The Forney City Council held their first monthly meeting on February 4, 2014, and presented several awards, held a work session for a Forney Arts Council grant, real estate purchases, and speed limit changes.
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The City of Forney Finance Department received another award from the Government Finance Officers Association for their excellence in reporting their annual audit report. Mayor Darren Rozell presented the award to Director of Administrative Services Leigh Corson, Assistant Finance Director Deborah Woodham, and Accountant Lisa Denman.
“Mrs. Corson and her staff do an admirable job,” said Mayor Rozell who also said the finance department has received this award for more than 10 straight years.
Forney Police Department officers Sandra Rankin and Shane Ball received life saving awards for their actions on December 19, 2013, in preventing a suicidal teenager from jumping from the Pinson Road Bridge. Read more on this story here.
Forney Parks and Recreation Director Richard Curry provided the council with an update on adult softball. The parks board held a meeting on January 15, 2014, where the stepping stones for an adult softball league were laid in place. The league will have assistance from the Forney Youth Baseball Association in the beginning stages. A proposed adult softball league will run in July and August. For more on this story click here.
The Forney City Council held a lengthy work session on a proposed $150,000 grant to the Forney Arts Council. The grant would be used toward purchasing the historic Reagin House on South Bois D'Arc Street to be used as the new home of the Forney Arts Council.
Comments were made for and against the grant including several council members' concern about setting the arts council up for failure if their business plan fails. Council member Andy Parker approached the issue with an intent on preserving the Reagin House and noted the arts council would be a good candidate to keep the house as part of Forney's history. If approved, the city would grant the money from the Community Benefit Fund. The council is expected to vote on this during their February 18, 2014, council meeting.
The council members unanimously approved meeting minutes from the Januray 21, 2014, Forney City Council meeting.
Forney Economic Development Corporation (EDC) Director Kim Buttram informed the city council they would no longer be seeking to purchase 110 East Main Street after the property owner rescinded their offer to sale the property and adjacent land for $400,000. When asked why, Buttram explained, “The property owner was ready to sell so he sold it.”
The Forney EDC would have purchased the building with a recently passed bond measure aimed at purchasing downtown properties, some of which were not in great physical shape, in order to stimulate downtown revitalization. 110 East Main Street sold to another property owner on East Main Street.
The Forney City Council then voted to approve an ordinance change altering the prima facie speed limits on Farm-to-Market (FM) 548. Speed limits will be reduced on FM 548 in the business corridor, along FM 548 to the northern city limits, and along FM 548 to the south near Melody Lane. For more on this story read here.
After an executive session, the Forney City Council announced two appointments to the Planning and Zoning Commission. The appointments include Kathryn Coffman and Susan Seabolt to two vacant positions with unexpired terms.
“Mrs. Corson and her staff do an admirable job,” said Mayor Rozell who also said the finance department has received this award for more than 10 straight years.
Forney Police Department officers Sandra Rankin and Shane Ball received life saving awards for their actions on December 19, 2013, in preventing a suicidal teenager from jumping from the Pinson Road Bridge. Read more on this story here.
Forney Parks and Recreation Director Richard Curry provided the council with an update on adult softball. The parks board held a meeting on January 15, 2014, where the stepping stones for an adult softball league were laid in place. The league will have assistance from the Forney Youth Baseball Association in the beginning stages. A proposed adult softball league will run in July and August. For more on this story click here.
The Forney City Council held a lengthy work session on a proposed $150,000 grant to the Forney Arts Council. The grant would be used toward purchasing the historic Reagin House on South Bois D'Arc Street to be used as the new home of the Forney Arts Council.
Comments were made for and against the grant including several council members' concern about setting the arts council up for failure if their business plan fails. Council member Andy Parker approached the issue with an intent on preserving the Reagin House and noted the arts council would be a good candidate to keep the house as part of Forney's history. If approved, the city would grant the money from the Community Benefit Fund. The council is expected to vote on this during their February 18, 2014, council meeting.
The council members unanimously approved meeting minutes from the Januray 21, 2014, Forney City Council meeting.
Forney Economic Development Corporation (EDC) Director Kim Buttram informed the city council they would no longer be seeking to purchase 110 East Main Street after the property owner rescinded their offer to sale the property and adjacent land for $400,000. When asked why, Buttram explained, “The property owner was ready to sell so he sold it.”
The Forney EDC would have purchased the building with a recently passed bond measure aimed at purchasing downtown properties, some of which were not in great physical shape, in order to stimulate downtown revitalization. 110 East Main Street sold to another property owner on East Main Street.
The Forney City Council then voted to approve an ordinance change altering the prima facie speed limits on Farm-to-Market (FM) 548. Speed limits will be reduced on FM 548 in the business corridor, along FM 548 to the northern city limits, and along FM 548 to the south near Melody Lane. For more on this story read here.
After an executive session, the Forney City Council announced two appointments to the Planning and Zoning Commission. The appointments include Kathryn Coffman and Susan Seabolt to two vacant positions with unexpired terms.