{Accomplishments of 2023 compiled by John Cabrales Jr.}
Infrastructure
• In January, the Council approved a Project Agreement with Wise County that included the grinding of the old asphalt, applying base material, and laying asphalt to Wilson Court, Creasser Lane, a portion of Stewart Street, and the parking lot of the new city park. This project was completed on time and under budget.
• The Council also approved a Project Agreement with Wise County that included improvements to Graham Road that included just over 1,300 linear feet and took 30 loads of road base. This was needed to repair some erosion and other damage to the road.
• In February the Council authorized the submission of a 2023-2024 Texas Community Development Block Grant (TxCDBG) application to the Texas Department of Agriculture for up to $500,000. Latham Lane in the Chisholm Hills subdivision was selected for drainage work and road reconstruction. We got the Grant!
• The council awarded a contract to JR West Texas Construction for drainage improvements to Wilson Court and Creasser Lane in the Chisolm Hills subdivision. This project was completed on time and under budget.
• In March, the Council awarded a drainage improvement project for Stewart Street, and the City Park to 3H Concrete. This project was completed before the park construction project started.
• The City worked with TxDOT on the Feasibility Study for improvements to FM 407 from US81/287 to Bill Cook Road in Wise and Denton Counties.
• The public works crew installed various street signs around the city. We purchased a three-point auger that attaches to the back of the tractor and allows us to make the post hole quicker than a handheld auger. The signs were installed to the Texas Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices standards.
• The City purchased a 2023 ¾ ton crew cab truck and a 2023 one-ton crew cab truck for the Public Works department.
• Public works crew did a lot of street maintenance work in the Chisolm Hills subdivision. Specifically, they performed pothole repair and crack sealing on Hilltop Court, Lange Way, Branding Iron, and other roads. We have been using our Super Shot 60D Crack Seal Trailer and Hot Box trailer for these road projects.
• In October, staff met with Denton County officials to talk about needed road and drainage reconstruction for several roads including Dove Hollow, Sam Reynolds, South County Line Road, and B. Judge Lane. We are hoping to share the costs for these projects sometime in the future in order to handle the volume of traffic once Paloma Ranch, Constellation Lake, and Schoop Ranch developments get built out.
• In December, the Council awarded a contract for a drainage improvement project which involves the installation of drainage culverts and headwalls within the Chisholm Hills Subdivision, along Lange Way, Hilltop Trail, Aydelotte Court, and Chisholm Hills Drive. The awarded bid was lower than projected so this will be a cost savings to the bigger road project in the Chisholm Hills subdivision that will be bid in early 2024.
Facilities
• The public works crew repaired the gravel parking lot of the municipal complex. They also laid down gravel in the rear and side of Multipurpose Building to add additional drive space. The repair included adding more parking to the front of the Multipurpose Building and a laydown yard in the back. This project required eight (8) loads of flex base at approximately 25 tons per load. This will improve the mobility of vehicles in the municipal complex and will decrease the loss of gravel to stormwater runoff.
• They also installed bollards around the detention pond in the Municipal Complex in order to provide a safety barrier. And, they rewired the septic system and conducted other maintenance work to the municipal complex septic system.
• The public works crew tore down the old barn behind City Hall to make way for the new storage and secured lay down area. This capital project was approved in the Public Works Dept. budget, and also required the removal of four very large trees and metal fence, and filling and prepping the foundation for the installation of Conex boxes, and connection of electricity to the boxes.
• The City participated in an open auction for the “Tuesday Morning” corporate office due to their business closing. We won the bid for some chairs for the City Council Chamber and some chairs, wood filing cabinets and a table for the Conference Room. When the public works crew picked up the items, we were offered the opportunity to take any left-over furniture and other items not sold in the auction. The crew made several trips, and we were able to get thousands of dollars’ worth of furniture, chairs, cubicles for offices, and more.
Development
• In March, the Council approved a Specific Use Permit for a Recreation Vehicle and Boat storage facility on five (5) acres off Graham Road.
• In March, the Council approved an agreement with ATLAS Municipal Services, LLC to perform the City’s plan review and building inspections.
• The City made revisions and updated its Master Schedule of Fees.
• Staff have been working with the developer for Settlers Glen on their phase one construction plans. If you recall, this is a 157-acre development located north of FM 407, with ½ acre minimum single family residential lots. This development has a projected build out of 171 SF homes.
