TOWN MEETING HELD APRIL 29, 1999,  AT THE FORNEY MIDDLE SCHOOL

The last in a series of four town meetings was held on April 29 in the
Forney
Middle School Cafetorium.  Sid Holcomb, representing the Forney Chamber of
Commerce, welcomed everyone to the meeting and explained the agenda.  It was
emphasized that all are here for the good of the community, and it was asked
that a civil, interesting discussion ensue.  A panel of City Council
candidates was then introduced:  Rodney Vike; Judy Stout; Darrell Grooms;
and
Andy Parker.  Each candidate addressed the group, telling the place on the
City Council they are seeking and giving some biographical-type information.

A question-and-answer period followed, with John Taylor, President of the
Forney Chamber of Commerce, moderating.

QUESTION:  Are any of you opposed to improved parks and recreation
facilities?  Are any of you against improved infrastructures in Forney?
ANSWER (by all):  No.

QUESTION:  How do you specifically plan to keep a power plant from the
Western edge of Forney?
ANSWER by Judy Stout:  I have been told by our City Manager that the 54
acres
Cobisa is considering are within our ETJ (undisputed) and that the City of
Forney will control whether that 54 acres is annexed and zoned; so we should
annex the land and refuse to allow a power plant to build.  Regarding Duke,
there seems to be some contention about whether or not the North side is in
our ETJ.  If it is, we have the same option.  Annex it, and then refuse.
Duke is considering building on the South side close to I-20.  I am not wild
about them building on that side either.  We would not receive city taxes;
but would receive school and county taxes.
ANSWER by Andy Parker:  There seems to be a unfortunate rumor in the City of
Forney that the power plants are a "done deal."  Maybe this is because Duke
used City Hall's address on its flyer; or maybe it's because Cobisa told us
we were going to have a power plant.  The other concern I've heard is that
we
might as well welcome them because if they move further west anyway we will
have all the problems but none of the profit.  Mesquitewants Duke very
badly.
 Mesquite said "absolutely no way would Duke be allowed to build anywhere
close to Highway 80 -- only welcome in Mesquite if they build on the South
side.  This, too, is not desirable; but it keeps it off our front doorstep.
So many citizens have expressed their concerns to me over and over again --
they don't want a powerplant here!

QUESTION to Darrell Grooms and Rodney Vike:  Where do you stand?
ANSWER by Rodney Vike:  I am not real big on the power plant; but I feel
they
are going to be here because we have all the resources.  If we have them in
our back doors and don't reap any benefits if they are outside our
ETJ.......
ANSWER by Darrell Grooms:  Number one, I would not go out and solicit a
power
plant.  The City of Forney did not do that.  I do realize one is coming,
though.  If you are dealing with something of that size, 3,4,5 miles does
not
make that much difference.  If you go by and talk with Duke -- Mesquite
wants
them.  If one is going to be here and put in those bottoms...if Forney is
going to be associated with them...I would just as soon Forney get the money
from them.

QUESTION to all:  If we drive them away, what specific ideas do you have to
attract new sources of revenue, which will be lost?
ANSWER by Judy Stout:  We have a new business park that is ready to be
developed.  Steve Silver is moving out there.  I understand that the paper
plant comes onto our tax rolls next year to the tune of about $25,000,000.
We need to work on retail.  As Forney grows, retail will develop along
Highway 80.  Along the service road, it is zoned retail.  Part of that, such
as did the new Brookshire's store, is going to come naturally, as we grow.
ANSWER by Andy Parker:  As an accountant, there are two ways to get more:
Increase revenue and spend your money more wisely, to make sure you get a
dollar's worth of value for every dollar you spend.  I think we can get more
bang for our buck here in Forney.  Wecan get ideas from other cities our
size
(example:  Mineola, and the amenities it has that attract new people).
ANSWER by Darrell Grooms:  I am on the Economic Development Board here in
the
City.  As Ms. Stout mentioned, the business park with Steve Silver.  Forney
is not as big as most people think as far as our city limits (which were
then
explained, in each direction). We do not have many large tracts of land left
within the city limits.
ANSWER by Rodney Vike:  I will agree with the business park.  It will help
our tax base.  On the retail side of it, I think that being close to
Mesquite
and Terrell -- I don't see retail coming out here very much.  We need to try
to welcome and work with any businesses that want to come to town.

