolled out on the TV screen, I knew then it had done what was planned and it couldn't have been scripted any more perfect.

The elation of everyone I ran into at the ZGrill was so euphoric, you could not help having a giddy smile on your face. The job was done and now was time to soak it in because a lot of hard work is yet to come.

To think that now the distinct possibility of not having a toxic waste storage unit in our town will become a reality. The possibility that the signs on Gerault and all up and down Morriss reminding us that Phase One is in progress could soon be obsolete since Phase One will be it. To think that phase two might just go away altogether is a true dream completed. I woke up, remembered it, and lived. To think that huge chunk of wilderness and trees that could have been The Riverwalk will probably remain a lot more tree than apartments makes every breath I take cleaner and sweeter.

All of it was such a wonderful effort by so many extraordinary people who's main goal was to keep breathing clean, sweet air and live in a town that the threat of it disappearing was now remote. That was truly all of our goals, the simplest of emotions drove us to this extraordinary feat we just completed.

When I woke up early this morning, I didn't care I had just got just over 4 hours of sleep before a work day. I went outside to the freshest of mornings with rain clearing the air an hour earlier and the light starting to creep into the eastern sky, it all felt so different. I got on the road and headed south and looked at my town differently, and thoughts of tasks ahead of how to save it behind me. I could take pleasure with it and a clear and evident peace surrounded it.

I can't wait for the day to change the name of this blog to Stopped Morriss 6.

I am sitting here drinking a cup of freshly roasted coffee. You know what? It tastes fantastic this morning. As a matter of fact I cannot remember last time I had a cup this good.

As most of you know last night was a victory for all StopMorriss6 supporters. Even more important it was a great day for democracy. For quite a while groups of residents have fought to have their voices heard by the current town leadership. Regardless of how hard we fought we had to listen to the same broken record; we will listen to you, but ultimately we will ignore you.

The issues that we fought had no party affiliations. What we wanted was a playing field, were our concerns would be taken seriously. We got tired of showing up at game time only to find out that the outcome was rigged.

Last year another group of residents, with completely different concerns came to the same conclusion. This time the issues ranged from urban gas drilling, centralized collection facility to pipelines.

Yesterday’s game had a different outcome. Why? We brought out the most determined players available. We played fair and we secured victory. As we move forward just remember that each and every one of YOU made this possible. All I can say is THANK YOU.

In a few days we will have a new leadership in town. They will face difficult decisions. The problems we are dealing with will not go away overnight, but I am convinced that this new leadership will be more receptive to preserving our town.

I like to congratulate our new referees, Mayor-elect Melissa Northern and new Council Member, Place 4 Steve Lyda. I also like to congratulate Council Member Al Filidoro on his re-election to Place 2 and Council Member Tom Hayden for his involvement on making this possible.

Enjoy your day,

Bjorn

Who has grass roots support?

I am amazed at the number of Northern-Filidoro-Lyda signs in the front lawns of neighborhoods in Wellington, Bridlewood, and along Morriss. They are everywhere! I am equally amazed at the number of Smith-Robinson-Webb signs in front of businesses and for-sale commercial lots. I even got a mailer yesterday from Mayor Smith with a big-name endorsement that she is a "true conservative". When did N-F-L become anti-business liberals? They aren't. In fact, N-F-L has decried the liberal use of Town funds quite vociferously. Truth is, it is hard to find a liberal in Texas whether you like them or not.

Businesses will have just as prosperous of an environment in Flower Mound with N-F-L as with anyone else. Developers will still be welcomed to Flower Mound to build the infrastructure that the people have asked for. And with N-F-L, mineral rights holders will still be able to collect royalties for their minerals; but the drilling/extraction company may actually be REQUIRED to use safe and responsible drilling practices. After all, this is a Town of 60,000+, not the middle of a desert.

GET YOUR FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS TO THE POLLS TOMORROW, and tell them the truth about the candidates! Because the uninformed voter may see the Smith-Robinson-Webb signs in front of their Kroger and vote for them. Or worse, they may think they are voting for fiscal conservatives!

Sorta Sad

As I drive to work every morning heading south on Morriss to the Airport, I can't help but get a little sad when I see them digging up the median on Gerault. It makes me start to think about last year when we spent endless nights at town hall and walking streets talking to people, standing on corners holding signs and trying to get the word out to everyone who would listen. I think about if we had only knocked on 30 more doors or sent out 30 more flyer's or got 30 more hits on the Blog, Steve Lyda would be celebrating a year on council instead of working so hard to get elected. I think about how when we first met Tom Hayden and he came to one of our meetings to hear what we were talking about and he was convinced we were just trying to get the message out to the town to do the right thing and not the thing that was prescribed in a document from 1978.

If we would have worked harder, last year we wouldn't have to be working so hard again this year to get the people elected that have the best interests of Flower Mound people like you and me and not faceless developers looking for big pay days.

Six years ago, I lost interest in Flower Mound politics when I heard a woman that had the developers best interests in mind and they ran out of town a hard working Mayor and council that wanted to be smart when they built. Gone was the scrutiny, gone was the humility, gone were the guts to fight for residents. We ushered in the Jody Smith era of this towns dirty little history of slimy politics. Its culminated now with Smith contributing large sums of money to her "running mates" just as she did last year. She has bought loyalty of her council members for paltry sums, but just enough for the Dixon's and Wallace's and Tasker's and Webb's and Stones and Robinson's and Levinick's to cow tow to her mantra and only reinforce her narcissistic neurosis.

One thing I am not sad about, is the fact that she is headed for defeat and she knows it. This town has finally woke up and will no longer bend to her whims and royalty like behaviors. No longer will she hide behind her "good conservative" "good christian" jingoism's and be revealed as a hypocrite.

If I am wrong and she somehow slithers back into office, I will be more that sorta sad or sorta mad.

I will probably just move.

Keep me as a neighbor, Elect Northern, Filidoro and Lyda.

