November 2020

Dear Reader:
  As one of the original staff members of the Citizens’ Advocate in 1984, I am among those sad to see the last printed copy of the Jexes’ newspaper after 35 years of publication.
      I would like to determine if there is a role for an online version of the paper, probably on a monthly basis with weekly updates.
      Every group and entity could have space to communicate their news and events.
      If you have an interest in an online source of communication and a place to offer your business services, email me at CITIZENSADVOCATE2000@YAHOO.COM,
tell your friends and groups about this, and continue to visit this site.
      We want to say how much this role has meant to us.

Thank You,
Martin Aldridge

GOOD NEWS!

Sam, an 11 year-old senior puppy I began fostering Thursday, April 23, has found his FUREVER HOME! Story is his owners had to be placed in a nursing home, and his German Shepherd doggie brother was soon adopted after they arrived at the shelter.

So Sam was depressed, I was told, and needed the attention he was used to.

But just two weeks after I began fostering Sam, he was adopted!  I knew a dog as good as him (shown sleeping with my own rescue puppy JR) wouldn’t last long if someone just got a chance to meet him - and that’s exactly what happened.

DO YOU HAVE AN ADOPTION OR FOSTER STORY?  WE WOULD LOVE TO SHARE IT.  JUST EMAIL YOUR STORY AND PHOTOS TO US!

CITIZENSADVOCATE2000@YAHOO.COM

SAM & JR
Sharing Nap Time

We are living in a unique time. We aren't able to interact with each other as much and are wishing for connection. In order to bring the Coppell Community together, we are creating a collection of community expressions and memories. Submissions of all kinds are requested. Share drawings, poems, stories, videos and more. Get to know your neighbors and preserve this moment in history.

Submit your memories here:

https://coppelltx.librariesshare.com/coppellreflections/

For more information, please visit coppelltx.gov/library, call 972-304-3658 or email cozbyprograms@coppelltx.gov.

When the tiny, forgotten town of Coppell began to be developed in the 1980s (and 90s, 2000s, etc), one of the big issues was finding - and saving - old cemeteries.

Many had to be restored, and many earned their own historical markers.

If you happen to know anything about these photos, please send us an EMAIL!

My son, Will Duff would like to submit this to Imagination Station.  He is 9 years old, a 3rd grader at Mockingbird.  His grandfather, Burt Bryan, cut this out of wood and Will painted it.

Will calls it “Cardinal Spy”.

Thanks, Kate Duff

Thoughts About The Old and
The New Advocate

Commentary by Lou Duggan

  Last month we saw the last printed copy of the Citizens’ Advocate. The paper had been an “advocate” for citizens in this town for 36 years. That's quite an accomplishment.  Many of us associated with the paper never really thought beyond next week's deadline and a vision of reporting community news for nearly 4 decades was just unthinkable.

  Certainly, our community has evolved in those years.  When the Advocate made its debut Coppell City Hall was a small metal building behind old fire station number 1.  Our population was about 3,000 and growing.

  The Advocate was created for the citizen during some serious political strife.  Many powerful forces tried to silence the paper and publisher Jean Murph.  The right of the people to know the people's business was the central issue of the day.  The struggle embroiled all of us in Coppell at the time.  However, because of you--the citizen, Murph's Advocate prevailed and continued to grow with our town.

    The "Advocate," as we fondly called the paper, had come of age when in 1999 Jean Murph received the Texas Bar Association Gavel Award. The Gavel Awards honor journalism that deepens public understanding of the legal system. Murph’s Advocate was in some great company. Our community newspaper was joined by the Fort Worth Star Telegram, Dallas Morning News, and ten other major Texas newspapers, magazines and television stations as recipients of the 1999 award. Now, for our community newspaper, that's a long way from our first edition 15 years prior.  So, in reflection, I'd like to share what the paper has meant to me and, in that same context, explain how far we had come.

    In 1979 Jean Murph was a reporter for The Coppell Star, a publication owned and produced in Sanger, Texas.  Murph traveled to Coppell several times a week to cover our small community's news.  At that time Coppell had a population of about 2700.  Quickly her articles earned her a reputation for being an advocate of citizen rights and open government.  That didn't endear her to the Mayor at the time and soon she, and others in town, were labeled "Self-Appointed Watchdogs."

