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.
Thursday, May 6, 2010
Tuesday, May 4, 2010
Town Council Meeting
Last night was the last council meeting prior to the election. On the agenda was a vote to either accept the ordinance imposed by the petition or send it to a vote this November. Our friends and "good" neighbors from Oklahoma came in loaded for bear. WilliamsStone (Williams and Keystone, one in the same for our purposes) sent a mailer to all residents with a false statement regarding the intentions of the ordinance listed on the petition. They stated it was to place a moratorium on DRILLING, not what it was in reality a moratorium on issuing any type of building or rezoning for the Centralized Contained Facility or CCF. The petition wanted to have the town just wait to learn more info on the impact on such a facility on our entire community and the beginning of the industrializing of Flower Mound. Several of the opponents of the petition were there sporting stickers that were provided by WilliamStone was they entered.
They immediately claimed that those that signed the petition were miss informed, lied to, fear mongers, and overall just not nice people. That drilling was the American way and trotted out copies of the Constitution, told us to stop driving our cars, heating our houses and zoom right back to the stone-age. Us commie Marxist liberals wanted to take their rights away to drill for their minerals. Most was laughable.
The pro petition people were well armed also, stating facts, exposing lies, talking articulately on the issue and trying to beat through their heads they weren't against their ability to sell their minerals. Of course it didn't work.
Most of the PPP (pro petition people) were interrupted by hecklers in the audience or by the Mayor and her henchwoman Levenick for personal attacks. pounding away at the gavel.
I was there to read a statement prepared by Bjorn, that I will publish here, but I wasn't able to stay past the 3 hour mark and a lot of what Bjorn had written had been stated in one way or another by someone. Here it is:
Unfortunately I am unable to attend tonight’s Town Council meeting, but have asked Holly Berg to read my statement.
Another political campaign is coming to a close with less than a week to cast your vote.
When I got involved in local politics back in 2008 I was naive not knowing how much effort it would take to make a difference. Sometimes I even wondered if we as residents CAN make a difference.
Last year’s hot issue was the expansion of Morriss/Gerault. This year it is natural gas. What will next year bring on?
I am not going to preach what each and every one of you have promised to the residents of Flower Mound, but don’t forget we live here as well and I for one refuse to sit by while a slim majority of this council completely disregard the wishes of thousands of concerned residents.
As if that is not enough to I would like to read a paragraph from Mayor Smith’s re-election web site:
In any election you can expect a certain amount of mud slinging and negative press and this election has seen its fair share of detractors making statements about Mayor Smith that are distortions of facts or outright untruths to evoke fear for political gain. To her credit, Jody Smith is a conservative person who has chosen not to respond to gossip, rumor and innuendo that some may have heard or seen. Her intensely positive focus remains on running a campaign that is based in facts and highlights the experience and results gained as Mayor since 2004
It also state Progress, Integrity, Experience. While I am sure you have plenty of accomplishments to be proud of, your Integrity certainly need questioning.
While some of your supporters have blasted Al Filidoro and Melissa Northern I never envisioned you, as the current Mayor would to stoup to this level. At the News Connection debate you stated that you “selfishly” served this town. A simple miss statement. Do you see any TV commercials attacking you for this? You knew very well what Melissa Northern tried to say with regard to FM2499, but you still managed to twist the truth and mislead anyone not fully aware of what is going on in town. Way to go for a few votes.
You owe Melissa Northern as well as the residents of Flower Mound an apology.
What this town need is a Town Council with integrity and that is what Northern, Filidoro and Lyda will bring. And on behalf of the Stopp Morriss team I like to thank Tom Hayden and Al Filidoro for a great job so far.
Sincerely,
Bjorn Vandug
After many hours of public comments and some other issues, including Tom Hayden deferral of discussions of Phase 2 of Morriss Rd until after the election that was quickly accepted even by Steve Dixon (a real shock). They had discussions about the petition and decided they were not going to accept the will of 6000 registered voters that signed and defer it to a November election. Another shocker.
So a few hundred people left even more pissed off and supercharged for the last two days of voting.
