2006 Elections changed Bullard:
City sees changes as growth continues
By Lori Thomason
Some never saw it coming, but others - like Pierre DeWet and A.W. Hines - knew better.

The city of Bullard created its an in-house public works department in 2006 -- enabling quicker repairs and eliminating the need for costly contracting services.

The two developers are responsible for some of the most significant residential development in the past few years.

When Hines first relocated to Bullard - he immediately saw the potential. With developments around the state, he saw Bullard as untapped and ripe territory for growth.

Over the past five years, residential construction has boomed, and appraised property value has almost doubled.

As Bullard steps into 2007, one has only look at the past year to see signs of a sleepy town coming to life.

Bullard City Manager said he expects the growth to be steady.

"We have five subdivisions either platted or under construction in Bullard and its ETJ (extra territorial jurisdiction)," Morgan said. "And with that, we've seen a resurgence in growth in Windsor Estates and Pecan Valley."

But growth doesn't come without struggle.

From left, Sam Smith, Dr. John Alexander and Darren Davis announce -- in a press conference -- the committee "FOR Bullard ISD." The group, comprised of several volunteers spent countless hours going door to door, handing out pamphlets and recruiting votes to pass the $28.5 million bond proposal for Bullard ISD. The voters approved the measure in May, and preliminary work is already under way. School superintendent Jim Wright said the first item on the list is a new elementary campus.

And that struggle - for both the city and the school district - is keeping up.

"There are cities that allow growth to happen to them, and there are cities who plan for it," said Mayor Pro Tem A.W. Hines. "We are working to get ourselves ahead of the curve, so Voters approved at $28.5 million bond package -- allowing the school to build a new elementary campus and make upgrade to existing facilities.

Voters passed a resolution to allow the city to collect an additional 1/2 cent sales tax. This -- with the creation of an economic development corporation -- will help the city provide the infrastructure to keep Bullard growing.

For the first time in history, Bullard not just one -- but three women on the city council. New council members Stacey Thompson and Teresa Adams-Wilks joined current council members Pam Frederick, Rodger Johnson and A.W. Hines.

Smith County voters approved the creation of an emergency services district -- which will go toward funding area volunteer fire fighters. Bullard Chief Keith Newburn said it was a dream, long-awaited -- come true. we can welcome those who want to be annexed into the city, and keep Bullard prosperous for us all.

At left and above, Bullard High School honors veterans with a special ceremony for Veteran's Day. BISD has a program honoring those who served in the military every year.

"The future of Bullard is bright, but it's not happened overnight," he said.

People are, according to statistics, comes from people working in Jacksonville and Tyler looking for a safer, smaller, rural setting with low crime rates and well-rated schools.

"As Tyler continues to grow south, and especially with the building of Loop 49, we should see faster growth in 2007 in the city - but we - as a council and as a community - must work to keep up with the growth," Hines said.

The city worked hard last year, implementing plans, securing financing, and Morgan expects 2007 to be the year these plans come into fruition.

In early 2006, city engineer completed code and ordinance regulations - something that hadn't been updated in more than 20 years.

The next project was to address the dire infrastructure needs.

In April, the council asked its fellow member and financial advisor Rodger Johnson to head a committee to solve these issues.

The group held its first meeting and wasted no time poring over city finances.

"We've done our research, and we've got a figure the city could afford to pay to improve our water and wastewater treat- -ment facilities," Johnson said.

The council agreed to issue certificates of obligations in the amount of $3 million. This money is currently being used to design an overhead water storage facility, drill more wells and bring the city's wastewater plant back to better standards.

Bullard's current sewer treatment plant is under EPAmandate to bring up to code, and Morgan believes they are just about there.

Once an inside crew was hired, and myriad problems were discovered and fixed, it wasn't as big a job as they had once suspected.

"Hiring an inside crew was a great decision by the council," Morgan said. "By ridding ourselves of costly and sporadic contracting, we've been able to get a handle on the problems and even fix a majority of them."

Johnson agreed the move was a good one.

"W can't just keep patching things," Johnson said. "That benefits no one.

"When we increase the ability to provide water and sewer and begin annexing more subdivisions, we earn more in property taxes.

But, he said, it's important to keep in mind the ancillary benefit, too.

"By cause and effect, we get better roods, better parks and better recreational facilities," he said. "Which, of course, bring more good, taxpaying citizens."

Hines, Johnson and the rest of the council agree on one thing, too.

"None of this could have been done without a professional city manager," Hines said.

Morgan was lured away from Jacksonville in 2005 - where he served as the president of the economic development council and the chamber of commerce.

Morgan seems to feed on the challenges, and the residents see a difference.

The city voted in November 2005 to change Bullard's government to a council manager form - one most professional cities use.

Since then he's been working systematically to solve the citizen's problems and plan for growth.

In one such incident - an area with inadequate water lines - Morgan himself called a meeting to address the problems with the residents and tell them future plans to alleviate them.

Following the meeting residents Judy Richmond and Lori Rumbelow were optimistic.

"A few years ago, all we ever got was flagrant dismissal from city hall," Richmond said. "It looks good that they are willing to meet with us and discuss this.

"City hall was never open to meeting with us before."

Rumbelow concurred.

"They listened to us - which is unusual. The difference in this administration and the last is like night and day."

Councilwoman Pam Frederick - who was at that meeting - told the residents: "You've got a new government, and we've got a new attitude."

And Frederick should now. When she ran for council, she'd never before considered running for office. But her frustration with the city, and the feeling that her concerns were falling on deaf ears changed her mind.

"When I pulled up to my first council meeting, it was like a burden had been lifted from my shoulders - I knew this was the right thing," she said.

Frederick has been working all year on a sweeping revitalization of the downtown area. And while current setbacks - namely TxDOT nixing the millions in enhancement grant money for such projects - was a disappointment. Frederick is nothing if not determined.

She's been working for years revitalizing O.L. Ferrell Park, and this year she saw part of her dream realized.

The city was able to buy - with the help of a grant from Texas Parks and Wildlife - new playground equipment. And citizens chipped in to buy new benches and tables for the park.

Morgan said her efforts have been exhausting and admirable.

"Every growing city needs long-rang planning for a park system," he said. Parks are essential elements of thriving cities, and it's important to maximize our park's potential to help create a community that enriches people's lives," he said.

Frederick said the park's revitalization is part of an essential puzzle.

"When people look to relocate, they look at three things first," she said, "housing, the school systems and the park system.

"We've got the former, and we're still working on the last,"

In May, the council added two new faces - female ones.

Stacey Thompson and Teresa Adam-Wilks both won seats in the election. Former councilman Gary Watkins resigned, because he was relocating outside the city limits. Former councilman Todd Thoene lost his seat.

Thompson has been busy behind the scenes - helping the city research and secure more grants. And Wilks has been working closely with Smith County Commissioner JoAnn Fleming - creating a neverknown cooperation between the county and the city.

If Bullard continues on the track it's going - with commercial sites following the growth - people won't recognize the town that fewer than 10 years ago had a population sign of about 800.