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Desoto Residents’ Comment on Latest Mayor Pro Tem Vote

DESOTO – Citizen’s comments took up most of the time at the most recent DeSoto City Council meeting.

Shanitta Cleveland began the comments with a thorough discussion of the May 21 Mayor Pro Tem vote. While she spoke for three minutes and then had her microphone turned off, she had an issue with the recent voting for the city’s Mayor Pro Tem. Cleveland felt, as did others who spoke after her, that Place 5 Dinah Marks had originally won and not current Mayor Pro Tem Letitia Hughes, who is serving her second Mayor Pro Tem term.

She felt the Marks vote, which was originally 4 – 3, was a win for Marks, but then she stated, “There was a second unlawful vote that stripped her of that title. She started to dissent, but” Cleveland said after that current Mayor Pro Tem Letitia Hughes said she did not vote correctly, and the vote started again, this time with Hughes keeping her Pro Tem seat.

“You guys have corruption in the city, and it is going to continue, and it is not going anywhere,” Cleveland said to the mic, which had been silenced as she walked away with no time left to speak.

Rachelle Jones spoke as a concerned citizen, educator and former city employee. She said she has a concern for the city, and she is not happy with the safety in the city and the lack of security.

Bernadine Harrison said she was speaking out because she does not like the way DeSoto is headed.

“Nothing seems to get better in this city other than the fact that everything seems to get more expensive,” Harrison told the city council. She had an issue with the short three minutes residents are allowed to speak at the council meetings and added, “They can talk to you forever when they are out there looking for votes.”

Harrison also brought up the ISD $7 million missing money, “but we can’t take care of the needs of a child who has been molested.”

Harrison went on to add “it is time for change” and she is going to try and make change happen. She said she is starting a website and asks, “We the People, all you need to do is take one day out of your busy day, and I wish the council would remind people regularly you can get this meeting online so we can do something about it.”

Mary Bonaparte, a 34-year DeSoto resident, said she is challenging the city council to do the right thing.

“This is not the city I moved into 34 years ago, this city has declined as you have allowed developers, investors, Airbnb, and rental property owners to run this city down while they make big money on the backs of us taxpayers.”

Bonaparte, too, mentioned the Mayor Pro Tem election and said, “After Marks had given her speech, Mayor Proctor said there was a voting mistake by Hughes.”

So, Marks’ win was taken away and given to Hughes. Bonaparte insisted Marks won the Mayor Pro Tem nomination, adding, “ignorance of the law is no excuse, which is what the judge tells everybody downtown. You cannot start a meeting using Roberts Rules of Order and then change the rules to benefit your own agenda. I am going to ask you to put your differences aside and honor the initial Mayor Pro Tem vote by confirming Councilmember Marks as the new Mayor Pro Tem. And be reminded this city belongs to every citizen in DeSoto and not the nine individuals sitting on this dais. If we, the citizens, must put our differences aside and rally together to get change in DeSoto, that is what we are going to do. I am asking ya’ll to do the right thing.”

Anna Williams, a 33-year resident, said, “I stand before you in shame and disbelief in what our morals have adapted to. We have allowed personal feelings and greed to ruin our once-beautiful community and city. We have allowed investors, developers, and slumlords to disturb the peace of our once-quiet community. We, the residents of DeSoto, say no more. You are putting $10,000 worth of tires on a $1000 city.”

She sa

DeSoto city officials have announced a new initiative offering senior citizens discounts on essential utility services, including water, sewer, drainage, and refuse services.

The initiative aims to provide financial relief to elderly residents by reducing their monthly utility expenses.

Residents aged 65 and older are eligible to receive these discounts when they submit a completed application and proof of age.

Once approved, the discounts will be applied to future billings.

The discount structure includes a reduction of $3.00 on the monthly charges for both water and sewer services.

For drainage services, the monthly charge is reduced to $2.50, down from $6.00.

The refuse (garbage) service fee is reduced to $27.07 from the standard $29.99.

To apply, residents must submit their application along with a copy of their driver’s license or photo ID as proof of age.

Applications can be faxed to 972-230-5795 or delivered in person to the Utility Billing office located at 211 E. Pleasant Run Road, DeSoto, Texas.

For more information or assistance with the application process, residents can contact the DeSoto Utility Billing office.

The post DeSoto Announces Utility Discounts for Senior Citizens appeared first on DeSoto Tribune.

