(HEATH, TX – Feb. 11, 2019) Rich Krause, current Heath City Councilman for Place Six as well as Mayor Pro-Tem for the City of Heath, has announced his intention to seek re-election.
When asked his goals for the future, Krause, a 24-year resident of Heath replied, “There is still work to be done to protect the vision of Heath held dear by its citizens. That vision includes high quality, low density developments, parks and open spaces that can be enjoyed by all residents, and unique commercial and retail development that enhances quality of life here in Heath but doesn’t upset the balance of rural charm that brought us here to begin with.”
Rich Krause, who also serves as the Park Board liaison to the City Council, recently spear-headed creation of the 2018 Parks, Recreation and Trails Master Plan. One of the most impactful changes to the Plan was the updating of the “Fee in Lieu of” amounts. This imposes a fee to be paid by developers who choose to “opt out” of the City’s requirements to donate land back to the city for parks. Thanks to the recent changes, the amount of money required to “opt out” has tripled and includes money for park equipment, additionally, those funds can only be spent by the city on parks. “Now,” says Krause, “we are putting our money where our mouth is, when it comes to increasing and improving our park land in Heath.” Krause was also instrumental in re-writing the new Comprehensive Plan for the City of Heath, assuring that future development adheres to the citizens’ low density wishes.
In addition to his work to ensure that Heath’s future is one that its citizens support, Rich continues his efforts to support and protect his neighbors by initiating public notice requirements for fence variances and engaging in health insurance and waste management negotiations to reduce tax payer burdens. When asked, however, what he thought his biggest contribution has been in his ten years on Heath’s City Council Rich said, “That is a difficult question to answer. The make-up and motivations of the Council have changed so drastically in recent years. Originally, I saw myself as an underdog fighting tirelessly to keep our beloved Heath from being developed within an inch of its life, but always in the minority.” Smiling, Krause continued, “But finally, real progress is being made to protect this city for its people, and I feel lucky to be a part of it. Being the most experienced on the Council in terms of city governance, however, gives me the unique ability to share what I’ve learned with newer Council men and women and allows for a continuity of leadership that helps us keep the foundation of our city strong as we build for our future.”
Rich Krause has seen Heath grow from a town of two thousand, to a city approaching eight thousand five hundred citizens. He laughingly admits that, while he has not been a resident of Heath for four generations, since moving here twenty-four years ago, he has brought four generations of the Krause family to Heath including his father, his two daughters, and their five children. Although Rich lost his beloved wife of thirty-four years, Heather, quite suddenly just over a year ago, he remains as intensely committed to the city of Heath as ever, knowing Heather would never want him to quit when there is still work to be done. Having volunteered his time in some capacity for the city of Heath since 1999, Rich is certain of one thing: “I am passionately dedicated to doing this job the way the citizens want it done, and for nothing other than the good of all of us as neighbors in this unique and charming city. I would appreciate your vote so that I can keep things moving in the right direction.”
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