by Eric Matthews
Well folks it seems more spending is coming our way if we don’t speak up. There are two items on the Tuesday, December 8, 2008 City Council Agenda to be voted on at 6:30pm in the City Council Meeting. Those items are #8 and #9 on the Consent Agenda.
Item #8 Discuss and consider Resolution R2009-29 authorizing the city manager to make application to the Statewide Transportation Enhancement Program for funds to construct Phase II of the Hike and Bike Trail system.
In 2006 the City of Weatherford applied for Statewide Transportation Enhancement Program (STEP) funds to construct and extend the hike and bike trail from the Santa Fe Depot northwest to Cartwright Park. The program was receded the following year. The Texas Department of Transportation has again issued a call for projects to be funded through the Statewide Transportation Enhancement Program and a resolution authorizing the city manager to nominate this project for funding is submitted for council discussion and consideration. The deadline for submission is December 11, 2009.
Total cost of the proposed project is estimated to be $3,164,800.00 and the city will be required to pay 20% of the total cost. The city’s match would be $632,960.00.
Item #9 Discuss and consider Resolution R2009-30 authorizing the city manager to make application to the Statewide Transportation Enhancement Program for funds to purchase and rehabilitate the old Texas and Pacific Railroad Depot.
In 2006 the City of Weatherford applied for Statewide Transportation Program (STEP) funds to purchase and rehabilitate the T&P Railroad Depot. The program was receded the following year. The Texas Department of Transportation has again issued a call for projects to be funded through the Statewide Transportation Enhancement Program and a resolution authorizing the city manager to nominate this project for funding is submitted for council discussion and consideration. The deadline for submission is December 11, 2009.
Total cost for property acquisition and rehabilitation is estimated at $2,990,000.00 and the city will be required to pay 20% of the total cost. The city’s match would be $598,000.00.
The key to receiving the State Grant is the City has to have the $1, 230,
960.00 readily available now for the two projects.
Let’s take a step back and take a look into the City’s Financial position currently.
(1) There was a $12 million dollar shortfall on the Pass Through Toll Project that is being undertaken by TXDOT that the City had to fund in order to complete the road projects associated with that agreement.
(2) It was discovered recently that the water and sewage lines on South Main needed to be moved due to the widening of the road which resulted in another $800,000.00 in expenses the City had to fund. This was an expense that was not originally budgeted in the road projects.
(3) The City is currently furloughing employees and cutting back on work hours in order to combat budget shortfalls.
(4) The City Manager during the November 24, 2009 City Council meeting reported that the City was projecting a $1.5 million shortfall in revenues due to current economic conditions.
So let’s recap on how much the city is in the red right now. $12,000,000.00 + $800,000.00 + $1,500,000.00 = $14, 300,000.00 ($14 million and some change !!!!) Note: this is just what they have made public to us and the financial position could be far worse than this.
If the city is $14 million and some change in the red right now and they are furloughing employees and cutting back on hours then where are we going to come up with $1, 230, 960.00 for the Hike and Bike Trail and rehab of the Texas and Pacific Railroad Depot? Don’t get me wrong these would be nice enhancements to our City but, I think the City should focus on finishing the roads before it elects to pursue any other projects. If these projects were deferred in 2006 then I think they can be deferred again until we have the money to fund them.
So, the question to be answered Tuesday, December 8, 2009 at 6:30 pm at City Hall is will our City Council vote “no” on funding the hike and bike trail and rehab of the T&P Railroad depot or will they commit us to another $1.2 million in projects we cannot afford currently? If you want to find out the answer to this question then I invite everyone to come to the City Council meeting Tuesday, December 8, 2009 at 6:30pm at City Hall.
Keep in mind we the people have already received a tax increase this year from the three amigos of tax and spend.
Parker County Blog 
Thank you for the update.
I notice in the Weatherford Democrat that Sara Ortega had written an article on the above two items in yesterday’s paper. What is curious about the article is why she quoted the City Manager as saying “the resolution would have no financial impact” on the city.
It would seem that if the intent was to apply for these two programs again then why does the language included in the resolution that will be voted on in the Council Meeting this evening state that the City’s match is readily available? I am copying the exact language here for everyone to look at and make their own determination.
Language for Hike and Bike Trail below:
RESOLUTION R2009-29
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF WEATHERFORD, TEXAS, HEREINAFTER REFERRED TO AS “APPLICANT” DESIGNATING CERTAIN OFFICIALS AS BEING RESPONSIBLE FOR, ACTING FOR, AND ON BEHALF OF THE “APPLICANT” IN THE CONDUCT OF BUSINESS WITH THE TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION, HEREINAFTER REFERRED TO AS “DEPARTMENT” FOR THE PURPOSE OF PARTICIPATING IN THE TRANSPORTATION ENHANCEMENT PROGRAM (STEP) GRANT, HEREINAFTER REFERRED TO AS THE “PROGRAM”; CERTIFYING THAT THE CITY IS ELIGIBLE TO RECEIVE PROGRAM ASSISTANCE, CERTIFYING THAT THE CITY’S MATCHING SHARE IS READILY AVAILABLE; AND DEDICATING THE PROPOSED SITE, THE TOWN CREEK HIKE AND BIKE TRAIL PHASE II, AS A NONTRADITIONAL
TRANSPORTATION ACTIVITY.
