Proposed construction at Rowlett Rd and Miller Rd

An Op/Ed by TexasFred concerning the meeting to discuss the proposed housing project being affectionately referred to as Balch Springs on the Lake

Well, the meeting went off as planned, even if it was a bit late getting started.

It seems that the developer hadn’t anticipated the number of people that were in attendance. The room was set up for less than 40 people, at least twice that many showed up, some estimates said close to 100 people attended.

This meeting was a disaster right from the start. The developer had a very mild, very muted voice, and then they didn’t have a working microphone system for the best part of the meeting.

The A/C wasn’t doing it’s job for a crowd this size. Tempers were short and opinions were plentiful.

And what kind of a HOST throws a little get together in TEXAS, especially a HOST that’s wanting the approval of those in attendance? And doesn’t even offer up some kind of refreshments?

I mean, not a cup of coffee, not a bottle of water, not anything. And they held the meeting right at supper time too! Where I come from, that’s just down right inhospitable, and bad manners to boot.

The developer and his associates ran through their presentation, and were challenged at nearly every turn.

One of the assistants asked that we NOT question Mr. Holcomb, the developer, until AFTER he had had his say.

The questions persisted, some folks were highly agitated at these proceedings, and this same assistant again asked that ALL questions be held until after Mr. Holcomb was done speaking, except this time, she was obviously a bit angry. Body language and facial expression says a lot…

After Holcomb was through talking, the questions began in earnest, and to put it bluntly, the answers we received were less than satisfactory. Smoke, mirrors, deflection, generalities, *plants* in the audience to oppose anyone that had HARD questions.

Great tactics, if you’re dealing with MORONS…

There were some excellent questions asked by the residents of Rowlett. Serious, thought provoking questions. Well formulated questions that were well thought out and presented in a professional manner.

The answers TO those questions were, shall we say? Less than professional? All in all, Mr. Holcomb and Company handed out a HUGE line of B.S. at this meeting.

In MY opinion, this was the most unprofessional BUSINESS meeting I have ever seen! These clowns brought a steak knife to a gunfight! As ANY gun person can tell you, you just don’t take a knife to a gunfight!

This isn’t over, it’s a long ways from over, but the developer and his group of stooges now know, Rowlett is a buzz saw if the right buttons are pushed, and this matter has to get by the planning and zoning folks, then, if I understand it correctly, the Rowlett City Council.

The only question I asked was, WHAT is this going to do to our property values here in Rowlett? What can the home owner expect to see happen to their property value if this 4 story debacle defaces the landscape of our fair city?

They didn’t have an answer for that one, BUT, one of the aforementioned *plants* got up to tell me how she had 20 some odd years in the apartment management business and she KNEW that property values did NOT go down.

This *plant* cited her creds in the apartment mangers business and stated that SHE was from Chicago and had extensive experience in that market. I have to wonder? What was an apartment manager from Chicago doing at a Rowlett citizens meeting if she was anything other than a *plant*?

I asked her what proof she had to that matter. Did she have an in-depth study that had been conducted? Did she have a recent survey of this area that had determined this to be true? Was there anything in BLACK and WHITE that could be presented in evidence to back up her statement?

She, and I say SHE because SHE remains unknown to me, anyway, SHE told me that I would have to accept HER word and HER professional opinion as a fact.

I then informed HER that if SHE had NO hard proof, no substantiating facts with citation, all she had was an opinion, and everyone in that room had an opinion…

SHE shut up, I never got MY question answered and the meeting broke up with a lot of very pissed off Rowlett citizens leaving the meeting shaking their heads and vowing that this project would NEVER get off of the ground!

It was heard said, by quite a few, that ANY council person that supported this project would currently be enjoying their last term. Ominous to say the least.

There were also an accusation made against Mayor Harper, in a hushed whisper. An individual trying to say that Mayor Harper was behind this project and was encouraging it, supporting it, and that individual went so far as to infer that the Mayor *may* be a lot MORE involved…

Then I got the old *wink wink*, know what I mean? thing…

Those are NOT rumors, those are things that were said to ME.

I immediately walked away from this person, I have a very confrontational personality and I don’t deal in, nor listen to, unsubstantiated rumors against anyone, especially someone that I have great respect for, someone in the person of Mayor John Harper.

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This is from my friend Ron Miller, his thoughts on the morning after the election. My thoughts, opinions and endorsements are below his.

I support Ron Miller for Rowlett City Council Place 6 

Well, round one is over. To no one’s surprise there is going to be a “runoff” election between myself and my one remaining opponent. It was a close race with me leading thru the first eight precincts, but losing by 12 votes when my opponent’s precinct came in. Now, with the field more clearly defined, I can focus.

It’s been hard……but kinda fun and very interesting. Politics is very “fluid”……maybe “oily.” Things aren’t always as they appear.

There will be a runoff election on June 12. It is not over, yet. It only means two have been eliminated from the race. Two remain. Voters will reposition themselves behind the remaining candidates for the final election. I have already received many calls of support and will take a couple of days off the campaign trail. I will be making an appearance at a large public meeting on Thursday whereby an emotional zoning case will be discussed. I am far more qualified on this topic than my opponent. I should win over a number of votes on that issue. Also, it seems my supporters are energized. Of course, Michael Gallops’ supporters are probably energized, too.

Ron

Final Poll Numbers:

Rowlett - Council Member Place 6
12 of 12 Precincts Reporting

Ron Miller 29.09% 450 votes
Michael Gallops 29.86% 462 votes
Randy Mays 23.01% 356 votes
Nicholas Kreekon 18.03% 279 votes

I’m going to try to ride the bike today………if weather permits. It is supposed to rain. I am going to relax today……and do almost nothing.

Below is my more recent blog entry. I’m beginning to sharpen my axe.

And this is from Ron’s Blog:

Take a breath, and let’s do it again.

By Rowlett with Ron May 09, 2010 at 07:18 AM

Well, round one is over with no clear winner. However, the field is now more clearly defined. I’m going to take a couple of days off and not think about campaigning.

I may ride my new bike for a while and wish for: A) not to be killed, and B) better bike and walking trails for Rowlett. These two thoughts seem to merge when thinking about the rather innocent endeavor of enjoying the Rowlett outdoors. On the other hand, these thoughts should dovetail nicely with thoughts of developing the revenue to pay for those absent bike and pedestrian trails without increasing the tax rate. That was the whole thrust of my campaign. It didn’t have a darned thing to do with having more meetings. It had to do with generating revenue without raising taxes, buying a very good lifestyle with that new revenue, and watching our real estate values go up.

Why wouldn’t the city of Rowlett like that? It’s a simple formula. Read the resumes and discover who might be more qualified to do that. It ain’t brain surgery.

See Ron Miller’s site.

Ron Miller is a USAF Veteran. He has a brilliant mind and some great ideas regarding the direction our city (Rowlett) needs to take. Ron could easily be retired, he’s old enough to be fully retired, but he still works in an advisory capacity within the financial, real estate and development markets. He’s a patriot, a dedicated American, and he focuses on his goals and projects. He is my neighbor and friend. I fully support and endorse Ron Miller for Rowlett City Council, Place 6.

Read Ron Miller’s Resume

What follows is MY opinion of Ron Miller’s opponent, Mike Gallops.

Gallops is an unemployed *wannabe* with the attention span and leadership capabilities of a 5 year old. I have heard it said of Ron’s opponent, not by Ron himself, but by others here in Rowlett, that Mike Gallops has great plans, and NO clue on how to achieve them. Gallops is a lot of talk with NO substance. I have heard others make reference to Gallops and say that he sounds a lot more like a Democrat than a Conservative.

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