Stop Morriss Rd Six Lanes

A sigh of relief!

2010-05-20T11:44:00.002-05:00

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

2010-05-18T18:46:00.005-05:00

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

2010-05-11T17:21:00.002-05:00

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

2010-05-09T18:23:00.002-05:00

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.

2010-05-09T11:58:00.002-05:00

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?

2010-05-07T10:56:00.002-05:00

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

2010-05-06T21:22:00.003-05:00

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

2010-05-04T15:07:00.002-05:00

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

2010-05-02T18:10:00.002-05:00

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

2010-04-29T21:23:00.002-05:00

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.

2010-04-29T18:02:00.002-05:00

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

2010-04-27T17:02:00.003-05:00

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

2010-04-26T16:28:00.002-05:00

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

2010-04-25T18:32:00.004-05:00

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.

2010-04-20T10:44:00.002-05:00

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

2010-04-18T17:22:00.004-05:00

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

2010-04-16T18:45:00.002-05:00

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

2010-04-13T21:35:00.001-05:00

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

2010-04-11T18:22:00.004-05:00

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.

2010-04-10T16:03:00.006-05:00

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

2010-04-06T18:41:00.003-05:00

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

2010-04-05T21:10:00.002-05:00

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

2010-04-04T17:17:00.001-05:00

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.

2010-04-04T16:13:00.003-05:00

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

2010-04-03T15:09:00.002-05:00

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

2010-04-01T18:05:00.002-05:00

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?

2010-03-31T18:58:00.003-05:00

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

2010-03-24T11:41:00.002-05:00

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

2010-03-16T16:25:00.002-05:00

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

2010-03-15T19:30:00.002-05:00

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

2010-02-12T15:20:00.002-06:00

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..

2010-02-10T20:36:00.004-06:00

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.

Keller Residents for 4

2009-06-22T09:12:00.006-05:00

I encourage you all to read this article in the Star-Telegram on a proposed 6-lane expansion for North Tarrant Parkway.

Sound familiar? Turn Morriss/Gerault on its side and you have a nearly identical situation on a smaller scale. It is almost surreal to witness this from a 3rd party standpoint. I think the Morriss Rd case against a 6-lane facility is much, much more compelling. There are no schools directly on N Tarrant Pkwy (looks like a Middle school backs up to it); nonetheless, it is similar in many ways:
- 3 primary road sections; central section is the tightest
  - years of development inconsistent with a 6-lane road
  - narrow pathways on sides
  - homes really close to the road
  - neighborhood ingress/egress problems
- west section (compare to Gerault) is newer with ample neighborhood setback
- funding already in place (from Tarrant County)
- Kimley-Horn study says demand for 6-lanes coming in 10 to 20 years
- Construction to be completed in 18 months and pushing forward fast
- Keller Council will be scheduling a public hearing

I cannot blame the early leadership in the DFW area suburbs too much; it was a huge transformation in less than 20 years from rural agriculture to a new suburban model. And even today, we are still trying to figure it out. I understand there were lots of incentives to build a certain way, and we are all complicit to a certain extent. But our suburban model is choking us with traffic and the proper framework to cope with that traffic was not laid when our communities were planned.

The Messenger

2009-06-19T16:54:00.002-05:00

I'm glad to see some things do not change in this town. When I ready yesterday edition of the Flower Mound Messenger, I began to wonder if they attended the same Town Council Meeting. I also just recieved a phone call from Lindsey Bever of Neighbors Go supplement of the Dallas Morning News. She wanted to know our reaction to the road expansion plans, like we were in mourning for our loss. I had to laugh.

Not that I am telling them how to write their papers, but the headline should have read; Stop Morriss 6 Group gains huge victory.

How could anything else be the story. Other than the disruptive behavior of a certain group of you adults in attendance. We won, pure and simple. Granted we were not able to STOP the project, but on the other foot, the town wasn't able to ramrod the project through in the next 2 years as the Transportation Commission recommended.
We won. Admit it, write about it, talk about it. The horror of a six lane monstrosity will not exist in this town by the end of 2010. Yes, it might cost between a half million to one and a half million more by doing it in phases, but what does that matter. In the towns own words, Its not our money we are working with.

The actual headline should have read, The residents of Flower Mound win, big money developers with oil and gas interests lose.

And the hopes of this group disappearing? Very slim. Next years election? Watch out, we just got a taste of what hard work and the need to do the right thing can do to make a difference in this town.

I encourage all of you to write letters to the editors of these publications, just as I plan to do to set them straight.

The Name

2009-06-17T15:51:00.004-05:00

Some may ask, what will become of the Stop Morriss Six group and movement now that it seems that the road will be planned for 6 lanes of construction.

To answer that question, our name and our group of residents along the Morriss corridor are not going anywhere. We will still remain Stop Morriss Six. We have succeeded on many levels.

We STOPPED the madness of a six lane locomotive that our friends on the Transportation Commission were trying to expedite to completion in 18 months.

We STOPPED the Towns elected officials from discounting our concerns and made them listen and actually come out and walk along Morriss during the busiest part of the day and got them to come and look at the "tunnel" just north of Forestwood Middle School to see actually how disgusting and not a viable alternative to safety.

We STOPPED the Towns staff from continuing to feed us misinformation and flawed data to make their case.

We STOPPED the town from paying more attention to developers than to our residents.

We STOPPED the town from talking down to us and scolding us for not being involved.

We will continue to STOP candidates from running for office unless they truly have the best interests of the residents and not developers.

We will continue to STOP any opaque agendas.

We will never STOP pressing for the best safety and health issues that environmentally friendly to all.

We will never STOP communicating to those that want to listen.

Nothing will STOP us from regaining a strong voice for the people of Flower Mound.

Congratulations

2009-06-16T06:03:00.003-05:00

Thank you to everyone who was at last night's Council meeting (and to those who wanted to be there but schedules did not allow attendance). And thank you to our Town Council and the Town's staff. The StopMorriss6 group may put out a more official statement later, but I wanted to put something up here as soon as possible.

What we witnessed last night was a compromise. Many will be disappointed it was not a stronger compromise or a complete "no" vote; others will feel just the opposite. That is the nature of a compromise.

Despite the name, StopMorriss6 originally was about making this project known to as many people as possible and enabling citizens to be heard collectively. Thanks to everyone's efforts I think we can feel proud that we accomplished this goal.

For those who have not heard, here is what changed last night:

The project has been split into 2 phases:
Phase 1 includes the entire Gerault Rd portion (including the 2499 flyover)
Phase 1 includes elements for the entire length of Morriss/Gerault: intersection improvements, safety elements, fencing, and landscaping
Phase 2 includes all that remains, largely just 6 lanes of Morriss Rd.
Language was added to include emphasis on 8' fencing options where possible and living sound walls.
Phase 2 will not begin until the earlier of 2014/2015 FY or the completion of the Riverwalk Amenity (which is the $6M? main water feature of that project).

The biggest win for the residents of Morriss Rd is that this compromise allows us time to see if we think we can live with this road. If after the design process and the beginning of construction you feel like the road will impact your quality of life too much, then you will have the time to make an orderly and well-timed relocation. It is sad that some may have to consider this, but at least you have the option now.

The other key element here is that the "Riverwalk Amenity" is a good compromise trigger. If completed, this phase of the Riverwalk will prove to everyone that the Riverwalk is a viable project that is on its way to completion. Also, the "Riverwalk Amenity" is required before the developer can begin construction on the last 600(?) residential units.

For the record, the Council voted:
Al Filidoro - In Favor
Steve Dixon - In Favor
Jean Levenick - In Favor
Mike Wallace - Opposed
Tom Hayden - Abstained

Mr Wallace supported the project, but opposed the time gap before phase 2 would increase costs slightly (by our estimates, between $0.5M and $1.5M - a hard number to pin down right now). He stated that 1 phase of construction was his preference.
Mr Hayden abstained (which is essentially interpreted as a "no" vote on the record) because [as he stated] he made very strong campaign promises to not support this road project. My own interpretation is that he abstained rather than voted "no" because he felt Mr Filidoro's amendment was a move in the right direction. But that is only my interpretation.

Again, thank you to all.

*****Correction/Clarification*****
There was some procedural confusion after the vote. Some persons thought the vote was just on the amendment proposed by Mr Filidoro, others thought the vote was for the entire motion including the amendment. After the recess, a new vote was taken with the scope of the entire motion in its final form which included the proposed amendments (described in the original post). This last vote passed 3-2 in favor of the motion with Mr Wallace and Mr Hayden in opposition.

Agenda Item #9: The Council approved the CIP budget amendments to reflect changes to Morriss/Gerault, West Windsor connection, and the new firestation. Mr Hayden noted that the practice of combining disparate items is sometime not ideal. The item passed 4-1 with Mr Hayden in opposition.

Agenda Item #10: The Council approved funds for Halff & Associates to begin Morriss/Gerault project design. The item passed 4-1 with Mr Hayden in opposition.

Our Position, Your Chance

2009-06-15T09:06:00.003-05:00

Wow, it has been a weekend of a lot of activity. Many of us have been talking back and forth about how to effect change. I've seen Tom Hayden going up and down Morriss Rd talking to citizens like he is back on the campaign trail. As you know, of the 3 council members elected in May, Tom had the strongest statements against the Morriss Road project. He campaigned with a slogan of "Citizens First" and I think he is living up to that.

+ Tom Hayden said he supports the citizens and the citizens don't support this road project at this time.
+ Mike Wallace said he thinks the road project is needed, but that he wouldn't support turning dirt until 2011.
+ Steve Dixon said he thinks Morriss should be widened some time before it is needed ([Steve's] example: if the road is needed in 7 years, then we should build it in 5 or 6 years.
+ Al Filidoro and Jean Levenick have no [meaningful] public statements on the record.

We as StopMorriss6, we as Morriss/Gerault residents, we as citizens who care about our Town and our quality of life, we have made a difference. It feels to us like we have been speaking, but not heard; that we have serious concerns that are being dismissed. That is not true. Our message is being heard. We forced them to double their efforts to spoon us the same tired spiel about why their first plan was such a good one. And yes, the Transportation Commission rebuffed all of our attempts to have them reconsider decisions made during the 2009 Master Thoroughfare Planning process (where Morriss Rd was not represented). But there is a lot of stuff happening behind the scenes on account of us speaking up for ourselves and our neighbors.