Town Council Meeting

Last night was the last council meeting prior to the election. On the agenda was a vote to either accept the ordinance imposed by the petition or send it to a vote this November. Our friends and "good" neighbors from Oklahoma came in loaded for bear. WilliamsStone (Williams and Keystone, one in the same for our purposes) sent a mailer to all residents with a false statement regarding the intentions of the ordinance listed on the petition. They stated it was to place a moratorium on DRILLING, not what it was in reality a moratorium on issuing any type of building or rezoning for the Centralized Contained Facility or CCF. The petition wanted to have the town just wait to learn more info on the impact on such a facility on our entire community and the beginning of the industrializing of Flower Mound. Several of the opponents of the petition were there sporting stickers that were provided by WilliamStone was they entered.

They immediately claimed that those that signed the petition were miss informed, lied to, fear mongers, and overall just not nice people. That drilling was the American way and trotted out copies of the Constitution, told us to stop driving our cars, heating our houses and zoom right back to the stone-age. Us commie Marxist liberals wanted to take their rights away to drill for their minerals. Most was laughable.
The pro petition people were well armed also, stating facts, exposing lies, talking articulately on the issue and trying to beat through their heads they weren't against their ability to sell their minerals. Of course it didn't work.

Most of the PPP (pro petition people) were interrupted by hecklers in the audience or by the Mayor and her henchwoman Levenick for personal attacks. pounding away at the gavel.

I was there to read a statement prepared by Bjorn, that I will publish here, but I wasn't able to stay past the 3 hour mark and a lot of what Bjorn had written had been stated in one way or another by someone. Here it is:

Unfortunately I am unable to attend tonight’s Town Council meeting, but have asked Holly Berg to read my statement.



Another political campaign is coming to a close with less than a week to cast your vote.



When I got involved in local politics back in 2008 I was naive not knowing how much effort it would take to make a difference. Sometimes I even wondered if we as residents CAN make a difference.



Last year’s hot issue was the expansion of Morriss/Gerault. This year it is natural gas. What will next year bring on?



I am not going to preach what each and every one of you have promised to the residents of Flower Mound, but don’t forget we live here as well and I for one refuse to sit by while a slim majority of this council completely disregard the wishes of thousands of concerned residents.



As if that is not enough to I would like to read a paragraph from Mayor Smith’s re-election web site:



In any election you can expect a certain amount of mud slinging and negative press and this election has seen its fair share of detractors making statements about Mayor Smith that are distortions of facts or outright untruths to evoke fear for political gain. To her credit, Jody Smith is a conservative person who has chosen not to respond to gossip, rumor and innuendo that some may have heard or seen. Her intensely positive focus remains on running a campaign that is based in facts and highlights the experience and results gained as Mayor since 2004



It also state Progress, Integrity, Experience. While I am sure you have plenty of accomplishments to be proud of, your Integrity certainly need questioning.



While some of your supporters have blasted Al Filidoro and Melissa Northern I never envisioned you, as the current Mayor would to stoup to this level. At the News Connection debate you stated that you “selfishly” served this town. A simple miss statement. Do you see any TV commercials attacking you for this? You knew very well what Melissa Northern tried to say with regard to FM2499, but you still managed to twist the truth and mislead anyone not fully aware of what is going on in town. Way to go for a few votes.



You owe Melissa Northern as well as the residents of Flower Mound an apology.



What this town need is a Town Council with integrity and that is what Northern, Filidoro and Lyda will bring. And on behalf of the Stopp Morriss team I like to thank Tom Hayden and Al Filidoro for a great job so far.



Sincerely,



Bjorn Vandug



After many hours of public comments and some other issues, including Tom Hayden deferral of discussions of Phase 2 of Morriss Rd until after the election that was quickly accepted even by Steve Dixon (a real shock). They had discussions about the petition and decided they were not going to accept the will of 6000 registered voters that signed and defer it to a November election. Another shocker.

So a few hundred people left even more pissed off and supercharged for the last two days of voting.

By the way, the Mayor had her crack team of henchmen, lead by Councilman Mike Wallace's wife Amy, take down the giant signs at our dear friend and neighbor, Old man Hilliard's air field. I guess her guilt of be accused of being a liar finally got to her. She replaced them with an endorsement sign from our Oil Rich U.S. Congressman and fellow "good conservative" Dr. Michael Burgess. I guess WilliamStone got to him the same way they muscled "good conservative" ex-govenor of Arkansas and Presidential wannabee, Mike Huckabee. Those Oklahoma boys got a lot of loot to award Christmas Gooses to the whole damn Republican party to protect their "good conservatives" like our Mayor, the Teflon stewardess, Jody Smith.

For the record, Tom Hayden and Al Filidoro voted to accept the petition with no election.

Hiney Gate and the Huckabee Flip Flop

On Friday, April 16th, former Presidential Candidate and current radio commentator mentioned our local Hineygate caper in his daily radio address.

Here's the link. http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.redlasso.com%2FClipPlayer.aspx%3Fid%3D58812ac8-78b3-4898-a125-3a63246f752f&h=591f1

He mentioned sorta half jokingly about the irony of reverse sexual harassment by "two attractive females" and the unsuspecting male police officer. Oh the hilarity and hi jinx in those small Texas towns, a real knee slapper.

I agree the incident was pretty innocuous and didn't deserve as much press as it did, but the fact that a nationally syndicated commentator mentioned it and got our town the kind of press that isn't at all flattering.

But here are the facts: An incident occurred in a town government facility prior to an official Town Council meeting, otherwise known as "the workplace". A Police officer, on duty at the meeting is approached in an orchestrated fashion by The Mayor, (his boss) and The Mayor Pro-Tem in nothing short of an immature childish prank. The event is witnessed and reported to The Chief of Police. It is his responsibility to make a report on the incident not only for the protection of the officer, but the protection of himself as his superior. If he hadn't, he would be totally remiss in his responsibilities. Imagine if it has been a male mayor and a female police officer. The uproar would have been monumental.

It reminds me of the movie "Disclosure", back in 1994 with Michael Douglas and Demi Moore. It was about a male being harassed by an ex-lover who has now become his boss.

