Since February 2009, the Lantana Fresh Water Supply District #6 Board of Directors has been considering the possibility of adding a dedicated Sheriff’s Deputy to patrol Lantana for eight hours per day, seven days a week. The additional police coverage would be paid for by Lantana residents as a small fee ($6.05) added to our water bills each month.
As we researched the issue over the past year and met with officials from the Sheriff’s Department and other area leaders, we learned that the current deputy patrol coverage per capita is extremely sparse. Since Lantana lies in an unincorporated area of Denton County, the Sheriff’s Department is solely responsible for the development which has a current population of around 7,200. Deputies patrol nearly 900 square miles of Denton County, which doesn’t allow for rapid response times and community policing that nearby towns and cities enjoy.
There are numerous developments similar to Lantana in unincorporated Denton County, and historically, Lantana has been the only Fresh Water District in the county that does not pay for dedicated patrols.
The main charge of the Fresh Water Supply Districts is to oversee the selling of bonds to keep growth going and to manage the water, sewage, and roads in the development. Public Safety is not our primary job, but as we continue to grow, we must be proactive and not bury our heads in the sand.
In summary, I ask that concerned Lantana residents contact me at [email protected] with the subject line: “Public Safety” with your opinions on this matter in the coming months so we can readdress this important issue in a timely manner and keep Lantana a safe, family oriented community.
Donna Robichaux
Vice President, Denton County Fresh Water Supply District #6
Lantana, TX
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