Town hall meeting gives Stephenville residents opportunity to give input on improvement projects

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Stephenville's Director of Community Services Jeremy Allen addresses those attending Thursday's town hall meeting concerning the city's proposed capital improvement projects.

BY RUSSELL HUFFMAN
TheFlashToday.com

STEPHENVILLE (June 10, 2016) – Stephenville residents got their first chance at finding out more about proposed capital improvement projects and to offer ideas and suggestions of their own at a town hall meeting held at the recreation hall Thursday evening.

“This is about developing a plan that is comprehensive, organized and transparent,” Mayor Kenny Weldon said as he addressed those attending.

Weldon pointed to the recent census that showed Stephenville with a population of 21,640 as a need to get a plan in place. The North Texas Central Council of Governments has Stephenville in the top ten of the fastest growing cities in its area.

Laptops were at the ready for those who preferred to take the survey online.
Laptops were at the ready for those who preferred to take the survey online.

Director of Community Services Jeremy Allen explained the concept of the meeting which was to allow citizens to ask questions, gather information, offer their ideas and suggestions, and to take a survey that rated the importance of various capital improvement projects.

The meeting also allowed for input from various city employees like Police Chief Jason King, Fire Chief Jimmy Chew and Director of Public Works Nick Williams. Employees didn’t just offer input but had the information to back up the need.

While the East Side Sewer Project is an evident and important need — there are also many others of concern. One in particular for Williams is the need to increase the life of Stephenville’s landfill with the purchase of a shredder and trammel system.

The ability for Stephenville to shred items tires, roofing materials and more will reduce the burden on the landfill and can increase its life from 50-100 years. Williams doesn’t want to just start shredding new material, but when time allows he wants to dig up covered cells and shred the material in them as well.

“This system not only reduces the impact on the landfill, but also gives us the ability to recover ferrous metals to recycle and sell them,” Williams said.

Additionally, the trammel’s actions will separate dirt from landfill material and provide the cover material needed when cells are closed. That means no trucking in additional material and if Stephenville can find a buyer for shredded roofing (makes excellent asphalt material), tires and other erosion material it can also open up a new avenue of income.

Susie-g-Neblett-Dorsett meets with Director of Public Works Nick Williams during Thursday's town hall meeting.
Susie-g Neblett-Dorsett meets with Director of Public Works Nick Williams during Thursday’s town hall meeting.

If you missed Thursday’s town hall meeting you still have opportunities to give your input by attending a second meeting scheduled for June 16 at the Stephenville Recreation Hall from 6-7:30 p.m. You can also drop by Stephenville City Hall for a copy or use this link to go directly to the online survey https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/stephenville5yearcapital

Do you have suggestions of the Bosque River Trail? Don't miss the next town hall meeting June 16 to offer you suggestions on capital improvement projects in Stephenville.
Do you have suggestions of the Bosque River Trail? Don’t miss the next town hall meeting June 16 to offer you suggestions on capital improvement projects in Stephenville.

 

 

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