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Weatherford

Council honors McLeod

Façade Improvement Grant needs more discussion

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The Weatherford City Council recognized one of the city’s own during its Tuesday, Jan. 14 meeting.

Dr. Stacy McLeod, who serves as the City of Weatherford Animal Services Veterinarian, was recently appointed to the Texas Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners by Governor Greg Abbott.

There are only seven members on this board for the State of Texas. This prestigious honor comes with a six-year appointment. During this time to she will help ensure that Texas veterinarians promote and ensure that their high professional standards are meeting those set forth.

Also, she recently earned a master’s degree in Shelter Medicine from the University of Florida.

 

Façade Improvement Grant

One of the biggest issues many towns in America face is what do to keep the town growing. As older towns begin to look for ways to entice local businesses to stay and for new opportunities to consider establishing their business, towns need to be creative.

One way Weatherford is looking toward the future is the Façade Improvement Grant Policy. The guidelines of this policy include that property owners submit an application, and upon approval they are entered onto waiting list to seek approval for a grant that is offered through the City of Weatherford.

This grant policy encourages property owners within the central business district (CBD) to improve the aesthetics, functionality, and overall appeal of their storefronts/facades. The goal is to promote commercial revitalization and economic development as part of the city’s commitment to honoring its heritage.

Councilman Zack Smith brought up a perspective that addresses one aspect of the grant.

“Downtown Weatherford is indisputably an incredible place to make a real estate investment, as proven by data pulled from the Parker County Appraisal District,” Smith said. “Our downtown is vibrant and growing in popularity though the efforts of the city shareholders, the landowners, and the tenants alike.

“It is also a place where taxpayers have made an unparalleled investment in the utilities, fixtures, roads, and sidewalks, furthermore making it a thriving area to explore our community and shows their commitment to the local businesses downtown.

“That said, I believe as a property owner, it is our responsibility to update, maintain, and manage our own properties and not the taxpayers’ financial burden to cost share these facade improvements.”

Mayor Pro-Tem Heidi Wilder had another perspective that she shared.

“Back in 2011, the thought of the council was how do we make Weatherford the best place to be? I’m going to say as a city, we have accomplished that detail,” she said. “We have encouraged people in downtown to invest in themselves through an incentive of this façade grant program.

“I don’t think that ending the program with several applicants still in the queue is fair since we encouraged them to make improvements and then take that away from them.

“If you want to say ‘let’s suspend the program for the rest of the year after these applicants are out of the queue,’ that’s a different subject we can look at a later date.”

The item is expected to be discussed further.

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