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ST9302-CS 940809P.O. Box 478 Coppell, Texas 75019 214-462-0022 August 9, 1994 Donna and Jeff Irizarry 720 Robin Coppell, Texas 75019 Re: Sandy Lake Road ST 93-02 Dear Mr. and Mrs. Irizarry: While reading the Citizens Advocate recently, I noticed a letter in which you questioned why the City has not been more proactive in addressing some of the street needs. In particular, you referenced Sandy Lake Road and Beltline Road. Because of the interest you have shown via the letter to the editor, this letter is written to bring you up to date on both projects. On June 22, 1993, the City of Coppell awarded a design contract to Rady and Associates to design Sandy Lake Road from MacArthur Blvd. to Denton Tap Road. This project will include the construction of the two inside driving lanes plus some additional wider paving on the outside lane to allow for the interaction of vehicles and bicycles. Also as part of the project, the City will be providing a very in depth irrigation and landscape plan along Sandy Lake Road. The City of Coppell has held four public meetings with the citizens adjacent to Sandy Lake Road concerning this project. Typically, between 150 and 200 notices are sent out to residents who live in the general vicinity of Sandy Lake Road and businesses adjacent to Sandy Lake Road notifying them of the public meetings. The public meetings are also advertised on the government access channel for the City of Coppell. We have had very good turn out at the public meetings and are currently through the process of designing the preliminary plans for Sandy Lake Road. Those plans should be presented to the City Council at the August 23rd City Council meeting. After Council approves the preliminary plans, the consultant will be authorized to proceed with the final design plans. There are still several obstacles to overcome such as right-of-way acquisition and the relocation of utilities. As you may be aware, on the south side of Sandy Lake is a major Texas Utilities transmission line. Also, the City of Dallas has a 30" water line in Sandy Lake Road that supplies water to Flower Mound. Approximately 5000 feet of that water line needs to be lowered with this project. Lone Star Gas also has a major gas line crossing at Moore Road that will need to be lower. Assuming that all right-of-way can be acquired and all utilities can be relocated, it is the City's intent to award this contract in the fall of 1995 for construction. The time for construction will be approximately 18 to 24 months. In conjunction with this project, in 1993 Dallas County awarded a contract to Sverdrup Corporation to design Sandy Lake Road from MacArthur Blvd. to the east city limits. Also, Dallas County awarded contracts to design the bridge over the Elm Fork of the Trinity River and to design Sandy Lake Road from the Elm Fork past 1-35 in Carrollton. I am not sure of the time table for the last two projects, but the County's portion of Sandy Lake in Coppell is on a similar timetable as the City's portion of Sandy Lake Road i.e., it is the County's intention to award a contract for the construction in the fall of 1995. There is also utility relocation and right-of-way acquisition on that project. Dallas County will be paying for the majority of the construction cost for that portion of Sandy Lake Road. I have also recently been in contact with Dallas County about the portion of Beltline Road from basically Denton Tap to MacArthur Blvd. For several years there have been questions about the future alignment of that section of Beltline Road. However, those issues have recently been resolved by the City of Coppell and to my understanding Dallas County has awarded a design contract for that portion of Beltline Road. I am sorry to say I do not know the timetable for that section of Beltline Road because its ultimate construction hinges on the construction cost of Sandy Lake Road that the County is currently designing. In the last County bond sale, Dallas County sold funds to construct Sandy Lake/Beltline Road. Their philosophy at this point is to design and award the contract for Sandy Lake Road and then determine how much funds are left and whether they are adequate to construct Beltline Road. If there are adequate funds, it is my belief that Beltline Road could be constructed in the next three to five years. If funds are inadequate, Dallas County has indicated that they would look to savings on other projects in Dallas County to see if funds could