Here is the language for the Railroad depot below:
RESOLUTION R2009-30
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF WEATHERFORD, TEXAS, HEREINAFTER REFERRED TO AS “APPLICANT” DESIGNATING CERTAIN OFFICIALS AS BEING RESPONSIBLE FOR, ACTING FOR, AND ON BEHALF OF THE “APPLICANT” IN THE CONDUCT OF BUSINESS WITH THE TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION, HEREINAFTER REFERRED TO AS “DEPARTMENT” FOR THE PURPOSE OF PARTICIPATING IN THE STATEWIDE TRANSPORTATION ENHANCEMENT PROGRAM (STEP) GRANT, HEREINAFTER REFERRED TO AS THE “PROGRAM”; CERTIFYING THAT THE CITY IS ELIGIBLE TO RECEIVE PROGRAM ASSISTANCE, CERTIFYING THAT THE CITY’S MATCHING SHARE IS READILY AVAILABLE; AND DEDICATING THE PROPOSED SITE, THE TEXAS AND PACIFIC RAILROAD DEPOT, AS A NON-TRADITIONAL TRANSPORTATION ACTIVITY.
I guess I will need to ask the Council this evening what “matching share is readily available” means if it doesn’t mean having the money in the bank at the time of application.
Eric’s Question – If the city is $14 million and some change in the red right now and they are furloughing employees and cutting back on hours then where are we going to come up with $1, 230, 960.00 for the Hike and Bike Trail and rehab of the Texas and Pacific Railroad Depot?
Excellent question Eric! Does this not suggest that the City Manager AND members of City Council are demonstrating a disturbing lack of sound judgment? Would you hire these guys to manage your company? With their blatant inability to prioritize and to exercise sound fiscal accountability, how long do you think you would be in business?
You are absolutely right Isaac. We have to exercise sound fiscal accountability here in Weatherford or the City will be out of business. Although, the point must be made that Weatherford is a “home rule” city which gives it the ability to raise taxes and manage its financial affairs as it sees fit. As such, it wouldn’t go out of business as would happen with a corporation it would just raise taxes on the people to compensate for poor fiscal accountability. So, the people would ultimately be the ones to suffer.
I do want to say it must be noted that Councilman Jerry Clinton and Councilman James Hamilton truly exemplify what leadership and good stewardship is all about. I have been to almost every City Council meeting and those two have been living up to their campaign promises they made to the voters.
They listen intently to what citizens say on a daily basis and they work hard to get solutions to problems. At the same time, they demand accountability of the City Staff and they consistently fight to ensure every penny of your tax payer dollars is accounted for properly and used wisely. This is not me giving some campaign advertisement for these two. These two are the “real deal”!
I’ll give you some examples from tonight’s meeting. Both Councilman James Hamilton and Councilman Jerry Clinton spoke up and stated that spending money on a hike and bike trail and a Railroad Depot would not be the best thing for Weatherford given the current financial condition of the City’s balance sheet. They made a motion that the two items be tabled and not be considered until the City had the money to pay for them. Guess what, their motion passed and the two items were tabled (Which meant they would not be considered at this time). This was a great victory for the citizens of Weatherford and but one example of many I could give you where those two have been fighting the good fight for Weatherford.
The problem is they are but two people out of a five member council. More times than not I have seen the other three (the three amigos of tax and spend…Councilman Waymon Hamilton, Councilman Craig Swancey, and Mayor Dennis Hooks) voting together on things that would not be considered consistent with being fiscally conservative.
So, the people need to stand up and take note of who is doing the business of the people that have elected them and who is not doing the business of the people. The winds of change are upon us at the local, state, and national levels. People just need to get out and exercise their God given right and vote.
Councilman Wayman Hamilton, Councilman Craig Swancey, and Mayor Dennis Hooks will all be up for re-election in May 2010.
Remember, change on the City Council seems to be working out pretty good for Weatherford so far. If you don’t believe me I invite you to attend some Council meetings and witness first hand the great work the two newest members of the Council (Councilman Jerry Clinton and Councilman James Hamilton) are doing for the Citizens of Weatherford.
Your report is encouraging – thanks for the update!
Thanks so much for keeping folks informed, Eric. You’re doing a great job.
The Hike and Bike Trail Project has been reborn and has been passed by the Council. I find it hard to believe the City is in as great a shape financially as they recently claim. Here’s why…
The City of Weatherford is $20 million in debt if you don’t count the road projects. WISD is having budget problems, the State of Texas has a budget deficit, and sales tax revenue is down in Weatherford and throughout the State.
So the question is where is the City getting the money to spend on a new Hike and Bike Trail???