By the way, the Mayor had her crack team of henchmen, lead by Councilman Mike Wallace's wife Amy, take down the giant signs at our dear friend and neighbor, Old man Hilliard's air field. I guess her guilt of be accused of being a liar finally got to her. She replaced them with an endorsement sign from our Oil Rich U.S. Congressman and fellow "good conservative" Dr. Michael Burgess. I guess WilliamStone got to him the same way they muscled "good conservative" ex-govenor of Arkansas and Presidential wannabee, Mike Huckabee. Those Oklahoma boys got a lot of loot to award Christmas Gooses to the whole damn Republican party to protect their "good conservatives" like our Mayor, the Teflon stewardess, Jody Smith.
For the record, Tom Hayden and Al Filidoro voted to accept the petition with no election.
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.
Sunday, May 2, 2010
Hiney Gate and the Huckabee Flip Flop
On Friday, April 16th, former Presidential Candidate and current radio commentator mentioned our local Hineygate caper in his daily radio address.
Here's the link. http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.redlasso.com%2FClipPlayer.aspx%3Fid%3D58812ac8-78b3-4898-a125-3a63246f752f&h=591f1
He mentioned sorta half jokingly about the irony of reverse sexual harassment by "two attractive females" and the unsuspecting male police officer. Oh the hilarity and hi jinx in those small Texas towns, a real knee slapper.
I agree the incident was pretty innocuous and didn't deserve as much press as it did, but the fact that a nationally syndicated commentator mentioned it and got our town the kind of press that isn't at all flattering.
But here are the facts: An incident occurred in a town government facility prior to an official Town Council meeting, otherwise known as "the workplace". A Police officer, on duty at the meeting is approached in an orchestrated fashion by The Mayor, (his boss) and The Mayor Pro-Tem in nothing short of an immature childish prank. The event is witnessed and reported to The Chief of Police. It is his responsibility to make a report on the incident not only for the protection of the officer, but the protection of himself as his superior. If he hadn't, he would be totally remiss in his responsibilities. Imagine if it has been a male mayor and a female police officer. The uproar would have been monumental.
It reminds me of the movie "Disclosure", back in 1994 with Michael Douglas and Demi Moore. It was about a male being harassed by an ex-lover who has now become his boss.
Back to Hineygate, The Police Chief files the report and the town attorney investigated the incident and it was determined that there was no sexual harassment, the ladies apologized for their immature behavior and it went to die in some buried file in an undisclosed desk. No harm, no foul. But wait, somehow it leaked, oh wait it was an incident at a official town function, so bingo. IT'S PUBLIC RECORD. Much to the mayor's further embarrassment, it gets to the press and she is forced to comment on the event at a town council meeting on January 21st, which also happens to be the meeting with the largest attendance ever. The mayor proclaims that it as political and intended to make her look bad.
Flash forward about 2 months when the actual video tape of the goosing is released under freedom of information act and Channel 11 runs it as its lead story at 6 o'clock. The Mayor, in her brief sound bite, blames the police chief and claims to have been trying to fire him for months. (Plagiarized right from Disclosure).
Another embarrassment and a sign that our mayor does not act in the most prudent manner.
During the town hall debate of the Candidates two weeks ago, some of her opponents mentioned the Huckabee exposure as just that, exposure of the embarrassing kind and a trend of lack of judgement.
Flash forward to April 30th, in the heat of early voting. This time in the first minute of "The Huckabee Report", Mike chastises the Mayors opponents for using his words to discredit the Mayor. here is the Link: http://www.redlasso.com/ClipPlayer.aspx?id=58812ac8-78b3-4898-a125-3a63246f752f
As you can see in Mike's flip flop is "he thought what the Mayor did was funny".
So here is the smoking gun. The officer works for the town in which his "harasser" is the Mayor. Now if you wanted to keep your job, wouldn't you publicly say "I guess I got my Christmas Goose early this year". We don't know and we shouldn't know what he told his superior the chief of police how he really felt out of fear of retribution. The Police Chief who again, was doing his job, and publicly was chastised by the mayor on local news of his poor job performance. Retribution for reporting a case of a hostile work environment? I'm surprised the lawyers aren't lined up at his door step on that one.