QUESTION to Grooms and Vike:  What is your position on the power plant
issue?
ANSWER by Vike:  I am willing to sit down and work out a deal with them.  We
might not be able to.  I would hate to see them get right outside of our ETJ
and not come up to our city requirements (standards).
ANSWER by Grooms:  If we can make it work for the City, I would vote yes.
If
not, I
would vote no.

QUESTION to Andy Parker:  How many of the 700 people who signed the petition
against the power plants live inside the City of Forney?
ANSWER by Parker:  I don't specifically know, but I know that as I walk
around Forney I have encountered many more people who are very opposed but
did not actually sign thepetition.

QUESTION to Andy Parker:   In your ad, you suggest the current City Council
is incompetent.  How many meetings have you attended?
ANSWER by Parker:  I don't believe I said it was incompetent.  I said I
could
bring some skills to it which would be valuable.

QUESTION to Darrell Grooms:  Have you directly or indirectly received
campaign
contributions on behalf of any power plant?
ANSWER by Grooms:  No.

QUESTION to Judy Stout and Andy Parker:  The City has received an award for
financial management for several of the past few years.  How do you think
you
can improve on that kind of record?
ANSWER by Andy Parker:  First of all, you would have to tell me what kind of
an award and what it was based on.  People who have been in the City for a
while can tell you things regarding financial matters that have gone on from
time to time that would cause you concern.  One things was that the paper
plant was supposed to be annexed in 1990; but it did not happen until 1996.
Thus far, the city has not received one penny of tax revenues from it.

QUESTION to Judy Stout:  When you visited Cleburne, did you ask any citizens
how they felt about the power plant?
ANSWER by Stout:  The people of Cleburne were thrilled with their plant.  It
is about four miles out of town.  No residential housing additions close to
it.  I was told there is a house about 1/2 mile from it, but I didn't see
it.

QUESTION to Grooms and Vike:  What management, accounting, and budgeting
experience do you have?
ANSWER by Vike:  I have some college and I have a small business and have
some
experience through that.
ANSWER by Grooms:  I have several years of retail experience.  I have
received training from Southwestern Bell.  I have been working on retail
store budgets for about nine years now.  I would like to respond to the
paper
plant issue mentioned earlier.  It was annexed in 1998.  We had to get
written permission from the City of Dallas, deal with legal issues, etc.

QUESTION:  Not a done deal?  I understand Cobisa has already closed on the
land in the "bottoms" and we understand that Duke will be closing soon.  So,
we will have two power plants instead of one!
ANSWER by Parker:  The fact that they have land doesn't mean they are going
to get permission to build a power plant.
ANSWER by Grooms:  I have asked both of the companies -- if the other
company
comes, will they pull out?  They will not say yet.

QUESTION:  Are there plans to provide parking for Mulberry Park to stop
unwanted
parking for residents of Mulberry Circle?
ANSWER by Grooms:  We are in negotiations now.  We would like to asphalt the
area
that the school buses use.  We went to the School Board.  They are talking
about
concreting it.  We have told them that if they do not do that we are going
in
and asphalt it.

QUESTION:  Have any plans been made for a park using the information from
the
survey
sheets that were sent out?
ANSWER by Grooms:  I wasn't able to attend the last meeting so I can't tell
you right
now.  I do know our Parks Board has been working very hard and have put a
lot
of their
time into improving the parks.

QUESTION:  Will it be possible to have a City-wide vote on the power plant
(or county
vote)?
ANSWER by Grooms:  I have been told that we cannot put this to a referendum
vote until
the City Council decides one way or another.  I would like to see the
citizens vote on this.
My understanding is that once the council votes, if it is 10% of the
registered voters that
voted in the last election...
ANSWER by Stout:  Mr. McConnell told me that because this is a zoning issue,
zoning
issues are not subject to a referendum.  If 10% of the voters are unhappy
with the Council's
vote, there can be a recall election.