be reallocated for Beltline Road. I hope this information has addressed your concerns about Sandy Lake Road and Beltline Road. I will be happy to meet with you to discuss the project and review the plans in greater detail. If you have any questions please call me at 393-1016. Sincerely, Kenneth M. Griffin, P.E. Assistant City Manager/City Engineer cc: Jim Witt, City Manager file/kgriffin/720robin. Itt for AMPAD 23-02~ - 200 bETS EFFICIENCY~ 234~. ~OOSETS OJ~ONLFJ~ ~,oppe.. ']-ms means that my typical customer will pay approximately 70 cents more for a purchase. Custom- ers will come for overall quality of service and price to value. Retailers would rather not be subject to the increased sales tax, but they will understand that it is a small price to pay for the priviledge of having Cop- pell citizens as clientel. Mitch Reitman i$ n CoI~I City Council- man and wse formerly a membee of th~ Lila~ry ~ Commltt~ mhd th~ Ub- raw Ooalxl. H~ iea o~rtifi~, p,u~bl_i,o ng~oufllnfll nfld al~o owfl~ a r~tnu~m- n~ In Coplxdl. ~e a dull knife -- twin' to slow wn, I guess." noticed this time when the ss came to escort him up to ntral table he took the table ~ steak knife with him. lng outloud if there was a dessert Jeffrey Ball is news editor of the McKin- ney Messenger. ,.tters suse of public funds. As uto stated, many good pro- ould benefit from sales tax -~s. I encourage everyone to ; to this tax. Cynthia Towell Coppell hould look rivate funds Editor: when did a sales tax in- hold down" or reduce local , taxes? Coppell residents ~te no on the proposed half- sales tax increase. While the proposed projects are ile, those dtizens with their rojects should seek funding rate donatious. ~d school taxes are already nomic upturn, our city leaders should be working to reduce our loc- al property taxes and pay off our city s bond debt more quickly. This would enable our city to face the next downturn in a more stable financial condition, and the tax- payers and city employees won't feel the crunch as bad. The City with a Beautiful Future will still happen just a little more financially sound. Ji Gregory Winchester Coppell From 4A Coppell in need of more business To the Editor: We have been residents in Cop- pell since 1983. We are for improve- ments to the city of Coppell which includes parks, pool, biking trails, etc. However it would appear that we should take some of our tax dol- lars (which by the way have already been approved in prior years) and improve Sandy Lake Road and Belt Line Road which are absolutely atro- dous (Sandy Lake Road in particular is a death trap). Tax dollars have previously been allocated for these improvements to our city but results have yet to be seen. None of the improvements such as a ~}b~ trails, parks, etc. will be wOffit hay- Lng if they are not accessible and they won't be via Sandy Lake Road'. Coppell needs to prioritize its needs and it would appear that safety on our major roads should be our priority, not pools, parks, etc. ff we are to continue to grow at an accept- able rate, then accessibility for both homeowners and businesses is a must. Businesses in particular are ~v~ry critical so that we may increase our tax base. Attracting more businesses in Coppeql should be our priority and in return we would have enough money to put back into the , without raising the sales tax property tax. Irizarry Donna and Jeff Coppell 1'0 REFINANCE I,OANS previously n.~d lo buy thc home. Thc I)rogram allows vclerans lo reduce the rate and generally mqnires no pro~rty appraisal or m-qualii~ing. For example, the effect of reducing a current VA Ioaa with a 10 percent line,cst rate to 8.5% is to reduce the monthly payment by $08 un a $9(),(~X1 Io:m bahmce. "It is easy for the veterans to take advantage of the new V~ program," said Brian Thomas, Brar~ch Manager of South Central Mortgage. "It can all ~ done by mail and usually with no out-of-pocket cos[~ to the veteran." Veterans interested in information about refinancing their home loans can call Mitchell Skidmore.387-8525 or toll free (8(X)) 533-5626. steal~s and a glass of water," he said. We couldn't help but ov. grhear. After the waitress expla!