Hi folks,

After this weekend, the voting will begin.  Voting is at the Highland Village City Hall and you can vote from 8 AM to 5 PM from April 28 through May 2.  On May 5 and 6 the times are 7 AM to 7 PM.  May 10, election day, the voting lasts again from 7 AM to 7 PM and the results will be available by 8 PM that evening.  

I have presented over the last 6 or 7 days what I see as issues for Highland Village, solutions to those issues, and a vision for our future.  I have discussed these thoughts with many of you either by email or in person.  I am hoping that I have convinced you that I am the candidate that is worth your support and you will not only vote for me but will also tell others to do the same.  We will travel a road together not separately after this election.  A coalition of a city council and involved residents is an unbeatable combination. We will involve each other to keep Highland Village problems to a minimum and maximize our positive direction.  We will be successful together and continue to build the best community in North Texas.  Thank you in advance for your support.

Two more days before early voting starts.  Please vote for the one candidate that is doggedly determined to do a good job as Mayor, Fred Busche.  

Hi folks,

This will be the last in this series of blogs started a little over a week ago but maybe one of the most important.  I will try to present below how I think our city council should run and be recognized?  

We are a Council - City Manager form of government as defined by our charter.  This means that there are 7 members of Council all with one vote on any issue.  Council Place 1 is designated as Mayor.  The only things assigned to the Place 1 or Mayor position that are different than any other Place on Council are that the Mayor is responsible for chairing the meetings, is the ceremonial head of the city, and is the contact for the Governor in a time of emergency.  Our Mayor does not veto,  Our Mayor  should not set the agenda.  Our Mayor is not responsible for the outlook for the future.  Our Mayor does not set policy for the city.  Our Charter designates the Council for these duties. 

The Highland Village Charter approach to government means that each individual Council member brings leadership in areas that they wish to lead.  When I was on Council I served as the lead for transportation.  Brian Fiorenza has taken the lead for environmental issues.  Scott McDearmott has taken the lead for health of our citizens in particular with respect to obesity and exercise.  He has also been our contact with the fine arts folks.  Don Combs has been the leader with respect to a possible library and our expert on making sure that we evaluate issues completely before deciding on a course of action.  Austin Adams is the leader with respect to adherence to the Look and Feel of our city and our expert with respect to the past.  Louis Robichaux has been the leader with respect to always being wary of waste in expenditures.  Jon Carlin has brought leadership with respect to the analysis of developer submissions.  Obviously all should be involved in final decisions that are made on any  issue but the point is that all Council members contribute,  all Council members  lead, all Council members are extremely important for our future.

I would like to make the leadership concept discussed above a bit more obvious in the future by returning to a Council that is recognized for what it does and I guess sometimes maybe does not do such that  recognition is shared by the whole Council on projects not just to the person that happens to be in Place 1 or Mayor.  I am hoping to help others on Council get the visibility that they deserve for what they do on a regular basis.  The success of the Council is based upon the expertise of all its members, not just one which requires that the recognition for progress should be given to all and not just one.

Early voting is now three days away starting Monday at 7AM.  Please vote and I hope that I have convinced you that the right candidate to choose for your new Mayor is Fred Busche.  Thanks for listening.

Hi again,

I thought I would address the issue of the environment that governs the interchange of information that appears to exist between our citizens and our city leaders.  I mentioned in an earlier blog how interesting it was that there are so many things that one learns when one talks to the residents of the city during a campaign.  Signs are not important but it does seem like conversation is.  There were numerous things that were uncovered during the rounds that I have been making to talk to folks that showed that our citizens for the most part are not comfortable bringing things to the city's attention.  This includes things that they are concerned about that a conversation with the Council or to individual Council members would help to improve.  Maybe we do not foster an environment favorable for the communication to take place? 

I can see two ways for this communication to improve.  One is to make the visitors comments period and public hearings that are held at Council meetings a more friendly interchange of information.   When I become Mayor we will make all the changes that we can to make these experiences more cordial within the limits put upon us by State law governing these state regulated interchanges.  We will change what we can and explain why we cannot change what we can't. 

