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State Champions!

Congratulations to the Cedar Hill Longhorns for their 51-17 victory over Cypress Falls in the Class 5A Division II state championship Saturday.

Quarterback William Cole rushed for 286 yards and three touchdowns and passed for another score to lead the Longhorns to victory.

“He’s the best football player in Texas, bar none,” Cedar Hill coach Joey McGuire said.

In the championship game, Cole had 359 yards of total offense, just 17 less than Cypress Falls gained as a team.

“He’s the single player than can change the game,” Cypress Falls coach David Raffield said. “There’s no containing him. His field presence is amazing. He makes you pay the price for the slightest mistake.”

It’s the first state football championship for Cedar Hill.

Podcast #7: Former Mayor Ithiel Worden

We continue our series of interviews with Cedar Hill’s former Mayors. In this edition, we visit with Ithiel Worden, Cedar Hill’s 5th mayor, who served from 1970 to 1972. He was also a City Council member from 1965 to 1968.

We begin our interview with Mayor Warden describing Cedar Hill in 1954.

Note: I’m sad to say I had some audio problems with the recording. Please excuse the static and echo. I will improve my equipment and interview him again in the near future.

Council Turns Down Housing Development

By LOYD BRUMFIELD, News Editor / Today NewspaperThe Cedar Hill City Council agreed with several residents who spoke out, and denied a change in zoning for homes a developer wanted to build in an existing neighborhood.The unanimous vote also confirmed a similar vote taken previously by the city’s planning and zoning commission.About a dozen people spoke out against the plans of developer Bob Shelton, who wanted a change in zoning from single family, 22,000 square-foot lot minimums to single-family, 15,000 square-foot minimums in a 44.9 acre tract of land in a neighborhood located along South Clark Road just south of Plummer Elementary.Those new homes would have been significantly smaller than existing homes in the neighborhood. Many of the residents who spoke out live on Stoney Creek Drive, Spring Hollow Drive and East Little Creek.Ottis Lee of Civil Works Engineering, representing Shelton, said the vast majority of the new homes would back up to park land and not against already developed areas.Bill Cuthberson, a 27-year resident of Cedar Hill, presented an extensive list of names against the move in a petition to the council.“I don’t like the increased traffic situation,” he said. “The developer has said there will be no thoroughfare through the neighborhood, but I just feel like it’s an infringement of my privacy.”Cuthberson also said the development would bring more children into an already-overcrowded school.Many of the residents who spoke out said they didn’t like the idea of smaller homes coming in to their neighborhoods.“If you’re going to build homes closer to the size of the homes we already have, I don’t think we’ve have much of a problem with that,” Duane Walsh said.Several residents said homes on smaller lots aren’t as well maintained as homes on bigger lots and pointed to nearby neighborhoods as an example of what could happen.“I think if smaller homes were built, you’d see homes that would end up like those on the other side of Joe Wilson Road. You’d have fences falling down and lower property values,” Joe Daigrepont said.Dave Robinson said the city would face an increased strain on its budget if the development were approved.“Are you willing to upchuck the $3-$4 million it’s going to take to widen Clark Road?” he asked the council.Carl Metzger, a 10-year resident, said he would hate to see his neighborhood fall into disrepair like his old neighborhood did in upstate New York.“Where I used to live, you couldn’t see the stars at night because of all the streetlights,” he said. “There was traffic everywhere, a lot of noise and light pollution, and it got to where it wasn’t a nice place to live.”Lee said Shelton shared the public’s concern and pledged to hold the homes to a minimum square-footage of 2,200.“I do know it’s difficult for a developer to come in and make these kinds of requests,” Lee said. “We understand the concerns of people when you have one-acre lots next to lots zoned for a half-acre.”City council member Cory Spillman said he was concerned with the lack of interaction between the developer and the residents after Lee said meetings had not been set up.Spillman also said he wanted to hold off on zoning changes in existing neighborhoods until the city took a look at changing its Comprehensive Zoning Plan next year.Council member Wade Emmert thanked the residents for speaking out.“I like to see so many people at city council meetings, and I especially like to see them at meetings when they aren’t yelling at me,” he said. “I’m concerned with lot sizes, and personally I think we need to increase lot sizes instead of decreasing them.”Emmert’s statement drew raucous applause, and with that he made a motion denying the zoning change and was seconded by council member Daniel Haydin.Mayor Rob Franke lives in the neighborhood where the new homes would have been built, and he volunteered to recuse himself from any discussion and vote on the issue, but Lee said he had confidence in the mayor’s ability to handle the matter objectively.