    Murph and the "Star" continued to watch and write, but their message was not the pro-Mayor propaganda that curried favor in our little town.  So, the Coppell News Weekly  was born.  It immediately became the official newspaper of the city.  It's weekly message catered to a political climate that became almost oppressive to anyone who would dare stand up against it.  Many of the Star's Coppell advertisers were told not to continue their ads in the out-of-favor publication.  However, Murph's weekly articles remained relentless in their quest for openness in Coppell government.  Her voice just wouldn't go away.

      A year after the Coppell News Weekly began publication, it's owners bought the Star, which was under contract for sale to Murph at the time. This purchase would eliminate the Star and squelch Murph's editorials about the closed style of government she observed in Coppell.

    Murph was not to be deterred from getting her message to Coppell citizens.  She used the money she had borrowed to buy the Star and, two weeks later, on March 26, 1984, published the first edition of the Citizens' Advocate.  She chose the name to represent her cause--that of a people's paper.   

    In 1985 we learned why Murph was almost silenced.  The Coppell News Weekly was created, owned and supervised by a major developer in Coppell at the time.  The apparent connection to the Mayor electrified our community and Coppell began to change.  New leadership was elected and a home-rule charter was adopted by voters to ensure that our city established procedures for citizen access to their government.

    So, to me, this paper represented an independent voice within our community.  It had repeatedly taken a stand for citizen rights and repeatedly championed causes for the oppressed.  No individual or entity could control its message or its responsibility to inform the citizen.  And, it did not shy away from issues.  Good or bad the newspaper "told it like it was."  In that regard, its stories pleased some people and alienated others; then, in the next issue, they alienated some and pleased others.  Thus, one may not always agree with what the paper reported, but it maintained the right to inform and make you think. It made a difference. That's why I'm proud of Jean Murph and her "Advocate."

    Yet, as with everything, the newspaper business is changing. Technology is altering the way citizens get their news. Everything is going electronic with instant communication. So, in addition to newsprint, the Advocate went online.

    In the last several years the Advocate transitioned to new management and continued to report information to our citizens.  However, recently, the new owners closed the newsprint copy Advocate, but staff member Martin Aldridge decided to take on the online version that had been viewed by hundreds of Coppell residents.

    His vision is to make the online paper a communication link for all citizens, City and community group news and activities.  The paper will be monthly, but updated weekly. The success of this effort will be based upon community news, announcements and photographs. The online paper is free to the public. Advertising could be accepted in the future.

    So…if you are reading this article you already know that your voice is still being heard and the online paper is still trying to be your “advocate.” Pass the word to your businesses and friends. Simply email news to Aldridge at citizensadvocate2000@yahoo.com.

• More than 7,500 undergraduate students at the University of Kansas earned honor roll distinction for the spring 2020 semester, among Devon Duron, Coppell, School of the Arts, and Ali Stonecipher, Coppell, School of Pharmacy.

A MESSAGE FROM THE COPPELL CHAMBER OF COMMERCE:

Support Local Businesses

The COVID-19 crisis has hit our businesses hard. Now, more than ever, it is important to shop local and support our local business owners.

CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE!

Make A Child Smile This Holiday Season

​For more than 20 years, the Coppell community has come together to Make a Child Smile by donating gifts to deserving children in Coppell ISD. Though many things may have changed this year, the community’s dedication to assisting residents in need has not. To help ensure that the spirit of giving continues to flourish, while also protecting the health and safety of residents, the City of Coppell has announced a makeover to this year’s Make a Child Smile program.

“The Make a Child Smile program is on this year,” confirmed City Manager Mike Land. “This is always a special time for the City of Coppell. Our staff looks forward to partnering with our residents each year to bring smiles to children for the holidays, and that remains true this year. We just had to adjust a bit to make sure everyone remains safe.” 

​How to Donate:

1. Through Tuesday, December 8, visit makeachildsmilecoppell.com to select a virtual ornament that includes a child’s gift preferences, clothing sizes, and more. Simply fill in your contact information and submit your request to grant the child’s wish!

2. Purchase clothing and/or toys for the child. The program’s goal is to provide at least one toy and one article of clothing for each child.

3. When you are ready to return your gifts, contact Andrea Parker at aparker@coppelltx.gov ​to schedule an appointment for drop off.

4. Please return all wrapped gifts – in an opaque bag with the family number, gender and age of the child attached to the bag – to the City Manager's Office no later than Tuesday, December 8. City staff will deliver the gifts prior to Christmas. ​

The City Manager’s Office is located on the second floor of Town Center, 255 E. Parkway Blvd. and is open by appointment only.
For more information, call 972-304-7016 or email aparker@coppelltx.gov.

Explore in Nature!