To foster a more proactive exchange outside the Council chambers, I will increase the visits that I will make and urge the other members to do likewise, outside the Council chambers to HOAs and other community gatherings.  No, it will not mean that you will only see me or always see me.  I will urge our other Council members to attend these meetings also but without the presence of the Mayor.  The Mayor has only one vote on any issue just like everyone else so all hopefully will feel a need to visit folks on their own turf. 

Voting begins April 28 only 4 days away.  Polls are open 7 AM to 7 PM.  Please vote and I hope that the vote will be for me such that we can put in office a person that is doggedly determined to be one that you can communicate with as Mayor.  

Hi all,

Today I want to have a short discussion about the city environment with respect to citizen's concern for each other.  

We have had some issues in this City over the last 7 years or so that have included Park land purchases that were proposed for purchase in 2003, "The road" 2499, Brazos landscaping, and Walmart.  The disagreements between citizens as to what path to take became rather heated  in all cases.  The vote for park land became very heated because there was a sense at the time that the Council was trying to stuff the purchase down the throat of the residents by issuance of bonds without a vote of the citizens.  We learned from that and other than the extra money that was necessary to complete the Fire Station, we have not gone down the CO path again. 

I don't think it makes sense to dredge up all the old cases mentioned above but I do think that we have to get to the point in this City that we do not have sides but only at times differences of opinion.  Controversy is healthy.  Personal attacks are not.  The City Council and the citizens must come to a way of discussing issues such that it does not get personal.  The negative approach solves nothing and only opens up wounds that sometimes last a very long time.  We now are faced with trying to cope with a road that no one really visualizes other than a few and the way that the information should be communicated so that all know what our new road will look like.  We are also faced with new development on the NE side of town and the uncertainty that exists with respect to that development.  Both issues demand citizen involvement.  Finally, we may have some air pollution issues that we need to all get behind and understand.  If we do not begin to change the way that we interact with each other, the environment of cooperation within the City will not foster the village atmosphere that we should expect to have.

I promise to do what I can in consort with the current Council to help mend the wounds that exist and bring us into a time of better cooperation to solve problems.  Early voting starts on the 28th of April that is only five days away.  Please vote.  I hope I will have your support to rebuild the trust between our citizens such that we all work together to continue to build our community relationships such that we can all can continue to have a wonderful place to live.

Hi folks,

 As most of you probably know today is Earth Day.  This is the day that we assess and ponder our Earth's health.  We talked yesterday about the physical health of our little corner of the Earth.  Ask for paper rather than plastic at the store or better yet, use a reusable fabric bag to carry home your groceries today to help the Earth on its day. 

What does our economic environment look like for the future?  It is bright if the new shopping areas are successful.  Barring no unforeseen downturns in the economy, in a few short years we will pay back through tax abatement the cost of building the water, street, park areas, and sewer that the developers constructed for us. We know that because of the way our debt is structured that this year will be a good one for Highland Village.  Our sales tax revenue will approach 14%.  This is an increase from three years ago when our total sales tax revenue was about 7%.  Next year there will be a bit of a decrease in our reserve fund due to the way that our debt is structured but this will then increase for the next two to three years thereafter. 

How on earth do I know this?  I was on Council when we put together a 5 year plan two years ago. This plan has not had to be modified due to the conservative predictions for the future that our Council put in place at that time.  What does that mean to you?  It is unlikely that there will be any property tax rate increases for the next three years.  When will there be a tax roll back due to the increased revenue from sales tax?  If we are careful with our expenditures, there is no unanticipated downturn in the economy, we do not spend our new found wealth on costly projects that are not needed, we should expect some tax relief in about two years.  No guarantee, but hopefully we will be there at that time. Bottom line is that due to the Council membership that has existed over the last 2 to 3 years including yours truly, spending has been focused upon support for our infrastructure and increased fire and police needed to protect our new shopping areas.  This means that we may soon be able to talk about property tax decreases.

One of the ways of insuring that you have a choice in how we run this City and the right to complain when things are not carried out in a manner that addresses our economic realities, is to vote.   I will do all that I can to work with my fellow Council members to insure that we exercise fiscal  responsibility.  However, if you do not vote or the election puts in place one of my opponents, then I will not have a chance to work for you to help insure that we maintain an economically healthy environment.