Mike thought it was funny? Well there is an answer for that also. I don't have to mention the election and the hundreds of thousands of dollars someone has spent for TV ads, Phone surveys, Several very expensive mailer and a PR wagon train a mile long. The very deep pockets of Williams Oil of Tulsa Oklahoma. I'm sure it didn't take much effort on Williams part to call ol' Mike and tell him our bruised, yet "fine conservative" mayor was in trouble. So blatant you could drive a truck through it.
I can't wait for the Movie, Disclosure II.
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.
Thursday, April 29, 2010
Al Filidoro
We were out walking neighborhoods tonight and there seems to be a bit of misunderstanding. First off Melissa Northern DOES NOT want to make 2499 a toll road. As ludicrous as it sounds, people are seeing the signs.
Al Filidoro is a good man. He sincerely has the best interests of Flower Mound and all of its residents close to his heart. I trust him and I believe in him.
I know that in this country these days there is an incumbent backlash going on. In this case we need his experience and knowledge to lead this town back to the way it was when we all moved here. One of the finest towns in the country. We need to keep Al on the town council.
I want to also clarify some facts about Al's role in the Morriss Road project. Al came to us last June to talk to us and find out what we wanted and what we could live with. After the Transportation Committees total snub of our efforts to make the road work for everyone, it was a foregone conclusion we had lost, the road was coming and no one had listened or cared. Our only hope at that point was to delay as much as we could and hope in a year we could change the face of council and maybe thwart the effort. Those hopes were dim at best. As you can see, in May 2010, one year to the date after its approval, earth is moving. That hope of delaying the project would have been finally dashed and the bulldozers would be digging the median for the total 6.6 miles.
But, early last June, our stalwart proponent in Stopping Morriss Six, Tom Hayden, came to us with a plan. This plan was hatched by none other than Al Filidoro. Al finally had an Ally on the council and some one he could trust. Al had listened and came to us to see what we could compromise on to force it into two phases and get our much needed delay to stall the project. We told him we wanted intersection improvements, safety improvements, new fences, etc. He said done deal. He worked Jean Levenick and Steve Dixon to vote for the two phases and he enabled Tom Hayden to abstain his vote to preserve his promise to not ever vote on the road issue.
It was a very confusing council meeting, the Mayor being the most confused for sure. Yes Al voted yes for the road, but his yes vote was for the two phases. And steam shovels are not rolling town the medians on Morriss today.
Al is the champion for that vote and now we have our wish, a delay, and the strong possibility of gaining a supportive majority on the council.
Face it, Riverwalk is dead. Commercial real estate will be the last part of the economy to come around and no one, except Apartment builders are interested in the land.
Please give your vote to Al Filidoro, he as earned it and deserves it.
Al Filidoro is a good man. He sincerely has the best interests of Flower Mound and all of its residents close to his heart. I trust him and I believe in him.
I know that in this country these days there is an incumbent backlash going on. In this case we need his experience and knowledge to lead this town back to the way it was when we all moved here. One of the finest towns in the country. We need to keep Al on the town council.
I want to also clarify some facts about Al's role in the Morriss Road project. Al came to us last June to talk to us and find out what we wanted and what we could live with. After the Transportation Committees total snub of our efforts to make the road work for everyone, it was a foregone conclusion we had lost, the road was coming and no one had listened or cared. Our only hope at that point was to delay as much as we could and hope in a year we could change the face of council and maybe thwart the effort. Those hopes were dim at best. As you can see, in May 2010, one year to the date after its approval, earth is moving. That hope of delaying the project would have been finally dashed and the bulldozers would be digging the median for the total 6.6 miles.
But, early last June, our stalwart proponent in Stopping Morriss Six, Tom Hayden, came to us with a plan. This plan was hatched by none other than Al Filidoro. Al finally had an Ally on the council and some one he could trust. Al had listened and came to us to see what we could compromise on to force it into two phases and get our much needed delay to stall the project. We told him we wanted intersection improvements, safety improvements, new fences, etc. He said done deal. He worked Jean Levenick and Steve Dixon to vote for the two phases and he enabled Tom Hayden to abstain his vote to preserve his promise to not ever vote on the road issue.
It was a very confusing council meeting, the Mayor being the most confused for sure. Yes Al voted yes for the road, but his yes vote was for the two phases. And steam shovels are not rolling town the medians on Morriss today.
