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During Monday evening’s DeSoto City Council Special Meeting, DeSoto Mayor Rachel L. Proctor and Fire Chief Bryan Southard handed out life-saving awards to DeSoto and Cedar Hill First Responders and a young DeSoto resident who performed nothing less than a “Christmas Miracle.”

DeSoto Fire Chief Southard chronically recounted this life-saving story for those in attendance, and you can view his account in the video available at Box.Com.

On Christmas Eve afternoon, 2023, an elderly female DeSoto resident fell ill, lost consciousness, her heart stopped, and she also stopped breathing. She was clinically dead. Her family dialed 9-1-1 and reached the DeSoto-based Southwest Regional Communications Center (SWRCC), which serves the cities of DeSoto, Cedar Hill, and Duncanville. The SWRCC Dispatcher Sydney Hernandez, with assistance from colleagues Tricia McLean and Monica Shepperd, provided the woman’s grandson, Grant Ward, with CPR instructions, and he was able to administer CPR until a DeSoto Fire unit arrived on site.

The DeSoto and Cedar Hill Fire Departments routinely work together to respond to emergencies in either city, depending on the proximity of the closest available crew to an emergency. Mayor Rachel L. Proctor observed prior to Monday’s Council Meeting, “One of the big reasons for our City’s success is the strong partnerships that DeSoto has with our Best Southwest neighbors. When we need to make improvements that benefit our area, it lets us work together as one big city to leverage our resources and amplify our voice. But during an emergency, it allows us to seamlessly respond, which saves precious time and, in this case, a very precious life.”

The DeSoto Fire unit took over performing CPR from the grandson and employed other life-saving measures that restored the woman’s pulse and allowed her to begin breathing on her own.  DeSoto Firefighters Weston White, Alvin Skelton, and Kelton Mansfield, who are also paramedics, kept up their life-saving efforts for eight minutes until a Cedar Hill Fire Department Ambulance was able to arrive on the scene, maintain the woman’s pulse and breathing and transport her to the hospital.

The Firefighter Paramedics present from Cedar Hill were Tyler Glass and Hunter Southard, who is also the son of DeSoto Fire Chief Bryan Southard.  Said Chief Southard, “This life-saving action was a total team effort from the guidance of SWRCC’s dispatchers who walked the patient’s grandson through the critical CPR response steps to the advanced life-support actions by the DeSoto Fire Crew, which is crossed-trained as paramedics which brought our patient back to life, to the emergency follow-up and transport to the hospital by the Cedar Hill Fire Department ambulance crew which I am very proud to say included my son Hunter. This incredible teamwork allowed us to give a family back their beloved matriarch in time for one of the most joyous days of the year.”

While the woman who was saved on Christmas Eve was not in attendance at Monday’s Special City Council Meeting, nor was her grandson, her son was on hand to represent the family and accept the Grandson’s award.

The Managing Director of the Southwest Regional Communications Center (SWRCC), Tamara Bell, wanted to stress the important role of her dispatchers. “An incident like this one shows why the SWRCC’s dispatchers are considered to be first responders and illustrates the critical role that they play in the region’s emergency response process. Because we work directly with the responding fire, police, and emergency medical units for the cities of DeSoto, Cedar Hill, and Duncanvil

Receives Coveted Achievement of Library Excellence Award from TMLDA

Libraries play a crucial role in communities like DeSoto, TX, serving as vibrant hubs that foster learning, creativity, and community engagement. They provide access to a wealth of resources, including books, e-books, audiobooks, and multimedia materials, that support education and lifelong learning. Libraries also offer vital services such as computer access, internet connectivity, and digital literacy programs, helping bridge the digital divide and ensuring that all members of the community have access to information and technology. Beyond their role as repositories of knowledge, libraries in communities like DeSoto often serve as gathering places, hosting a variety of events and programs that bring people together, promote cultural enrichment, and support local artists and authors.

The DeSoto Public Library has been honored with the 2023 Achievement of Library Excellence Award by the Texas Municipal Library Directors Association (TMLDA), a branch of the Texas Municipal League (TML). The award recognizes the library’s outstanding efforts in serving underserved and special populations, enhancing services, implementing innovative marketing strategies, promoting cultural, topical, and educational programs, supporting literacy, organizing summer reading clubs, fostering collaboration, facilitating workforce development, promoting digital inclusion, and maintaining a comprehensively trained staff.

“I am continuously amazed at the incredible job that our library director, senior management, and staff do to keep our residents informed, engaged, and even entertained in a welcoming setting that attracts residents from all backgrounds and age groups and lets them know that the time they spend with us is time spent with family and friends,” observed DeSoto Mayor Rachel L. Proctor who added, “I am very pleased but not at all surprised that our stellar library system received such a coveted recognition.”

