Meet Diane Porterfield...

Many of you know me from information contained in my profile.  Few of you know Diane.  May I please introduce my wife Diane Porterfield.

Diane Winston, a native of Nashville, TN, lived there through her graduation from Vanderbilt University.  She majored in Spanish and because of this had an opportunity to join Pan American World Airways who needed Spanish speakers as stewardesses for their South American, Central American and Caribbean Routes from Miami, FL.  She flew for Pan Am for five years in the days when being a Pan Am stewardess was the height of achievement.  

After her decision to leave Pan Am, Diane went to Atlanta, GA where she became a model.   She appeared in TV commercials and print advertisements.  Diane maintains her friendship with several of the ladies who worked with her at Atlanta Models and Talent back in the 60’s.  In fact, seven of them get together once each year to rekindle their close friendship at a weeklong reunion.  This group is known as the Ya Ya’s. 

It was in Atlanta that Diane met her first husband, Charlie Carson.  They lived in Atlanta for a time and in the Washington, DC area before relocating to Fort Worth, TX.  Diane has two sons, Greg Carson and Bryan Carson who both now live in Rincon, Puerto Rico.  Greg owns a scuba diving business, Taino Divers; Bryan is a sailboat captain for Katarina Sail Charters.  

Diane eventually went to work at American Airlines, working in the AA Credit Union.   She retired from there after she and I were married.  We both enjoy the travel benefits afforded to American retirees.   

Active in the former Pan Am stewardess group, World Wings International, Diane has served in the past as the International Recording Secretary and has also served several terms as President of the DFW Chapter of this worldwide organization.

Diane has been active in Euless, mainly giving her energies to the Euless Library Foundation.  She has served on its Board of Directors for a number of years as well as having led that group as President at the time the “Blooms of Enlightenment” was installed at the Euless Library.

The DFW International Airport benefits from Diane’s Spanish speaking skills since she has been a volunteer as a DFW Ambassador for the last eight years.  She works in Terminal D where international flights are predominant.

We are both active members of the Legacy Church of Christ in North Richland Hills.

                          Diane and Glenn Porterfield

Euless Parks and Recreational Opportunities ARE AMAZING

One of the highlights of living in Euless, Texas is the program of services provided to you through the Euless Parks and Recreation Department.  The breadth and depth of facilities and activities in which you can participate is outstanding, no matter your age or status in life.  We have programs for young, seniors and everywhere in between.  All at a cost that is affordable and all at times that make your participation easy to schedule.

Check out the PLAYBOOK for the Fall of 2012, and find the events and activities that interest you the most, then just sign up and participate.    http://www.eulesstx.gov/pacs/playbook/The%20Playbook%20-%20Fall%202012.pdf

Ray McDonald, Director of Parks and Community Services, 817-685-1669, leads a staff of professionals dedicated to making your life better in so many ways.  Ray and the Parks and Recreation Department Staff…another reason for living in FabEuless.

You can always call me at 817-267-5775.

The Public Hearing for the Euless Budget will be held August 28 at 7:00 PM

The preliminary City of Euless Budget for 2012-2013 has been prepared and will be discussed in a Public Hearing at the August 28, City Council Meeting.  All Citizens have an opportunity to voice questions or make requests for changes at that time.   The City Council can make changes but will approve a final budget at this meeting.  The tax rate requires two readings before the City Council and a second public hearing on that subject will be held at a Special City Council Meeting called for September 4, at 7:00 PM.  The City Council is scheduled to approve the tax rate at its meeting on September 11, 2012.

I would encourage each citizen to review the Budget.  The Preliminary Budget for 2012-2013, as well as the Budgets for prior years can be accessed at    http://www.eulesstx.gov/finance/docs.htm     You can review this prior to the Public Hearing and formulate questions you may have.  You may call individual City Council Members for answers to your questions prior the Public Hearing and you will certainly have an opportunity for input at that meeting.

Highlights of the proposed budget are detailed below:

♦ The property tax rate for the upcoming fiscal year is proposed to remain flat at 47.00¢ per $100 of assessed valuation.

♦ There are no cuts in programs or services for citizens.

♦ Baseline budget includes a proposed salary plan of 3.25%.

♦ The water base rate is proposed to increase 50¢ on a 5/8” meter with a 6.3% increase on other meter sizes. The water volume rate continues the tiered rate structure with a slight increase on the top two tiers.

♦ Wastewater rates are also proposed to increase, 50¢ on the base rate and 13¢ on the volume rate, which is primarily related to increased costs from Trinity River Authority for wastewater treatment.

♦ The water and wastewater operating fund includes a transfer to Capital Improvement Program which continues efforts to cash flow an appropriate level of system infrastructure improvements.

♦ Recommended supplemental programs include the addition of two police officers in the General Fund. In addition, three Police Officers are recommended in the Public Safety Special Revenue Fund, but are subject to resource availability.

Your City Staff and City Council have worked hard to produce a Budget that will effectively meet the needs of our Citizens and not impose a tax rate increase nor unrealistic fee increases for the coming year. 

One issue which may be somewhat confusing is a notice required by the Texas Legislature in regard to property taxes.  This notice requires some discussion.  The first thing you will see when looking at the Budget will be this statement:

THIS BUDGET WILL RAISE MORE TOTAL PROPERTY TAXES THAN LAST YEAR'S BUDGET BY $418,253 OR 3.51%, AND OF THAT AMOUNT, $61,992 IS TAX REVENUE TO BE RAISED FROM NEW PROPERTY ADDED TO THE TAX ROLL THIS YEAR.