Back to Hineygate, The Police Chief files the report and the town attorney investigated the incident and it was determined that there was no sexual harassment, the ladies apologized for their immature behavior and it went to die in some buried file in an undisclosed desk. No harm, no foul. But wait, somehow it leaked, oh wait it was an incident at a official town function, so bingo. IT'S PUBLIC RECORD. Much to the mayor's further embarrassment, it gets to the press and she is forced to comment on the event at a town council meeting on January 21st, which also happens to be the meeting with the largest attendance ever. The mayor proclaims that it as political and intended to make her look bad.

Flash forward about 2 months when the actual video tape of the goosing is released under freedom of information act and Channel 11 runs it as its lead story at 6 o'clock. The Mayor, in her brief sound bite, blames the police chief and claims to have been trying to fire him for months. (Plagiarized right from Disclosure).

Another embarrassment and a sign that our mayor does not act in the most prudent manner.

During the town hall debate of the Candidates two weeks ago, some of her opponents mentioned the Huckabee exposure as just that, exposure of the embarrassing kind and a trend of lack of judgement.

Flash forward to April 30th, in the heat of early voting. This time in the first minute of "The Huckabee Report", Mike chastises the Mayors opponents for using his words to discredit the Mayor. here is the Link: http://www.redlasso.com/ClipPlayer.aspx?id=58812ac8-78b3-4898-a125-3a63246f752f

As you can see in Mike's flip flop is "he thought what the Mayor did was funny".

So here is the smoking gun. The officer works for the town in which his "harasser" is the Mayor. Now if you wanted to keep your job, wouldn't you publicly say "I guess I got my Christmas Goose early this year". We don't know and we shouldn't know what he told his superior the chief of police how he really felt out of fear of retribution. The Police Chief who again, was doing his job, and publicly was chastised by the mayor on local news of his poor job performance. Retribution for reporting a case of a hostile work environment? I'm surprised the lawyers aren't lined up at his door step on that one.

Mike thought it was funny? Well there is an answer for that also. I don't have to mention the election and the hundreds of thousands of dollars someone has spent for TV ads, Phone surveys, Several very expensive mailer and a PR wagon train a mile long. The very deep pockets of Williams Oil of Tulsa Oklahoma. I'm sure it didn't take much effort on Williams part to call ol' Mike and tell him our bruised, yet "fine conservative" mayor was in trouble. So blatant you could drive a truck through it.

I can't wait for the Movie, Disclosure II.

Al Filidoro

We were out walking neighborhoods tonight and there seems to be a bit of misunderstanding. First off Melissa Northern DOES NOT want to make 2499 a toll road. As ludicrous as it sounds, people are seeing the signs.

Al Filidoro is a good man. He sincerely has the best interests of Flower Mound and all of its residents close to his heart. I trust him and I believe in him.

I know that in this country these days there is an incumbent backlash going on. In this case we need his experience and knowledge to lead this town back to the way it was when we all moved here. One of the finest towns in the country. We need to keep Al on the town council.

I want to also clarify some facts about Al's role in the Morriss Road project. Al came to us last June to talk to us and find out what we wanted and what we could live with. After the Transportation Committees total snub of our efforts to make the road work for everyone, it was a foregone conclusion we had lost, the road was coming and no one had listened or cared. Our only hope at that point was to delay as much as we could and hope in a year we could change the face of council and maybe thwart the effort. Those hopes were dim at best. As you can see, in May 2010, one year to the date after its approval, earth is moving. That hope of delaying the project would have been finally dashed and the bulldozers would be digging the median for the total 6.6 miles.

But, early last June, our stalwart proponent in Stopping Morriss Six, Tom Hayden, came to us with a plan. This plan was hatched by none other than Al Filidoro. Al finally had an Ally on the council and some one he could trust. Al had listened and came to us to see what we could compromise on to force it into two phases and get our much needed delay to stall the project. We told him we wanted intersection improvements, safety improvements, new fences, etc. He said done deal. He worked Jean Levenick and Steve Dixon to vote for the two phases and he enabled Tom Hayden to abstain his vote to preserve his promise to not ever vote on the road issue.

It was a very confusing council meeting, the Mayor being the most confused for sure. Yes Al voted yes for the road, but his yes vote was for the two phases. And steam shovels are not rolling town the medians on Morriss today.

Al is the champion for that vote and now we have our wish, a delay, and the strong possibility of gaining a supportive majority on the council.

Face it, Riverwalk is dead. Commercial real estate will be the last part of the economy to come around and no one, except Apartment builders are interested in the land.

Please give your vote to Al Filidoro, he as earned it and deserves it.

Another Busy day at the Polls.

Day 4 is now in the books for early voting, If its anything like the last 3, turnout will be record setting. Each of the first 3 days have brought over 500 people out to vote each day. Last year after 3 days I think they had about 400 total. People are active and very interested in this election as they should be.

If you have already voted, thank you so much. Go out and tell your friends and neighbors to do the same. If you would like, go and knock on some doors and find out if your neighbors have already joined you or aren't really sure what this election is all about.

In the past it was always said, issues that effect the western parts of the town are not those that have any impact on those in the east and visa versa.

This year, the many people I have met and talked to were not aware of the Morriss Issue last year, but have shown an interest and see how the current town majority works. Their issues have been the expanding gas exploration, pipelines, collection facilities that are threatening schools and their homes. Drive out along Scenic Drive, among the huge trucks and see the enormity of these structures. Although, the people that live out there and opted to lease their mineral rights have every right to do as they please with their property. However now these friendly gas companies (I'm sure you have gotten their mailers and phone calls) feel they have free reign to drill baby drill, because of the current political climate.

Many of you enter our town by way of 2499 and all of us have become accustom to the wide open spaces as you drive north. Well look at it now because that is about to end. The Hilliard Property, which is on the east side of 2499 just south of Flower Mound Rd has applied for drilling permits. Another well is planned at 2499 and Spinks not far from the Middle School. Several wells are being planned for the fields just to the east of The Bakersfield Sports facility, just across the border in Lewisville. Our friends at Williams of Tulsa Oklahoma, said they would NOT drill any further east of Shiloh Rd (in Flower Mound, small print on their mailer) but they failed to tell us they are drilling as close to Flower Mound as you can get across the street in Lewisville. Good Neighbors?

