FlowerMoundGrowth

Fort Worth Star-Telegram

December 22, 1998

Edition: NORTHEAST AM

Section: METRO

Page: 1

Flower Mound politics keep town in motion

Author: Bryon Okada; Star-Telegram Writer

Dateline: FLOWER MOUND

Article Text:

Flower Mound continued to live up to its reputation as an always changing, politically volatile community on the move in 1998, featuring a revolving Arthurian cast of characters.

Playing the lead role is Mayor Lori DeLuca, a westside homemaker who began her grassroots political career by sticking runny red fliers on people's mailboxes in the rain.

"The citizens of Flower Mound are taking control of the destiny of our town," said DeLuca,Flower Mound's first female mayor. "We've achieved a lot during the last seven months. We're really going to pick up steam after the first of the year and get a lot of things accomplished that the citizens want."

Prognostications for 1999?

"I want the crown jewels of my administration to be the update of the master plan and an open space program," DeLuca said.

The seeds of those programs were sown this month, with committees appointed for both programs. How they play out remains to be seen. As for the players, here's how they moved around the board this year: The Town Council from two years ago is gone, and Ted Reeves is the only council member who has had his seat more than seven months.

In less than six months, Sara Wingard went from resident, to planning and zoning commissioner, to councilwoman.

As regional design awards for the new Gerault Park were handed out, Parks Director Mel Rapp left for a job in DeSoto.

After the May local election, the park board's senior member, John Thomas, was unceremoniously removed, as were a voting majority of the Planning and Zoning Commission. Shortly afterward, Chairwoman Beth Duffey resigned.

Police Chief Dave Brungardt resigned amid accusations that he had interfered with an internal investigation. A list of 11 finalists for the job was generated, which included the former police chiefs of North Richland Hills and Bedford.

Throughout February, March and April, ex-Councilman Rick Randall legally wrangled his way on the council, off the council, on the council, off the council, on the council, off the council.

Mayor Pro Tem Bill Carr resigned from the council to pursue work in Houston.

The town reinstated the position of Lewisville school district liaison, then appointed Terry Lust, the wife of former Mayor Rick Lust, to the post.

The town's most powerful grassroots organization, Voters United To Preserve FlowerMound, got a new leader, resident Vicki Fulfer, so DeLuca could run for mayor.

Town Manager Van James recently completed the first year of his second stint and gave every indication of bringing long-sought stability to the staff's chief office.

In the May election, DeLuca and three others supported by Voters United To PreserveFlower Mound won seats, while council members with more than a quarter-century of experience either left office or lost races.

Former Mayor Larry Lipscomb said the town's emphasis needs to stay on economic development.

"We need to have a friendly face toward business," he said. "I know some of these issues that come up are contentious at times. We need a commercial tax base, so we don't need to turn our lip up every time things are not exactly perfect."

This year, the town adopted an Economic Development Strategic Plan that does not include a sales tax increase. The town also adopted a freeport tax exemption on stored goods in transit to use as an incentive.

Preliminary talk about a large money-making recreational facility such as NRH2O, The Family Water Park in North Richland Hills has begun, although no specific projects have come to the forefront.

Plans for an amateur baseball complex called The Show appear to have fizzled.

On the other hand, Flower Mound has seen a lot of growth this year.

Annual commercial permits are no longer counted on one hand, as they were just two years ago. The town celebrated the groundbreaking of the 25,000-square-foot FlowerMound Public Library. On the same day, CenterPlace, a 3-story medical and professional building, conducted a welcome ceremony. Shops at Town View Plaza on Farm Road 2499 are opening their doors. Two other strip malls on Farm Road 407 are on the way.

Residents continue to stream into Flower Mound, and this year town consultant Glen Gary said that at the current pace, Flower Mound will some day build out at 92,279 residents.Flower Mound's current population is 42,500.

Maxed-out city services is the reason the town almost went to court this year about the 770-lot Wellington Estates residential project by developer John Baker. An agreement was reached, and the project will be phased in order to keep roads and school capacity ahead of growth.

So has it been a good year in Flower Mound?

"There wasn't anything I wanted to do in 1998 that was not accomplished," DeLuca said. "I hope to have the same luck in '99."

Bryon Okada, (817) 685-3853 okada@star-telegram.com