News Connection Debate

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

We ask for you VOTE in the upcoming election.

Our pick are:

Melissa Northern for Mayor

Al Filidoro for Place 2

Steve Lyda for Place 4

Remember NFL

I personally endorse each and one of these candidates

Bjorn Vandug, Flower Mound

For voting times & locations, please visit

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

Tail Gate party

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

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

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

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

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

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

Debate

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

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

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

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

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

signed Jody Smith, Gerald Robinson and Bryan Webb.


All the reasons were unfounded accusations.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Campaign Signs

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

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

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

Creekside Meets N.F.L.

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