Greenville Mayor Visits Local American Legion

Greenville Mayor Tom Oliver was the guest speaker Thursday night at a meeting of the Northeast Veterans Coalition at the West Tawakoni American Legion Post.

Oliver gave an update of projects underway in Greenville and Hunt County, many that he said would effect the entire county. He was introduced by coalition Commander Arlen Butler after American Legion Commander Tom Cope welcomed those attending.

Oliver told the group that he was in awe of veterans. The audience included veterans from the American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Amvets and Disabled Veterans posts locally as well as Rockwall, Greenville and Dallas.

He discussed his membership on the Metro Planning Organization. "We are so impacted by what happens west of us," Oliver said. "What happens in Dallas impacts us tremendously."

He said one of the projects on which the organization was working was a transportation thoroughfare plan for Hunt County. "We are more and more becoming more of that Metroplex," he said and commented that he hoped to be able to direct some of the funding toward Hunt County with his membership.

One of the transportation projects was State Highway 380 upgrades from the Collin County line to Greenville that he said was almost complete. Oliver said the scope of the project included more than just highways — but also railroads. He said the former Cottonbelt Line right-of-way was still intact and available for a future railroad to Dallas. He said that although the project probably would not be completed in his lifetime, it was important to put the plan in action for the future. He said it would run from Wylie to Greenville and on to Sulphur Springs.

Oliver said the city was still hopeful that the power plant would become a reality for Greenville that would almost double its tax base with a $1 billion investment.

"Lake Tawakoni is a huge asset to us," the Greenville mayor said. He said the city had a 23 million gallon per day contract from the Sabine River Authority for Tawakoni water that he hoped the proposed power plant could utilize.

He reviewed the highway construction underway in Greenville including the two-year contract for the elevated Interstate 30 over Monte Stafford Parkway. Other plans call for widening State Highway 34 and making the interstate frontage roads into one way.

He said one of the problems in living in an old town was that the infrastructure was old unlike cities like Frisco. He said it required constant efforts to keep up with the needs.

Oliver said a new board had been created in Greenville — the Tourist Board — that would help with economic development. He also outlined plans for the proposed Walton Development in the extra-territorial jurisdiction of Greenville that would add 50,000 residents and would include residential, commercial, industrial and retail developments. Oliver compared the addition to Stonebridge at McKinney and said it would contract with Greenville for water, sewer, fire and police services.

He said of Greenville priorities included further reductions in the tax rate that he said was still too high after reductions that had already been made. The audience responded with a laugh when he referred to Greenville’s recent vote to sell beer and wine and that his great uncle would be glad to know of it since he operated a saloon on the square in early days. He quoted his uncle’s saying, "Every drink is sold by prescription, but every man is his own doctor."

Oliver praised the work of City Manager Steve Alexander and said he was a great asset to the city. He said the city was applying for a grant to improve Grant Park — a 50-50 grant that would invest a collective $1 million in the park.

Butler reviewed legislation that effects veterans including a 100 percent property tax reduction for veterans who have 100 percent disability; and total value of a disabled veteran’s residence homestead exempt from property taxation.

Jeanene Milligan with the Texas Veterans Land Board reviewed programs of the land board for veterans including financing for land and homes. She stressed that the land board was not a part of the Veterans Administration and usually saved a half to full point more on loans.