City Supports Bike Rally

By LOYD BRUMFIELD, News Editor / Today NewspaperIt wasn’t as much money as they asked for - and it didn’t come without extensive debate - but the Rotary Club of Cedar Hill received $20,000 from the city in support of the club’s main fundraiser, a May bike rally.In previous meetings with city staff members, the cost of support was estimated at $31,000, but council member Wade Emmert saw $20,000 as a good compromise for an event he’d like to see become a mainstay.The “Head for the Hills Bike Rally” is scheduled for May 12 and hopes to attract cyclists from all over the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex.The city’s funding will come from it’s hotel-motel tax.”I do have some concerns with the city’s financial participation,” Mayor Rob Franke said. “We don’t have many hotels in this town, and I think this ($31,000) would take up most of what has been promised to others, such as (the Cedar Hill Association for the Cultural Arts).”Franke and Mayor Pro Tem Cory Spillman voted against the authorization, not because they were against the bike rally but because of the amount of money included in Emmert’s motion.The vote was 5-2 in favor.”I want more things like this to come to our city” Emmert said. “I share some of the concerns regarding finances and insurance and things like that.”A few council members asked if the club could reimburse the city for the expense, but Emmert’s motion contained no such provision.Judy Pluto, lead organizer of the rally, said the event will function as the club’s main fundraiser.”There’s no doubt we can do this,” she said. “We want this to become a premier event not just in Cedar Hill, but in the Metroplex.”She told the council she is aware of the importance of the city’s support.”If we don’t do it right the first time, they come back for the second year,” she said.Emmert hoped the club could raise the rest of its estimated $31,000 cost through sponsorships and donations.Council member Makia Epie supported Emmert’s motion.”It takes money to make money,” he said. “I’m very satisfied with the explanation that a significant amount of money will come from the outside and we should more than recoup our investment.”"The seed money will grow it, and the water will come from the outside.”Franke said previous big-scale events in Cedar Hill, such as Country Day on the Hill, have flourished because of a strong sense of community volunteerism.”Any event that has worked has been because of a groundswell of support from volunteers and others,” he said. “I’m uncomfortable with the city handling the major burden of this. If the citizenry takes a hold of this and wants to do this, then the city is behind it and will help.”"Otherwise, it seems like we’re the ones pushing the rope.”Franke also was concerned that once other local groups found out about the $20,000 funding that they would want similar help for their events.

FM 1382 Lane Closures

I’ve had a few people ask me about the lane closures on FM 1382, so in the interest of efficiency, I thought I would post some information about it.

The City is widening FM 1382 and other roadways around the area where the new Lifestyle Center is being built. FM 1382, for example, is being expanded from four to six lanes from Hwy 67 to Straus Rd.

We have expedited the project and hope to be out of the retail corridor (Uptown Blvd. to Hwy. 67) by Thanksgiving.

Road construction, and the inevitable delays, can be frustrating. This particular construction is relatively simple, but unfortunately, occurs in a difficult spot and will be a disruption and inconvenience until completed. We are going to consult with TXDOT and the contractor to evaluate these problems and consider where adjustments in the traffic control plan and/or signal timing can ease the pain.

Update: Our Public Works Department is attempting to lessen the traffic congestion. As a result, they have reconfigured how construction is being coordinated. As a result, construction will take longer, but hopefully, it will be more bearable.

Country Day on the Hill Retains Its Small-Town Feel

By BETH FREED / Special Contributor to The Dallas Morning News

For Texan settlers, autumn leaves signaled harvest time and festivals. In today’s Cedar Hill, the rapidly growing population is less in tune with heritage, but the Country Day on the Hill celebration reintroduces residents to their roots.

Jimmie Ruth White, a primary organizer with the Friends of Country Day, said Cedar Hill’s historic downtown is the perfect place to reconnect with the past. Even though the space bursts at the seams during the event, organizers have resisted moving the festival.

