Lantana’s two Fresh Water Supply District boards voted last week to implement a plan for gathering signatures from residents on a petition to request traffic enforcement from county commissioners.
The petition drive was organized after Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott issued a ruling last fall that Lantana and other Fresh Water Supply Districts do not have the authority to adopt and enforce traffic regulations on the streets inside their communities.
In response to the ruling, Texas legislators passed a law this spring to provide a solution that would allow traffic enforcement to once again be valid inside districts.
House Bill 2541, which was signed into law by Governor Rick Perry on June 17, authorizes residents of a FWSD to file a petition with their county’s commissioners court requesting traffic enforcement in their community.
“The petition does not add dedicated patrols, excessive speed traps or additional costs to residents, it is simply a process set out by the state legislature to allow the county sheriff to enforce our existing traffic regulations on Lantana’s streets as they were before the Attorney General’s ruling last fall,” said FWSD #6 board member Max Miller.
At least 50 percent of Lantana homeowners have to sign the petition in order for it to be presented to county commissioners for consideration. More details on HB 2541 can be found here.
The petition drive will kick off on Sunday, Dec. 11, with resident volunteers going door to door in Lantana asking for signatures to support the initiative. There are also plans to set up a signing table at the Lantana Gazebo that day.
Volunteers are needed to assist in the effort. An orientation for volunteers is scheduled for the evening of Thursday, Dec. 8.
Contact Ross Ferguson at [email protected] or call 940-728-5050 if you would like to help with the petition drive or have questions about this issue.
Board endorses school zone
Lantana Fresh Water Supply District #6 board members voted at their November meeting to add a school zone along a section of Lantana Trail at Stacee Lane for students walking to Blanton Elementary and Harpool Middle School at a cost of $17,590, contingent on approval from the Fresh Water District #7 board next month.
The action came after board members discussed their concerns over the existing crosswalk signs at the Lantana Trail and Stacee Lane intersection.
“The signs have been nothing short of a headache since we had them installed last year,” said Miller.
The solar-powered pedestrian-activated flashing crossing signs are activated via a push button control. Among the issues raised by board members were the visibility of the signs and the malfunctioning of the flashing lights.
“The vendor has taken them down several times to address issues with them, yet they are still not working correctly.”
During a joint meeting in June 2010, board members from Lantana’s two Fresh Water Supply Districts unanimously voted to purchase the signs along with two traditional signs warning motorists of the crosswalk for $5,570. The two districts split the cost of the signs.
Fresh Water District #7 board members will consider approving the new school zone at their Dec. 8th meeting.
Development Update
During the Marketing and HOA report, board members were told that the next phases of the Bellaire and Carlise neighborhoods were set to break ground in December.
The new phase of Bellaire will connect to Azalea and Carlisle’s new section will have an entrance on FM 407.
Lantana has recorded 137 new home sales this year, compared to 111 at this time last year. Total homes sold in Lantana since the community was established in 2001 was 2,538.
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