And the Council is very concerned that this project as originally conceived is not viable for the citizens. They might have been hoping we'd go away by now or that the Staff PowerPoints would settle us down; they did not and we will not go away. This is important to all of us and the fact that we are still turning out for Council meetings shows them just how important this is to the Town's citizens.

Here is a dose of reality for us all: the Council will not do an about-face and vote to put the brakes on this project on Monday night. As much as we would like it, we just don't see that happening no matter how articulate our statements are. But that doesn't mean we won't see change on Monday night. They've heard that the original plan was unacceptable and there is a lot of support to make amendments to that plan. We have to stand up and advocate what is acceptable:

(1) That we won't accept a fast-track road construction schedule. The construction of anything on Morriss and Gerault should be commensurate with the need.
(2) That 6-lane roads are fundamentally un-safe for pedestrians. We will only support "improvement" if it does in fact improve pedestrian safety.
(3) That we won't sit back and wait for the design engineers to tell us what we have to live with. We want meaningful input and feedback throughout the design process.
(4) That [nearly] every single neighborhood lining Morriss and Gerault has tough issues created by past development decisions that did not really anticipate a 6-lane road. One-size will not fit all. We have schools, we have access concerns, we have sidewalk problems, we have fencing issues, and more.
(5) That all solutions and options should be on the table.

We point to precedent that the Flower Mound Rd extension of FM 3040 into Wellington was once going to be a 6-lane road but the citizens said no. We are citizens too. Show up at Town Hall on Monday night and we will see change. If we continue to advocate for what is important, right, and just; we will see response.

Anyone can make public comments during the meeting opening, but we don't have to use that this time. The Council has heard our message that this is important to us. They made this a public hearing item, so we will get to both ask questions and state our support/opposition when the agenda item comes up. Our questions will be focused on the meaning and interpretation of the written motion (Agenda Item #8). And our concerns, support, and opposition will be made during the following public comment period. The decision makers will be standing right in front of us, there is no better opportunity to show our convictions.

Position Statement - Coming Soon

2009-06-14T17:57:00.003-05:00

Things are always hectic on the weekends, especially for those of us with young children. We are working on putting together a bit of a position statement for tomorrow's council meeting. Schedules and activities have delayed us considerably.

Expect something late tonight or tomorrow morning. Sorry for the short notice, but please do check back.

Thanks to all of you for your support and/or involvement.

6/15 Town Council Meeting

2009-06-12T16:34:00.003-05:00

The agenda for monday's Town Council meeting was posted yesterday afternoon. I will pull out a few salient points here. I encourage you all to go read more in full context at:

http://www.flower-mound.com/agenda/TCarchive/TCAgendaPacket06-15-09.pdf

There are 3 items on Morriss / Gerault and about 250 pages of supporting text:

Item 8 : morriss/Gerault Capacity Improvement Project (Public Hearing)
Public Hearing to discuss the recommendations from the Transportation Commission regarding potential design enhancements and implementation of the Morriss/Gerault Capacity Improvement project and consider approval of a resolution providing direction regarding the design and implementation of the Morriss.Gerault Capacity Improvement Project.

Item 9: Consider approval of Ammendment No. 4 to the Fiscal Year 2008-2009 Capital Improvement Program.

Item 10: Consider approval of a Professional Services Agreement with Halff Associates, Inc., to provide engineering design services for Morriss/Gerault Improvement project, from FM 2499 to FM 407, in the amount of $1,252,890.00, and authorization for the Mayor to execute same on behalf of the Town.

What does that mean?

It means the Council will (1) formally declare their support for the project and spell out some specific directives to the Town Staff as they move the project forward. (2) They will approve the budget to spend the money* they already accepted on May 4th ($10.77M from 121 Toll) along with the TRIP-08 county bond money ($5.5M) and (3) they will approve $1.25M to Halff Associates to actually put the project design on paper in detail.

*Note, there is up to $4.9M from the Riverwalk project but that money isn't garaunteed so it doesn't go into the budget yet. And I think the TRIP-08 bond money is more like a reimbursement program; the Town will request the hard cash from the County as they spend the money.

Should you care about this? Yes, absolutely. This is a critical step in the process. At no other time will your input be more important than now. Remember that the Transportation Commission is only a recommending body; the Town Council has complete authority to do whatever they want. They will, of course, follow very closely to the recommendation of the Transportation Commission.

The Council has [wisely in my opinion] put this item on the agenda as a "Public Hearing" so we will get to comment directly. This is your chance to state your position:
(a) Against the project
(b) In favor of the project
(c) Advocate specific design elements
(d) All of the above (is that possible?)
Are you concerned about the excessive U-turn movements a 6-lane tip-to-tail road will create? Are you concerned about pedestrian safety risks going up? Are you concerned about phasing construction smartly to make any potential work easier to live with? Are you concerned about speeds? Noise? School zones?

Be at Town Hall at 6:00pm on Monday June 15th! The Council made this a Public Hearing item so that they can hear what we have to say. You get a direct audience with the decision-makers 10 feet in front of you. Use your opportunity.

After the 1:00am Transportation Commission meeting, I think everyone will appreciate direct and to-the-point comments to get through this quickly. Just because it has been said before doesn't mean you can't say it again though. No one likes to sit through a repetitious display, but if it is important to you then you need to advocate it. Get a baby-sitter for the kids and come exercise your civic responsibility. This decision WILL affect your quality of life, so make your concerns heard.

Meeting with LISD

2009-06-03T16:34:00.002-05:00

On Tuesday, June 2nd, Patti Fennessey and I met with Assistant Superintendent of Student Services, Brant W. Buck. Also in attendance was Tommy Ellington, Dr. Rocky Brookmole and a representive from Durham School Services.

It was a very cordial meeting and I would like to thank the gentlemen again for their time. We asked if they were aware of the project proposed to widen Morriss Rd to six lanes in the area populated by two large schools. They were aware of the project and are very well experienced on dealing with road construction throughout the very large school district. They stated that during the construction, buses would be used to transport students due to the hazards related to major construction and they have many schools in the district where students cross major roads by use of Crossing Guards.

We mainly wanted to use the meeting as an informational meeting and didn't ask for the District to become involved in our fight. We were pleased to hear they had a good plan in place in the case of impending construction. I wanted to make the point to them that MANY of the parents whose children attend Forestwood and Marcus are VERY concerned about the project, not just the increased safety issues that they were prepared for, but the fact that the project, according to a very large group of parents and other residents, don't think the project is necessary at all. I asked if they had received correspondence not only from parents, but from staff at the schools stating this fact. They were not aware of any complaints. I explained that this group of residents are so vehemently opposed to this expansion project, that it brought over 500 first time voters to the May election and have produced overflow crowds at rallies, forums, and Town Council meetings.

Another fact that came out of this meeting was that the LISD operates over 50 hazard operation areas a day that require buses. Each bus route that the district operates cost $36,000 a year. When Forestwood and Marcus become another "hazard area" it will produce at least an additional six bus routes to be operated by the district at the cost of $216,000 a year! That is staggering! And the town is trying to tell us that there is no cost to the residents and tax payers of the town?
That is almost a quarter of a million dollars a year that won't be spent on education.

We asked if Mr Buck would mind receiving letters and emails from parents and residents and TAX PAYERS of Flower Mound. He said "whatever you need to do."

So, this is where you come in...

Please email Assistant Superintendent of Student Services, Brant Buck at
buckb@lisd.net . I'm sure Superintendent Dr. Jerry W. Roy ( royj@lisd.net ) would also like to hear your concerns. Not just about the safety of your children, but why are we going to go to all this expense because of a road project that we clearly don't need. Please take the time and write these gentlemen with your comments.

My thoughts about the Transportation Commission Public Hearing

2009-06-03T16:27:00.003-05:00

After a few days of recovery and much thought, I would like to pass on to you my views of this past Tuesday's Transportation Commission Public Hearing. First, I would like to thank Steve Lyda for his valiant effort to have this meeting tabled. It was the right decision and the clear decision to make.

This past weekend, we received a copy of the agenda for the Trans Comm Public Hearing. The agenda was laid out a bit different than how it was initially explained to us. First noticeable difference was the Visitors Comments Section. On the agenda it was listed as Item C, following the Pledge of Allegiance. When Scott Cleland stood up to make his comments on the Morriss issue, he was interrupted by Chairman Paul Stone and admonished that this time is for Public Comments for OTHER business before the board. What other business was before the board this evening except the Morriss/Gerault Public Hearing? (first misstep of the evening for Chairman Stone). Next on the agenda Assistant Town Manager's report at which time Kent Collins launches into the Morriss/Gerault project. Second error by Chairman Stone of the evening. If the Visitors Comments, Section C would have to fall into the order of the Regular Agenda Items, than the Assistant Town Manager's report should have also fallen under the Regular Agenda Items. Kent Collins presented his report by rehashing line for line the exact information with charts and graphs he had presented during the Workshop Session last month. Kimley-Horn's spokesman, also presented the exact, word for word data and charts and graphs he had presented a month earlier without even taking the time to correct obvious errors that were pointed out in the workshop. One example of this was a slide that was posted stating something about 25,000 cars a day and some other data, but no reference date. It was very misleading last month and equally confusing the second time around. The only new data was information about proposed landscaping and wooden fence replacement. This went on for TWO HOURS. The only comments that were made by the Commissioners was about policy of changing street names and whether there would be any rocks or pavestones used in the landscaping. Steve Lyda asked several substantive questions to which Kent Collins and/or the Kimley-Horn associate could NOT answer. Third error by Chairman Stone, this was a session for answers and this Commission was charged with getting them, not "I don't know, I'll have to get back to you". How can this Commission come to the conclusion they did with lots and lots of still unanswered questions? What if they got back to them (which I highly doubt they ever will) and the answer would cause them to change their mind? (not that they didn't know how they would vote at 6:30pm). The meeting should have been tabled then and there.
Next came the Q & A portion (error number 4, not listed on the agenda and no rules or guidelines listed, but only explained by Stone prior to it). It was very confusing as residents lined up to ask questions. We were told to limit our questions to three minutes and wait for an answer, then step away. Many were asking very important, pertinent questions that were going unanswered due to the sheer volume. Resident were trying to get as many questions asked as possible, including myself as Kent Collins sat glassy-eyed staring at them and maybe being able to acknowledge one or two of their questions with the answer, “I don't know or I have no knowledge of it“. When a question was asked about other roads in Western Flower Mound operating under level F LOS, the resident was TOLD "that is a rhetorical question that won't be answered". Why wasn't there someone on staff that could write the questions on an overhead transparency when it was asked so the responders could give an intelligent answer or a tally could have been made to see how many questions were not answered at all? Steve Lyda was the only Commissioner to recognize that while the citizens were being allowed to speak, their questions were being left unanswered. Recognizing this, he made a motion to allow the Commission and Staff to address all of the gaps, but received no support.