• The City held several meetings with the developers of Constellation Lake and Shoop Ranch, City of Justin Upper Trinity Regional Water District regarding obtaining water for these two developments. There are some logistical issues and timelines that are still needing to be worked out, but progress continues to be made.
• In November, the plats for Paloma Ranch Estates Phase 3A and 3B were approved and are in the process of being filed with the county. These phases include 173 single family homes and a water well for Aqua Texas.
• The City has started discussion with the Fairview Meadows Developer regarding their plans for “Fairview Meadows North”, which consists of 300 acres that are located inside the city limits, and inside their MUD. They are proposing two phases for this development for a total buildout of 228 single-family homes. In October they held a discussion with the council on amending the current Development Agreement to include raising MUD debt limit, options for reconstructing Pioneer Road sooner than later, and the possible construction of a park and trail system that will be dedicated to the City.
Administrative
• In January, the Council adopted a new fence ordinance because we did not have any regulations for fences. They also adopted a new Purchasing Policy, Social Media Policy, and Implemented a Vendor/Solicitation Registration Program. In February, they amended the Bee Keeping and Livestock sections of the Animal Ordinance. In June they amended the “Building and Construction Codes and Standards” by adding the “International Energy Conservation Code”.
• The City concluded the 2022 New Fairview Citizen Survey in January and received 90 responses. On February 3, the Council held a strategic planning retreat to review the results of the citizen survey, and drafted a vision statement, mission statement, core values, and strategic goals and objectives based on the input.
• In March, the Council adopted the Strategic Plan that preserves our rural heritage, seeks opportunities to partner with others, protects our residents, improves our public infrastructure, and manages the growth upon us. The Strategic Plan includes the City’s first ever Vision and Mission Statements, Core Values, and Strategic Goals and Objectives
• The City contracted with MHW Group, PC to conduct the annual audit for the 2020-21 and 2021-22 Fiscal Years.
• Because of the completion of the annual audits and good fiscal management the City received notice from S&P Global that our credit rating went from A+/Stable to A+ Positive. Credit Ratings are opinions about credit risk and about the capacity and willingness of an entity to meet its financial commitments as they come due.
• The City was asked by the Wise County Chamber of Commerce to host the March Mixer. The mixer provides an opportunity for current and future Chamber members to network and learn a bit more about their businesses.
• In April, the Council entered into an Agreement with Caprice Garcia for Municipal Judge, and with Antonio Gabilondo for Deputy City Attorney serving as a Municipal Prosecutor for our Municipal Court.
• The City co-hosted an Easter Breakfast and Egg Hunt with East Wise Fire and Rescue. This was the second year in a row that we have co-hosted this event with EWFR.
• The City turned 50 years old this year because we were incorporated on May 21, 1973. This was commemorated and celebrated by holding a Semi-Centennial Celebration on May 20. Numerous citizens and community partners attended. Mayor Tylor tracked down the families of our founding fathers and we honored them at the event. We also had great Texas BBQ with all the trimmings, ice cream, games, bounce houses, and music. We received Proclamations from Congressman Burgess, Senator Parker, Representative Stucky, and Wise and Denton Counties.
• In May, Mayor John Taylor, Council Member Harvey Burger, and Council Member Greene attended the Wise County Chamber of Commerce annual “Dinner with the Mayors”. Of the twelve cities in Wise County, eleven of the Mayors were present at the dinner and gave remarks on issues and opportunities for their communities.
• In June, the Council created a Farmers Market that will be held at the Municipal Complex. Staff are working on getting vendors to participate so that we will be ready for the April opening.
• The City transitioned to a new software system for General Ledger, Payroll, Municipal Court, Permits and Code Enforcement. This integrated system will allow for an easier payment processing solution that manages multiple users, cash drawers and end-of-day balancing.
• In August, the City Council issued $3.5 million in Certificates of Obligationfor needed drainage and road projects. The surveying and engineering design have been completed and these roads will be bid out in early 2024.
• In August, the City held our annual school supply drive to collect school supply donations to help New Fairview families who may be struggling financially to provide for their children.
• In September, the Council adopted the FY 2023-24 Budget that focuses specifically on addressing the City Council Strategic Goals and Objectives, and that decreased the property tax rate from the previous year.
• In October, the Council approved an update to the Capital Improvement Plan and to the Road Impact Fee.