Al is the champion for that vote and now we have our wish, a delay, and the strong possibility of gaining a supportive majority on the council.
Face it, Riverwalk is dead. Commercial real estate will be the last part of the economy to come around and no one, except Apartment builders are interested in the land.
Please give your vote to Al Filidoro, he as earned it and deserves it.
Another Busy day at the Polls.
Day 4 is now in the books for early voting, If its anything like the last 3, turnout will be record setting. Each of the first 3 days have brought over 500 people out to vote each day. Last year after 3 days I think they had about 400 total. People are active and very interested in this election as they should be.
If you have already voted, thank you so much. Go out and tell your friends and neighbors to do the same. If you would like, go and knock on some doors and find out if your neighbors have already joined you or aren't really sure what this election is all about.
In the past it was always said, issues that effect the western parts of the town are not those that have any impact on those in the east and visa versa.
This year, the many people I have met and talked to were not aware of the Morriss Issue last year, but have shown an interest and see how the current town majority works. Their issues have been the expanding gas exploration, pipelines, collection facilities that are threatening schools and their homes. Drive out along Scenic Drive, among the huge trucks and see the enormity of these structures. Although, the people that live out there and opted to lease their mineral rights have every right to do as they please with their property. However now these friendly gas companies (I'm sure you have gotten their mailers and phone calls) feel they have free reign to drill baby drill, because of the current political climate.
Many of you enter our town by way of 2499 and all of us have become accustom to the wide open spaces as you drive north. Well look at it now because that is about to end. The Hilliard Property, which is on the east side of 2499 just south of Flower Mound Rd has applied for drilling permits. Another well is planned at 2499 and Spinks not far from the Middle School. Several wells are being planned for the fields just to the east of The Bakersfield Sports facility, just across the border in Lewisville. Our friends at Williams of Tulsa Oklahoma, said they would NOT drill any further east of Shiloh Rd (in Flower Mound, small print on their mailer) but they failed to tell us they are drilling as close to Flower Mound as you can get across the street in Lewisville. Good Neighbors?
Gas and Oil exploration is now an issue to everyone in Flower Mound, as is Development of the bad sort, Roads, such as Morriss.
Please tell your friends and neighbors what our current mayor and her majority in the town council plan to sleaze on all of us next.
Its time for a change and common sense. Vote Northern, Filidoro and Lyda.
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.
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
The Phases
For some of you that are confused about the signs up and down Morriss regarding the current construction project, here is a refresher and an up to date recap.
Last June, it was decided since the project was funded and approved they would divide it into two Phases. This would turn out to be the best scenario we could ask for short of the whole thing being scraped. If we had allowed the town council to accept the short sighted reccomendation of the Transportation Committee, today we would be seeing bulldozers on the entire 6.6 miles.
Phase one, which started early last week is as follows:
Expanding from 4 to 6 lanes on Gerault Roads from 3040 to 2499.
A flyover from Gerault to 2499.
Intersection improvements at Morriss and 407, Morriss and 1171, Morriss and 3040, including longer turn lanes, right turn lanes where applicable.
Additional traffic signals at Gerault and Spinks Rd, Morriss and Garden Rd, Morriss and Sagebrush.
Sidewalk improvements where nessesary.
Sight improvements on several neighborhood exits.
Safety improvements at and near Forrestwood Middle school.
Landscaping.
New Fences.
Phase two, which as per the agreement, could not begin until at least 2014 or if and when the Riverwalk installs its amenities, specifically, The River. And at the completion of traffic studies that clearly state it is needed.
Last June, The Riverwalk was not in foreclosure as it is today. The developer would have had to supplied over 2 million dollars towards the project.
As it appears today, there will be no River, the parcel has been divided into 5 separate blocks and depending on the make-up of the town council next month, could be ammended to suit the new landholders.
Jody Smith would ammend the planning and zoning requirements of the property to be totally mixed use developement. That means apartments, condominiums, townhouses mixed with retail and office. The problem with mixed use developement is, the apartments get built and the retail remains a dream (drive through Valley Ranch to get an idea how that looks).
Jody Smith and a majority town council in her favor would bend over backwards to give the apartment builders what ever they want. If that would occur, in 2014 we would need 8 lanes up and down Morriss to accomodate that kind of traffic.
