Rockwall City Council 16 March

Councilman Sweet led the prayer and pledge. Quite odd that he used "Jesus" in the prayer. I thought it was standard practice for politicians to shy away from any denominational prayer to the All-Mighty. Good for him.

Glenn Farris and Michael Scott had more important things to do. Absence of dog-tethering or Rockwall Zoo items keep them away.

Only going to hit a few things, there were other items and what-not, but most passed without any discussion or desent.

2nd Appointment: Some guy from the NTMWD spoke about water levels and conservation. We have plenty, but recommends we have some restrictions in place soon as La Nina predicts 6 more weeks of winter. Or something.

I did learn we get our water from Lavon, Tawakoni, Chapman, Texoma, and East Fork Supply. In the next 40 years there will be more water.

Not terribly exciting, but as the council spent 45 minutes on it, I decided to mention it.

Public Hearing items 1 and 2 were about the same thing essentially. The snow cone stand that has been near Sonic for the last few years was pushed out once the State took the land it once stood. They need a piece of land nearby rezoned commercial (corner of Bourne and Goliad). Coincidentally, the snow cone stand is owned by Chance from The Vanished 's girlfriend. They should call them "scene cones"!!

The most contentious item of the evening: There is a planned development going in north of 552 (Dalton), bewtween John King and Breezy Hill Lane. It is going in. I repeat, it is going to happen. The developers requested a small change. Turning a 50 acre plot into retail, instead of all of it being residential. There has been some interest by Tom Thumb to put a store there.

The first guy to speak, was not against it. He is also a retired developer who 20 years ago had done some site studies in that area. His only concern was potential water erosion problems.

ALL the rest spoke against it for the following reasons:

First lady thinks she lives in the country. She doesn't want an increase in traffic. Mind you, John King will be 4-lane, and 552 is being widened to 4-lane.
Second lady thinks she lives in the country.
One guy thinks he has a pond worth $70, 000 and the extra run-off will kill his pond, creek, and trees. It must be full of Coelocanths.
Third lady thinks she lives in the country. She has lived in the area since '96. In '96 she and her family moved to the country. Not 1896, 1996.
Fourth lady spoke for everyone on her street, and they are all against it. She didn't have a petition or an affidavit, so we'll have to take her word for for it.

Did I mention these people were especially upset the city never notified them of anything about this?? Most had only learned about it THAT MORNING???? Why didn't the city send out notices to citizens????

Actually, the city had notified the citizens. None of those who spoke are citizens of Rockwall. They are in unicorporated areas of the county. Just wait till they get annexed!!! HAHAHAHA!!!!1111

The city has just settled a lawsuit with the developer. Originally there were to be c.1500 homes on that land, the city wanted less density and the part of the suit reduced the amount of homes to c.800.

Margo Nielsen basically said they don't live in the country. They are adjacent to a rapidly growing city. She supported the right of the developer to develop his land as he wants, so long as it meets zoning and laws and what-not. She made one recommendation that the developer consider moving the commercial area away from the busy intersection to an area away from the busy intersection. And she was doing so well.

Break. Everyone but the reporters and I remained for the last of the meeting.

Action items:

1. Allow late night sales of alcohol. DENIED!!!! There was no real support or opposition.
2. Finances. BORING!!! No action needed or taken.
3. Concert by the Lake being extended by 2 weeks in August because of the recession (allows people some recreation they can afford). Will cost the city $30,800, but won't cost the citizens a cent!!!

Bill Cecil did mention he really likes going to this event. He grabs some food and sometimes some wine. Is it legal to drink alcohol in a city park?

4. Something about trees and a new sewer line in Turtle Cove. No Action.