Gas and Oil exploration is now an issue to everyone in Flower Mound, as is Development of the bad sort, Roads, such as Morriss.

Please tell your friends and neighbors what our current mayor and her majority in the town council plan to sleaze on all of us next.

Its time for a change and common sense. Vote Northern, Filidoro and Lyda.

The Phases

For some of you that are confused about the signs up and down Morriss regarding the current construction project, here is a refresher and an up to date recap.

Last June, it was decided since the project was funded and approved they would divide it into two Phases. This would turn out to be the best scenario we could ask for short of the whole thing being scraped. If we had allowed the town council to accept the short sighted reccomendation of the Transportation Committee, today we would be seeing bulldozers on the entire 6.6 miles.

Phase one, which started early last week is as follows:

Expanding from 4 to 6 lanes on Gerault Roads from 3040 to 2499.
A flyover from Gerault to 2499.
Intersection improvements at Morriss and 407, Morriss and 1171, Morriss and 3040, including longer turn lanes, right turn lanes where applicable.
Additional traffic signals at Gerault and Spinks Rd, Morriss and Garden Rd, Morriss and Sagebrush.
Sidewalk improvements where nessesary.
Sight improvements on several neighborhood exits.
Safety improvements at and near Forrestwood Middle school.
Landscaping.
New Fences.

Phase two, which as per the agreement, could not begin until at least 2014 or if and when the Riverwalk installs its amenities, specifically, The River. And at the completion of traffic studies that clearly state it is needed.

Last June, The Riverwalk was not in foreclosure as it is today. The developer would have had to supplied over 2 million dollars towards the project.

As it appears today, there will be no River, the parcel has been divided into 5 separate blocks and depending on the make-up of the town council next month, could be ammended to suit the new landholders.

Jody Smith would ammend the planning and zoning requirements of the property to be totally mixed use developement. That means apartments, condominiums, townhouses mixed with retail and office. The problem with mixed use developement is, the apartments get built and the retail remains a dream (drive through Valley Ranch to get an idea how that looks).

Jody Smith and a majority town council in her favor would bend over backwards to give the apartment builders what ever they want. If that would occur, in 2014 we would need 8 lanes up and down Morriss to accomodate that kind of traffic.

Melissa Northern's plan would be to surround our new Hospital with other types of high tech medical facilities that would add good jobs to Flower Mound, attract quality retail and then provide housing for workers in that to live. It would become a self contained central area of town without the need of commuters and traffic levels would remain stable. Makes lots more sense, doesn't it?

Mrs Northern was stated many times she is not for the automatic implementation of Phase two of this project because she doesn't think we will ever get to that level of traffic. She has been listening to our fight for the last year and long before she decided to run for Mayor.

With the kind of Vision she has and the support of Tom Hayden, Al Filidoro and Steve Lyda, Smartgrowth will become just that again and the real crown jewel of this town will be the beautiful, landscaped, safe, slow winding Boulevard that slices through our town and leads to the parks at the Riverwalk, Morriss Rd. Maybe we can rename it Morriss Boulevard.

The dream is still alive, but we need to wake up and get rid of Jody Smith and her give it away for nothing attitudes.

Early Voting

Early voting started today and from the looks of things turnout will be pretty significant. Close to 500 people have voted already today. Controversy abounds as the last few days of the campaign unwind.

The mayor said that Melissa advocates the use of a toll road on 2499. She claims that at the Bridlewood Debate last week and recapped in the Flower Mound Leader:

But perhaps the biggest blow came in the debate’s final minutes when, during closing arguments, Smith and Robinson each referenced a comment made by Northern two weeks ago at a debate in Bridlewood.

The question asked what candidates would do to address traffic flow on FM 2499, especially once the road connects with Interstate 35E.

Northern said, “I would have to go back and research this item to understand how the town could improve it and look at what our opportunities are, whether there is an opportunity to put a toll, which is what a lot of communities do on that to reduce traffic flow, or a flyover, which would take away traffic issues in that area.”

After the debate, Northern told The Leader that she miss-communicated what she was trying to say. She said what she meant was the town should look for alternate funding, such as the Highway 121 toll funding, to address traffic in town and that she is not in favor of a toll road in Flower Mound.


The Mayor and her followers took the opportunity to go and post signs all along 2499 stating that Melissa wants a tollway.

First off, physically impossible even if it was the most important thing she wished to accomplish, if anyone hasn't noticed 2499 is a STATE road that is already paid for. Second, she was elaborating on how to reduce traffic flow on our towns roads. She is concerned about increased traffic that would effect our lives. Remember, the whole concept of 2499 linking with 35E came in the LAST 4 years as the Mayor, who loves to satisfy developers thought the road, as with Morriss Rd is a brilliant idea. As with Morriss Rd, the Mayor tried to ram it down our throats without the consideration of neighborhoods along Morriss and the bulk of the town that lives there. Gerald Robinson said, he read hundreds of hours of traffic studies and gleamed from those that we needed another 6 lane road rolling through our town and neighborhoods. Along with County Commissioner, Andy Eades, who hopefully is counting the days till we vote him out of office, sleazed a bond election bill through during the major election cycle that touted "road improvements". Remember that one? Of the HUNDREDS of hours that Robinson spent studying "traffic studies", I'm sure he spent maybe 3 minutes talking or thinking about the effects of the residents. Of course our other Town Council candidate, Bryan Webb, has only to offer, "Lots of people aren't going to like it, Sorry."

So if the worse thing that Melissa Northern has ever done is think a little "out of the box" and later clarify with the press that she has never or never will advocate a toll road. She is willing, along with Al Filidoro and Steve Lyda and current Council Member, Tom Hayden, to listen to the citizens overwhelmingly outweighs a minor mis-spoken comment.

For those of you that braved the rain and made it out to the tailgate party last week, and took the time to talk with these people, realize who and what they are. They were willing, along with their family members to stand under tents in a pouring rainstorm and spend a few hours to show everyone what they are about,all would agree.
They will work for us.

