12.23.2003 Town Council Minutes SpecialX Prosper
1. Call to Order/ Roll Call.
Minutes (approved)
Special Session of the Prosper Town Council
601 South Church Street
Prosper First Baptist Church Children's Building (S. Wing)
Tuesday, December 23, 2003 7:00 p.m.
Roll call was taken by the Town Secretary.
Mayor Charles Niswanger called the special session to order at 7:03 p.m.
Council members present: Mayor Charles Niswanger, Mayor Pro -Tem Michael Perry, Russell Kaker, Lisa Dritschler, Karie
Dalton. Ane Casady was absent.
Staff members present: Town Administrator, Doug Mousel; Police Chief, Kirk McFarlin; and Town Secretary, Shanae
Jennings. Financial advisor Doug Hartman was available for Council questions.
DEPARTMENT ITEMS
2. Discuss and possibly provide additional direction to staff to initiate the process to issue bonds to finance such
items including, but not limited to, the construction of Town facilities, water and sewer infrastructure, and the
purchase of land for public purposes.
Mayor Charles Niswanger stated that he called this meeting in order to address a petition that is purportedly being circulated
against the COsI bonds. He stated that lie feels he has been given an ultimatum to do a CO for the water and sewer issues,
but that the land acquisition and the facility needs should go to a vote. The Mayor asked that the Council discuss this issue
one more time and make sure that everyone is on the same page in regards to the CO issue. He also encouraged the
Council to stick with the vote they made a week ago and proceed forward with the issuance of COs for $10.5 million.
Mayor Pro -Tem Michael Perry stated that the taxpayers elected the Council to make educated and good decisions for the
Town. He believes that a single CO is the best way to raise the funds, and that splitting the items into two COs would
increase the Town's costs all around at the end. He believes the Council should stand behind the unanimous vote made
last week to move forward with the CO as a whole.
Lisa Dritschler believes this CO will bring us 10 years into the present, and that these are necessities that the Town needs,
not things they just want. The Town has contractual obligations that need to be fulfilled, and the bond money will do this.
This has been an ongoing project over the last year to get where we are today, and this is what is best for the community. It
is important for the taxpayers to know that the tax rate will grow and then fall back down within three to four years.
Russell Kaker believes it is something we need to do for the future, not just for immediate needs now.
Lisa Dritschler also believes that the community should know that if we cannot secure COs, Council will have to increase
water and sewer rates and that in the end the COs are the most economical way to go.
Karie Dalton believes that the Council has voted on this and that the Council should stand firm on the decision. She does
not see how any specific individual can make sense of how this will make the Town's expenses any less.
Mayor Pro -Tem Michael Perry motioned to affirm the decision that was made last week to go forward with the COs,
seconded by Russell Kaker. Motion approved 4-0.
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3. Adjourn.
Motioned by Russell Kaker, seconded by Mayor Pro -Tem Michael Perry to adjourn the Special Session of the Prosper Town
Council. Motion approved 4-0. The meeting was adjourned at 7:23 p.m.
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har a isger, Mayor