Mo Money

For the Trinity River Vision.  Check out the Fort Worth City council Agenda for the November 15, 10:00 a.m council meeting, lots of interesting stuff.  Several maps and lots of talk of expediting and increasing costs...

It is recommended that the City Council authorize the execution of Amendment No. 1 in the amount of $1,580,000.00 to City Secretary Contract No. 37013 with Kimley-Horn and Associates, Inc., for water and sanitary sewer main relocations for the Trinity River Vision-Central City Project and the Trinity Uptown City Project and the Trinity Uptown Service Area, Phase 2A on Main Street, Commerce Street, Channel Segment B, White Settlement Road, Beach Street and Gateway Site E, thereby increasing the contract amount to $4,113,113.00.

In order to expedite design and construction of the water and sanitary sewer improvements ahead of the construction of the TRV projects, the proposed water and sanitary sewer relocation project was divided into the following phases,

There is also a partnership for a voluntary clean up at the Police and Fire Training Academy between the TCEQ and the Tarrant Regional Water District.  

That has to be relocated for the Trinity River Vision too.  What's that going to cost? And what will it increase to?  WHO pays?

Money Pit

Fort Worth Fire Training Center

Two years ago, Clyde Picht asked WHO was going to pay to move the Fort Worth Police and Fire Training Academy that needs to be moved because of Trinity Uptown and the Trinity River Vision.

Think he knew the answer?

YOU do.

How much more?

It's only the beginning.

The "City Council Brief" article in the Fort Worth Star-Telegram could have been called "TRV wants more". 

Remember when our new mayor was on the campaign trail, one of the promises was Fort Worth would not spend a dime over the double digit millions (of OUR money) they already promised.  So, WHO will pay the $95 million for new facilities? WHY do we need new facilities?  Because the current ones are in the way of the Trinity River Vision.  WHO owns the land?  The Tarrant Regional Water District.  WHY?  YOU know the answer.  WHO wrote the Brief?  Bill Hanna, WHO else.

Kathleen Hicks says she is "worried" how the city will pay for it.  Isn't she on the TRV board?  And NOW she's worried?

Critics have long said the cost of the Trinity River Vision will be more than the $909 million dollars (of tax payer money) the project "leaders" have claimed.  The project pushers have called the critics "crazy".  Critics have asked the question about the fire and police training academy before.  Not so crazy now, is it? 

The current site was sold to the Tarrant Regional Water District as part of the Trinity River Project for $4.2 million, and the city bought four 250,000-square-foot warehouses at the Federal Depot in south Fort Worth for $6.4 million.

The city has an eight-year lease on the current site but doesn't have a way to pay for a new facility and could exercise options to stay a year or two longer, said Mark Rauscher of the planning and development department. But Rauscher noted that a new shooting range must be in place by the end of 2013. "At this point we have not identified a full funding plan for the police and fire training center," Rauscher said.

Fort Worth Double Standard

During the elections, you might remember a candidate (running against an incumbent) had a run in with some Fort Worth Bike Cops.  The local paper told you all about it, the incumbent even commented on it.  WHY didn't we see the incumbent's run in with the Fort Worth police/courts in the local paper?  Seems Sal Espino's wife was pulled over in 2009, she was then late to court in 2010, it caused some waves in Cowtown, but you never heard any of that.  WHY?  Did you hear Sal sent a letter saying he was going to get an audit and a sunset review for the department involved?  Yeah, us either.  Wonder WHY the "news" didn't mention any of that.

Watch the report on WFAA.com. 

Let's see - she was speeding, she was late to court, she may or may not, depending on WHO you believe, have said, "Do you know who my husband is?"  And the court needs to be audited??

WHY would the media not tell you this last year?  Prior to the election?

Question

Why would Bud Kennedy not mention one of the new police buildings in Fort Worth that he is complaining about is due to the Trinity River Vision taking the land for their boondoggle?  Which YOU will also be paying for.  Even the cops aren't exempt from eminent domain here in the Eminent Domain Capital of the U.S., but at least they get a shiny new building out of it. 

Read Bud Kennedy's latest in the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.

Texas Lone Star proudly supports local law enforcement and would rather see our tax dollars going to them than to the Trinity River scheme.

Timing is everything

Kathleen Hicks was voted out as Fort Worth Mayor Pro Tem during the packed council meeting Tuesday night. (The council wasn't packed for that reason, it was packed due to the police raid on the Rainbow Lounge.) Hicks says she was unaware of this development and claims it is due to getting cross ways with Mayor Moncrief. What will happen if the "Fort Worth Way" is used on it's own? Will Hicks talk? After all that's taken place, will anyone believe her?

As for Fort Worth police raids, Durango, "The Outlaw" had himself a run in with Fort Worth's finest today. He has a very valid point. (And a ticket).

I tell you, you people of Fort Worth, this is the corrupt system you get when only 6% of you turn out to vote for your city government. This town needs a revolution and a cleaning up of a very corrupt house.

North Richland Hills Police Fourth of July

Yesterday we saw a North Richland Hills police officer on the side of the road in 101 degree heat changing a flat for a teenage girl. We were reassured there are still good guys out there and some wear a uniform and a badge.

Thanks to that officer for taking care of one of our kids, it takes a village...and sometimes a hero.

Thanks to our troops and those that have contributed to our freedom in this spectacular country. Remember why we celebrate, and appreciate the fact that we can.

Happy 4th to all.