~-''' the~ rules and went for a disclau,,er for him to sign we verbally reached out across the aisle and a conversation point in the near future where most of the best park land is no longer available. Some have expressed a concern about the make-up of the Corpora- tion and its propensity to become a "good old boys" system. I can assure you that the City Council, and, city management is honest and ethical, and will remain that way as long as the citizens of Coppell stay involved. The Council will appoint the seven board members of the Corporation. Of these seven, no more than four can be City Council members (although it is not a re- quirement that any board members be Council members). The City Council will advise the Corporation, but cannot direct its day-to-day affairs. To me the greatest challenge will be to provide for the needs of an increasingly diverse community with the somewhat limited funds awailable to the Corporation. As the owner of a retail business in Coppell, I have considered' the effect of the tax and I welcome it. My business has an average "ticket" of about $70, one of the highest in Coppell. This means that my typical customer will pay approximately 70 cents more for a purchase. Custom- ers will come for overall quality of service and price to value. Retailers would rather not be subject to the increased sales tax, but they will understand that it is a small price to pay for the priviledge of having Cop- pall citizens as cliental. Milch Reitman I~ · CopI)MI CitY Council- man Ind wa~/Mmerly I IlW o/the rary Board. He Is a certified pubs .c a~ounlanl and aMo ~ a reMII bum- ~ in CopI~IL I'O REFINANCE I,OANS i)reviously u.~d lo bny Ih¢ home. I Thc program allows veterans to[ reduce the rate and generally requires[ no property appraisal or re-qualifying.[ For example, thc effect of reducing a current VA loan with a 10 percent interest rate to 8.5% is to reduce the monlhly payment by $98 on a $90,(Xg) lo:tn balance. "it is easy for the veterans to take advantage of the new V~ program," said Brian Thomas, Brar~ch Manager of South Central Mortgage. "It can all be done by mail aud usually with no out-of-pocket costs to the veteran." Veterans interested in information about refinancing their home loans can call Mitchell Skidmore.387-8525 or toll free (8(X)) 533-5626. gave me a dull knife -- tom' to slow me down, I guess." We noticed this time when the waitress came to escort him up to the central table he took the table service steak knife with him. Letters strawberD' SIlOrtcaKe allCi ~oliuct- lng outloud if there was a dessert Jeffrey Ball Is news editor of the McKIn- ney Messenger. From 4A the mis~se of public funds. As Capezzuto stated, many good pro- jects would benefit from sales tax revenues. I encourage everyone to vote yes to this tax. Cynthia Towell Coppell We should look for private funds To the Editor: Since when did a sales tax in- crease "hold down" or reduce local property taxes? Coppell residents should vote no on the proposed half- percent sales tax increase. While many of the proposed projects are worthwhile, those citizens with their special projects should seek funding from private donatious. City and school taxes are already too high in Coppell. During this eco- nomic upturn, our city leaders should be working to reduce our loc- al property taxes and pay off our city's bond debt more quickly. This would enable our city to face the next downturn in a more stable financial condition, and the, tax- payers and city employees won t feel the crunch as bad. The City with a Beautiful Future will still happen ~ just a little more sound. financial152 Gregory Winchester Coppell Coppell in need of more business To the Editor: We have been residents in Cop- pelt since 1983. We are for improve- ments to the city of Coppell which includes parks, pool, biking trails, etc. However it would appear that we should take some of our tax del- iars (which by the way have already been approved in prior years) and improve Sandy Lake Road and Belt Line Road which are absolutely atro- cious (Sandy Lake Road in particular is a death trap). Tax dollars have previously been allocated for these improvements to our city but results have yet to be seen. None of the improvements such as a ~,b'fldng trails, parks, etc. will be wot~ti hav- ing if they are not accessible and they won't be via Sandy Lake Road'. Coppell needs to prioritize its needs and it would appear that safety on our major roads should be our priority, not pools, parks, etc. If we are to continue to grow at an accep~- able rate, then acceSsibility for both homeowners and businesses is a must. Businesses in particular are ,~v~ry critical so ~ we may increase our tax base. Attracting more businesses in COppSIl should be our priority and in return we would have enough money to put back into the without raising the sales Donna and Jeff Irizarry Coppell