Because total property tax revenue will increase, in this case, because of changes in assessment values of property, the Legislature considers that Euless taxes have increased.  In reality, the tax rate is unchanged and the only tax increase is because of property value increases.  And if one is over 65 years of age, the City of Euless tax will not increase beyond that amount assessed for his/her 65^th year.  This is a subject which requires much explanation.  Your City Council considers a tax rate with no increases to be a good thing.  Texas law makes requirements for disclosure which are the basis for the statement above.  

Please call any City Council Member with your questions.  We are proud of this Budget and commend it to you.   You can reach me at 817-267-5775.

Reclaimed Wastewater Garners Cooperation Award

Regional Cooperation Award

The cities of Fort Worth, Arlington, Euless and DFW Airport received this year's Regional Cooperation Award from the North Central Texas Council of Governments for joint efforts to reclaim, reuse, and recycle wastewater. 

In May 2011, the entities began operation of a reclaimed water system to relieve the demand on their potable water supply. 

In one year, more than 120 million gallons of reclaimed water were distributed to the participating entities. And, because it is treated wastewater, it is not subject to drought restrictions. The project provides an efficient use of the region's water resources while conserving valuable water supplies. 

Euless has been using this reclaimed water for irrigation at The Parks at Texas Star and The Texas Star Golf Course.  This is only the first of many potential uses for this precious commodity, water.

Contact me anytime at glenn.porterfield@yahoo.com or 817-267-5775.

Innovation in water conservation:  Another reason for citizens to take pride in FabEuless.

The Streets of Euless

The Streets of Euless are of great importance to both the City Staff and the City Council.  The last number of years has seen a marked improvement in the thoroughfare system in our City.  Major street renovations have included improvements to North Main Street, East Harwood Road, West Pipeline Road, Westpark Way, Industrial Blvd, West Euless Blvd, Mid-Cities Blvd, Baze Road, Glade Road, Gateway Blvd, State Hwy. 360, State Hwy. 121 and, though still in progress, West Ash Lane. 

New traffic control signal lights have been installed at important locations including:  Industrial at Signet, West Pipeline Road at Driftwood, West Pipeline Road at Westpark Way, West Harwood Road at Aransas Drive, Mid-Cities Blvd. at Gateway Blvd. and Mid-Cities Blvd. at Baze Road.

The funding for these street projects has come from a myriad of sources.  The Texas Department of Transportation has funded those state highways in the group, Tarrant County has provided funds for some, some have been paid for from the Euless Operating Budget and some have been funded from the proceeds of bonds being issued for their reconstruction.  Glade Road has represented a sharing of costs between Colleyville, Grapevine and Euless since it is partially within each of these cities.  West Pipeline Road, though bounded by both Euless and Bedford was paid for entirely by Euless since the entire road is in Euless; the Bedford border lies just on the North side of the road.  Though Bedford benefitted greatly by this improvement, they refused to participate in the cost of that improvement.  Though the State of Texas provided the major funding for state highways, there are always costs allocated to our City associated with those improvements.

Every year sees street overlays included in the budget.  This represents the process of completely recovering the roadway from curb to curb with new hot mix asphalt.  For connector streets this work is accomplished by equipment and personnel provided by Tarrant County at a cost greatly reduced from what a commercial contractor would charge.

Any time we have a major street improvement or street overlay we are also obligated to upgrade the access for pedestrians and especially the handicapped.  Handicap ramps must be installed and sidewalks improved to meet the minimum requirements for the handicapped.

Additionally, we have periodically patched portions of streets where the original pavement has given way or moved.

Any street improvement project creates hardship for those residents or businesses who must contend with the inconveniences of the construction itself.  We try to coordinate with those who are impacted to lessen the hardship.  We hope that the resulting improvement in the future quality of life and resulting improved property values will compensate for the temporary hardships endured.

The Streets of Euless are the purview of the Euless Public Works Department under the Direction of Mr. Ron Young (817-685-1646) and they do a great job in allowing all Euless Citizens to move about freely with little impediments and little damage to our travelling vehicles.

Problem Issue

One looming issue for Euless and its citizens is the future of State Hwy. 183 Airport Freeway.  The current situation has that freeway being improved through Irving to our East, and to our West, through Bedford, Hurst and other cities to Interstate 35W.  The one short segment of that freeway, just that portion through Euless, is being left unimproved.  Unimproved doesn’t mean that businesses in Euless are not impacted by construction and by indecision relative to future required rights of way.  Our city is being impacted.  And we will be a bottle neck for all those who move from East to West or West to East along this roadway.  One won’t be able to say “freeway” when the improved portion is finished since it will be partially tolled.  But, as I understand the project, the toll roads will end before they traverse Euless.

This situation is not understood by the leadership of your city but is the result of a lack of funding for the entire project.  We are working diligently to get this resolved but at the moment see no resolution on the immediate horizon.  You need to know about this so that you can use your influence to help us work through this project and get the final improvements funded through the State of Texas.  It is the state’s responsibility.

Your City Council is vigilant about our streets and their condition.  We would love to hear from you if there is a specific problem in your area that hasn’t been properly addressed.  Call any of us.  We will help you.  

Please contact me at any time at e-mail  glenn.porterfield@yahoo.com  or 817-267-5775.

“The Streets of Euless:” just one more reason to take pride in your FabEuless.