City News and Press Releases 

Keep up with the latest news from The City of Terrell:

• City Accepting Applications for Hotel/Motel funds
• Council Election Set
• Annual Vendor Registration Due
• Regional Transportation Council Seeks Public Comment on Expanding Planning Area
• New Post Office Slated For Terrell
• Submit your City of Terrell Photo
• Automated Meter Reading (AMR) Program begins (Español) (November 6,2007)
• Torry Edwards named City Manager (August 22,2007)

City Newsletter

• City Newsletter - March 2008   (pdf format)
• City Newsletter - October 2007   (pdf format)
  (Please be aware that these are large file and can take several minutes to load if you have a slow internet connection.)

City Accepting Applications for Hotel/Motel funds

(April 23, 2008) The City of Terrell is now accepting applications for Hotel/Motel Tax Funds for Fiscal Year 2008-2009. Hotel/Motel tax funds may be utilized by various organizations pending City Council approval. However, according to the enabling legislation, all expenditures must directly enhance and promote tourism and the convention and hotel industry. The expenditures must be likely to attract visitors from outside the city into the city to promote tourism.

The Terrell City Council will provide the final approval for all Hotel/Motel Tax Fund allocations in August.

Requests for funds must be received no later than 5:00 p.m., Thursday, May 15, 2008. All requests must be sent to the following: John Rounsavall, City Secretary/Finance Director, City of Terrell, 201 East Nash Street, Terrell, Texas 75160.

Council Election Set

(March 10, 2008) Terrell voters will elect city council members from District 3 and District 5 on May 10.

The polling place for District 3 is Terrell Fire Station #2, 225 Baker Street. District 5 residents will vote at Missionary Baptist Church on Poetry Road. The polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Early voting at the office of the City Secretary, Terrell City Hall, 201 East Nash Street begins April 28 and continues through May 6. Applications for early voting by mail will be taken March 11-May 2.

Annual Vendor Registration Due

(February 19, 2008) The City Secretary's office reminds vendors doing business with the City of Terrell that they are required by state and federal law to file with the City on an annual basis.

It is necessary for companies that supply goods and services to the City to register as certified City of Terrell vendors. Certified vendors must file the state's Conflict of Interest Questionnaire (CIQ) yearly. The IRS W-9 form must also be filed each year.

The vendor application form, CIQ, and W-9 forms are available in pdf form* or from the City Secretary's office. New vendors are asked to complete all three forms and return them to John Rounsavall; City Secretary/Finance Director; 201 East Nash Street/P.O. Box 310; Terrell, TX 75160.

Certified vendors need to complete and return only the CIQ and W-9 forms.

For more information about the forms or filing requirements, contact the City Secretary's office at 972.551.6600 ext. 226 or 230.

*Adobe Acrobat Reader is needed to view and print pdf forms. Download it free.

Regional Transportation Council Seeks Public Comment on Expanding Planning Area

New boundary would include all of Kaufman County

(February 5, 2008 - Arlington) Elected officials, business owners, residents and all interested individuals are invited to a public meeting Feb. 13 in Kaufman to discuss the expansion of the metropolitan planning area boundary of the North Central Texas Council of Governments to 12 counties.

Attendees will be encouraged to share questions and comments about the possible addition of the remainder of Kaufman County to the MPA. Only the western section of Kaufman County is currently included. The boundary change would allow the Regional Transportation Council to address the county’s current and future transportation needs.

As the metropolitan planning organization for the nine-county Dallas-Fort Worth area, NCTCOG is responsible for developing multi-modal transportation plans for the MPA. The RTC is NCTCOG’s transportation policymaking body. The MPA currently includes Collin, Dallas, Denton, Tarrant and Rockwall counties as well as adjacent parts of Ellis, Johnson, Kaufman and Parker counties.

The federal government requires the MPA boundary to include existing urban areas and any adjacent areas expected to be urbanized in the next 20 years.

As the metropolitan planning organization for the Dallas-Fort Worth area, NCTCOG is responsible for developing multi-modal transportation plans for the MPA, an area that currently includes Collin, Dallas, Denton, Tarrant and Rockwall counties as well as adjacent parts of Ellis, Johnson, Kaufman and Parker counties. The MPA boundary is federally required to include existing urban areas and any adjacent areas expected to be urbanized in the next 20 years. Staff will discuss recommendations for a larger planning boundary based on expected population growth and travel data.

By 2030, three times as many people are expected to live in Kaufman County, and as the population increases, transportation needs will multiply. In 2000, 53 percent of Kaufman County workers commuted to the five core counties - Collin, Dallas, Denton, Rockwall and Tarrant.

The public meeting will be held at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 13 at Kaufman City Hall, 209 S. Washington, Kaufman, Texas 75142.

More information about these topics and directions to the meetings can be found at www.nctcog.org/trans/outreach/meetings.

Information Flyer

About the Regional Transportation Council:

The Regional Transportation Council (RTC) of the North Central Texas Council of Governments has served as the metropolitan planning organization for regional transportation planning in the Dallas-Fort Worth area since 1974. The MPO works in cooperation with the region’s transportation providers to address the complex transportation needs of the rapidly growing metropolitan area. The RTC’s 40 members include local elected or appointed officials from the metropolitan area and representatives from each of the area’s transportation providers.

About the North Central Texas Council of Governments:
NCTCOG is a voluntary association of local governments established in 1966 to assist local governments in planning for common needs, cooperating for mutual benefit, and coordinating for sound regional development. NCTCOG's purpose is to strengthen both the individual and collective power of local governments and to help them recognize regional opportunities, eliminate unnecessary duplication, and make joint decisions. NCTCOG serves a 16-county region of North Central Texas, which is centered on the two urban centers of Dallas and Fort Worth. Currently, NCTCOG has 233 member governments including 16 counties, 165 cities, 23 school districts, and 29 special districts.