Regulations regarding the Coronavirus Pandemic seem to change almost daily.  As the community adjusts to “the new normal,” we hope you continue to enjoy the many health benefits of spending time outside among nature, while maintaining social distancing.

Channel your inner naturalist through Nature Play, Nature Crafts and Nature School.

Just click on the Biodervisity Education Center link on the left to find out all it offers!  You won’t be disappointed!

Coppell ISD Superintendent Dr. Brad Hunt is one of the “2020 Superintendents to Watch” selected by the National School Public Relations Association (NSPRA). He is among only 24 district leaders in the nation and only three in Texas, who NSPRA chose for this recognition, because of how these superintendents use communication in innovative and effective ways. 

“It is an honor and privilege to receive this recognition  and be among this group of superintendents who prioritize strong communication with their communities,” Dr. Hunt said. “Transparent and interactive communication is essential to the work my team and I do each day, as we work to build authentic relationships and collective engagement with internal and external stakeholders through consistent communication in a variety of channels. 

According to NSPRA, “Superintendents to Watch” engage and inform their school communities with new communication technology tools combined with tried-and-true techniques.  Honorees have fewer than five years of experience as a superintendent and possess dynamic, fast-paced leadership with strong communication at its core. For a complete list of “Superintendents to Watch,” visit www.nspra.org/superintendents-watch. 

Dr. Hunt’s effective and innovative communication tools include his weekly “Catch Up with Hunt” video messages to the CISD Community, his “Hobbies with Hunt” interactive videos with students during the district’s closure due to COVID-19, Facebook Live events to engage directly with the community in a two-way forum, consistent email messages to the community about district happenings and Interacting with staff, families and the community on social media. 

“Whether it’s expanding the lines of communication with our business community, leading the charge with the district’s strategic design to identify new core values, or reaching across our community to increase engagement, Dr. Hunt doesn’t just talk the talk, he walks the walk,” said Kevin Nevels, chairman of the Board of the Coppell Chamber of Commerce and owner of Coppell Taekwondo Academy. “As the demographic make-up of CISD has changed, Dr. Hunt has been very intentional about making sure that all stakeholders and cohorts are represented and given a voice.”

Prior to the Coppell ISD Board of Trustees naming him the district’s superintendent in July 2017, Dr. Hunt served CISD for almost 30 years as a teacher at Coppell High School, assistant principal at Coppell Middle School West, Director of Human Resources, principal of Coppell High School and as the Assistant Superintendent for Administrative Services. Dr. Hunt has a Bachelor's degree from the University of North Texas, a Master’s degree from the University of Texas at Tyler and his Doctorate in Education (Ed.D.) from the University of North Texas.

By Tanya Raghu

Due to current COVID-19 Dallas County shelter-in-place rules and social distancing measures, the City of Coppell general municipal election and CISD school trustee election have been postponed until November.

On March 18 Texas Governor Greg Abbott sent out a statewide proclamation suspending all local elections. The CISD and City elections originally to be held on May 2 are now rescheduled for November 3.  

Since the proclamation, there have been no new updates about how the election will be conducted, whether in-person, by mail, or absentee voting.

“As of right now, the election will proceed as normal,” Deputy City Secretary Ashley Owens said. “Since this is a very fluid situation, we will more than likely hear from the Governor and the Secretary of State as to how the election will be conducted.”

In the CISD election, David Caviness is running unopposed for Place 5, and current trustee Thom Hulme is running against Neena Biswas for Place 4 on the CISD School Board.

City Council elections for Places 1 and 7 were cancelled and declared elected since Councilmember Cliff Long and Mayor Pro Tem Mark Hill were unopposed. They will be sworn in to their new terms on May 12.

Candidates who have filed for City Council Place 3 are Wes Mays and Davin Berstein, and for Place 5, Jim Walker, Erin Bogdanowicz, and John Jun.

The last day to apply for an absentee ballot by mail is October 23, with early voting taking place October 19 - 30.

The Advocate continues to monitor updates about the election day process.

Tanya Raghu is a former intern at the Citizens’ Advocate and currently a student at the University of Texas in Austin.

The City of Coppell has established a new grant program — Coppell CARES Business Rent/Mortgage Assistance Grant— to assist local businesses that have been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. This new program replaces the Coppell CARES Restaurant Assistance Grant and Coppell CARES Business Retrofit Grant that were launched in July.

