August 21, 2012 – There is a lot of news from City Hall – and it’s all good!
First, newly appointed City Manager Rick Crowley selected two current employees as his assistants: Finance Director Mary Smith and Municipal Services Director Brad Griggs – picked from a field of 160 applicants – will share the additional title of Assistant City Manager.
Following that news, the Collin County Humane Society took over operation of the city’s Animal Adoption Center on August 1.
Then, City Council agreed the fiscal 2012-2013 budget would require no property tax increase. In fact, we asked that staff reduce the existing tax rate to the calculation effective tax rate of 50.25 from 50.31 per $100 of valuation.
Also on the good news list is council’s approval of a contract for design and construction management of Downtown Rockwall. Work to transform the historic area is expected to start the beginning of next year.
Because of the hard work of Mary Smith and her staff and our city manager, council members were pleased to accept their proposed new budget that includes the hiring of four new police officers, two firefighters and a significant increase in funding for street repairs and maintenance operations. Thank goodness for sales tax revenues, the largest single source of revenue that funds city operations, which is expected to be up 9 percent this current fiscal year that ends Sept. 30. Keep shopping locally Rockwall!
I was very excited with Rick’s selection of two of our finest employees to fill the position of assistant city manager. Their combined knowledge of our community is as important as their proven abilities to successfully lead their respective departments.
Turning over the Animal Adoption Center to the Collin County Humane Society was a good proposal from our city manager that the council heartily agreed to accept. The city will continue to operate the Animal Services Department, which has moved to the city’s Service Center. Their duties will include picking up stray and dead animals and answering your calls when a “critter” crawls into your home! Operations will continue seven days a week at least 10 hours a day and when needed. TheCollinCountygroup will be responsible not only for animal adoptions but also for addressing the overcrowded conditions at the center and the problems related to sick animals. The contract even requires that money be refunded to the city if their expenses and revenue result in more than a 4 percent annual profit.
Each quarter, city officials will meet with the new operators, perform facility inspections and keep track of adoption rates and the euthanasia count. This change is certainly a new experience for us, but we believe it will be a successful one for everyone – including the animals.
Still more good news: the John King Overpass is completed and open as is the widened Airport Road; the widening of FM-740 (Ridge Road) from Horizon Road to Heath is nearing completion – really; things are hopping at The Harbor and in Downtown Rockwall; and we’re heading into cooler weather and a holiday season filled with exciting events.
WOW! What a great time for Rockwall. Let the good times roll!
By Rockwall Mayor David Sweet.
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