• In October, the Council honored teachers as part of World Teacher Day. The Mayor presented Proclamations to teachers from Northwest ISD and Decatur ISD. A Proclamation was also presented to Mrs. Tamara Taylor, a long-time resident of New Fairview, who was recently named the top Family and Consumer Sciences Teacher in the State of Texas, and Teacher of the Year for Region 2.
• In November, the City hosted a Texas Commission on Environmental Quality public hearing regarding an expedited request on an application to obtain an air permit by Keystone Waste Solutions to provide residents an opportunity to learn more about this air permit application.
Public Safety
• We completed the installation of the extractor machine and commercial dryer that the City purchased in 2020 with Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) funds for the use by New Fairview Fire Rescue.
• In February, staff participated in Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR), Automated External Defibrillator (AED), and “Stop the Bleed” training. The training was provided by Deputy Chief Brandon Daugherty and Deputy Chief Brandon Sutter with Wise County EMS. One of our employees, Joshua Barnwell, actually ended up using the “Stop the Bleed” training at a mass shooting incident in Allen, Texas.
• In fact, Joshua Barnwell was recognized by the Texas Chapter of the American Public Works Association for actions of heroism above and beyond at the Allen Outlet Mall events on May 6, 2023.
• In September, the Council approved new contracts with New Fairview Fire Rescue and Justin Community Volunteer Fire Department, that included increases amounts from the previous year.
Parks & Beautification
• In February the Council created the city’s first Parks and Recreation Board on Keep New Fairview Committee and adopted some park rules and regulations. Members have already been appointed to this Board and the staff is already working on various projects with them.
• We held our four (4) city-wide cleanups this year and with the exception of one event, all the other events filled every dumpster.
• In March the public works crews removed a blight in the Chisholm Hillsneighborhood that has apparently been there for many years. Next to the water tank on Hilltop Trail is a city-owned tract of land that has a large mound of asphalt spoilage, concrete, trash, construction debris, trash trees and gravel. It appears that this area had turned into an illegal dumping area.
• The City continues to deal with illegal dumping in our community. In fact, on one occasion the public works team removed nearly an entire 30-yard dumpster worth of trash and debris illegally dumped along Sam Reynolds Road. This took an entire day, and five (5) trip loads in our dump trailer and the need to rent and pay for a 30 yard roll off dumpster.
• In September, the Keep New Fairview Beautiful Committee, City Council, and staff held the first ever clean up event. They cleaned up trash and debris along the southbound Hwy 287 frontage road and FM 407. Approximately 25 bags of trash, several tires, construction materials, and other debris were removed.
• In May we began construction of our first ever City Park. We held a Groundbreaking event in April and celebrated the Ribbon Cutting in October along with our “Trunk or Treat” event. We had a bounce house, snow cone truck, two face painters, a balloon caricature, and games for the event. There were also several public safety organizations present including: New Fairview Fire Rescue, Wise County EMS, Boyd PD, Wise County SO, Justin FD and Air Evac Lifeteam 68. We had a great turn out from the event.
Partnerships
• In February, the Council adopted Legislative Priorities for the upcoming Texas Legislative Session. The City worked with other Wise County cities to draft joint priorities that were then delivered to state legislators during the Wise County Legislative Days in Austin in March.
• We worked with the cities of Rhome and Justin to file joint comments with the PUC on the Oncor Electric proposed routes for a new double-circuit 345 kV transmission line from Rhome to Flower Mound.
• The City worked with the Fairview Meadows Home Owners Association to coordinate our permitting procedures and help educate the subdivision residents on all required permits.
• In July, the Council approved an Interlocal Agreement with the City of Boydfor us providing municipal court services for Boyd. This is the result of our Court Administrator, Susan Greenwood’s audit of the Boyd municipal court documents, cases, and finances, and the presenting of her findings to the Boyd City Council.
• Mayor Taylor and staff have been attending the Wise County Mayors Coalition meetings to discuss ways to work collaboratively. Currently, the group is exploring options to address future water sources that do not rely on groundwater. In November, the City hosted a meeting of this group where they received information from Upper Trinity Groundwater Conservation District on their recent study on Regional Water Supply and Facilities Planning.
• In September, the Council approved an Interlocal Agreement with the City of Boyd for police services including enforcement of city ordinances and traffic laws.
• There was an excellent turnout in December when we co-hosted the annual “Breakfast With Santa” event with New Fairview Fire Rescue. There was a train ride with Santa and eight bicycles were given away.