The DeSoto Public Library was one of only 84 Texas libraries to receive the TMLDA 2023 designation out of a statewide network of 545 Texas public libraries. According to the Texas Municipal Library Directors Association, the DeSoto Public Library is now in the top 15% of all public libraries in the State of Texas.

“Because of our team’s hard work, dedication, and commitment to serving our community, we were able to show the TMLDA why the DeSoto Public Library should earn this award,” said Library Director Heather McEntee. “We all put in long hours and go the extra mile to connect with our residents because we want to make their library experience better and better each time they walk through our door.”

To find out what is happening at the DeSoto Public Library, visit their website: https://www.ci.desoto.tx.us/departments/library/index.php

To learn more about the Texas Municipal Library Directors Association, visit their website: https://tmlda.org/about/

The post DeSoto Library named one of the Best in Texas appeared first on Focus Daily News.

DeSoto City Councilmember Nicole Raphiel (Council Place 3 – DeSoto, Texas) has been appointed to the National League of Cities (NLC) 2024 Community and Economic Development Federal Advocacy Committee. Councilmember Raphiel was elected to a one-year term and will provide strategic direction and guidance for NLC’s federal advocacy agenda and policy priorities on housing availability and attainability, community building, land use, local entrepreneurship, and economic development. The appointment was announced by NLC President Mayor David Sander of Rancho Cordova, California.

“NLC’s federal advocacy committees play an important role in helping policymakers in Washington understand the issues and challenges facing America’s cities, towns and villages at the local level,” said NLC President Mayor David Sander of Rancho Cordova, CA. “I’m thrilled to have Council Member Raphiel serve on NLC’s 2024 Community and Economic Development Federal Advocacy Committee this year, and look forward to working with her to strengthen the federal-local partnership, and grow our common knowledge of the issues and opportunities facing our communities.”

Councilmember Raphiel looks forward to using her NLC assignment and the national platform that comes with it to make sure that DeSoto’s needs and those in the region are both heard and addressed. “My appointment to the Community and Economic Development Federal Advocacy Committee marks a pivotal moment for DeSoto. Collaborating with the National League of Cities, I am dedicated to ensuring that our city’s (and region’s) distinct needs and aspirations are heard on a national stage. This committee underscores my commitment to fostering local economic growth, social well-being, and cultural richness, propelling DeSoto and the Best Southwest cities towards a future of equitable development and prosperity.”

As a member of NLC’s 2024 Community and Economic Development Federal Advocacy Committee, Council Member Raphiel will play a key role in shaping NLC’s policy positions and advocate on behalf of America’s cities, towns, and villages before Congress, with the administration and at home.

The leadership of this year’s committee will consist of Chair Kristopher Dahir, Councilmember, Sparks, Nevada; and three Vice-Chair’s Angela Birney, Mayor, Redmond, WA; Jeffrey Boney, Councilmember, Missouri City, TX; and Cindy Silva, Mayor, Walnut Creek, CA.

For more information on NLC’s federal advocacy committees, visit: https://www.nlc.org/advocacy/federal-advocacy-committees/. To view Councilmember Raphiel’s bio online, visit the City of DeSoto website.

The post DeSoto Councilmember Raphiel named to NLC Community appeared first on Focus Daily News.

Close to 250 people gathered in DeSoto’s Bluebonnet Room on Thursday afternoon to hear Mayor Rachel L. Proctor deliver DeSoto’s 2024 State of the City Address. It was Mayor Proctor’s third State of the City address since she’s been in office and she used the occasion to discuss the City’s key projects and to focus on the people who made a real difference in DeSoto.

The Mayor singled out several members of the DeSoto community to praise for their civic contributions including DeSoto High School’s Grammy-winning Choir Director Pamela Dawson, Vietnam Veteran and Bronze Star for Valor recipient James Baylor who was wounded at the Battle of Hamburger Hill, retiring 28-year City of DeSoto employee Kathy Jones who assisted thousands of community members over the years, and Coach Claude Mathis who led the DeSoto Eagles football team to its first-ever back-to-back Class 6A Division II State Championship. The Mayor also honored two of the student-athletes who accompanied Coach Mathis, Quarterback Darius “DJ” Bailey who was the Offensive MVP in the State Championship game, and Linebacker Keylan “Keke” Abrams who was the Defensive MVP and also an intern for the DeSoto Fire Department.

Mayor Proctor summed up the contributions of these standout community members when she said, “DeSoto stands on her own, but because of these individuals who have made such a difference, DeSoto shines brightly for all to see!”

