Looking Back 2006
Water is a huge concern for Flower Mound
By Chris Taylor
Flower Mound Leader

December 30, 2006-It is not surprising that water would be a major issue in a drought year, but the feud between Flower Mound and the Upper Trinity Regional Water District (UTWRD) does not appear to be subsiding any time in the near future.

Chris Torley, the former representative of the town to the UTRWD resigned his post toward the end of this year. Torley said in an interview that the town Council was behaving in much the same way as the UTRWD, without oversight and accountability, that he could no longer in good conscience serve.

Flower Mound has been critical of UTRWD for most of the year. The town sees the district as spending too much, and building unnecessary infrastructure.

At a recent Flower Mound Council meeting, the Council joined with others in approving a resolution asking for an independent management study for the UTRWD.

Michael Savoie, Copper Canyon representative for UTRWD gave a presentation at the meeting, and explained the purpose behind asking for the independent study.

“Denton County needs the Upper Trinity Regional Water District. I didn’t come here tonight to tell you that it is bad or that it needs to go away, but it must efficient and accountable to its member cities. Reasonable debt is expected. High levels of unreasonable debt are dangerous to member cities. If the Upper Trinity can’t pay its debt, members of the District will accept the debt. The citizens of Flower Mound will assume the debt,” Savoie said at the meeting.

On the UTRWD website, the district offers its rebuttal of the coalition for the independent study’s accusations. UTRWD disagrees with the stance that Flower Mound and Copper Canyon have taken.

“An unsettling notion is being tossed out, which suggest that the Board is not doing its job, and that somehow other people (other than the duly appointed Board of Directors) know how to better govern the District. In My opinion that notion is simply not true and is without merit; and, you as the State-mandated governing body, the directors of the UTRWD, should stand firm. The Officers of the UTRWD propose adoption of a resolution on this matter as part of the agenda for this meeting. We urge its unanimous adoption. This unsettling notion that somehow the governing body of Upper Trinity is not doing its job must be addressed,” Sandy Cash, President of the Board of Directors for UTRWD, said in a memo to its members.

UTRWD has even passed a resolution of its own denouncing the coalition’s resolution. Lawsuits between the Town and the UTRWD are other obstacles that must be overcome before the two sides can work together.

The main concerns of the member cities are: water availability and capacity, the infrastructure, the debt of the water district and the governance of the district and increasing water rates.

“I’m not saying UTRWD is going out of business, but I think it is reasonable to ask them to act responsibly,” Savoie said at the meeting.

Another problem that Savoie has with the UTRWD is that Lake Chapman, where UTWRD is receiving much of its water is almost completely dry. Because of the drought, no water is coming from the lake, and UTRWD is purchasing its water from Dallas.

“Upper trinity is purchasing the most expensive water in the area. My problem is that they have gotten water at any cost. That is not acceptable. We need to be cost-effective,” he said.

These issues are expected to continue throughout the new year.

Please keep reading as the Flower Mound Leader counts down the remaining top 10 stories of the year.

2. Jefferson named town manager

Harlan Jefferson was named Town Manager this year after taking over for the previous manager Van James. Jefferson had been the interim for some time before he was officially hired by the Council.

Flower Mound had interviewed and settled on two other candidates before selecting Jefferson. The two candidates were Jimmy Stathatos, city manager of Roanoke, and Ron Olson, deputy city manager for Arlington. Three days after being interviewed, Stathatos removed his name from consideration after receiving a counter offer from Roanoke.

Being left with only one candidate, the Council looked back over the original applicants and decided on Jefferson.

“I am a firm believer that things happen for a reason. Where I thought it was closed door as far as Harlan taking it over, things changed. I am ecstatic about Harlan’s decision to become our town manager. I believe he just needed some time and we needed some time to make sure everyone was happy with the decision,” Council member, Tim Trotter, said at the time.

Jefferson thanked the Council for their faith in his ability to do the job.

“I fully recognize the trust the council has shown me by appointing me the town manager. I have spent most of my professional career working in Denton County, so I already know the public official in the county and nearby cities. That will make it easier for me to do the job, because I won’t have to spend a lot of time getting to know everyone I will be working with,” Jefferson told the Council upon his official hiring.

3. Master Plan hearings to be big topic for 2007

The Town of Flower Mound spent much of 2006, as it will spend 2007, updating the Town’s Master Plan. The Council approved the Steering Committees recommendations toward the end of 2006, but there are many public hearings to go before the update of the Master plan is finished. Several issues have come to the surface for the new Master Plan. One issue is senior housing. Some seniors in would like to have 8 buildings on two-acre lots to allow for a recreational-type senior housing. This type of housing would be for active seniors who are unable to care for large yards and home. Proponents argue that the housing would be good for seniors and bring in plenty of revenue. Opponents say that senior housing is already available, but must conform to density requirements in the Master Plan.