Please do what is right for our town, our home values, and quality of life, Make the time to get over to the Police and Courts Building to vote for Northern, Filidoro and Lyda. Its easy to remember vote NFL. If you have any other questions please feel free to contact me, or at the polls, talk with the candidate, they will be there most days during early voting and from dawn to dusk on election day to answer any questions you might have.

News Connection Debate

Last night I attended the last Candidate Debate for this election season. If you are interested in viewing it, it is on the FM website and is VERY interesting.

The first question during the last hour was as follows, submitted by me.

"Once phase one of the Morriss/Gerault expansion is complete and north of Flower Mound Road is level C or better will you suspend the implementation of phase 2"

Al Filidoro said, "The good thing about the project is all of the good things are happening during phase 1, The 2499 flyover, six lanes on Gerault, intersection improvements, landscaping, safety features, fences, etc. With the current situation with Riverwalk and won't happen with Riverwalk and with the improvements of Phase 1, we will not need phase 2."

Gerald Robinson said, "As an appointed to a commission by Andy Eades, watched hours and hours of traffic studies came to the conclusion that it was needed. I support the 2 phases of the project and feel with the overwhelming success of Riverwalk the lanes will be necessary" (no mention of traffic studies in the future)

Steve Lyda said, "As Chair of the transportation committee, he has attended every meeting regarding Morriss/Gerault and voted against the suggestion of the Trans Committee. The two phase compromise was a good idea because it addressed the needs of the citizens of our town, or as Mr Robinson referred to as a fringe group. When the traffic needs require it move forward when that happens"

Bryan Webb said, "Phase 2 needs to follow Phase 1, it might not be popular with some residents, so, Sorry, that's what I believe. When you put it a road, its there a long time and blamed poor leadership for the decision.

Jody Smith said, She never realized that so much traffic would ever on that road and supports the 2 phase project. (those of you at the June council meeting know that is not true). Her fear is when people talk about the six lanes being more dangerous, additional lanes are there for a security issue. If you go by Forestwood Middle school today during rush hour traffic, if you could call it that, its dangerous if someone slams on their brakes and swerves around". (gee I thought that's why we have school zone speed limits during those times). Lanes do not equate to more traffic."

Melissa Northern said, " She agreed with the 2 phase project was a good approach, the question was if the traffic levels remain level C or better, I am a fact based person two items have to happen before I would support, the 2.2 million from the developer, and traffic studies that support the increase. I believe the majority of the money coming from TX dot and the Denton County bond will be spent on phase one. For phase two to go forward, I would have to look at the increased burden on taxpayers before going forward."

As you can see or witness for yourself, Robinson, Webb and Smith would proceed with the project regardless of the need and or supported traffic studies. Period.

Northern, Filidoro and Lyda are cautious and are against advancing unless it is absolutely necessary.

The debate was extremely informative and showed the character of all the candidates on all the issues. Please take the time to decide for yourself, but the choice is clear. Select the individuals that are willing to listen and work with the residents of this town and are not indebted to developers and gas companies. Select the ones that have not accepted huge campaign contributions from the Mayor they will be serving with and from outside interests. Select the candidates that have our best interests at heart.

I believe those candidates are Melissa Northern for Mayor, Al Filidoro and Steve Lyda for Town Council.

I, Kim Berg, endorse these candidates and will work hard towards their success in the best interests of everyone in Flower Mound.

Have you noticed the new signs posted along Morriss/Gerault? Phase 1 is about to start and you will be seeing equipment out shortly.

REST ASSURED, this is only Phase 1. For those of you who might have been out of the loop, Phase 1 entails intersection improvements (i.e longer turn lanes etc), fence replacement program, widening of Gerault from FM2499 north to FM3040 as well as the flyover at FM2499 (the flyover is yet to be funded).

No part of Morriss Road will be widened during this phase (except from improving the intersections).

Phase 2 will start when Phase 3 of the Riverwalk Project is complete or 2014, whichever comes first. The RiverWalk Project is in bankruptcy and we have no indication if/when Phase 3 will ever be initiated.

Last year we had a hard battle with our Town trying to stop this project. We lost majority support in the Town Council by 27 votes. We cannot let this battle be lost over 27 votes.

It is not to late to stop Morriss/Gerault Phase 2 from ever getting of the ground.

There are 3 candidates that support our cause. They respect the residents of living along Morriss Road and hear our concerns. They are also concerned about gas companies and their quest to expand gas operations in town. They want to comply with our Master Plan and the Smart Growth Plan.

We ask for you VOTE in the upcoming election.

Our pick are:

Melissa Northern for Mayor

Al Filidoro for Place 2

Steve Lyda for Place 4

Remember NFL

I personally endorse each and one of these candidates

Bjorn Vandug, Flower Mound

For voting times & locations, please visit

http://www.flower-mound.com/voting/elections.php

Tail Gate party

First I would like to thank everyone that braved the rain and came out for a Hamburger or Hot Dog, soft drinks and chatting with your neighbors you haven't seen for a while. Special thanks to Scott C. for letting us use his front yard and garage, it really is a great location for a party. Also like to thank Tall Scott for getting the banners and distributing flyers in our neighborhood. Thanks to Bjorn and Carmen for everything they did and use of their grill, Bjorn is a master chef for sure. Special thanks to Kelly McDonald for helping us arrange a good date and time and getting NFL there on time and with a spectacular entrance. Thanks to Sue Ann for her awning, it kept a lot of rain off of us.

And thank you Melissa Northern, Al Filidoro and Steve Lyda for showing our attendees your honesty, integrity and your desire to make sure the right thing is done for the residents along Morriss Road and all of the residents of Flower Mound. The fact that you ask us as many questions as we ask you show you really do care. It will be a pleasure knowing someone is minding the store and keeping outside developers from pilfering every last thing left not nailed down.