“It keeps the small-town feel to it,” Ms. White said. “You’d lose the ambience and camaraderie if you move it.”

School groups, churches and various community organizations contribute to the event, which is often as lucrative as it is fun. One Country Day, the high school softball team raised $2,000 for new pitching machines; they had planned four fundraisers to meet the need.

“Country Day shows the true spirit of Cedar Hill,” said Stephanie Starrett, a Cedar Hill banker whose children grew up attending the fair. “You can really see how committed the groups in Cedar Hill are to helping each other.”

Ms. Starrett said that Country Day offers a nearer and lower-cost alternative to the State Fair of Texas.

Since the streets will be blockaded, kids can run around to their hearts’ content. To accommodate the lack of ample parking within walking distance of the festival, there will be a free shuttle from 8:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday from the Cedar Hill High School parking lot at U.S. Highway 67 and Cooper Street.

The Old Settler’s Reunion on Friday evening will bring Cedar Hill residents and old-timers together. On Saturday, with activities, games, vendors, talent displays and a petting zoo, “there’s something for everyone from 0 to 99,” Ms. White said.

One of the main attractions is music. Retired musician John Austin has booked acts for the past six years. This year, he has brought in several styles to get folks moving to the beat. Festival favorite Grupo Lazzo and the David Cavalier Band, a zydeco Cajun group, are sure to inspire audiences to dance, he said.

“Even if your foot’s asleep, you’ll feel it tapping,” Mr. Austin said.

Beth Freed is a Dallas-based freelance writer. E-mail beth.freed@sbcglobal.net

Podcast #6: Technology in Politics

I received an interesting email recently.

Dear Wade

I am emailing you from Brisbane, Queensland, Australia… I have stumbled across your website in some research I am doing about podcasts, blogs, vlogs and other interactive online communication tools. I am doing this research as a job for our local Council.

I LOVE what you’ve done on your website! You are the perfect example of what a progressive Council Member should be doing to keep their community engaged.

I would love to interview you about what you’re doing with your website and the feedback you’ve received from your community.

Would you be open to my calling you in the next week or so to conduct a telephone interview and ask you some questions about what you’ve done? I could certainly learn a lot and give our local council some insight into how to utilise this technology effectively!

I really look forward to hearing from you soon.

With kind regards

Cathryn Boyce
Senior Account Executive
RedChilli Marketing Group

As it turns out, Cathryn was conducing marketing research for the City Council in Brisbane, Australia, to determine how they could use new technology to communicate with their citizens.

We talked about my website, how it all got started, and the podcasts I have been doing. The interview was a lot of fun. Hopefully, this interview will encourage other public officials to use technology to connect with those whom they serve.

2007 City Budget Report

The City Council has just completed the preliminary budget for 2007 and I think you will be pleased with what we have done.

I am pleased to report that the tax rate will not increase this year, as it will in many other cities. This is due to the outstanding growth Cedar Hill has experienced, and our attempt to be fiscally responsible with your money.

As in past years, we have focused heavily on public safety. Past budgets have allocated 60% of our revenue to public safety. That trend continues in this budget.

Here are some of the highlights broken down by departments.

Police

First things first. The market for qualified polices officers is tight, and Cedar Hill is at the bottom of the pay scale. Out of 13 comparable cities, we rank near the bottom at number 12. That will change in this budget. We will move up to number 8, which puts us in the middle. That’s obviously good for the men and women who protect and serve, but it is also good for Cedar Hill. We benefit by attracting and keeping qualified and experienced police officers.

We are also adding 3 more police officers and some citizen support staff. Even with these new officers, we still are a behind the state average on officers per 1000 residents. That we have the lowest crime rate in the Best Southwest area is a testament to how well they are doing their jobs.

We are also purchasing some new equipment and replacing some old equipment.

Fire

Like police, our firefighter’s compensation will be adjusted to be in the middle of comparable cities, rather than at the bottom. They too do an outstanding job, and we don’t want to lose them.

We are purchasing a new ambulance to replace an old model as part of our equipment replacement program.

And now for some really good news. We are adding 5 more firefighters.