Early voting starts on Monday the 28th of May, only 6 days away.   Please exercise your right to vote for good and honest Council leadership.  I am doggedly determined to do a good job for you.

Hi folks,

 As I am sure many of you know about and probably been frustrated by road construction that is occurring in and around Highland Village.  This road construction will cause some changes to occur in our physical environment.  Air quality deterioration may be one of those effects. 

As result  of the expansion to 18 lanes of I35, we will be faced with 220,000 cars a day traversing our east side.  This is an increase from our 90,000 cars a day that use I35 presently.  In addition, 407 will increase from what is currently around 20,000 cars a day to around 35,000 cars a day and 2499 will increase from around 9,000 cars a day to 34,500 cars a day.  This increase in traffic will occur from about two years from now until about 10 years from now.  What will be the effect of this increase in traffic on our air quality?

I don't know what the answer is to the question above but I have a suggestion on how we might be able to determine what it might be.  If we are able to arrange a cooperative agreement between HV and the UNT Environmental Sciences department to start monitoring our air quality near those roads now, we can make some estimates about the future.  This gives us a means of documenting the effect of the expansions and arguing for relief from the deterioration of our air quality.  Without evidence, we have no data to base our arguments upon.  I have already started the process and our City Manager is in the process of arranging for talks about an analysis to take place.  I wonder if it costs a few dollars on our part whether our present Council will appropriate those dollars without some urging?

As a result of the construction that will take place eventually on the west side with 2499, we will have probably the greatest change in our physical environment.  Alas, we do not have any representation of what that environment change will look like other than assurances,  some sketches, and the engineering drawings.  I proposed over a year ago while on Council that we should make a video rendition from the engineering plans such that we all can not only see what the road will look like but can make some suggestions for changes or additions.  We are now redesigning our logo because that seems to be a higher priority expenditure.  It is a shame that we have misplaced our concern so much from possible impacts to our village life style due to a fear that someone might use our logo without our permission.

I will do what I can to convince the Council to look at factors that may be detrimental to  our physical environment but the only way that this can happen effectively is if you vote for me as your representative on Council as Mayor.

Early voting begins a week from today at 7AM.  I hope that you will decide that voting for me will result in putting on Council as Mayor one who has a great concern about changes that may dramatically effect our lives.   

Hi folks,

I wanted to spend a bit of time today discussing my vision for the future of Highland Village.  It is a mixed outlook that I hope we can turn into a rosy outlook.

1. We need to make sure that we are not blinded by the money that potential development could bring and ignore the residents that might be impacted by that development.  If we involve our citizens by putting together citizen advisory committees before development occurs, we will successfully develop properties without adverse impact upon our citizenry.  

2.  We must not squander the new found wealth as a result of the development that we have all worked very hard to put in place on trivial and costly pursuits that will not show a demonstrable  benefit to our citizens.  New logos may be nice but we still don't really know what our new road will look like.

3. We must become sensitive to the preservation of our environment whether it be physical or social.  We need to assess alternative energy sources for our power for the city.  We need to assess alternative means of involving our citizens in our processes.  We must beautify our city with a greater appreciation for the use of indigenous plants as well as other natural materials.

4.  When one comes to a City Council meeting the Council must make them comfortable rather than impose rules with respect to how long it will take for them to discuss a problem with us.  That is what communication is about and within the law a visit to the Council must be more of a two way interchange not encumbered by local rules.

5. We have the safest City in North Texas.  We must now strive to be the most friendly, environmentally aware, and sensitive to the desires of our whole community.  This approach is the only one that will be successful in protecting the quality of life that we have.  We can do this by striving to all be pulling in the same direction and patient with opinions that may be different than our own.  

This is my vision for our future.  The five principles presented above will guide my role as your Mayor.  No more sides.  Much more compassion.  Greater concern about protecting what we have.  

Early voting begins a week from Monday (8 days from now).  Please vote to guarantee a bright future and a clear vision for our future.  I ask you to vote for me and I will serve you well.