It's really amazing how the real issues in this race aren't about gas or roads or apartments, its about someone that will run our town like a business and make sound financial decisions that will keep our town vibrant well into the next decade. How the true need to create jobs in our town before we build apartments to house the applicants. They all pledged to make sure any decisions regarding Morriss Road will be based on true need, traffic studies, and what is right for our town, instead of doing it because its been planned that way for 30 years.
Its funny, they are talking just as we tried to beat into the heads of our current majority for the last year. They have listened and just like to us, it makes sense to them. The right thing to do. Be assured as I am No road will be crammed down our throats, but because of the actions of Tom Hayden and Al Filidoro during last years crucial council meeting, we will get the things out of it we need. Landscaping, new fences, Sidewalk improvements, Major intersection improvements, New traffic signals to make it safer, new access and other safety measures around the schools. All things that we asked for at all those town council meeting in the last year. Thank you Tom and Al and all of the town staff and engineering that paid attention and made us part of the solution. Despite Paul Stone, The Mayor and all those that dismissed us as just another flash in the pan activist group, we are a force in this town now.

Now we really need your help, just like we did last year, We need to "Make Time to Vote". you will be seeing those signs as reminders when the time comes for early voting and election day on May 8th. We need to make time to vote on the first day of early voting so you can go out in your neighborhoods and brag to your neighbors that you voted for the future of our town and feel really good about it and then convince, needle, cajole, plead, beg and taxi your neighbors over to vote too.

If you see the NFL express golf cart in your neighborhood in the next few weeks, take some time to talk with them. They, like us are really good people and the kind of neighbors and leaders of our town we want.

Remember, Vote NFL, that's Melissa Northern, Al Filidoro and Steve Lyda. And take time to vote, because THIS time it truly matters.

Debate

It seems the forces are against the citizens of our town. After several setbacks it appears the planned debate at Parker Square will not happen. All the candidates were invited and given the format and were told to respond by April 9th. They responded with the following comments:

"Over the past few days, we have received an overwhelming level of support from a variety of dedicated and concerned Flower Mound citizens over the journalistic integrity and neutrality of your "Debate". "

The citizens have raised the following concerns that Flower Mound Cares:

1) Is a single-issue organization focusing solely on oil and gas drilling.
2)Has already endorsed a slate of candidates hand picked by key members of your organization.
3)Had members distort facts and utilize scare and intimidation tactics.
4) Is closely affiliated with www.stopthedrilling.blogspot.com.
5)Had members at numerous council meetings display a lack of civility and respect for other town citizens.
6)Does not have a history as a qualified and balanced media contributor.

For these reasons we respectfully decline to participate in your "Debate".

signed Jody Smith, Gerald Robinson and Bryan Webb.


All the reasons were unfounded accusations.

Instead they invited us all to attend the New Connections forum to be held at town hall by an "independent respected moderator" (none other than Bob Weir).

We responded to their letter and told them we would change the format to just a forum, not debate just 10 minutes to state their platform. They again flatly denied the invitation.

Candidates Al Filidoro, Steve Lyda and Melissa Northern all graciously accepted the invitation at the first request and accepted the terms of the revamped forum.

We decided we would proceed with the forum and hoped they would have a change of heart and attend so everyone could hear their views.

By the Way, Mr Webb's initial decline was also sent directly to the New Connection and was published the next day.

We issued a press release stating the event and were in the process of sending the invitations to citizens, when we received an email from a Property Manager at Parker Square rescinding the permit to use the property since all the candidates would not be attending. After trying to secure another location, it seems it is now dead. More information and details will follow. Believe me, this is just the tip of the iceberg.
"

Hineygate rears its ugly head

The story that just won't go away made the lead story on Channel 11's six o'clock news. The Teflon Mayor tries to push it off on the police chief. Its getting interesting.

Campaign Signs

Yes its that time of year again where campaign signs are as thick as live oak pollen.
Just like the pollen, just wait a few weeks and they will be gone. However, in the mean time, people should have the right to have signs in their yards and property owners should have the right to display the sign of the candidate that will less likely piss off their customers. That being said, There have been reports this weekend of vandalism and theft of signs from both sides. Some of the NFL signs have been stolen from peoples yards and someone has defaced the Mayor's signs with paintball guns. How Childish! Chances are both incidents were done by teenagers or an adult acting worse than a teenager.

It has to stop and the signs must be respected by both side of the issues.

The Stop Morriss 6 group deplores the behavior of a few and hopes that peace will prevail for rest of the pollen and sign season.

Creekside Meets N.F.L.

Ok the evites are out, if you did not recieve one, go to http://www.evite.com/pages/invite/viewInvite.jsp?inviteId=DIHVXLPNHVVGZQDBQSYD
and RSVP there. More details to follow this week.

Meet the Candidates

On Saturday, April 17th, we will hold a meet the candidates get together on the cul-de-sac on Branch Hollow Circle from 5pm to 8pm. All the residents in our Creekside subdivision will be getting invitations soon for this event. Melissa Northern, Steve Lyda and Al Filidoro have graciously accepted our invitation to talk to us about our concerns of phase two of the Morriss Rd project, The Riverwalk, Fencing and landscaping and will gladly address all of your concerns. We will provide burgers and hot dogs and soft drinks for your enjoyment.

I will also be sending an evite to many of the StopMorriss6 supporters from our email list. If you do not recieve an evite by Friday and would like to attend please send me an email at stopmorriss6@googlemail.com and I will gladly include you.

If you have any other questions you may address them here in the blog.

There will be other candidate forums being held in the coming weeks and you will see signs and banners with info on those event. One such event, being presented by the Flower Mound Cares group will be held on April 22nd at Parker Square. We have been helping to plan the event with them and hope to be a co-sponser. This event will feature all candidates as we did last year in Wilkerson Park. We will keep you posted with more details.

Up the Riverwalk without a paddle

Well, Levenick, Wallace and Dixon just sold us up the Riverless Walk. WE DO NOT NEED APARTMENTS IN FLOWER MOUND.

We as the opposition of the expansion of Morriss Rd and the proliferation of Apartments have a better chance of defeating this than the new landowners have of getting a loan in this economy.

Smith and her band of merry men and woman need to lose the majority! Simple as that.

Vote in Northern and Lyda, keep Filidoro and we get our town back.

Vote against the land swap also, its a bad deal in order to get one new soccer field.

Just so you know Hayden and Filidoro went against the tide and voted no on the re-zoning request.

NFL sites

Please see the following web sites for info on the NFL and to request yard sign or to have signs posted on your private fences exposed to roadways. Please help all that you can.

www.melissanorthern.com
www.alfilidoro.com
www.stevelyda.com

Signs are sprouting everywhere.