The Q & A session went on for at least another 2 hours. During my own question, I respectfully asked the Transportation Commission to table this meeting due to the countless unanswered questions from the public and from the Commission. I was told by Chairman Stone that he would take that under advisement. Sadly, many questions became "rhetorical" due to the lack of caring.

Next, (11:30pm), after many of the residents had left due to the late hour, came the Visitor Comments part of the evening. Earlier in the evening, Stone mentioned the numerous emails that were received by the town from residents and NONE of them were sent to him, The Chairman. He seemed rather perturbed that he was bypassed. He was later advised by me, during public comment, that we were following the instructions from the Town to send the emails to Kent Collins and Harlan Jefferson to be included in the minutes of the meeting.
We, as citizens and taxpayers, couldn't do many things right this evening.

My view is this. The first charge this Commission and Staff had from the Town Council was to LISTEN TO THE RESIDENTS CONCERNS. They failed.

Stone was later overheard saying:
“There is a core group of StopMorriss6 that will never be satisfied with anything other than a 4-lane road; it has to be their way or nothing. SM6 ran their candidate and he lost“.
Its obvious Chairman Stone was already biased from an earlier meeting he was invited to, that he was in favor of the project, and to not make it an election issue. Well, he was wrong, it was an election issue and it drew over 500 first-time May voters to the polls, gave Tom Hayden an overwhelming victory, got Steve Lyda within 29 votes of defeating Steve Dixon and got Bob Butler, who spent 10 times less than Mike Wallace and campaigned almost exclusively in the Morriss Corridor over 1000 votes.
I know the opponents of our group will say, Sour Grapes, get over it, you lost. But, if our words had been HEARD by an unbiased chairperson and commission, it might have been at least fair.

I would also respectfully submit to town council to have the minutes and the validity of The Transportation Commission Public Hearing, dated May 26th,2009 be ruled invalid and the minutes expunged.

May 26th Transportation Recommendations

2009-05-28T09:34:00.002-05:00

Here is the exact text of the Transportation Commission's motion:

Move to recommend to the Town Council approval of the Morriss/Gerault Capacity Improvement Project with the following design, engineering, and implementation elements as follows:
(1) the project be designed and constructed in one phase with a recommendation to the Town Council to prioritize improvements to intersections and safety features;
(2) during design the Town will identify visibility issues that may create safety problems and identify solutions that consider both impacts and benefits, including access issues;
(3) explore improvements and enhancements to the below grade crossing;
(4) replace existing perimeter screening fences with the Town-standard wooden fence, and/or explore other fencing options and other methods to mitigate sound impacts;
(5) install trees, sod, irrigation, and decorative plantings in the medians and rights-of-way, with the focus being on the full-width median sections;
(6) commit to establishing the lowest lawful speed limit throughout the corridor;
(7) program the installation of any new warranted signals;
(8) enhance the pedestrian routes throughout the corridor, specifically for school-related pedestrian activity to include pedestrian actuated flashers, reviewing the location of school cross walks, and reviewing with Lewisville Independent School District the pedestrian and vehicular access at schools;
(9) consider ideas that will address safety issues near any schools in the area;
(10) that Town staff review additional input from neighborhood groups, convened for the purpose of additional input during the engineering and design phases of the project;
(11) and that median pedestrian barriers be considered in the design of the project at all areas deemed high pedestrian areas, as determined by professional staff.

This could be your fence

2009-05-24T14:58:00.003-05:00

Here is a picture that was sent to me by Matt P. He says he took it saturday morning. It appears that someone jumped the curb and smacked the wood fence just about 100 feet south of some Stop Morriss 6 signs. Luckily it was just a fence.

Important Reminder

2009-05-24T04:46:00.003-05:00

Just to keep this fresh in everyones mind, Please plan on attending Tuesdays Transportation Commission Public Hearing. I know it is a days after a Holiday and its winding down to the last week of school, but THIS IS OUR PUBLIC HEARING.
This is our chance to ask and be answered, express our opinion on this very important issue. See the post below with all the details. See you there and have a safe holiday weekend.

The Vote

2009-05-22T10:54:00.002-05:00

After a few weeks of digging and lots of hard work, Scott has compiled the data from the election and as we expected, citizens that live along the Morriss corridor had a huge impact on the election. The data showed that in previous elections, the Bridlewood area and West Flower Mound tended to have a higher percentage of voters represent their areas and those voters in the Morriss corridor seemed to have a lower percentage of registered voters turn out. This is probably because in the past few years Western FM and Bridlewood had specific issues that effected them

Up until this year our area really didn't have specific issues or causes that drew them to the polls. We changed that.

Here is some of the data.

Precinct 303, Central Morriss, SE (Tealwood Oaks area)
143 votes cast, a 53 vote increase over the 2008 election.
There are 4336 registered voters and 68 first time may election voters, 5 first time ever voters. Thank you all so much.

Precinct 304, Central Morriss, NE (north of forest vista, east side of Morriss)
364 votes cast, a 145 increase over the 2008 election.
There are 3919 registered voters and 118 first time May election voters. 6 first time ever voters. Thanks you all so much.

Precinct 320, Central Morriss, West (west side of Morriss to 2499)
442 votes cast, a 193 increase over the 2008 election. (highest vote count in town)
There are 4279 registered voters and 161 first time May election voters. 5 first time ever voters. Thank you all so much.

precinct 323, North Morriss, (east of Morriss, north of 1171)
90 votes cast, 5 votes less than in 2008.
There are 2531 registered voters and 25 first time May election voters. 2 first time ever voters. Thank you all so much, there is a lot of work to do in this area.

Precinct 307, North Morriss (west of Morriss and north of College, South of Dixon)
266 votes cast, a 34 increase over 2008 election.
There are 4336 Registered voters and 68 first time May election voters. 5 first time ever voters. Thank you all so much.

Precinct 314 North Morriss (north of Dixon , south of 407)
121 votes cast, 12 less than in 2008.
there are 2572 registered voters and 38 first time May election voters. No new voters. Thank you all so much, lots of work needed in this area.

Precinct 317 Gerault, (south of 3040)
266 votes cast, a 46 vote decrease from 2008
There are 3805 registered voters and 68 first time May election voters and 2 first time ever voters. Thank you all so much.

A few other stats, a 3 percent increase in votes cast over 2008. There are 41361 registered voters in FM. There was a 2 percent increase in first time may voters.

This all shows out power to help shape the future of our town. We need to start working on the other 38,000 registered voters for the next town election.

Smart Growth failures?

2009-05-20T16:31:00.004-05:00

FLOWER MOUND PLANNING & ZONING COMMISSION MEETING OF JULY 28, 2008

Vice Chairman Wallace said he appreciated everyone’s patience as they went through the process of going line by line on SMARTGrowth. He thought it was their duty as a planning and zoning commission to evaluate these types of projects against what was in their Code of Ordinances. In the final analysis, he only saw three failures for SMARTGrowth, and two of those were in Environmental Quality. Given they qualified as an economic development, incentives could be allowed, and they could request waivers from those two, so it really came down to one, which was the arterial and collector links. That one link was Morriss, because everything else was a state road and exempt from SMARTGrowth. So, the question in his mind was whether they voted to deny this project with all the benefits and value of the hospital, and the destination aspect of it, the high quality retail, the restaurants, the cafes, the amenities being the river walk and Central Park, the jobs, the reforestation, the revenue, the tax base, and the TIRZ impact. He was sorry, but one failure on SMARTGrowth for that one link on that one road to him was not worth denying this whole project.

This was an excerpt from a P&Z commission meeting last summer. Its amazing that even then the commissioners and future town council members used the word failure several times. The fact that allowing The Riverwalk project to be approved would go against most principles of the towns holy grail, Smartgrowth. There are only 2 real aspects that exist today, The Hospital and Morriss Road.

Unfortunately, they chose to exempt RiverWalk from the realm of SmartGrowth but when it came to Morriss, the reason for any talk of it was because SmartGrowth REQUIRES proper infrastructure improvements because of RiverWalk. Shouldn't the words SmartGrowth be exempt from any mention of anything that has to do with RiverWalk? Its only fair.

I have heard the argument that whats the big deal. Once 2499 and 1171 are complete and improvements to 407 and all the other, pardon the expression "concrete" town road projects are complete, there won't be that much traffic on a 6 lane Morriss Rd. You wouldn't believe who uttered that statement if I told you, so I won't.

The idea of high end retail and restaurants and cafes and the countless jobs that will be created out weigh all of this. Maybe in 10 years when our economy improves we will see that. But being able to get MORE cars, MORE trucks to the Champs Elysees of Flower Mound? Is that what matters?

Transportation Commission Public Hearing

2009-05-19T15:38:00.002-05:00

Please add to your calendars next tuesday, May 26th at 630pm, The public hearing regarding Morriss Rd project. This is our opportunity to hopefully hear some new data from the town staff and then have an chance to ask direct questions of the commission and town staff and they can comment back directly to you. Please take this time to formulate your specific questions for this part of the presentation. We ask that you type your questions so you can present a copy to the town secretary so it can be entered directly into the public record. After the question and answer session, there will a a segment for you to express your comments as far as your approval or disapproval of the project. During this portion we also ask you to have your comments type written. If you want to read what you typed, that is fine or you can make a comment and submit a written statement for the public record. If you cannot attend the public hearing, you voice can still be heard. We will publish the procedure for you to follow and how to submit by email your comments.

Either way, we want to have a huge showing, so please make it a point to come out to town hall for this extremely important forum.

We would like to thank the town for holding this public hearing and hope it is the first of many such public forums. If you do not have a specific question, we will have a list of questions that you can get up and ask, so come on out and see one of us for the list.

Thanks again for all the support and know that we are making a huge difference and they are listening to what we have to say. We will also have voters registration forms available for anyone needing to be ready for the next election.

E Mail to TX Dot

2009-05-16T15:23:00.002-05:00

I just sent the following email to the Texas Transportation Commission of TX Dot.