QUESTION:  What about public safety -- i.e., fire department, police...what
improvements
do you plan?
ANSWER by Vike:  We are going to need a fire engine in the next year or two.
It costs
right at $1,000 just to outfit a fireman.  Fire department needs hoses.
Police department
needs another officer or two to help patrol.  We have been in direct
violation of city code
by having only one officer on evening duty for a while.
ANSWER by Parker:  Forney needs a lot of things from the fire department to
the police
department to civic improvements.  The real question is how do we plan for
those and how
do we pay for them?  I have heard over and over again that we are going to
need a
one-quarter-million-dollar fire engine in the next year or so.  My question
is:  How long
have we known about that and why weren't we budgeting for it before now?  It
appears we
haven't done any planning to acquire the necessary equipment.  Not only
that,
last year the
City Council reduced the tax rate.  Why?  I say we need to take care of the
basics
(examples given such as bar ditches need cleaning; vacant lots need
cleaning,
etc.)

QUESTION:  If you are willing to listen to the power plant proposals, would
you then
make a decision based on the needs of ALL of the people of Forney?
ANSWER by Vike:  Yes.  Any decision needs to be based on all people.  We
must
focus on
doing the best for the town itself.
ANSWER by Stout:  Absolutely!  I am opposed to the power plant; but I am not
under the
delusion that I can stop them on my own.  I think the citizens of Forney can
stop them if
they want to badly enough.
ANSWER by Parker:  My answer should be self-evident.  I have said all along
that the
City Council should have made a serious effort to find out what the people
of
Forney want.
We live in a democratic society and everyone should be allowed, in some
meaningful way,
to express their opinion.  I thought the petition given to the Council would
be a wake-up
call, but....
ANSWER by Grooms:  We have heard the pros and cons.  Now that the Chamber of
Commerce has hosted these meetings, a lot of information has come out and I
think folks
are more open about it now.

QUESTION:  If "visual pollution" is a reason for your opposition to the
plants, why have
you never spoken out against the other "eyesores" -- (code violations which
exist in Forney
such as deteriorating buildings, etc.)?
ANSWER by Vike:  Last year when I was up here we heard lots of good topics.
This year,
everything seems to be focused on the power plants.  A lot of improvement
needs to be
made about code enforcement.  The City needs to take care of their own
violations and
codes first, then we can get out and start addressing the other people's
codes.
ANSWER by Stout:  Visual pollution is a big concern.  I am not sure people
have a
concept of a 1100' long plant and stacks 150' tall.  It is going to be very
big and very ugly.
As far as code enforcement...I have been told that our code is "reactive"
and
not
"proactive" here in the city.  This is not the best way, but it apparently
is
a long-standing
policy.
ANSWER by Parker:  The power plant pollution will so dwarf and overwhelm any
other
problems that we have in the city that we will forget all about the code
violations.  When I
tell people in Dallas that I live in Forney, most of them don't know where
Forney is until I
explain to them.  Then they say "out there with all the antique shops..."
My
wife and I like
antiques; so I don't mind being identified with that.  With two power
plants,
Forney will be
known as the place where they are -- that would be an unfortunate thing.
ANSWER by Grooms:  We have certainly had some code enforcement issues to
come
before the City in the last year.  Right now, the City can barely keep up
with the problems
we have.  A lot of this is due to manpower problems.  Our code enforcer
wears
several
different hats.

QUESTION to Vike:  How do you plan to attend meetings since you are a
firefighter and
those meetings might conflict?
ANSWER by Vike:  I am dedicated to the City of Forney.  Our Firefighter
meetings do not
conflict with the City of Forney meetings.

QUESTION to Grooms:  You say you have perfect attendance at City Council
meetings.
Isn't that a requirement?
ANSWER by Grooms:  No.  This last Fall we had one member to miss four
meetings.
You can miss up to three unexcused absences without getting kicked off the
Council.

QUESTION to Parker:  How many Council meetings have you attended in the time
you
have lived here?
ANSWER by Parker:  I have attended at least three.  I think I know enough to
know that
we do have some members who don't really care about what I think or what
anybody else
thinks.  Why get your blood pressure up over something that you can't
control.

