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The DeSoto Police Department will host a Public Safety Town Hall Meeting on Tuesday, July 9, to update the community on key safety issues.

The event will take place from 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the DeSoto City Council Chambers, located at 211 E. Pleasant Run Rd.

Residents are encouraged to attend the meeting, which will feature presentations on crime statistics, code enforcement, and animal control.

The event aims to provide transparency and foster communication between the police department and the community.

DeSoto Police Chief Joe Costa will lead the meeting, addressing current safety concerns and initiatives.

The event will also be available for live streaming on the city’s official Roku channel, ensuring accessibility for those who cannot attend in person.

For additional information, residents can contact the DeSoto Police Department or visit the city’s official website.

The post DeSoto to Host Public Safety Townhall Meeting appeared first on DeSoto Tribune.

This year the city of DeSoto hosted the annual Fourth of July celebration at Grimes Park as residents from Lancaster and DeSoto came together for a memorable experience.

More than 13,000 residents from the Best Southwest Cities of DeSoto and Lancaster came together on a sweltering July 4th at DeSoto’s Grimes Park for a joint Independence Day celebration.

The celebration is a cherished tradition that has united the communities for over a decade.

Despite the extreme heat, families and friends gathered in high spirits, participating in an array of festive activities.

The event featured live music from funk and soul legends the Bar-Kays, violin virtuoso Dominique Hammons, the Natural Change Band, and the GoGo Band.

 The event also catered to foodies with food vendors, and a spectacular fireworks display that lit up the night sky, embodying the patriotic spirit of the holiday.

This annual event, alternately hosted by DeSoto and Lancaster, has become a cornerstone of the local communities’ summer festivities.

Residents from both cities eagerly anticipate the celebration each year, coming together to honor the nation’s independence and enjoy a day of camaraderie and fun.

“The bond between our cities and our residents is real and we always look forward to coming together on the Fourth of July with our dear friends from Lancaster to celebrate this wonderful holiday and our deep friendship,” said Rachel L. Proctor, Mayor of the City of DeSoto.

The day’s activities kicked off with a parade featuring local bands, community groups, and decorated floats.

Throughout the afternoon, attendees enjoyed games and contests, while cooling stations provided relief from the intense heat.

“We love to playfully tease each other about whose city has more excitement, but when the Fourth of July rolls around, all that friendly rivalry melts away. We gather together like one big, joyful family, basking in the warmth of each other’s company, said Clyde C. Hairston, Mayor of Lancaster.

“The laughter, shared stories, and the feeling of unity remind us how wonderful it is to come

A lithium battery storage facility could soon call DeSoto its home, but the proposed location has many residents in an uproar.

The Emerald Hill Energy Storage project is designed to store 250 megawatts of energy and is proposed to be located in DeSoto.

If approved, the proposal will place a lithium-ion energy storage facility near DeSoto High School and neighboring residential areas.

“This project would be located at southwest Westmoreland Rd. and Eagle Drive, it would be across the street from the high school,” said Alex Rohr, Manager of Community Affairs for Vesper Energy.  

“The reason that we’re in that area is because of that very large transmission line running through the area. We want to be close to that and that is generally what’s best to support grid reliability.”

Rohr spoke with The DeSoto Tribune and further explained that they also look at where there is available land, market demand, and proximity to major electrical infrastructure.

Safety Concerns:

As discussions surrounding the facility’s location continue, safety remains a top priority and concern for residents in the area and the city.

Lithium-ion Batteries can experience a Thermal Runaway Event, a phenomenon in which the lithium-ion cell enters an uncontrollable, self-heating state, according to the Underwriters Laboratories Research Institute (UL Research Institute).

It refers to a self-sustaining, exothermic reaction within a battery that leads to a rapid increase in temperature and pressure which can result in a battery emitting toxic gasses, catching fire, or even exploding, according to Pyrophobic.com.

Storage for the lithium-ion batteries will be housed in special containers that must meet strict safety regulations, tests, and standards, including UL9540, UL 9540A, and NFPA 855.

The facility will also consist of a buffer, tree coverage, and a brick façade.

“We are planning a 50-foot-deep vegetative buffer along the northern boundary as well as a 25-foot-deep vegetative buffer on the eastern boundary,” said Rohr.

“Both would maintain and enhance the existing tree coverage along each border. There would also be a 6-8 foot brick façade around the battery storage containers,” explained Rohr.

Rohr went on to explain that the property would also maintain the existing walking path through the area and construct a sidewalk on the eastern boundary to help meet DeSoto’s goals of a more walkable community.

Community Outreach and Opposition:

The Irving-based company Vesper Energy has not yet submitted an application to the city but has been conducting community outreach to gauge public interest.

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