ST9302-CS 940827WAYNE & DELMA CAw.,
300 DAKOTA LANE
COPPELL,TEXAS 75019
August 27, 1994
M.4YOR TOM MORTON
COPPELL CITY COUNCIL
TOWN CENTER
255 PARKWAY BL
COPPELL, TX. 75019
Dear Mayor Morton:
Last week my wife and I viewed the City Council meeting and were particularly
interested in the discussion that centered on the expansion of Sandy Lake Rd.,even though our
residence is not directly affected. I would appreciate a few minutes of your time Mr. Mayor
and that of the City Council so that my wife and I can share with you our comments.
Specifically, my wife, our son Sean and I relocated to the Metroplex area almost two
years ago, in my line of business relocation is not unusual so we've lived in several major
market cities in and out of the continental United States over the past twelve years. When we
decided to accept this new assignment we made another decision, to establish roots and make
the Dallas/Fort Worth area our permanent home. Since we have lived in other parts of the
country, we had the benefit of those experiences to draw upon in selecting the area for our new
home and our new beginning but with a major differenc~ .... this time we wanted mor&
We researched different communities, compared their positive points and their
unfavorable ones, taking into consideration numerous factors with an emphasis on quality of
family life and sense of community. We drew on our past experiences, communities where we
once lived that are no longer the same because they sacrificed what made them unique and
attractive for us originally, as a result of unbridled growth and expansion. We decided that
Coppell was where we wanted to live, raise our son and where we would make a committment
to our neighbors and the community. We have not regretted our decision, Coppell is everything
we hoped it would be and much mora
This brings me back to last week's City Council meeting and the Sandy Lake project.
My wife and I were disturbed to hear the comments and views of several council members,
including the Mayor Pro Tern, on this issua Coppell's major east ? west thoroughfare is to
undergo a major face lift, be scarred for life by the placement of 90 -lOO foot TU Electric
towers and we hear .... "burying the lines will cost millions that could be put to better use for
our parks" or "why should we call a special election, the 1/2 cent tax issue was defeated and
only 120people voted." There seemed to be only one voice on the entire City Council that
recognized one very important issue, this is a community issue that will affect everyone that
lives here now and for many years to come, not just for the term of this City Council. We can
be disappointed that only 120 people voted on the 1/2 cent tax but the issue was decided in a
democratic process by our community. Perhaps the business' interests are disappointed with the
results but to use it as a benchmark for the Sandy Lake issue would be unfair to the residents
and tax payers of Coppell.
My wife and I respectfully suggest and recommend that the City Council schedule at
least three (3) town meetings that can be televised, just like the Cit.}, Council meetings, on this
issu~ Promote the meetings in the newspapers, on our community cable channel and request
public service messages on local television and radio stations. I serve on the Coppell Cable
Review Board, utilize it to maximize exposur~
The Casa family is a concerned community partner, we recognize the right of each
Coppell resident to express their views on subjects that affect or will affect the quality of life in
our community. The residents of Coppell should decide how their tax dollars are spent,
perhaps 7 million dollars to bury the power lines is more important than the expansion of
Town Center or other projects. We encourage you to exert a leadership role as Mayor in this
matter and we appeal to the entire City Council not to preempt the rights of Coppell residents.
Let our city government administer the decisions of its constituency, please don't anticipate
their decisions without the benefit of their input.
Jincerely,
tFay~ Casa and D