I respectfully request any data regarding public comment and or discussion passed on to TX Dot regarding the funding of the expansion of Morriss/Gerault Rd in Flower Mound. A request for funding from the 121Toll for this project was submitted to you. We as citizens, and upon your request I can provide written testimony from 500 residents, that adequate public discussion was not solicited. I request that documentation be provided, if not I request an independent public meeting be held by members of the TX dot board before any funds be released to the town of Flower Mound. Respectfully, Kim A. Berg

New Council, Same Fight

2009-05-15T13:27:00.002-05:00

Last night the new town council was sworn in during a special town council meeting. Details can be seen on FM TV for those that did not attend.

Now that the election is behind us and we are tabulating the results as far as the logistics of the vote. We will post that part of the results as soon as we can. We hope to demonstrate the effect of the Morriss Corridor as far as voter turn out.

One thing we want the town to know and for all of our supporters and those who don't, that we are NOT going away.

In last fridays edition of "The Dallas Morning News" Metro section, reporter Wendy Hundley wrote, "Plan to widen road to 6 lanes forges split in Flower Mound". We would like to thank Ms. Hundley for the story and information that was reported to the entire Metroplex.

Michael Ryan, the town's director of community affairs said, "This is a quality of life issue, its about improving local trips as well as regional commutes,and allowing residents to spend less time in their cars and more time at home with their families." Town officials say the growth of the southern Denton County community requires roadway expansion to avoid traffic gridlock and congestion.

Quality of Life? Has that not been our call for the last 3 months? Quality of Life, I googled that phrase to find a definition, there isn't one. What does quality of life mean to you?
For me? related to the effects of my "quality if life" living 2 doors from a 6 lane major thoroughfare, does not constitute very much quality at all. I see it as a decrease in my quality of life. More pollution? More Noise? More anxiety knowing that I have to cross 3 lanes of oncoming traffic and hoping I can safely merge into the other 3 lanes in order to get to work? More cement? Less tree and grass? Less feel of a real community? Having to have to live with all that severely diminishes my "quality of life". The extra 45 seconds I might have to spend in my car every day because I'm only driving on a 4 lane road as opposed to a 6 lane major arterial roadway, doesn't even cause a blip in my scheme of life.

So Town Officials, Town Council Members, who's quality of life are you more concerned for? Residents of Highland Village? Developers of the Riverwalk? Please answer that question. The town would not receive a black mark on its record if we chose to return the unused money after we improve the intersection at 1171, construct the international parkway flyover, make other improvements without total expansion. Think how much better your "quality of life" will be when you go to sleep knowing you did the right thing for the community. Do the right thing and wait till the time is right.

Town Reception for New Council Members

2009-05-11T21:49:00.002-05:00

The Town will host a reception for the new Town Council members this Thursday. It is not on the Town website yet but let's show up as a group to welcome our new council members.
Date: Thursday, May 14
Time: 5:00-6:00 pm
Location: Town Hall

As promised

2009-05-11T16:21:00.003-05:00

Since the election is over, I have re-opened the ability for anonymous to post comments here on the blog. We do exercise the right to remove any post that is considered to be inappropriate, we are a believer in free speech.

I would also like to encourage neighbors to join the blog and join us. Very soon we will have MORE yard signs available and an easier way to distribute them. Also we are always looking for people to join in our core group and communications teams and are always looking for better ways to get information out as quickly as possible. If you can help, write us at either stopmorris6@googlemail.com or morrissnixsix@verizon.net . Also if you don't know already how to get in touch with us by phone, its very easy to figure it out without me publishing phone numbers here.

We have lots of work to do and look forward to having many of you join us.

Congratulations to our new Council Members

2009-05-10T16:33:00.002-05:00

I would like to take this opportunity to be one the first (on this blog)
to congratulate our newly elected Councilmembers Tom Hayden, Steve
Dixon and Mike Wallace.

I would also like to thank Steve Lyda, Bob Butler, Claudio Forest, Angie Cox,
and Rick Cleland for their well fought campaigns . What an exciting
race this has been. One of the remarkable things about America and
our democratic process is that we come together with our political
leaders regardless of dissension on the campaign trail or how
narrow the margin of victory. We have said it before, and I'll say it
again; all candidates are capable persons trying to do right by Flower
Mound, often at personal sacrifices of both time and energy.

StopMorriss6 will be working with Tom, Steve, and Mike on issues
important to all of us; of course including the eminent decisions
about the future of Morriss and Gerault roads. We will talking and
listening to all of our neighbors north and south along Morriss and
Gerault to make sure everyone's needs and concerns are addressed.

We will not go away, we will not stand down and we will not give up
our fight to keep Morriss Road a beautiful residential boulevard that
supports our quality of life and not detract from it; that keeps our
communities in tack, not split through the middle; that provides a
safe environment for us and our children to live, work, and play.

Scott Cleland

May 9th Election Results

2009-05-10T10:47:00.000-05:00

Vote, Vote, Vote!

2009-05-07T22:48:00.004-05:00

Saturday will be a gorgeous day to go out and exercise your greatest right and civic duty. Please set aside about 20 minutes of your time to make it over to the Police and Courts Building, on the corner of Cross Timbers and Kirkpatrick between the hours of 7am and 7pm. To vote for the candidate of your choice. As a group and as a moderator of this blog we have our choices. And so do you. In this election, your vote counts and could decide the outcome, so I cannot stress to you the importance of going to make that choice.

For those of you that don't know the process in our town, I will give you a brief explanation.

There are 3 seats up for election. Place 1, Place 3 and Place 5. You will vote for one candidate in each place, so you are voting for all 3 Places. Also on the ballot are 2 seats on the LISD school board.

So come on out on Saturday, May 9th and make a difference. See you there.

Response to RoundtheMound Post

2009-05-05T12:59:00.010-05:00

The following was a reply posted on roundthemound message board.

I would like to clear up some misunderstandings about the Stop Morriss 6.

1. Stop Morriss 6 is NOT against road construction or expansion of roads in Flower Mound.

2. Stop Morriss 6 does NOT want Morriss to go from 4 to 6 lanes from 407 to 2499.

3. Stop Morriss 6 is Not against funding fr0m Denton County and the 121 Toll revenue funds.

4. Stop Morriss 6 DID NOT ask our Town Council to refuse funds. We DID ask that they delay their decision on the acceptance of funds until after the Transportation Commission Public Hearing on May 26th.

5. Stop Morriss 6 is FOR the Town Council to make public and let the residents be apart of all aspects of design, funding, and have public input with the Morriss Road expansion. As we all should be when any road is being built, expanded, or improved.

6. Stop Morriss 6 is FOR road improvements (Morriss Road ideas- longer turn lanes at intersections & other viable options rather than tearing out the whole median down Morriss, waiting until proper studies are done when other construction affecting that road are done and so on.)

7. Stop Morriss 6 is FOR having traffic, safety, and funding studies done to improve roads when they are done accurately.

8 Stop Morriss 6 is FOR waiting until other road projects are done before starting a new one. (Examples FM2499, FM1171 and FM407). Having all road construction going on at the same time is not productive for any resident living in Flower Mound or next to Flower Mound.

9. Stop Morriss 6 is FOR having the Town Council obtain money for individual projects, not grouping many roads into one funding agreement so that the residents have to have all or none. (Another example would be Riverwalk. Everyone is for a hospital in our town, but to have the hospital, we were told we had to have 1200 apt/condos and retail development to go with it or we could not have the hospital. This same development is Smartgrowth exempt. Why is that?)

10. Stop Morriss 6 IS NOT just a "single issue" group, we are a group who has finally had enough with being told that it is all or nothing and there are no other choices or options.

11. Stop Morriss 6 IS a group who want to understand how the Council works and why they do the things they do the way they do them.

12. Stop Morriss 6 HAS written to their Council and asked them to educate them on these issues and have been told by the Council that they do not have the time to answer such in-depth questions. If they can’t answer them, then who will?

13. Stop Morriss 6 IS a group of residents who do care and do love the town they live in. These are good people who DO respect the Town Council and what it does for the town. They are also a group of people trying to help out their Council and do what is best for the town.

14. Stop Morriss 6 IS a group of people who are asking for their Council to listen to the residents and respect their ideas and TOGETHER do what is right for the town WE ALL CARE AND LOVE!

Renee
Resident who loves Flower Mound and the people who live here!!!!!

Press Release

2009-05-05T12:59:00.006-05:00

Fact vs. Fiction by Tom Hayden

At the Flower Mound Town Council Meeting, May 4th, 2009 my opponent's supporter, Patsy Mizeur's political action committee (PAC), maliciously misrepresented facts regarding an Investment Partnership in which I, Tom Hayden, was the General Partner. Mayor Smith prohibited me from speaking.

Ms. Mizeur and her PAC do not understand how these types of investments work. Because of my foresight and skill I took action prior to the stock market crash and over the life of the fund, investors averaged double digit returns. Clients were extremely pleased with my performance. My ability to identify economic cycles well in advance is why I have been successful for 20 years.

In 2006 Chaparral Capital Partners voluntarily closed and returned all capital to investors. The Investment Partnership was closed because I, the manager did not like the direction of the economy and believed the Equity Markets were becoming Frothy at the time. A copy of the returns is attached.

In addition:

- The State of Texas Securities Board performed routine audits of the Partnerships and found no deficiencies.
- All investors in the Partnership remain references.
- There were no Franchise Taxes due in 2007 because the business ceased to operate in 2006.

As a town councilman I would bring valuable financial skills to help Flower Mound thrive during troubled economic times. I would also treat residents honestly and with the respect owed them.

My attorney will be ready to take action following any additional misrepresentation, slander or libel. The political bullying of Flower Mound should end now.

Respectfully,

Tom Hayden
Flower Mound Town Council Candidate Place 5

Attached is the portfolio statement that Mr Hayden was referring to...click image for a clearer view of the document.

View Last Night's Town Council Meeting

2009-05-05T10:25:00.003-05:00

If you were unable to attend last night's Town Council meeting, you can see it on http://www.flower-mound.com/. Interesting viewing.

Election Night Party

2009-05-04T21:36:00.004-05:00

Saturday evening, May 9th, starting at 7pm, we are going to have a post election gathering at The Z Grill on 1171, next to Sprouts. Come and join us for what we hope will be a victory celebration. More details to follow, but mark it on your calendar. Vote, then party.

WAY TO GO

2009-05-04T20:40:00.005-05:00

I just want to personally thank everyone one of you that took the time to show up at tonight's Town Council Meeting. It had a major impact and I hope that you will respond in the same manner next time such an important issue will be on the agenda.