QUESTION:  If Forney got a power plant, where would you put the funds?
ANSWER by Vike:  I think we need to get together with all the departments
and
come up
with a 5-10 year goal regarding needs of police, fire, and water
departments,
etc.
ANSWER by Stout:  This is hard for me to answer because I haven't conceded
that a
power plant is inevitable.  Probably the fire department would be a
priority.
 We need
parks improvements.  I know what shape those parks are in, even though they
have been
greatly improved in the last four or five years.  There is a long list --
you
have to prioritize.
ANSWER by Parker:  The question is really pretty premature.  If Cobisa
comes,
it
wouldn't come on line until the real value appraisal done in 2003.  Cobisa
is
not a power
plant company.  Cobisa is not going to actually build, equip, and run the
power plant.
They are a small company.  If the company has any business sense at all,
they
won't pay
anything until January 2004.  In the meantime, we will already have had to
purchase a fire
engine and do some other things.  It is hard to predict what needs the
people
of Forney will
have at the top of the list by that time.
ANSWER by Grooms:  First and foremost issue now is safety.  Our police are
packed into
their station like sardines.  We cannot pay a dispatcher enough to keep
someone.  Right
now the city is working with a consulting firm to give some ideas.

QUESTION:  No one has mentioned the Tampa Bay power plant explosion.
ANSWER by Stout:  I believe it was about three weeks ago when that happened.
The
plant exploded after routine maintenance.  It was a coal-powered plant, not
natural gas.
Hydrogen was used in the cooling system.  Two people were killed and 49
injured.  The
plant is about two miles from downtown Tampa.

QUESTION:  Are you fully aware of the environmental impact these plants
might
have on
the City of Forney, as well as any health hazards?
ANSWER by Parker:  From an environmental standpoint, I get concerned about
whether I
am going to have enough water.  I remember having to drag a water hose
around
my yard
in the middle of the night on my designated days last summer.  Yes, we were
told they will
use waste water.  But Duke said they will also need about 200 gallons of
water a day and
Cobisa would use more than that.  So let's suppose that the water is not
there, due to a
failure in the delivery system, or we find ourselves in a drought...if the
water is not there --
who is going to get their water first?
ANSWER by Grooms:  We are part of the North Texas Municipal Water
Department.
 We
buy water from them and then sell it to smaller water suppliers.  No matter
who comes to
town, they will be restricted.  I would rather have the water to fight
fires.

QUESTION:  It was stated by one of the current Council members that the
folks
on the
West side of Forney can absorb losses of values to their homes if the power
plants did cause
a devaluation of property.  Do you feel the same way?
ANSWER by Vike:  No.
ANSWER by Stout:  No.
ANSWER by Parker:  No.  I think the impact on property values will be much
wider than
just to those who are immediately adjacent to the power plants.
ANSWER by Grooms:  No.  Not many people in this town would live any closer
to
the
power plant than I would.

QUESTION:  How has the current Council been incompetent?
ANSWER by Parker:  If we so desperately need a fire engine, why were we not
budgeting
for it?  This is fundamental money management...when you have a major
capital
asset that
you need to acquire...why wasn't it budgeted?
ANSWER by Grooms:  I will address the fire engine.  A few years ago, the
City
of Forney
did buy a used fire engine.  Unfortunately, that engine has given us a good
deal of trouble.
(Example was given of problems incurred during a specific fire close to
Red's
Antiques.)

QUESTION:  How is the City of Forney prepared to deal with the potential
terrorist threat
that the power plant can impose on the City?
ANSWER:  Not addressed.

QUESTION to Grooms: I appreciate the dedication you put forth.  What drives
you to be
sure that the power plant is a good venture?
ANSWER by Grooms:  As I stated earlier, I would not go out and solicit a
power plant.
But more than likely, one is going to be there.  Mesquite has already told
them that they
would pay every expense to get them into Mesquite's ETJ.  Forney has
needs --
parks, etc.
We do not have the finances to do this.  This issue has split a lot of
friendships.  I wish it
would never have come up, but we are now in that position.

QUESTION to Vike and Grooms:  Rumor has it that if the power plant doesn't
come to
our city, taxes will increase.  How do you plan on keeping them from
increasing?
ANSWER by Grooms:  We have to plan ahead.  We have to get a fire truck.  We
can raise
taxes or increase industry.  If we cannot afford that, we will have to do
whatever needs to
be done.  I don't know if taxes are going up.  We have a lot of
infrastructure problems that
have to be addressed.

QUESTION to Grooms:  If the power plant comes, will you sell your house and
move?
ANSWER by Grooms:  No (emphatically).