This morning as I drove to work at 530am, I started to notice the proliferation of Re-elect the Mayor signs, I'm sure most of you have noticed also. It seems anywhere you see a posting for commercial real-estate on the streets you will also notice the SWR grouping of signs (Smith,Webb,Robinson), not as catchy as NFL so I guess we can call them SWEAR for a lack of a better term. They seem to be conveniently in the vicinity of property being listed by Flower Mound's largest commercial real estate broker, Todd Weaver. I took a look at his business web sight and noticed he has a rather large project that begun back in December in the vicinity of Chinn Chapel and 407 called Jernigan Heights. Wait, isn't that conveniently located across the street from the soccer field the town is trying to swap out and we will be voting on that issue next month? SWEAR signs joined at the hip at most of his properties? Hmmm. Maybe you have also noticed that most of the NFL signs in town are on Residential properties and some non-Weaver associated commercial properties?
This same point was brought up last year and property owners have every right to deny usage to opposing candidates. I, most definitely would choose to use a business that allowed the NFL signs, that is my right also. But, the close association with Chinn Chapel area, soccer fields, out of town developers salivating to break ground on the next "The Casitas at La Flore Monton de Tierra", Williams Corp drooling in erecting a Derrick where ever a variance may land, troubles me and should trouble all of us.

Our friends at Williams have already spent tens of thousands of dollars for a phone bank operation out of the back room of a Guitar Center in Cedar Rapids Iowa to blanket the town with telemarketing calls and a survey on our opinions of Oil and Gas exploration, Which candidates you favor and probably asked your favorite color too.
They love our town, well, not really they love the soft government that loves free BBQs, loves giving money to the YMCA, The High School bands, yada, yada, yada.
The Williams gang will start a door to door canvasing starting next week, to promote themselves as good neighbors who have our best interests in mind and will probably pass out some really nifty swag for your time, oh and by the way if you want this cool pen or key chain with a whistle on it, please vote for the SWEAR group. They too are good neighbors and are GREEN like us. Have a nice day.

Sure they can't directly give the SWEAR group buckets of money for their campaigns, but they sure can spend their own money promoting themselves, the need for a bigger soccer field, oh and by the way we need bigger roads to get in and out of your town, so we need to make Morriss Rd a six lane superhighway past your schools and houses.
All for a Key Chain?

Im sure it won't stop there, the developers from "The Casitas at La Flore Monton de Tierra" will tell you all about the beautiful "The Casitas at La Flore Monton de Tierra II and III" they want to build at the Riverwalk or down the street from you or and any of the vacant properties that currently house campaign signs for the SWEAR group.

So, the moral of this long winded tirade is this, Don't trust anyone who SWEARS.

Town Council Agenda for April 5th

The town is seeking to amend the request for rezoning at the Riverless Walk. They want to remove the cap on sub 700 square foot apartments they can build. Please plan to attend or email your displeasure of the possible repeal of this.

Petition Drive

The Flower Mound Cares group completed their petition drive this week and delivered over 6000 certified signatures to the town secretary for verification. Hats off to the group for all their efforts and lots of hard work to accomplish this task.

The volunteers worked most of the town door to door and with signing events staged outside brave property owner, restaurants and businesses. Since this issue to located over in the western parts of town, lots of people in the central and eastern areas were not fully aware of the issues being presented, as were most of the group from Wellington and Bridlewood not familiar with our plight from last year with the road issues. It shows just how large our town is becoming and how similar most of our issues really are. They mostly boil down to rampant, uncontrolled development and how attractive all the wide open spaces we enjoy in Flower Mound are.

I'm sure the hard workers from the Flower Mound Cares group are going to enjoy a restful Easter weekend with their families instead of standing out from of MacDonald's holding signs or walking door to door, they deserve the rest. But just because we won the battle, there is still a lot to the war. Its not time to rest for too long on our laurels and get back to work to keep people motivated for the Election to be held next month. The mandate of 6000 signatures who want a change to the way our town does business speaks volumes and we need to continue to shout out loud until we can shake some change from the trees. Your signature was a big step, but your trip to the polls is the final charge up the hill. Yes, a moratorium will probably take place and yes there will be another election for the town to decide whether Contaminate Collection Facilities and pipelines will be built in our town. But the only way to change that PERMANENTLY is to elect a town council and a Mayor that will scrutinize every needs request that comes in an do whats right for our towns residents and not outside developers.

Please take the time to listen to Northern, Filadoro and Lyda, Flower Mounds NFL, and you too will see they have a preferred vision for our town.

Where is the River?

Last year at this time we were in full swing of our effort to curb the plans of the town as they tried to muscle the road plans at full speed. Our efforts were mainly to get the word out to our residents and to convince them that the real need was to change the face of our town government.

As we all know the focal point of the need for the road was the much heralded addition to our town called "The Riverwalk". The plan was for a hospital, 400 apartment units, retail, mixed use offices, and a "River".

Right now, we know we have a beautiful hospital about to open and by most account’s a true state of the art facility. Something we can all be proud of. The next phase of the project will be an apartment complex with about several hundred units, of which 85 percent have to be larger than 700 square feet. The size and the variance of these units will be a matter of discussion at this week’s town council meeting. Beyond that, there have been some major changes in this project that from this point on I will call "The Riverless Walk".

The original developer of the "RLW", Flower Mound's own Cole McDowell, due to his own financial difficulties has parceled off the land into five separate pieces. None of the potential property owners are obligated or can afford the amenities promised by McDowell, "The River". As you all remember, the amenity, "The River" was the trigger that would have started the clock on the phase two of the road expansion project, in which McDowell would have had to have ponied up an additional 2.2 million dollars towards the road project. The other 5 developers WILL NOT provide that funding, Hence, no "River", no traffic, no road.

It is essential that we change the face of our town government. If the current regime retains its power and majority, Those 5 other parcels of land will fall in the hands of APARTMENT developers and the 400 units will turn in to 1000 plus units, and a hospital. No River, LOTS of traffic, but still no 2.2 million dollars for the road expansion.