Before I call it a night I just want to remind everyone that the StopMorriss6 group is not opposed to the town's effort of securing "free" money for our Town (even though it is tax dollars anyway you want to look at it). All we were stating is that the Council has not been transparent in their process and could have done a much better job of keeping us informed. No one can expect individual residents to have the knowledge of how all these processes work.

I feel that asking the Council to delay this issue, by tableing it, until the new Council was elected was a reasonable request - You are talking 10 days. They would have still had time to decide on this prior the Spinks project deadline.

Town Manager Jefferson did put some light on the fact that the agreement can be re-negotiated so we must continue to ensure that our concerns are heard.

Bottom line. Multiple residents made requests of the Town Council to defer this decision until the new Council is in place. Tonight's Town Council voted to accept the funds tonight.

Good Night and Good Luck.

Kim & Holly Berg's Personal Endorsement.

2009-05-03T15:20:00.004-05:00

In light of the fact of the agenda for tomorrow's Town Council meeting, it is more important than ever that we get the right candidates elected. Not only for the Morriss/Gerault expansion, but ALL of the issues that are best for ALL of the citizens of Flower Mound.

Since the next week could be very heated here on the blog, we have suspended the ability to post comments as

anonymous

. If you have something to say about a candidate or a view that differs from mine and others here in the stopmorris6 group, I urge you to simply sign up with a google account. This doesn't mean you have to use your full name or disclose personal information, it just puts an identity to your thoughts. I am glad we chose to allow

anonymous

postings up to this point and we will resume that practice after the election is over.

Holly and I are endorsing Steve Lyda, Bob Butler, and Tom Hayden for Town Council for the reasons stated above. Please get out and vote monday for Lyda, Butler and Hayden.

SHAME ON YOU TOWN COUNCIL

2009-05-03T12:43:00.007-05:00

I am sitting here reading the agenda for Monday's Town Council meeting. Our Town Council will be voting on some "non-controversial" and "houskeeping" issues. One of the 14 issues is the Advance Funding Agreement with The State of Texas, acting by and through TxDot, for funding of several projects including the widening of Morris Road/Gerault.

"Non-controversial"????

Has our council NOT heard anything we've said the last few months? If this is a non-controversial issue then you should have no problem leaving this vote to the New Town Council. SHAME ON YOU!!!!!

Why did they send it back to the transportation commission for public hearing?

It is obvious that this Town Council has no regard for their residents and will do whatever is in their power to run their own agenda.

It is imperative that we all show up tomorrow night and protest this vote. I know it is short notice, but we cannot let the Town Council let this happen.

PLEASE SHOW UP TOMORROW AND RAISE YOUR CONCERN ABOUT THE TIMING OF THIS VOTE

For more information you can go to the town website at http://www.flower-mound.com/

Your Government - Agendas & Minutes

Look at the Agenda for Town Council Meeting 05/04/09 page page 2, item K, Consent Agenda - Consent Items. Item 5. If you look right below Consent Agenda it states in small print that this is non-controversial and houskeeping issues.

It also states that any council member can have this removed from the Consent Agenda by making such request prior to a motion and vote on the Consent Agenda .

I sincerely hope that a current Council Member (those that are to represent the residents) has heard from the resident that this is a controversial issue and will vote to have it removed from the agenda.

There is more detailed information in the Packets link for the same date (same location on the website). On page 46 of this 498 page document is where it give more detailed information about the funding

It states that the Town can request funds for any cost overruns, but there is no guarantee that it will be granted. In such a case the Town itself will be responsible for the additional cost.

Page 52 Article 11 of this document mention that the Town must comply with all environmental review and public involvement requirements applicable to the Local Government under state and federal law in connection with the Projects.

What is the point of having public involvement after the Council already approved the agreement?

Page 54 Amendments

By mutual written consent of the Parties, this contract may be amended prior to its expiration. I guess this can be used as the last way out.

Early Voting

2009-05-02T15:47:00.002-05:00

Earlier today I went up to the Police and Courts building to vote. It was so easy. That was a good thing and a bad thing. It was quick and was in and out in 10 minutes. The bad news was the numbers are behind last election as far as early voting. I can't urge you enough to get out to vote. It is the only way to insure we have a council in place that is concerned about the future of our town. If you were at the Candidates Forum on Thursday, you should have a pretty clear cut idea of who would be best for us. If you don't yet, we will have video posted here soon so you can see for yourself what the candidates had to say.

We will be coming out with personal endorsements soon.

You still have an hour to go today, the polls close at 5pm, the rain has ended, so run on up and cast your vote now. If not today, early voting continues on Monday and Tuesday.

Please get out and VOTE.

March and Meet

2009-05-01T18:50:00.004-05:00

After spending much of today trying to unwind after the last few weeks of planning this event, I would first like to say it was an overwhelming success. The sight of over 100 people walking down Morriss was something I don't think this town has seen before. I want to thank everyone that participated and hope they had as much fun doing it as I did.

I would also like to thank Bjorn, Young Scott, Tall Scott, Holly, Carmen, Renee, Diane, and Doris for making this all come together. After all our planning it made it all look simple and it all came off without a single glitch. It was unfortunate that the Swine Flu hysteria hit at the time it did. I feel that was the only glitch that caused us not to hit the heights of participation we had hoped for. Regardless, Rain or Swine, it was still fabulous and I think I can speak for all, it was spectacular. Thanks to Jim Tullos for emceeing the event and to Christy at Little Petes for the use of the PA system.

A very special thanks to the Candidates, all 8 of them for coming out for the largest crowd they have faced in the campaign season, as I predicted.

Thank you to the press that came to cover the event, all the local news outlets were there tip to tail, taking pictures and following us for the mile long stroll. CNN didn't know what they missed.

I would also like to thank current Town Council members, Jeff Tasker and Jean Levenick for coming out for the lovely evening in the park. And a shout out to Mayor Jody Smith for the drive-by, sorry you couldn't stay, but was nice to see you. Sorry I was standing in the middle of Garden Rd stopping traffic when you were coming by.

Thanks to Michael Ryan for helping us set up at the park and all the other town staff I dealt with to make sure we were doing everything right.

Thanks to the Parks department for making sure we had power and helping us get set up. We have incredible parks in our town and everyone should utilize them as often as they can.

Everyone for bringing their kids and pets and making an evening of it. It really was a great night.

Thanks again,
Kim

p.s. please post here your experiences and what you thought.

Forum at Wilkerson Field

2009-05-01T15:03:00.008-05:00

We would like to thank everyone that took the time to join us at

Wilkerson Field last night

The evening started with 100+ residents together with the candidates marching from the corner of Morriss Road and 1171 southbound towards Wilkerson's Field.

Arriving at the field was all eight candidates running for council place 1, 3 and 5.

After a short brief with the candidates, moderator Jim Tullos of Flower Mound got the Forum started.

Each candidate got 4 questions with a specific timeframe to answer each question. At the end each candidate was alloted 2 minutes for a closing statement.

Here are the four questions that was asked:

1. Do you support future amendments to SmartGrowth for future commercial developments?
and Do you support exceptions to SmartGrowth without amendments?

2. As a Town Council member, will you vote to stop the Morriss/Gerault expansion project? And why?

3. Under what circumstances would you support the expansion or improvement of the Morriss/Gerault road ways?

4. If you had complete control to set Town policy regarding urban drilling, what kind of policy would you advocate? Would you fight proposed legislation before the Texas House of Representatives? If so How?

The evening ended with the moderator thanking everyone for attending and reminded us all to vote in the upcoming election.

StopMorriss6 would like to thank each of the candidates for attending and for their answers. For those of you that could not attend we will have the transcript or video available shortly.

We also like to thank Little Pete's for providing us with a PA system for this event.

Looking Good for Tonight

2009-04-30T07:28:00.003-05:00

Thursday, April 30th weather.com hour-by-hour forecast

5 pm
81° F
Precip:10%
6 pm
81° F
Precip:10%
7 pm
80° F
Precip:10%
8 pm
78° F
Precip:10%
9 pm
77° F
Precip:0%

Cam-Pain

2009-04-29T16:56:00.005-05:00

This blog has invited all the candidates to a place to state their views and have offered equal time to all. We have invited the Candidates to attend an open forum to discuss their views, not sponsored by anyone, not presented by a local newspaper, or a big HOA or a well organized seniors organization or the Republican Party.

It is being offered to the community by some ordinary people, whos only financial stake in the outcome is the continuing value of their homes and the preservation of the community that they are proud to call their home.

I will say now that it will probably have the highest turnout of any of the organized events so far this political season.

This blog has as much traffic on it as many local businesses in this town with over 500 hits a day and that number increases each day.

Their are 8 very qualified individuals running for the office of Town Council in our town. Each one of them spending a lot of time out talking to citizens, spending time away from their families to serve the best interests of the community. My hat is off to each of them for their diligence and commitment.

If a candidate would like to publicize their web-site on this blog, please feel free to ask and I will oblige.

It is not fair to all the candidates for some local businesses and land owners to only offer exclusive display rights to some of the people running for office, even though it's their right to do so. This final 10 days of campaigning should allow all candidates equal displays throughout the community.

For those that find all these signs to be another form of pollution, be thankful it's just for another 10 days.

These are my own personal views and do not reflect the views of others associated with the stopmorriss6 group.

Thank you,
Kim A. Berg

Perfect Day For A March

2009-04-28T21:03:00.004-05:00

Just checked weather.com and Thursday's forecast looks great for the "Meet the Candidates" forum. I love Texas weather.

Apr 30 Thursday
Partly cloudy. Highs in the low 80s and lows in the upper 60s.

Public URL for the Evite

2009-04-27T16:45:00.004-05:00

Now you can pass this on to all your friends and neighbors.

Let me know if it doesn't work.

http://www.evite.com/app/publicUrl/GONDCXCSOAIALCXAKGMI/sm6meetandmarch

Petition Web Site

2009-04-27T16:15:00.002-05:00

There is some interesting reading at our electronic petition web site. Check it out.

http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/stopmorriss6

Tom Hayden's Position on the Proposed Morriss Road Expansion

2009-04-27T10:47:00.002-05:00

Hello, my name is Tom Hayden and I am a candidate for Flower Mound Town Council, Place 5. I have had the opportunity to meet many of you as I visited your home to ask for your support. If we haven’t met I would encourage you to contact me at 214-384-1105 (cell) or (972) 899-0655 (home).