QUESTiON:  Would someone comment about Cobisa's proposal to give the City of
Forney one million dollars up front to build a YMCA?
ANSWER by Vike:  I have heard that.  If they do, a Board needs to sit down
to
see how the
money will be spent.  I think that is looking far into the future.
ANSWER by Stout:  I read this in the paper and assume it is true.  My
personal opinion is
that if power plants were so wonderful -- they wouldn't need to be offering
us $1M to come
here.
ANSWER by Parker:  I view their offer as a bribe.  They are trying to buy
their way into
Forney and Forney is not for sale.  Over and over, like a broken record, I
hear "we moved
here to get away from pollution and heavy industry."  Money is not the issue
for many of
our friends and neighbors.  It is the quality of life they have found here.
ANSWER by Grooms:  Forney Youth Association is one of the strongest
organizations we
have here in town.  There is a trade-off on everything in life.  One of the
most vocal things I
hear from everyone who has kids is "there is nothing here for them to do."
The citizens
and the Council will decide what to do with the money.

QUESTION:  Is Forney for sale???
ANSWER by Vike:  No.
ANSWER by Stout:  Absolutely not.
ANSWER by Parker:  No.  We have too much going for us here.  Our future is
bright.  We
do not need power plants.
ANSWER by Grooms:  We are not for sale.

QUESTION:  Why did the City Council lower taxes in spite of financial needs
facing the
city?
ANSWER by Grooms:  How many people in this room think our taxes should be
lowered?
"D Magazine" did.  They did a story about high taxes and Forney ranked way
up
there.
We try to do the best we can.  Like the situation about the fire truck...we
thought we had it
fixed with the used fire truck...and that did not work out well.

QUESTION to Grooms:  You told us last year we could get parks and get
streets
fixed...
ANSWER by Grooms:  Budget for the parks went up.  If you will study the
tapes
for the
budget meetings, you will see I fought for it.

COMMENT:  I live close to the site of the power plant and do not live in the
city limits but
surely wish I could vote.  We enjoy being able to hunt and fish legally and
also have the
benefit of being close to the city and Forney ISD.  We have only been here
for one year and
we really don't want to move.  If power plant comes -- we will have to move!

QUESTION:  Canton does not have any city property tax due to their 1st
Monday.  Could
we not do the same?  Does that fit better with the "antique" image?
ANSWER by John Taylor:  The Chamber of Commerce has certainly been looking
into
something like this for a couple of years.  These things don't come together
very
easily...things like trying to find a piece of property that is available on
a long-term basis,
etc.
ANSWER by Darrell Grooms:  The antique buildings are not in the Forney city
limits.  A
lot of that has to do with annexation problems.  (Water districting issues
were then
discussed.)  The laws that regulate the water districting are written to
benefit them -- not
any town.

QUESTION:  Why are you putting Duke and Cobisa in the same category?
ANSWER by Stout:  I put them both in the same category because they are both
wanting
to put power plants in this area.  I think their goals are the same.  I
would
much rather see
Duke.  I think they know what they are doing.  They have a Southern site
that
they are
considering.  I think it is the lesser of two evils.

QUESTION:  If any of you were to move -- would you move to a community with
a
power
plant?  If not, why not?
ANSWER by Stout:  No.  I would not move here if it had a power plant.
ANSWER by Parker:  No.
ANSWER by Vike:  I never plan to move.
ANSWER by Grooms:  That would depend on what kind of plant it is.  Low taxes
and
good schools are the two most important things people look for.
ANSWER by Stout: I think there is a third way we can get money -- either cut
expenses, or
spend money more efficiently.

QUESTION:  How do you currently view the relationship between the City
officials, the
Chamber of Commerce, the F.E.D.C.?  How would you like to see the
relationship
operate?
ANSWER by Grooms:  I would say we have an excellent relationship now.  Our
P&Z
Board members work very hard.  Our Economic Development Board gets along
well.
ANSWER by Parker:  I know there is considerable overlap between the groups.
I wish we
had more citizens in Forney who would pitch in and try to help solve some of
the problems.


John Taylor then thanked everyone for their attendance.  A stenographer was
taking notes
at tonight's meeting and the questions asked will be included in next week's
Forney
Messenger.  Mr. Taylor reminded everyone that they have an opportunity to
vote on May
1st.  Please take that opportunity seriously, and get to the polls.