If in May, Tom Hayden retains the support of Al Filidoro and adds the support of Steve Lyda and a new Mayor, Melissa Northern, they can be counted on to enforce SmartGrowth, not give free reign to out of town developers to build apartments on this property. They will be looking to support commercial options more favorable to our community than apartments, such as turning that acreage into a productive, profitable, inflation-proof option of a major medical complex to compliment the hospital and attract high paying jobs to our town. Maybe we can re-brand the project, "The River of Life". No River, No Road.

Telemarketing calls

If you haven't already been called, please be aware. Someone portraying themselves as a representative of Flower Mound Cares is sponsoring a telemarketing campaign that to some is very misleading. This is NOT any part of the Flower Mound Cares group or is it any part of the NFL campaign. It is a target marketing ploy by the Mayor and her group to see exactly where their support is and where they need to target their message. This is some of the questions they ask:
1. Do I oppose or support gas drilling
2. Ban on drilling in east flo mo
3. Why do you oppose (choices are dangerous, bad for environment, medical, truck/traffic issues, unsure of the safety (or something like that) and one other choice to choose from)... See More
4. Have I heard of the moratorium and do I support it
5. Plan to vote in upcoming election
6. If so, then Northern or Smith
7. Filidoro or blah blah
8. Lyda or blah blah

The calls show as from a 319 area code and they are very aggressive in repeat calling. I suggest if you answer, mislead them as much as possible.

Realize the drilling of gas in the eastern part of town is a true threat. If you haven't signed the petition for the moratorium yet, you will have an opportunity to do so this weekend at the McDonalds on 2499 at 3040.

Campaign

A lot of talk has been out about the Mayors problems with her son and how we should leave it as a private matter.

As a public figure you have to be ready for the heat. Whether it was the Mayors son or anyones kid, its a shame, but carrying a gun and possession of drugs and stolen property on a school grounds is serious. How the Mayor deals with it is her business, but it sorta goes against the famous Nancy Reagan phrase, Just say no.

While we are talking about mudslinging, I went back to the voters united website and re-read the chronological history for Flower Mound Politics in the last 15 year. It's a good read, sorta like a cheap novel or a TNT made for TV political drama. None of the intrigue of "The Good Wife" or "All the Presidents Men".

Check it out at www.voters-united.com and then go to about us and history. A familiar cast of characters and even the early days of Oil and Gas exploration, Outside developers interest in our little town and how far they go. It really does make the issue of this race the interests of the residents or the interests of big business in Oklahoma and other parts of the country. You decide.

Up coming Town Elections

A Few posts down from here was the recap of last June's Town Council Meeting where the approval of the construction was voted on. It was a very confusing meeting to some and the fact that some yes votes meant no and some no votes meant yes and some abstained votes meant no.

The simple facts are this. The Transportation committee recommended in a 5-1 vote (Steve Lyda voting no) for the entire project to be done at one time and the total rejection of our pleading to break it up into phases.

Before the June town council meeting, we met with Tom Hayden and Al Filidoro and were asked by Al what do we want and what is acceptable to us. We told them we needed to buy time and delay the meat of the project as long as we possible could. Al took those wishes to the meeting and proposed the project be split into 2 phases, the second being the portion between 1171 and 3040 until at least 2014 and based on traffic studies, needs and funding still available.

That is where we stand today. Instead of the bulldozers poised to plow up the entire 6.6 miles at one time in a few short months, we are sitting with a plan that includes intersection improvements, new fencing, two new traffic signals and many more of the safety features we asked for included in the first phase.

This all came to being because Al Filidoro worked with opposing council members and convinced them to accept the compromise of dividing the project into 2 phases. WE GOT THE TIME WE NEEDED! WE WON! Part of the time that we needed gets us past this May's election.

I urge each of you to support Al Filidoro for re-election, The election of Steve Lyda (a long time supporter) and the next Mayor of Flower Mound Melissa Northern.

They will be visiting your neighborhoods soon and I hope you get to know them better because they are what is best for our town and our most important asset, us.

Thanks for listening,
Kim Berg

Morriss Road Danger

As Scott mentioned in the previous post, the Super Bowl evening incident struck very close to home. Sunday evening as the game was winding down, my wife Holly too our dog Pepper out for a quick walk around the neighborhood. Her last leg of the walk was up Morriss from the cul de sac to around the corner to our house, one house from Morriss. After she rounded the corner and was walking up our drive way she heard the crash. A mere minute earlier and she could have been involved in a horrific tragedy.

Even though the town has spent the money for the planning, its not over by a long shot. We are a few months away from an election that will change the face of our town. Saner minds that are eager to listen to reality will be running our town. There are alternatives that have not been explored and will be. Keep the faith and we will defeat this horrible plan before any family has to endure a catasrophic tragedy.

Good Fences Make Good Neighbors; Broken Fences Make..

I don't know if anyone is really following this site much anymore since the Morriss expansion project has been in the design phase. So if you are still a follower, feel free to reply and let us know you are alive!

It happened again last Sunday; right after the Super Bowl. Another vehicle ran off Morriss Rd. This seems to happen about once every quarter or few months. (If anyone has the time to look up the police records, it would be interesting to see an actual tally.) This time the vehicle struck close to me; about a block north of Forestwood Middle School. It got my neighbor's fence and only slightly damaged one corner of my fence about 10ft from my kids' swing set and sandbox (just next to that dividing fence in the photo below). We are waiting on the police report.

My 7-year old was fascinated by the damage. In true 7-year old fancy, she imagined herself on her swing and watching a spectacular collision and catastrophe. I tried to explain to her the concept of low-risk probabilities and that her swingset is perfectly safe. But her eyes glassed over and her interests diverted to other subjects, thankfully!

I know this sort of thing can and does happen on roads all over town. However, it would be foolish to think that an expanded Morriss Rd with higher vehicle counts and higher speeds won't see an increase in this risk. It is just another reason why we [Morriss Rd residents] should have been involved before the Town submitted for funding this project. This section of Morriss Rd has no business being a 6 lane artery. But entering the debate after funding was approved proved to be too late to affect significant change.