74,000 Square Foot “ARC” In DeSoto’s McCowan Park Will Create A Vibrant Sports Center & Multi-Generational Destination

The City of DeSoto broke ground Monday morning for a 74,000 square foot Aquatic and Recreation Center (ARC) which will become the central hub for DeSoto’s Curtistene S. McCowan Park and a citywide venue for fitness and multigenerational recreation. This $53 million project represents a major milestone in the life of DeSoto and is welcome addition that has been the subject of active community engagement and discussion for more than a decade.

DeSoto’s new “ARC” is one of the key components for the City of DeSoto’s Parks Master Plan and will anchor the broader park complex. It will include a full-scale indoor competition pool and observation decks on the second level to allow for competitive swimming events.

A 400-foot fitness track for cardio workouts will be suspended above the facility’s first level. A fully equipped fitness area will include a leisure pool, gyms, strength training equipment, meeting rooms, and a social gathering space for group activities such as basketball, volleyball, and pickleball. With the grounds of McCowan Park surrounding it, the entire area will be transformed into a multi-sport layout experience that will stand out in a region already known for athleticism.

The new facility is designed to offer health and fitness support to young families and provide a physical and social venue for active seniors through year-round senior activities.
Located in Curtistene S. McCowan Park, the facility is being realized as part of a larger master plan, which includes other public and sports-related amenities, including additional sports fields, an amphitheater, a sculpture garden, water features, and surrounding trails.

The post DeSoto’s $53 Million Aquatic & Recreation Center Has Begun Construction appeared first on Focus Daily News.

The City of DeSoto is providing clearer guidelines for residents for trash pick-up from Republic Services.

Residents may put out either one large bulky item weekly or up to three cubic yards of small bulk items and bundled brush.

These items should be placed next to the trash cart on Thursday or Friday’s second service day of each week.

Smaller bulk items or extra bags should be placed directly next to the trash cart.

Three cubic yards are described as a pile that is three feet deep, three feet tall, and nine feet wide.

Acceptable items include:

• Bundled bags of leaves and small twigs
• Extra bags of household trash (up to five per collection date)
• Small piles of limbs that are cut, tied, and bundled

Brush and Large Bulk Trash Guidelines:

For brush and large bulk trash, residents will need to call the Action Center at (972) 230-9600 to schedule a pick-up.

Those items must be placed at the front of the property.

The brush service is transitioning to a once-per-month, on-call service with a limit of ten cubic yards per month.

Examples of acceptable large bulk items include:

• Up to 15 heavy-duty bags of leaves per collection date
• Small bushes, tree branches, and other bundled foliage
• A/C window units, refrigerators, and freezers (with freon removed and tagged)
• Small furniture items such as end tables, coffee tables, bookcases, and window blinds
• Large items like mattresses, sofas, dining room tables, washers, and recliners
• Small DIY construction projects such as toilets, sinks, wall panels, and interior doors, cut into four-foot lengths with nails removed or hammered down

For more information or to schedule a pickup, residents can contact the DeSoto Action Center.

The post Brush and Bulk Trash Pickup Guidelines Updates appeared first on DeSoto Tribune.

Amateurs are invited to attend the annual emergency preparedness exercise (Field Day) of the Amateur Radio Relay League (ARRL) this weekend. The Southwest Dallas County Amateur Radio Club (SWDCARC) will be participating in the annual ARRL Field Day. This event is held in many different venues nationwide, and is intended to exercise the many different types of amateur radio equipment. Those participating attempt to contact as many different locations worldwide as possible.

The SWDCARC will hold their Field Day on June 22 and 23 at the DeSoto Fire Training Center at 501 East Pleasant Run Road. Parking is available behind the Training Center in Grimes Park. This is an overnight event, and visitors are welcome.

Field Day for Amateur Radio Operators

Even those who do not have an Amateur Radio license will be allowed to operate at the G.O.T.A. (get-on-the-air) station with a licensed coach. Several stations will be set up and available especially for guests.

Participants in the field exercise will begin operating on Saturday, June 22 at 1 p.m., and will take down the equipment before noon on Sunday, when everyone starts to get tired and hot.

SWDCARC Monthly Meetings

The SWDCARC meets the third Tuesday of each month in the music room at First United Methodist Church on Main Street in Duncanville. The Board of Directors meet at 6 p.m., and the General Membership meeting begins at 6:30 p.m.

Please check out the web site at SWDCARC.ORG for additional information, or contact Pat Roberson, the secretary for the Southwest Dallas County Amateur Radio Club (SWDCARC), at pvroberson@sbcglobal.net

The post Amateurs Invited to Field Day for Amateur Radio Relay League appeared first on Focus Daily News.