It seems that all candidates running for Town Council this year have said they support Flower Mound’s Smart Growth initiatives. There are three items on Smart Growth that I believe directly apply to Morris Road.

· Ensure growth is served with adequate public infrastructure, services and facilities

· Ensure growth contributes to the attainment of the community, character and quality of life objectives established in the Town’s Master Plan

· Ensure growth does not occur at the expense of environmental quality, community character or quality of life.

I am of the opinion and I believe the majority of residents along Morriss Road have said that if Morriss is expanded to six lanes it will totally alter the Community Character for the residents in that area. How do you balance adequate public infrastructure with the preservation of a community’s character?

The widening of Morriss Road is directly tied to the “projection” of additional traffic from the Riverwalk. I believe it is absolutely wrong to alter the safety and character of Morriss Road. Not only is this bad for Morriss Road, but it would conflict with our Smart Growth initiatives based upon projections. Citizen’s first, my pledge on all my signs, means that I will not support a project that literally thousands (and that is a low estimate) of our residents have said they strongly oppose.

If elected to council I have said from the beginning that I will put the citizens of our town first and that means being your representative, your voice. I will fight to preserve the character of your community. I will not support the widening of Morriss Road. If in the distant future “Projections” turn into need, and you the residents say “Tom we need to widened Morriss Road” then the issue can be revisited.

Lastly I urge you to vote. Many of you have said you oppose the widening of the road. Signs opposing the expansion, public opposition, and rallies all have increased public awareness of the problem. However, the only truly effective method to stop the six lane expansion of Morriss Road is to vote in a mass block against those supporting the expansion and to support those on a new council who favor your position. There is no clearer and lasting message to the political body than a mass voter turnout. The expansion party is counting on you to not deliver a massive vote based on your convictions. You can NOT count on your neighbor to vote for you. Every vote is crucial – a bare majority is not sufficient - your opposition must be overwhelming.

Thank You,
Tom Hayden
Candidate for Flower Mound Town Council, Place 5

Evites, Flyers and Phone calls, oh my!

2009-04-25T19:05:00.002-05:00

Many of you have already recieved a really cool evite for the March on Morris and the Meet the Candidates events this thurday. You may evite any friends you might know from the evite request if they already haven't recieved their own. Please feel free to evite anyone and everyone you can think of.

Also early this coming week, you might also be recieving a flyer and also phone calls from you neighbors informing you of this event.

I know its a bit of overkill and I apologize if you receive many of these request, but it is so important that we have a HUGE crowd for this event. Like the firehouse times two please would be really cool.

Help us get the word out.

Help!

2009-04-23T22:26:00.003-05:00

As many of you know, our group is grass roots effort with no budget. We are looking for anyone that might have access to a PA system that we can use at the park rally. If anyone has one to lend or knows anyone that might be able to help us, email to stopmorriss6@googlemail.com . Thanks
Kim

Keep the Faith

2009-04-23T16:01:00.003-05:00

If you were in attendance at the Transportation Commission workshop on Tuesday or at any of the recent Town Council meetings, you heard town staff talking as if the checks are signed and the bulldozers are in position.

In spite of what the town staff members said and any of the FAQ's issued by the city, this is FAR from a done deal. We ARE making a huge difference. We have to stay energized and involve as many people as we possibly can.

Most importantly, everyone has to vote. Two hundred votes can decide this election and our impact in the results could be closer to 1000, if we all get to the polls. I urge each of you to wait until after our forum if you are not sure of who to vote for. Come see what each of the candidates have to say, then, in mass, we can head to the Police and Courts building on Friday, May 1st early voting)to show our power.

This blog is receiving close to 300 hits a day, from not only here in Flower Mound, but from Austin, Washington DC, New York City, Boulder, Houston and even Finland. Please comment and join in.

I'd also like to thank every one that has taken time away from their families to attend the town meetings. Getting up to speak, it's not an easy thing to do but the impact is immeasurable.

So, when you hear a neighbor say "what's the point, it's already a done deal", tell them adamantaly that they are mistaken!

Bridlewood Candidates Forum

2009-04-23T15:45:00.002-05:00

Id like to thank the residents of Bridlewood for allowing me to pass out our flyer concerning the Stop Morriss 6 "Meet the Candidates" forum and March on Morris information. We invite all residents of Flower Mound to join us and everyone is welcome to attend our forum. Besides, this is more than just an issue that effects the citizens in the Morriss/Gerault corridor, but ALL residents of our town.

Transportation Commission Meeting Update

2009-04-22T13:05:00.009-05:00

Last night approximately 40 concerned citizens attended the Transportation Commission’s Morriss/Gerault Road Improvement Project Workshop. Of those attending, 22 citizens addressed the commission with their questions and concerns during the citizens/visitors comments section.
Assistant Town Manager Kent Collins then presented his report followed by presentations by engineers Brian Shamburger of Kimley-Horn & Assoc. and Dharmesh Shah from Lee Engineering. Following are the Transportation Commission Board Members names along with some of the questions they posed to the Assistant Town Manager for followup at the public hearing.

Board Members
Paul Stone – Chair/Place 1
Stephen Lyda – Vice Chair/Place 2
Ted Beaman– Place 3
Doug Rice – Place 4
David Henderson – Place 5
Jim Robertson – Place 6
Thomas Walker– Place 7

Q1. Ted Beaman: Is the 121Toll money all or nothing?
A1: Kent Collins: Contractually, the project must be COMPLETED in 10 years. Before answering, Mr Collins asked if Mr Beaman meant "scope change" (ie, don't widen all of Morriss) and Mr Beaman restated his question without including the question of "scope change".
Q2: Steve Lyda: What is the expected amount of developer fees?
A2: Kent Collins: Total roadway impact fees for the entire Riverwalk project are expected to be $5M. But the Town only receives that money as the permits are pulled (ie pay-as-you-go). Mr Collins stated that the exact number is unknown and could be considerably less if the development build out is reduced or delayed.
Q3: Paul Stone: Want to hear more about noise mitigation options.
Q4: Paul Stone: Want to hear about options for public input after the public hearing (ie in design phase). Perhaps staff-level meetings with HOA's.
Q5: Paul Stone: Want to hear more about "traffic calming" techniques that could be used.
Q6: David Henderson: Want to see comparison of air quality from flowing traffic vs gridlock traffic.
Q7: David Henderson: What happens when traffic reaches FM 407? Where does it go?
Q8: Thomas Walker: Want to see options to enhance safety on the roadsides, especially in the areas where there is very little offset or right-of-way.
Q9: Ted Beaman: Want to hear about landscaping options for the road sides (not the median).
Q10: Ted Beaman: What is feasable as far as phasing is concerned? The intersection of FM1171 and Morriss is a high priority and we would like to do it first along with the Gerault Road portion (flyover?). But if we don't do the whole roadway at once, how does the bottleneck effect play out?
Q11: Ted Beaman: Want to know the feasibility of reducing the speed limit from 40 to 35 in the center section of Morriss.
Q12: Steve Lyda: Want to see more detailed cross-section views that DO INCLUDE sidewalk configurations, especially between FM 1171 and FM 3040.
Q13: Steve Lyda: Want to see all of the trail access points and understand options for creating additional access points to get more children and pedestrians off the roadway and onto the trail system.
Q14: David Robertson: Can we address the condition of the existing roadway lanes in conjunction or coordination with this project?
A14: Kent Collins: There is a 1/4 cent sales tax funding mechanism for road maintenance. Morriss Road reconstruction is on the list of road reconstructions to be funded by this, but it is at the top of the second set of projects, about 4 years away.
Q15: Paul Stone: Can we do add/alternate options to improve the existing roadway lanes?
Q16: Jody Smith: Want to see previously presented data on the noise mitigation effects of greenery vs sound walls (that show greenery is more effective).

The official Town minutes from the meeting will be posted to the Town website, but that process sometimes takes up to 4 weeks (for various reasons). So while it is fresh on everyone's minds, we are posting some of the questions asked during the Transportation Commission's 4/21 Workshop. These questions have been paraphrased, so we apologize if we have mis-understood or mis-stated the questions. As is customary in the workshop format, many questions are asked of Town Staff and others with the expectation that they will do the necessary research to provide answers at the next hearing. Some questions are responded to immediately.

It seems we still haven't got the point out to them that no project is our preferred option. As we see from questions posed by the commission, they have heard part of our message and safety, aesthetics, and noise played a big part of these questions.

We still have a lot of work to do and this is far from a done deal.

The dates of the public hearings are yet to be announced, but we expect it to be in mid May. We will be prepared.

TONIGHT Transportation Commission to Hold Morriss/Gerault Road Improvement Project Public Meeting

2009-04-21T15:25:00.004-05:00

Responding to community sentiment requesting a public forum regarding planned Morriss/Gerault Road improvements, the Flower Mound Town Council directed the Town’s Transportation Commission to host a workshop and public hearing on the project.

The Transportation Commission’s Morriss/Gerault Road Improvement Project workshop is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, April 21 at Town Hall, 2121 Cross Timbers. The agenda will include staff and engineering presentations. An opportunity for visitors to offer comments will be provided prior to the presentations. Speaker comments are typically limited to three minutes during a workshop. Time limits can be adjusted by the commission chair as to accommodate more or fewer speakers.

Issues that could be considered and discussed during the meetings include project phasing, landscaping, and public safety. A date for the public hearing will also be determined during the workshop. The Transportation Commission is charged with formulating and presenting a recommendation to the Town Council once the community meetings have been hosted.

Your Comments Are Being Seen!

2009-04-20T21:43:00.003-05:00

Since I installed the Stat counter on Saturday afternoon, we have received over 500 hits on our blog from all over the state and from other parts of the world, even Spain and Jamaica! Thanks for all your support. Adios Espana.

Meet the Candidates Forum/March on Morriss

2009-04-20T21:31:00.003-05:00

Please mark you calendar now for Thursday, April 30th. We will hold our Meet the Candidates Forum as we have mentioned before at Wilkerson Field in StoneCreek Park.
The forum will take place from 7pm-9pm and all candidates are scheduled to attend.