New Post Office Slated For Terrell

( December 14, 2007) The City of Terrell made a joint announcement today with the United States Postal Service that a new postal facility will be built in Terrell with construction to begin sometime next year.

Terrell Mayor Hal Richards and Terrell Postmaster Chad Smith met at City Hall to announce that a United States Postal Service facility would be built in Terrell with construction to begin sometime next year and completion scheduled for November 2009.

Also in attendance were Mr. Bill McMurray, Real Estate Specialist for the USPS, and Kelley Davis, Manager, USPS Consumer Affairs. According to McMurray, “Postal rules require the USPS to give notice to the highest elected official and notify local citizens before making decisions on expansion, relocation, or construction of facilities. This allows time for the community to be active in the decision making process and have its views heard and considered.”

After the announcement, there is a 45 day waiting period where the public can present its views to City leaders or the USPS. After that waiting period they will accept proposals from property owners to purchase land for construction.

“The design of the building fits in nicely with what the City is currently doing”, said Mayor Richards. The design under consideration is similar to the one built in Kaufman. “The finished building could look substantially different than this” said McMurray of the designs.

Of concern to downtown residents is the location of the building. Having a postal service building downtown is vital to the life of a downtown. Recognizing that fact, and in keeping with policy, the Postal Service does its best to keep the facilities in the downtown area. In any case it will be within the city limits.

The plan is to move the current employees to the new facility when it is finished, hiring one additional carrier per 500 homes as they are built. The new post office would serve up to 50,000 homes.

Photo Submissions

The City of Terrell’s Marketing Director and her Intern is seeking photos taken by members of the community to use on the City website, in news and magazine articles, brochures, and other materials that will be used to market the City.

“With the holiday celebrations coming up” says Marketing Coordinator Lynnette Nadeau, “a wonderful opportunity presented itself to document the community spirit here in Terrell” Ms. Nadeau says she is looking for pictures of citizens’ families enjoying the seasons of the year, starting with the holidays, pictures of neighborhoods, neighborhood activities, and families. She advises taking ordinary pictures of things an individual would find interesting and representative of the city.

The Marketing Coordinator reports she is working on updating the city website and putting together materials to recruit business owners to establish retail and food outlets here in Terrell. The view of the city by citizens gives prospective business owners, and people considering moving here, a feel of the hometown community spirit enjoyed here in Terrell.

Ms. Nadeau is pleased to get Sherian Brooks, the Marketing and Public Information Intern, involved in the photo submission project. Ms. Brooks attends a local college and spends about 20 hours a week working on various projects and assisting in several capacities at City Hall.

Photos can be submitted to Sherian via attachment to her email SBrooks@CityofTerrell.org, or brought or mailed to City Hall. If you want the items returned please put your name and address on the back of the photos. Submissions will need to be accompanied by a photo release form which you can get when you drop off the photos or get from the city’s website. For more information call (972) 551-6600 and ask for Sherian or Lynnette.

Participate in taking photos of the community!

• Submit your photos of the community of Terrell for use in brochures, flyers, City of Terrell website etc.
• Email digital photos to lnadeau@cityofterrell.org with your name and phone number or,
• Take printed photos (with name and number on the back of each photo) to Sharion Brooks at the City of Terrell, 201 E. Nash.
• If you want your photos returned, bring them with an envelope bearing address information
• Must sign Photo Release Form upon submission (Word Format)

Automated Meter Reading (AMR) Program

(November 6, 2007) The City of Terrell has begun another phase in improving customer service delivery to each water customer through our Water Meter Replacement and Automated Meter Reading (AMR) Program. In November 2007, the City will begin replacing water meters. The new water meters will be equipped with radio transmitting devices that will enable us to read your meter from a vehicle equipped to receive and store the reading. However, there may be certain circumstances when the City will need to access property to inspect or repair the water meter. The new system will allow the City to provide timely and accurate responses to your water meter reading inquiries. Over the next 6 months, every home and business in Terrell will be upgraded with the new AMR system.

The benefits of an automatic meter reading system include:

1. Increase productivity and reduced meter reading costs.
2. Provide accurate usage reports ensuring accurate bills.
3. Provide efficiencies in the billing which will allow for improved customer service.
4. Increase revenues with more accurate and timely billing.
5. Immediately provide new water meters for approximately 6,000 of our customers.
6. Minimizes the need for anyone to regularly access your property to read your water meter.

The City has contracted with Great Southwest Meters of Waxahachie, Texas to install this equipment. Working together, the City and Great Southwest Meters, want to assure all customers that installations will be performed by well-trained professionals. These installers will be required to display a photo ID. Great Southwest Meters vehicles are clearly marked and their employees will have a photo identification badge. The average installation time is about 15 minutes.

Frequently Asked Questions

Torry Edwards named City Manager 

(August 22, 2007) In a Special Council Meeting held June 22, 2007, Mr. Torry L. Edwards was named as Interim City Manager.

At the Regular City Council Meeting held on August 21, 2007, the Terrell City Council promoted Torry Edwards to City Manager for the City of Terrell.

Prior to his tenure with the City of Terrell, Edwards was employed with the City of Dallas as a Strategic Manager in the City Manager's office.

Edwards is currently a doctoral student in the discipline of public affairs at the University of Texas at Dallas. Edwards has a Master's of Public Affairs Degree from the University of Texas at Dallas and a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of New Mexico in Criminal Justice and Government.

Revised City of Terrell Code of Ordinances Book

 

City of Terrell
201 East Nash St.
P.O. Box 310
Terrell, Texas 75160
972-551-6604
Metro 972-524-3332
Fax 972-551-6682

E-mail: information@cityofterrell.org

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City of Terrell
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