This is a milestone for Cedar Hill. With this budget, all of our fire stations will be fully staffed. When I first started on Council, our fire stations were “either/or” — meaning they could either send an ambulance or a fire engine, but not both. I am proud to say that now we are fully staffed and can dispatch an ambulance and engine/ladder from each fire station. That is good news for Cedar Hill!

Emergency Management

We are creating a regional emergency management program with the cities of Duncanville, DeSoto, and Lancaster. This program will create an Emergency Management Administrator who will help coordinate local emergency planning, emergency preparedness programs and provide information and training to the general public, city officials, city staff, schools, medical facilities, civic groups, and other outside agencies.

Administration

Under the heading of Administration, we have budgeted some dollars to improve our City website. If you have looked at the web site lately, you know that it is not very functional. Over the next year, that will change. We expect you to have access to many more city services, such as online bill pay and accurate and timely public service information.

We also will have a person dedicated to conveying information to citizens. This person, called a Public Information Officer, will work to communicate with citizens in a more timely and consistent manner. This person will be responsible for, among other things, the web site, the Highlights quarterly publication, and all other public announcements.

Public Works

The function that Public Works performs is not always glamorous, but it is essential to everything that happens in this city. This year we have approved an aggressive Capital Improvement Program (CIP). Additionally, we have set aside more dollars for future street repairs and more funding for drainage studies.

Code Enforcement/Building Inspection

Code Enforcement and Building Inspection are really two-sides of the same coin. Last year we added a new code enforcement officer and some computer software to help them track code violations. This year, we turn our focus to the building inspection side of the equation and will be purchasing some new software to help them manage all the inspections they do.

Conclusion

As you might imagine, there is more to the budget than these programs, but that should give you a broad overview of this year’s budget.

Tour Uptown Village at Cedar Hill

Uptown Village at Cedar Hill is the new lifestyle center being built at FM 1382 and Uptown Blvd.

And it is unlike any other in the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex.

It is an open-air lifestyle center anchored by two regional department stores — Dillards and Foleys. It will feature high-quality stores, like the Pottery Barn, William Sonoma, and Talbots.

The design of Uptown Village is special too. It will reflect the distinctive and historic architecture of Cedar Hill.

Set over 73 acres in the uptown district of Cedar Hill, its design concept is that of a downtown street that has evolved into a visually rich and historic retail district.

Uptown Village will make its debut in Cedar Hill, Texas in fall 2007.

Podcast #5: Former Mayor Archie Hall

In this edition we begin a series of interviews with some of Cedar Hill’s former Mayors. One of our Mayors who has been a familiar figure in Cedar Hill for many years is Archie Hall. Mayor Hall was Cedar Hill’s 8th Mayor, serving from 1983 to 1985. He has an interesting view of Cedar Hill’s past and an optimistic view of Cedar Hill’s future.

A True Servant Retiring

Assistant Fire Chief Bobby Grashel is retiring after 33 years of service.

Bobby started his career in the early 70s when Cedar Hill had a volunteer Fire Departement. He spent some time with the DeSoto Fire Department, and came back to Cedar Hill becoming the first Instructor and Captain. Bobby became the first Assistant Fire Chief in the mid-90s, where he has served to this day.

Bobby’s career and life exemplify the servant spirit. His love for people and his dedication to public service have left a permanent mark on Cedar Hill and the men and women who serve in the CHFD.

Thank you Chief 212 for who you are, and what you have given to this City!

The City Council Likes Trees Too!

I’ve had a couple of citizens contact me to express concern about the loss of trees on the land where the lifestyle center is being built (FM 1382 & Uptown Blvd.). Given the importance of the issue, I thought I would provide all of you with a little information that might affect your impression of what’s going on.

I agree it is rather shocking to see the land with the trees removed. I too am used to seeing the Juniper and Cedar trees there.

I know first hand, however, that the City Council is committed to the preservation of Cedar Hill and its natural resources. I believe we have done more than most cities to preserve its natural beauty.

First, we have directed most of the retail development to major thoroughfares, like Hwy 67, Beltline, and FM 1382. In doing so, we are trying to balance the city’s need for retail growth, which results in sales tax revenue, with the desire to preserve our natural beauty.