Before the Forum, we would like EVERYONE YOU KNOW to meet at the corner of Morriss Rd and 1171, in the lot next to the WaMu bank starting at 6pm. We will then walk orderly down the sidewalks on both sides of Morriss the approx one mile to the park. Press releases and Media have been invited to attend and our goal is to have 500 people "March on Morriss" to show our support for our lovely, tree-lined boulevard. Let's make this a huge success and have the TV news and media report of our communities displeasure on this road project. We had 250 people at the firehouse - I KNOW we can double that for this EVENT. More details will follow, but we are very excited about this and know that you will be too.

Bob Butler, Candidate, Town Council Place 3

2009-04-18T17:58:00.003-05:00

My name is Bob Butler and I’m running for Town Council Place 3 on May 9th.

For everyone that has been reading this blog, been to any of the Candidate Forums, or checked out my website, you already know that I am against the widening of Morriss Rd. In fact, Rick Cleland (running for place 5) and I are the only two candidates that have stated publically that we are against this project. My main opponent Mike Wallace is in favor of the widening and said this at the Denton County Republican Men’s Forum on April 2nd:

Wallace: “I support widening of Morriss, and the reason is because we have a traffic problem. We have too much demand for the supply of the capacity to meet the demand. And, I’ll tell you where it’s coming from. It’s coming from the DFW Connector, one of the largest projects in TxDOT’s history. We also have the extension of 2499 up through I-35E. We also have the River Walk at Central Park, which will have a 100-bed hospital, 1,200 residential units, retail, office, hotel and hopefully a Market Street. And finally, we have additional growth and development in surrounding communities.”

Here’s what I said:

Butler: “I’m against it. I drive it every single day, and I’ve never been in a traffic jam on Morriss Road before. Building the River Walk is a five-six-year project, and when 2499 gets done, a lot of people from Highland Village will stop coming through Morriss Road. Once construction on 407 and 2499 is done, let’s see how it is then. I’ve heard estimates of in five or 10 years there will be 25,000 cars on Morriss Road. Where’s that coming from?”

To read all of the candidates positions, please go here http://www.planostar.com/articles/2009/04/05/flower_mound_leader/news/73fm.txt

One other issue to keep in mind on May 9th is the explosive growth that Flower Mound has been going through. If you think there’s too much construction going on right now as I do, you haven’t seen anything yet. My opponent Mike Wallace currently serves as the Vice-Chair on the Planning & Zoning Commission for Flower Mound. These are the people (along with the Town Council and Mayor) that approve all of the new developments that you have been noticing. So while Mike is a nice guy, he is extremely pro growth and is one of the reasons that east Flower Mound is turning into a giant sea of concrete. I understand that the Master Plan allows for development in these areas, but our current P&Z Commission as well as the current Town Council, are allowing it to happen too fast. I feel that with the current economical times, we need to slow down a little bit to parallel our sagging business climate. Once the economy comes back, we can take another look at things and make certain that when we allow new development, it’s right for the people of Flower Mound.

I’ve had some people tell me that I’m not for the free market or competition and I answer them by saying this: I am for the free market system and I do believe that competition is a good and necessary thing, I simply believe that a more slowed a controlled growth is a better plan for the people and businesses of Flower Mound.

To see all of my positions, please visit my website: www.bobforflomo.com

Thank you and please cast your vote for me on May 9, 2009.

Sincerely,

Bob Butler

Candidate – Place 3

Bye-Bye Old Friends

2009-04-18T17:17:00.002-05:00

These beautiful trees are currently in the median just south of Firewheel. It would be very sad to see them go.

Blog Changes

2009-04-17T14:56:00.005-05:00

I have made it possible for anyone to post without registering, even anonymous posts. I would prefer if you would at least add your name. Of course, I reserve the right to edit out posts that are inappropriate, but since we are about communication, free speech is accepted..good or bad.

Also, I have invited a few of our other group members to be able to make new posts.

I really encourage comments, please let me know you are out there reading this. Also, even though you don't have to, please register as a member and tell your friends.

Neighbors Go

2009-04-17T12:21:00.005-05:00

The following article appears in Friday's Dallas Morning News Neighbors Go edition.
Our thanks to reporter Lindsey Bever.

Because of community concern about the expansion of Morriss/Gerault Road, the Flower Mound Transportation Commission is conducting a workshop on the project April 21.

The four-lane road is expected to be expanded to six lanes between farm roads 407 and 2499 starting in winter 2010 to accommodate the increased traffic flow from the River Walk at Central Park, a future commercial and residential development, said Michael Ryan, director of community affairs.

“Our goal is to proactively address traffic issues before they affect quality of life rather than reactively expand the road once the traffic is already here,” Ryan said.

Ryan said the projected increase in traffic by 2020 is about 37 percent during the day and about 50 percent at night.

“This road was designed to where we don’t have to expand the road,” Ryan said, adding that its median was built so that the road wouldn’t have to widen.

But residents such as Kim Berg, who created a blog (stopmorriss6.blogspot.com) to inform the community on the project, oppose the expansion, asking for additional traffic studies.

“We just don’t think the information is accurate,” Berg said. “We appreciate the city being proactive but only if they have the right data and citizen participation in the entire project.”

Berg said the town’s transportation commission is asking for resident input in the project but Berg is asking for the commission to include the option of no expansion.

“We are 100 percent totally against the expansion and we want it stopped,” Berg said. “It’s going to turn our city into a whole new beast. It’s going to increase traffic, noise and safety concerns.”

Ryan said a preliminary evaluation of safety concerns for ForestwoodMiddle School and MarcusHigh School, which are along Morriss Road, are not an issue.

“We have committed to ensuring the school district stays up to date and involved with this project,” Ryan said.

Lewisville ISD spokeswoman Karen Permetti said the Lewisville ISD board of trustees has no position on the issue because it’s a city project.

The 12- to18-month project is expected to cost between $11 million and $15 million. But taxpayers are not funding the project.

Ryan said the expansion of Morriss/Gerault Road is being funded through the revenue from the Sam Rayburn Tollway (formerly the 121 Tollway), Denton County Roadway Bond revenue and Five Star Development, the developer of the River Walk at Central Park.

Transportation Commission meeting

When: 6:30 p.m. April 21

Where: Town Hall, 2121 Cross Timbers

Details: The Transportation Commission will talk about the Morriss/Gerault Road project and give the community a chance to comment. A date for the public hearing will be set during the workshop.

Meet the Candidates

When: 7 p.m. April 30

Where: StoneCreekPark on Wilkerson Field, 2800 Garden Road

Details: Candidates for town council will share their views on the expansion of Morriss/Gerault Road as well as other issues such as taxes and oil and gas.

Hi There

2009-04-16T17:29:00.002-05:00

I hate scare tactics. We are not going away.

Not even a nice try.

Have a nice day.

Meet the Candidates Forum

2009-04-13T17:37:00.003-05:00

The Stop Morriss 6, Meet the Candidates forum will be held on Thursday, April 30th from 7pm - 9pm at Wilkerson Field. Located on Garden Rd, in Stone Creek Park, behind Forestwood Middle School. Bring your picnic blankets, Folding chairs, and make an evening of it. More fun details will follow.

We realize this is after the start of early voting, so if you need to hold off voting till after this event to make the best decisions for this important Town Council election.

Most important of all is, REGISTER TO VOTE NOW! Last town council election had a grand total of 3500 votes cast, that is pathetic! We can make the difference in this election and make a positive change to how things are done in Flower Mound. The time is now to make your voice heard and really make your vote count.

Letters to the Editor

2009-04-12T13:03:00.002-05:00

Id like to thank Peggie Kimberlin. Richard and Veronica Needham, Joe McMahon and Nisha and Michael Villegas for taking the time to write and be published in the Flower Mound Leader letters to the editor section. There were several items in this Saturdays edition that pertained to The Morris/Geroux project. As with many peoples predictions and prognostications, saying this is not an election issue. They are wrong as they are with traffic projections. Stop Morris 6 is and will be an election issue.

Steve Dixon, candidate, Place 1, FM Town Council

2009-04-10T21:49:00.001-05:00

I drive on Morriss Road and Gerault Road regularly, and I rarely see anything I would consider a traffic jam or even a backup. So I understand when people question the need for making it a six-lane road now. I also agree that the safety of our children is an absolute must. When the Morriss / Gerault project does come before Town Council, I want to see verifiable data on our current traffic flow and have the traffic experts clearly explain the assumptions and modeling projections that show the need for the project. I also welcome citizen input, many times some of the best questions and ideas come from citizens who get involved in a particular issue. I am always interested to hear what our citizen’s offer as suggestions and solutions to improve our projects, and I look forward to the opportunity of getting my questions answered and listening to Flower Mound citizens regarding this project.

With that said, if I am on Town Council when the project is discussed I will consider all options and input. We have time to wait to start the project, we can consider doing the work in phases, we can start with the major intersections, we can wait until the River Walk project along Morriss starts, we can consider only do certain parts – and these are just a few of the options. Flower Mound citizens can be assured that I will carefully consider all options on each and every case that comes before me on Flower Mound Town Council.

Respectfully,

Steve Dixon

Candidates Statements

2009-04-10T21:35:00.004-05:00

As you can see in the comments section of the Transportation Committee post I made earlier today, Steve Dixon, candidate for Place 1, Town Council of Flower Mound. We invite each candidate to make similar posts and I will create a separate topic thread with their statements. We will be having our Meet the Candidates forum on April 30th at Wilkerson Field,located in Stone Creek Park, behind Forestwood Middle School. I hope all the candidates will attend to share their views, not only on the Morriss Rd issue, but other issues that impact us, the citizens and proud residents of the Town of Flower Mound.

Transportation Commission Workshop

2009-04-10T09:20:00.001-05:00

Here is our next chance to make our voices heard.

Transportation Commission to Hold Morriss/Gerault Road Improvement Project Public Meetings

Responding to community sentiment requesting a public forum regarding planned Morriss/Gerault Road improvements, the Flower Mound Town Council directed the Town’s Transportation Commission to host a workshop and public hearing on the project.

The Transportation Commission’s Morriss/Gerault Road Improvement Project workshop is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, April 21 at Town Hall, 2121 Cross Timbers. The agenda will include staff and engineering presentations. An opportunity for visitors to offer comments will be provided prior to the presentations. Speaker comments are typically limited to three minutes during a workshop. Time limits can be adjusted by the commission chair as to accommodate more or fewer speakers.

Issues that could be considered and discussed during the meetings include project phasing, landscaping, and public safety. A date for the public hearing will also be determined during the workshop. The Transportation Commission is charged with formulating and presenting a recommendation to the Town Council once the community meetings have been hosted.