Another issue is the designation of Urban Forests. The project that has become synonymous with urban forest is the Shops at Market Street. As of the last Council meeting, the vote on the project has been tabled until the January meeting. The Master Plan protects urban forest, but does not indicate why or how to save it. This is an issue which will receive much discussion in the coming year. The Market Street project is to be located at the corner of 2499 and 1171, but will require the removal of some protected trees, and destruction of some of the urban forest area. The urban forest designation is not just about tress, but covers an entire ecosystem. A significant portion of the ecosystem will be destroyed in order to build the Market Street project. Another concern over the project is the location of the project to residential neighborhoods in the area. The project will bring truck traffic, noise and light pollution, all of which concern residents.

Town opens FM 3040

Flower Mound and Lewisville celebrated the opening of 3040 during 2006. The completion of the new 3040 took 10 years and cost $18.3 million to complete but was expected to serve as many as 150,000 cars a day.

“It’s been a long time coming. But I know we are all happy to see this project completed,” Gene Carey, Lewisville Mayor, said at the dedication.

The new 3040 extends from 2499 to Lewisville.

“This project is a great example of local governments working together. State government working together along with TxDOT, Denton County, Lewisville, Flower Mound, and it’s important to know that government official really do work well together,” Carey said.

5. Police investigate murder/suicide

Flower Mound Police responded to a 911 call from Colleen Johnson, 51, regarding a domestic disturbance at 6901 Hidden Valley Drive. Police said that Colleen Johnson was having a verbal argument with her husband, Thomas Johnson. When police arrived on the scene, they found Colleen Johnson and her husband Thomas Johnson dead. Each of the victims was found with a gunshot wound to the fact and head, according to police.

The 911 records indicated that Thomas Johnson had called twice and told the officer to hurry because his wife was dead.

Police had ruled the incident a murder suicide. This was the first murder suicide that the Flower Mound Police Department had ever dealt with.

6. Flower Mound Fire Department receives grant

Thanks to a federal grant of $310,500, the Flower Mound Fire Department is able to increase its number of firefighters.

“This funding will help ensure that Texas firefighters remain well-trained and equipped for their important work of protecting of protecting our homes and communities,” Sen. John Cornyn, said.

The grant allows Flower Mound to hire an additional three firefighters which is one per shift.

“What this amounts to is a 50 percent cost match over four years for the salaries of three additional firefighters. It is seed money to ease the burden of hiring more firefighters. This was a very competitive grant based on both need and merit,” Eric Metzger, Flower Mound Fire Chief, said.

The Flower Mound Fire Department employs about 70 people and hasd three stations throughout the city from which they provide fire and emergency medical services for the town. Metzger said that the additional firefighters will increase company staffing and allow the department to better serve the community.

7. Local firefighters aid in brush fires

Flower Mound and Lewisville firefighters went to the aid of firefighters in the Texas panhandle. During the drought, there were several instances of wildfires. A blaze in Borger covered 432,000 acres, a fire near Groom consumed 211,000 acres and a fire south of Childress burned 20,000 acres. The fires have killed 11 people and more than 10,000 cattle.

The area fire departments joined the Denton County Wildland Strike Force to help the firefighters in the areas of Childress and Borger. The Flower Mound Fire Department supplied a brush truck, a water tanker and regular fire engine to help out the fire-fighting agencies in the area.

High winds exacerbated the already dry conditions and made help all the more necessary. In addition to the aid of the Denton County Wildland Strike Force, 29 other states had sent equipment to aid the firefighters.

8. Drought affects area

The drought affected the area in other ways during 2006. Denton County suffered a 75 percent loss in hay, and was forced to export 80 percent of its hay from outside the area. Those conditions cost the county about $8-10 million in crop losses. In addition to the loss of crops, many ranchers found it difficult to feed their livestock because of the shortage of hay. Some were having to kill some or all of their herds.

Many farmers were scouring surrounding states to find hay for their animals.

Governor Perry had declared 254 counties as disaster areas because of the drought. Federal aid became available to many of the farmers and ranchers because of that declaration, but more rain is still needed.

9. More than fifty acres burn in fire

A grass fire in Murrell Park off of Fishing Trail consumed 50-60 acres in the area. The Flower Mound Fire Department responded to the call and extinguished the fire, with help from some area fired departments, in about 5 hours. The high density wooded area surrounding the park made access to the fire difficult. The Lewisville, Lake Dallas and Double Oak fire Departments sent equipment, and the chrome, Justin, Little Elm, Argyle, Ponder, Roanoke, Colleyville and Denton departments assisted with personnel to help contain the fire.

10. Police charge man with sexual assault

The Flower Mound Police Department charged Brian Victor Vega, 38, with three counts of sexual assault of a child and one count of sexual performance by a child. Vega is suspected of sexually assaulting a girl he met on the Internet in his Flower Mound Apartment in 1999. The victim, who is now 21, discussed the assault with Dallas

Police who forwarded the case to Flower Mound Police.

According to police documents, Vega met the victim online and the two corresponded for a period of time, then Vega took the victim to his apartment where he had sexual intercourse with her three times. Vega was also accused of photographing and videotaping his sexual encounter with the victim. Vega’s bail was et at $100,000 and he could face up to 20 years in prison for each count, and a fine of up to $40,000.