Letter from the Mayor Pro-Tem
City of Chico, Texas
February 1, 2009
To the Citizens of Chico:
It is a new year, one that promises to be exciting and productive for the City
of Chico. I have stepped into my new role with enthusiasm and dedication,
and I am lucky to be able to work with such a talented team of City employees
and council members. Together, we will push forward to make important and
positive improvements in our community.
We have had many accomplishments within the past year. First of all, the new
sewer plant- a major undertaking by the City- has been completed and will
serve the citizens of this town for years and generations to come. The Park
Road realignment project has also recently been completed and, in addition
to improving the quality of the road, also resulted in major improvements to
the railroad crossing. This is just the first of several major street projects
that will create safer, smoother, and more attractive roadways in Chico. Also,
the industrial park- an effort spearheaded by the Chico Economic
Development Corporation- is in full swing, and Craig Moss Backhoe Services
is now operating from the location. I am grateful that we are able to offer an
industrial park to prospective businesses, and I hope that this is the first of
many companies to find a home here. As some of these projects emphasize,
improvements and upgrades may not always be easily visible, but they are still
important to the quality of life that we all want and deserve to enjoy.
In addition, we are also making great strides in technology improvements, as
well. As you can imagine, we have a huge amount of important data stored on
our computers at City Hall, and it would be a disaster if we were to lose that
information. To help avert that situation, we have purchased battery back-ups
for our computers. While this is certainly not the cure-all, it is definitely a step
in the right direction, and step-by-step progress is the key to us being able to
sensibly reach a goal.
Also, if you haven’t visited the city park lately, go take a look at the good
things that are happening downtown. The skate park is still a popular
attraction with our local youth, and the park grounds have never looked
better. Some of the more visible improvements include the pipe fence (in
bold Chico colors) and a beautiful new stone bridge. Both of these
improvements were possible through donations from businesses and
individuals in our community, and I hope that all of you take time to go view
the fruits of their generosity. The City also sponsored a Christmas event in
the park, and any event that brings people out to enjoy what we have right
here in town is a success in my book.
Our fire department will soon receive a new brush truck as the result of a
grant, and all of us should be thankful for that. We are fortunate to have a
successful team of dedicated volunteers who do their best for all of us in this
area, and it is my intention that the City will continue to help them obtain much-
needed equipment as we are able. Remember that this fire department is
completely staffed by volunteers, so please go out of your way to thank them
when you get a chance.
Since I have assumed mayoral duties in the City, I have been coming to City
Hall at least three times a week to handle business, work on projects, and be
available to any citizens who may need to talk. The best days to catch me in
person are Monday, Wednesday, and Friday between 4:00 and 5:00 p.m. Also,
feel free to e-mail me anytime at jdclark.tx@gmail.com. I am working hard to
make myself accessible to the people I represent, and I want to improve
direct communication between myself and the rest of the community.
To help open up that line of communication, I have also created a “blog”- an
online journal- to keep community members updated on City happenings and
decisions. To visit the page, check out www.judsonclark.blogspot.com.
There isn’t much there yet, but it will be a great way for me to speak directly to
my fellow residents and point out important events and projects that are
going on in our community.
Additionally, I have also started a monthly report that I will present at each city
council meeting to provide information to my fellow council members about
what I have worked on in the past month and what projects and ideas I will be
working on in the future. Clear communication is a key component of
reaching our mutual goals, and I am working hard to find new ways to improve
that area for all involved.
In early February, I will be representing the City in Austin during Wise County
Legislative Days to visit one-on-one with our state’s senators and
representatives about important issues that affect us here at home. I feel it is
important for Chico to be involved and represented in events like this one so
that we can increase our visibility with our state representatives. Often they
make decisions that impact us dramatically, and it can only benefit us if we
develop working relationships with these elected officials.
Great progress has been taking place, but there is still plenty of work to be
done. Road projects and improved water quality remain major priorities, and
we are still moving in a positive direction with our ordinances and code
enforcement. I know it is sometimes frustrating when problems cannot be
fixed overnight, but please know that we are committed to working hard to
make necessary, positive changes in our community as soon as time, money,
and regulations allow. The City staff and council are committed to the same
positive direction for our City, and I hope each of you are as well. We are all
in this together, and that is why it is imperative that we communicate and
cooperate with one another.
Young people often move away from their hometowns, looking for something
bigger and better in another place. I have decided to keep my home as my
home and make an investment of love and pride right here in Chico. Friends,
I have the best intentions for this community, and I am going to work hard to
turn the ideas in my head into realities that we all can enjoy. Give me a
chance to make a difference, and I promise I will not let you down.
Warmly,
J.D. Clark
Mayor Pro-Tem
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