The Town Council is currently scheduled to review the entire Five-Year Capital Improvement Projects program, including the Morriss/Gerault corridor, in conjunction with the annual budget public hearings in August.

Posted April 9, 2009

Mark your calendars

2009-04-09T22:10:00.002-05:00

Set aside Thursday, April 30th for our "Meet the Candidates" meeting.

More details to follow, and I promise its going to be big!

Open letter to councilman Tasker

2009-04-09T22:05:00.002-05:00

This letter written to the editors of ACN papers.

An open letter to Councilmember Jeff Tasker:

Sir,

You proudly stated at Monday's council meeting that in the last 14 months the Morriss Road expansion project was on the agenda 31 times. That's nice but let's set the organization first.

You are an elected employee of the Town of Flower Mound. The citizens who attended, and those who did not attend, are taxpayers. In a corporate environment, that makes them your employers or managers.

Managers do not have to attend every meeting nor deal with every detail. That's what the employee is charged with doing. So Morriss Road was on 31 agendas. Where are all the minutes of these meetings? In corporate terms, where are your status reports? I receive mailed paper town newsletters, email town newsletters and subscribe to the bi-weekly Flower Mound Star and the Flower Mound Messenger. Nary a word until recently once the StopMorriss6 effort commenced and made an issue of the matter.

Until Kim and Holly Berg brought the expansion to my attention, I had no knowledge of it at all. It has been the best kept secret in this community. Kindly show me and all the other surprised citizens of Flower Mound the post-meeting reports of this project and we'll all owe you a public apology. Until then I am highly suspicious probably my nature from having grown up in NYC where "don't ask, don't tell" is a way of life that something funny was going on all this time... of course I have no proof to show but not having anything to show seems to be ubiquitous on this matter

Lawrence Jermyn

Success!

2009-04-06T22:16:00.002-05:00

First, I would like to thank everyone that came out to support our cause and take a lot of time out of your busy schedules to make tonight a huge success. Over 130 people were in attendance, counting the boy scouts and other locals involved in the business of the evening. Twenty nine people signed up to speak and most used their allotted time, if not more, in very passionate and sometimes emotional speeches. We made a tremendous impact and received raves from reporters and City officials for our professionalism and keeping on point as far as our message.

I would also like to thank Mayor Smith, the 5 council members and all the city staff in attendance for making us feel comfortable and listening to us patiently.

The result of the meeting was the Council and the Mayor sent the Morriss Rd project to the Transportation Committee for study and public hearings starting as soon as May, instead of not being heard by Council again until August. Workshops will begin soon with us involved very soon and we will be involved directly with the Committee from this point on.

Thanks again, and be assured our goal is still to StopMorriss6!

The Agenda

2009-04-03T13:09:00.002-05:00

The Agenda is out for mondays town council meeting. You can review it on the towns web site.

The portion of the meeting that is of most interest to us, is the part G Public Particpation.

We welcome everyone to come and address the council. In order to do so, you must fill out an "Appearance Before Town Council" form and turn it into the Town secretary no later than 6:10pm. We are asking to arrive by 5:30pm if you plan to speak. If you like, we will have a few "bullet point" items outlined if you would like to address one of those, or your own comments will be most welcome. We are limited to no more that 3 minutes per speaker, but would like to limit our comments to no more than 90 seconds in order to accomodate all those wishing to speak.

So, show up early and bring all your neighbors, THIS IS OUR CHANCE TO MAKE AN IMPACT.

On another note, I recieved a call today from a Reporter for the Dallas Morning News asking about our cause and will print a Reporters item regarding our participation at the Town Council meeting probably on saturday. She will try to attend the meeting also and is interested in our feedback after the meeting and future media involvement in our "Meet the Candidates" meeting later this month.
I hope they spell my name right.

Traffic Counters?

2009-04-01T16:02:00.001-05:00

Whats with the traffic counters at several locations along Morriss?

Another attempt to get faulty data?

Flyers

2009-03-31T16:55:00.002-05:00

We have the new Flyers made and have emailed to several of our neighborhood volunteers to distribute them this week. However, there are a few uncovered Neighborhoods that we need to try and get someone for Flyers and Petitions.

If you live or know someone that lives in one of these areas, please call me at 972-355-0677 so we can get you set up

Bakers Branch
Candlebrook Estates
Cedar Bluff
Countryside Estates
Meadows at Cross Timbers
Timberview Estates
Waterford Park Estates

If we can't find someone to help in these areas, We plan on hitting them on friday and could use some help to make sure everone is informed. Call me if you are available for a few hours on Friday to distribute.
Thanks,
Kim

New informational flyer

2009-03-30T20:22:00.001-05:00

Copy from here if you like also...or we can email you the file

TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE!

The Town of Flower Mound has received an allotment of $11MM to widen Morriss Road from 4 to 6 lanes – from FM407 to FM2499. Many citizens of Flower Mound question the need for this specific expansion at this time. When asked, the Town continues to respond that it has been part of the Master Plan since 1981, giving no current data that warrants this expansion. The Master Plan has been amended numerous times over the years. Their reason for expansion is not valid.

Concerns:

The town has not been able to produce data that supports need for expansion at this time.
The current construction underway on 2499 and 1171 is not complete, therefore there is no way to truly evaluate need for expansion.
Riverwalk development is not complete. It is unknown how much traffic that will generate.
There have been no Public Hearings relative to the Morriss Road expansion plan

Development planning begins Q2 2009 and construction begins mid 2010.

The Flower Mound Town Council will only listen if we have enough people voicing their concern.

We want:

To delay expansion until valid traffic data can be gathered
Public Hearings relative to expansion plans
FULL TRANSPARENCY---not something buried in a Bond election

What can you do?

Attend the next Flower Mound Town Council meeting (Town Hall, 2121 Cross Timbers) to show your support and you can also voice your concerns during the “open mike” segment. There is power in numbers !!! 5:45 pm Monday April 6th

Voice your concerns to the Mayor and Council Members: (note - Places 1,3,5 are not running for re-election)

Place 2: Al Filifdoro Place 4: Jean M Levenick Mayor Jodi Smith

972 539 2145 817 430 2252 817 480 3211

place2@flower-mound.com place4@flower-mound.com mayor@flower-mound.com

Send letters to the Editors:

The Flower Mound Messenger: Charles Young cdyoung@alliancenews.net

Flower Mound Leader: Brian Porter bporter@acnpapers.com

The News Connection: Shane Allen sallen@thenewsconnection.com

Cross Timbers Gazette: Max Miller info@lantanalinks.com

Upcoming Election May 9th for Council Place 1, 3 & 5 --- choose your candidates wisely! Watch our Blog site for upcoming “Meet the Candidates” meeting date.

Visit/Join our blog and Facebook sites for ongoing updates:

www.stopmorriss6.blogspot.com

Facebook group: stopmorriss6

News Connection Article

2009-03-30T18:41:00.005-05:00

http://www.thenewsconnection.com/article.cfm?articleID=32448

Good article and not a bad pic either.

More Comments from a current Town Councilperson

2009-03-25T17:00:00.000-05:00

Thank you for your email and for sharing your concerns regarding the proposed expansion of Morriss and Gerault Road(s). Please be assured that I welcome your comments and will consider all issues and viewpoints surrounding this project. It is also my understanding that you have been provided with a Fact Sheet and Frequently Asked Questions regarding the Morriss/Gerault expansion that may address some of the concerns you have.

As a Councilmember and representative of the entire community, I am charged with ensuring the health, safety and welfare for all who choose to call Flower Mound home. As you can imagine, this is sometimes a difficult task – balancing the needs and desires of specific areas with the overall vision and goals for the Town. Please understand that I do not take this responsibility lightly, and considerable deliberation is given to every decision that is made regarding the future of Flower Mound.

As you may be aware, the expansion of Morriss/Gerault has been planned for many years to serve as a north-south corridor connecting to DFW Airport and the proposed DFW Connector. While the need for the expansion has been well-studied and documented, it is my hope that we can address the majority of the concerns raised by the adjacent neighborhoods prior to moving forward. Before voting to proceed with the project, several issues must be evaluated to my satisfaction. These issues include, but are not limited to, safety, phasing, landscaping, access to Morriss Road and visibility clips. As the Town Council will consider and vote on this project in two stages, I encourage you to remain involved in the public process. Information regarding the project, and future meetings, can be found on the Town’s website at www.flower-mound.com.

Again, thank you for your email and for taking the time to share your concerns. Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions or require additional information. If you choose to share this email with others, I ask that you share it in it's entirety.

Jean M. Levenick
Town of Flower Mound
Councilmember, Place 4

Town Council meeting

2009-03-25T16:34:00.002-05:00

We are less than 2 weeks from the council meet that I hope will have as large an attendance as our meeting at the fire house. This town council has taken it upon themselves to resolve this issue and not pass it on to the next term.

WE NEED AS MANY PEOPLE AS WE CAN FIT attend this meeting. We need to stress to the current council that more time is required before such a monumental mistake is made into a fact.

Please tell your friends and neighbors to plan on attending and if you so wish speak your mind and let them hear our voices.

Please continue to circulate the petitions and OUR information sheets to your communities. We have recieved press from all of the area papers and in time, Im sure surrounding communities will be hearing of how WE made a difference in our city government.

Let us know what the response has been when you have neighborhood gatherings and when you have gone door to door informing everyone. We want to hear.

We plan on having another large meeting towards the end of April where we won't have time restraints and capacity problems where we can all speak and hear from future town council candidates to see where they stand and give support to those that support us. More info on that will follow soon.

Do we want this?

2009-03-20T09:11:00.005-05:00

These are pictures of Custer Rd in Plano and Hebron Parkway in Carrollton. Uggg.

This is a pic of Paseo Blvd in Kansas City. This is what a town is all about.

These are the superimposed pictures of what present strips of Morriss would look like at 6 lanes. DO NOT WANT!

Town Council Meeting

2009-03-17T16:08:00.002-05:00

Michael Ryan has asked for assistance in determining a headcount for the attendance of the Town Council Meeting on April 6th. This way he can set up the hall and possibly arrange for the overflow room with closed circuit TV. We do not want to have anyone left out this time.

Instead of emailing RSVPs, we can do it right here on the blog.

On the bottom of this post you will see 3 boxes next to the word reactions. If you plan on attending, place a check in the box labeled COOL.

Our presence is the key to our success. I hope to see many of you even in the overflow room.