Melissa Northern's plan would be to surround our new Hospital with other types of high tech medical facilities that would add good jobs to Flower Mound, attract quality retail and then provide housing for workers in that to live. It would become a self contained central area of town without the need of commuters and traffic levels would remain stable. Makes lots more sense, doesn't it?
Mrs Northern was stated many times she is not for the automatic implementation of Phase two of this project because she doesn't think we will ever get to that level of traffic. She has been listening to our fight for the last year and long before she decided to run for Mayor.
With the kind of Vision she has and the support of Tom Hayden, Al Filidoro and Steve Lyda, Smartgrowth will become just that again and the real crown jewel of this town will be the beautiful, landscaped, safe, slow winding Boulevard that slices through our town and leads to the parks at the Riverwalk, Morriss Rd. Maybe we can rename it Morriss Boulevard.
The dream is still alive, but we need to wake up and get rid of Jody Smith and her give it away for nothing attitudes.
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.
Monday, April 26, 2010
Early Voting
Early voting started today and from the looks of things turnout will be pretty significant. Close to 500 people have voted already today. Controversy abounds as the last few days of the campaign unwind.
The mayor said that Melissa advocates the use of a toll road on 2499. She claims that at the Bridlewood Debate last week and recapped in the Flower Mound Leader:
But perhaps the biggest blow came in the debate’s final minutes when, during closing arguments, Smith and Robinson each referenced a comment made by Northern two weeks ago at a debate in Bridlewood.
The question asked what candidates would do to address traffic flow on FM 2499, especially once the road connects with Interstate 35E.
Northern said, “I would have to go back and research this item to understand how the town could improve it and look at what our opportunities are, whether there is an opportunity to put a toll, which is what a lot of communities do on that to reduce traffic flow, or a flyover, which would take away traffic issues in that area.”
After the debate, Northern told The Leader that she miss-communicated what she was trying to say. She said what she meant was the town should look for alternate funding, such as the Highway 121 toll funding, to address traffic in town and that she is not in favor of a toll road in Flower Mound.
The Mayor and her followers took the opportunity to go and post signs all along 2499 stating that Melissa wants a tollway.
First off, physically impossible even if it was the most important thing she wished to accomplish, if anyone hasn't noticed 2499 is a STATE road that is already paid for. Second, she was elaborating on how to reduce traffic flow on our towns roads. She is concerned about increased traffic that would effect our lives. Remember, the whole concept of 2499 linking with 35E came in the LAST 4 years as the Mayor, who loves to satisfy developers thought the road, as with Morriss Rd is a brilliant idea. As with Morriss Rd, the Mayor tried to ram it down our throats without the consideration of neighborhoods along Morriss and the bulk of the town that lives there. Gerald Robinson said, he read hundreds of hours of traffic studies and gleamed from those that we needed another 6 lane road rolling through our town and neighborhoods. Along with County Commissioner, Andy Eades, who hopefully is counting the days till we vote him out of office, sleazed a bond election bill through during the major election cycle that touted "road improvements". Remember that one? Of the HUNDREDS of hours that Robinson spent studying "traffic studies", I'm sure he spent maybe 3 minutes talking or thinking about the effects of the residents. Of course our other Town Council candidate, Bryan Webb, has only to offer, "Lots of people aren't going to like it, Sorry."
So if the worse thing that Melissa Northern has ever done is think a little "out of the box" and later clarify with the press that she has never or never will advocate a toll road. She is willing, along with Al Filidoro and Steve Lyda and current Council Member, Tom Hayden, to listen to the citizens overwhelmingly outweighs a minor mis-spoken comment.
For those of you that braved the rain and made it out to the tailgate party last week, and took the time to talk with these people, realize who and what they are. They were willing, along with their family members to stand under tents in a pouring rainstorm and spend a few hours to show everyone what they are about,all would agree.
They will work for us.
Please do what is right for our town, our home values, and quality of life, Make the time to get over to the Police and Courts Building to vote for Northern, Filidoro and Lyda. Its easy to remember vote NFL. If you have any other questions please feel free to contact me, or at the polls, talk with the candidate, they will be there most days during early voting and from dawn to dusk on election day to answer any questions you might have.
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.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
