Rockwall Voices Op-Ed
205, 551, 552, 548, 66, 35, and 1141. To the people of Rockwall County, these numbers are not a number soup or random numbers; they represent our quality of life. These are the roads that we need to improve so that we can drive through the county we live in.
With that in mind in 2021 there was a Trip 21 bond that 60% of the people in Rockwall supported. This bond was marketed with the number soup from above and the people were hopeful that the County would improve these roads. Since that bond passed there has been a drastic change in County Leadership. Two brand new Commissioners and a Judge took office and come January there will be 100% turnover on the Commissioner Court from 2021.
With that in mind, as the door is closing on two sitting Commissioners, the Court is now looking at spending the money from that bond for the first time. Yes, the Bond passed in 2021 has been dormant for 3 years! What is the first item on the agenda for us to work on? Not the number soup from above, but the Outer Loop. To finish the route in phase 2 of the Outer Loop. This project was never presented to the voters as an option for Trip 21 Bonds. If you watch November 12, 2024, Commissioner’s Court you will see on item 17 that the Court believes it can do whatever it wants with the money. Please watch this link.
Nov 12, 2024, Commissioners Court Regular Meeting – Rockwall County, TX
It is worth your time to get informed. If you do watch this video, you will see a road consultant immediately say that $20 million to build the lanes of the outer loop was in Trip21. As the Commissioner of Royse City in my Precinct, I can say I have never seen a single public document that shows this to be true. The defense of these actions begins with a lie. The northern section of the loop was included in Trip 21, but not the southern section. If you continue to watch, which I admit is a little dry, you will see the admission that there was a deal made with Rockwall County to build the Outer Loop. A deal with unelected bureaucrats.
Recent elections locally and nationally have shown that the American People are tired of the old ways of backroom politics. This $150 million bond belongs to the people of Rockwall County, not bureaucrats who believe they can control it.
I am asking the People of Rockwall County to get informed, reach out to your local elected officials and demand transparency in your government. People deserve a government that works for their interest not the interest of developers.
Rockwall County Commissioners Court will meet on November 26th at 9 am in the Historic Courthouse in Downtown Rockwall. This matter will probably be on the agenda.
Without active citizens working hard for transparency, nothing will change in this county. The people I represent want me to work on the number soup, not the outer loop. Please join in the conversation by engaging local leaders.
John Stacy Rockwall County Commissioner Precinct 4. I can be reached by email at [email protected] or 972-204-6040.
About the Author:
John Stacy is a 7th generation Texan who is a direct descendant of one of the Old 300 original settlers with Stephen F Austin. If you visit his office at the Historic Courthouse he has a copy of the original hand drawn map of the Texas Colony. John is a graduate of Texas Christian University and has three wonderful children with his beautiful wife Amie. John moved to Fate 15 years ago and served on various city boards and commissioner including City Council before deciding to run for County Commissioner.
Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this Op-Ed are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official stance of The Rockwall Times. We encourage a respectful exchange of perspectives to enrich our community dialogue.