This sales tax revenue is vital as the city is trying to increase police officers and firefighters. The importance of increasing police and fire protection cannot be understated. We are already behind the state average and are trying to increase our numbers in a responsible manner.

Second, we have created a number of nature preserves in the city, and are in the process of implementing a comprehensive hiking/biking trail system. Consider the preserves available in Cedar Hill:

1. Calabria Nature Preserve — 750 W. FM 1382, approximately 76.5 acres. This property is an undeveloped special use nature preserve.
2. Cedar Mountain Nature Preserve — 1300 W. FM 1382, approximately 110 acres. This joint (Dallas County Open Space Program/City of Cedar Hill) special use park offers 1,320 ft. (approximately .3 mile) paved trail, and 3,960 ft. (approximately .7 mile) unpaved nature trail, 1 bench, and 12 paved parking spaces (1 handicapped).
3. Lester Lorch Nature Preserve — 1823 Texas Plume Road, approximately 86 acres. This special use nature preserve (Dallas County Open Space Program/City of Cedar Hill) offers a challenging 36 hole disc golf course suitable for tournament and casual play, 2 picnic tables, 1 pond, open play area, and paved parking.

That is in addition to our approximately 20 neighborhood or special use parks.

I would also like to point out that Cedar Hill and the Audubon Society are collaborating to purchase about 300 acres that will make up Dogwood Canyon. I haven’t looked at any statistics, but I would bet that Cedar Hill has the largest percentage of its incorporated city limits dedicated to nature preserves and parks than any city in north central Texas.

Third, we have held the developer to strict development standards. The developer, MG Herring Group, is incorporating many design elements into the lifestyle center to compliment Cedar Hill’s topography, stones, and foliage/fauna. They also will be planting some trees as part of fairly strict landscaping requirements.

As an aside, we are in the process of creating a comprehensive tree ordinance that will further protect our indigenous trees. Our Mayor Pro Tem Cory Spillman personally is heading up that effort.

In sum, I too am used to seeing the trees there. But I want you to know that the City Council has been very deliberate about this process and trying to balance the interests of the city as a whole.

Podcast #4: Dr. Peggy Wilson

I am excited to share with you my conversation with the first female City Council Member in Cedar Hill. Dr. Peggy Wilson served from 1996 to 1998. She shares some of her experiences on the council. Dr. Wilson also discusses her challenges in corporate America and her newest passion, the Cedar Hill Association for the Cultural Arts.

An Unsolicited Voicemail

I was surprised to get this purely unsolicited voicemail from a citizen of Cedar Hill. Of course, I had nothing to do with it!

You too can leave me a voicemail by calling (469) 293-3771.

Cedar Hill Food Pantry Needs Your Help

The Cedar Hill Food Pantry needs your help.

The Cedar Hill Food Pantry is a community-wide effort to alleviate hunger in our city. It was started in 1989 by a handful of volunteers who wanted to make sure that no one in their community would go to sleep hungry.

The President of the Food Pantry, Patricia Deeds, has sent out an urgent call for help:

Dear Friends,

I am writing tonight to ask for your help in getting the Cedar Hill Food Pantry through a very lean time. Donations are not what they have been in the past and the strain on the balance sheet is starting to show. Utility bills are up (as you are all aware!). Our client numbers continue to grow and we are quickly approaching a time when we will struggle to meet the needs of our community.

We have a number of things “in the works” to help with our budget crunch, however, the need for financial support is IMMEDIATE!

I ask each of you to consider making a donation to the Pantry, small or large, in the next few weeks. Whatever you can afford will be greatly appreciated. Feel free to stop by the Pantry or call Gene Sims (972-293-2822) if you have questions or want to be a part of this important effort. If you want to mail a check you can send it to the CH Food Pantry, P.O. Box 2694, Cedar Hill TX 75106.

Thank you for considering my request. Once again, any amount will be helpful. All donations are tax deductible.

Sincerely,
Patricia Deeds
President- Executive Board of Directors
Cedar Hill Food Pantry

Please help if you can. For more information, please visit the Cedar Hill Food Pantry website at http://cedarhillpantry.org/.

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