The Mayor praised the City’s finance team for lowering or freezing its tax rate for residents and businesses for 13 straight years including a decrease of one cent in the current budget. She stressed that the City also worked hard to maintain and strengthen its bond rating which is currently at AA and has been for the past seven years. Mayor Proctor pointed out that DeSoto has been consistently recognized by the Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA) for its financial reporting, winning its Distinguished Budget Presentation for nearly twenty years, and receiving its Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting for close to forty years. She also noted that DeSoto has received a Transparency Star Award from the Texas Comptroller’s Office.

Mayor Proctor then provided the gathering with updates on some of the City’s top projects including the McCowan Park Aquatics and Recreation Center, the Hampton Road Corridor Redevelopment Plan, the updated Comprehensive Development Plan, and numerous roadway infrastructure projects including Wintergreen Road, Westmoreland Road, UHL Road, Parkerville Road, and the Meadows Parkway,

Mayor Rachel Proctor observed that the biggest reason for DeSoto’s successes in the past year has been the cooperative civic spirit of the people who live and work in our City. Said Mayor Proctor, “DeSoto succeeds when we work together and combine our efforts to move our City forward. As I always say, Progress moves at the speed of relationships!”

You can view the Mayor’s presentation of DeSoto’s State of the City Address on our Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/desototx/videos/420591160391580  News outlets should feel free to use any of the footage from DeSoto’s State of the City Address, or the photos below, for your coverage.

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DESOTO – The DeSoto City Council opened its council meeting this week making three presentations including School Board Recognition Month and acknowledging DeSoto Superintendent Usamah Rodgers in attendance. School Board Recognition Month was last month, but due to scheduling conflicts DeSoto Mayor Rachel Proctor explained council made the presentation Tuesday night. Proctor said, “From one elected official to another I definitely know the time and the dedication that you all put in, especially as it pertains to our children and so we want to thank you.”

Mayor Pro Tem Latitia Hughes read a proclamation honoring National School Counseling Week followed by a presentation of the November 2023 Financial Report.

Citizen’s comments included two residents who worked at the holiday skating rink this past year. They told council people are already asking if the skating rink will be back next year.

“The rink made a lot of people happy,” one resident said.

Another resident offered kudos to the city’s full-time animal control officers.

One gentleman talked about the passing of the upcoming character code, a new zoning ordinance for the Hampton Road redevelopment project. He said this ordinance is different from the current zoning and is extremely complicated. He said one aspect of the character code set forth a number of requirements for buildings within the district. There are 400 properties in that district, he explained when the code is activated all 400 properties will no longer be in conformity with the code.

He added this means there will be a problem if the property suffers a casualty loss or is abandoned for six months. He urged council to be familiar with this new ordinance before it was brought to vote as there will be issues with the cost therefore putting properties in a precarious position.

Council unanimously passed all but one consent agenda item, the latter, which was pulled for a separate vote passing 6 -1.

These items included the confirmation of the appointment of Terrence Stevens for Veterans Affair Committee – Place 2 and Betty Jenkins for Place 5.

Also passing was an Ordinance amending the Fiscal Year 2023-2024 Adopted Budget in Fund 229 (Police Grant Fund) accepting grant funds from the Office of the Governor for the Public Safety Office for the Truancy Prevention and Intervention Program Grant in the amount of $90,300.

An Ordinance was amended for the Fiscal Year 2023-2024 Adopted Budget for the PEG Fund to cover the cost of replacement equipment that facilitates the broadcast of public meetings on the City’s PEG channel; a Resolution passed authorizing the redemption of the City of DeSoto, Texas Limited Tax Note, Series 2023; and the City Manager was also given a nod to negotiate and execute a construction contract with Bernal Commercial Construction, Co. in the amount of $226,754.45 and approve a total contract amount of $258,500.08 for the Slope Stabilization Improvements for Heath Creek.

It was also approved to execute a change order to the contract with AECOM in the not-to-exceed amount of $7,500 for additional work required to finalize the City’s Comprehensive Plan Update and finally council approved the City Manager to negotiate and execute a contract with Aqua-Metric Sales Company for the purchase of Sensus water meters of various sizes and Sensus Smart Point Radios in the amount not to exceed $215,000.

The item pulled by Place 3 Nicole Raphiel was regarding a revision to a Preliminary Plat of Homestead at Daniel Farms Phase 3 located south of W. Danieldale Road and west of N. Westmoreland Road. The property owner is Wildwood Development Co. LTD, requesting changes to 76 and 38 lots for revision.

Three public hearings were heard and passed including a continuation of a public hearing from the January 2, 2024, on an Ordinance adopting the 2024 Comprehensive Plan as authorized. Staff notes also indicated