Rowlett Lakeshore Times > News
Rowlett seats new council
By Zach Markovic, staff writer
The Rowlett City Council inducted its three new members Tuesday night.
Doug Phillips, Patrick Jackson and Chris Kilgore each were sworn into office after winning seats earlier this month on the new council.
This will be the first term for each of the men, al though each has spent time in various community leadership positions.
Jackson, who won the Place 3 seat, said his goal is to work on the tax situation in Rowlett. He said the city has one of the highest taxes in North Texas. he said that he realizes the council most likely will not be able to bring any relief in the form of lower taxes, but he said he hopes to keep them from going up.
Part of holding the line on taxes is pumping up economic development. Projects like the President George Bush Turnpike extension will help increase the commercial taxes when new businesses follow the concrete, he said.
Kilgore, winner of Place 5, said there is some real excitement to joining a council with two new members.
"It is a diverse council," he said. "And, a consensus building council."
Even though Kilgore is hesitant to name a specific area the new council needs to focus on, the looming budget is something he pointed to that will get some of the attention first.
"We just need a direction," Kilgore said. "It is a balancing act of providing services and resources to the community."
In recent weeks, the city has raised fees in numerous recreational activities, in a move that Mayor John Harper has said such increases are designed to have those who use the city’s facilities shoulder a bigger portion of the expense
Phillips, who won the Place 1 seat, agreed with Kilogre on making the most of the economic opportunities. He said the turnpike and light rail are key to success in Rowlett.
"I think we have a lot of potential to do good things for the city," he said. "And, I am awed by the opportunity the citizens have given me."
The new council will meet in its first meeting June 2. The meeting is scheduled to be an executive session to discuss hiring a new city manager.
Doug Phillips, Patrick Jackson and Chris Kilgore each were sworn into office after winning seats earlier this month on the new council.
This will be the first term for each of the men, al though each has spent time in various community leadership positions.
Jackson, who won the Place 3 seat, said his goal is to work on the tax situation in Rowlett. He said the city has one of the highest taxes in North Texas. he said that he realizes the council most likely will not be able to bring any relief in the form of lower taxes, but he said he hopes to keep them from going up.
Part of holding the line on taxes is pumping up economic development. Projects like the President George Bush Turnpike extension will help increase the commercial taxes when new businesses follow the concrete, he said.
Kilgore, winner of Place 5, said there is some real excitement to joining a council with two new members.
"It is a diverse council," he said. "And, a consensus building council."
Even though Kilgore is hesitant to name a specific area the new council needs to focus on, the looming budget is something he pointed to that will get some of the attention first.
"We just need a direction," Kilgore said. "It is a balancing act of providing services and resources to the community."
In recent weeks, the city has raised fees in numerous recreational activities, in a move that Mayor John Harper has said such increases are designed to have those who use the city’s facilities shoulder a bigger portion of the expense
Phillips, who won the Place 1 seat, agreed with Kilogre on making the most of the economic opportunities. He said the turnpike and light rail are key to success in Rowlett.
"I think we have a lot of potential to do good things for the city," he said. "And, I am awed by the opportunity the citizens have given me."
The new council will meet in its first meeting June 2. The meeting is scheduled to be an executive session to discuss hiring a new city manager.
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