Dallas and Denton counties approved funding for this business assistance program as a part of the federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, which aims to provide economic relief for people and businesses impacted by COVID-19. The City has dedicated approximately $1.3 million to the Coppell CARES Business Rent/Mortgage Grant, which is designed to help small businesses, as defined by the Small Business Administration, in Coppell with their rent or mortgage payments.

The previous Coppell CARES grant programs had specific requirements that may have limited the number of eligible businesses. While the new grant program also has qualifying criteria, the City is hopeful more businesses will be able to take advantage of this opportunity for assistance.

“We were recently informed that any funds not committed by November 30 must be returned to Dallas County,” said Director of Community Development Mindi Hurley. “We want to be able to use these funds responsibly and in the best way possible. I believe this program will be applicable to a larger number of businesses and will be more beneficial.”

Businesses that apply and qualify will be awarded a maximum of $5,000 to use for rent or mortgage payments. To qualify, a business:

 Must be located within the city limits of Coppell and must be in current compliance with the City of Coppell Code of Ordinances, including all applicable zoning and land use ordinances

 Must not be in any litigation with the City of Coppell or the County in which they are located

 Must have a physical store front in the City of Coppell

 Must have a current utility bill showing a Coppell address for the business

 Must demonstrate that they have endured a 10% or greater reduction in sales/business for at least two months after March 1, 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

There will be a continuous application period from September 28, 2020 until all funds have been distributed or October 30, 2020. Grants will be awarded on a first come, first served basis with higher priority given to those businesses that have not yet received a grant from the City of Coppell.

More information, applications, and supporting documents for the Coppell CARES Business Rent/Mortgage Assistance Grant program can be found at coppelltx.gov/grants.

September 4, 2020 
Hello, everyone!  

To most, the topic of the annual city budget is neither exciting nor interesting. But this year has been  challenging for all of us, the City included. Despite the pandemic and all of the curveballs that we have all  faced this year, the City was able to maintain continuity of government with minimal impact to service. I  am hopeful you will see why your City Council and City staff believe we have a good story to tell.  

The end of 2019 and 2020 have presented challenges for all of us individually. The City of Coppell has also  experienced some challenges – mostly in changes to sources of revenue. 

• During the 2019 Texas Legislative Session, a new law, Senate Bill 2 (SB2), was passed that governs  the municipal budget process. Changes are in the form of condensed timeframes and additional  restrictions on revenue. 

• In late 2019, the State of Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts changed the definitions and rules  regarding a city’s collection and distribution of sales tax. These changes, if they go into full affect,  will lower Coppell’s share of sales tax revenue by an estimated 60 percent. By the way, that is a  big number. 

• And then there was 2020 and the pandemic. Enough said about that!! 

With direction from City Council, City of Coppell staff started studying departmental budgets and planning for reductions immediately after the passage of SB2. That planning was intensified with the announcement from the Comptroller’s Office regarding the change of rules and definitions concerning sales tax collections.  The first action taken by the City was the implementation a hiring freeze. Then, each department came to the table with projects that could be delayed or cancelled. We are also preparing for some permanent changes.  

With an eye to the future, the anticipation of revenue changes and advanced planning prepared Coppell well for the effects of the pandemic on sales tax revenue in this fiscal year and for the years to come. Amid all this uncertainty, City continues to receive recognition for financial practices. Coppell’s AAA and Aaa investment ratings were recently reaffirmed, lowering the City’s interest rate and saving money for taxpayers. Our planning and transparency are second to none. 

Now let’s talk about the proposed budget that is available for the public to review. City Council recently voted to approve the publication of a tax rate of $0.5800 per $100 valuation. This rate is a decrease over current rate of $0.58400 and will allow the City to continue to provide high-level service in our core responsibilities of Police service/safety, Fire and EMS services, Public Works maintenance, streets, and infrastructure. The proposed budget also includes significant expenditure reductions: 

• Proposed budget represents a 13.29% decrease over current year budget, a result of analyzing departmental expenditures line-by-line 

• Current vacant City staff positions are frozen and seasonal staff numbers were reduced • Proposed budget contains no salary increases for City staff 

• Select capital projects were postponed, resulting in a 77% decrease in capital expenditures from  last year’s budget

Council has not yet voted to set the Fiscal Year 2020-2021 tax rate or approve the proposed budget. The  next step of the budget process will occur on September 8, when we will hold a virtual Public Hearings to  discuss the proposed budget and tax rate during the regularly scheduled Council meeting. A Special Called City Council meeting to consider approval of the proposed budget and tax rate will be held on September 15. The Council must pass a budget, as Fiscal Year 2020-2021 begins October 1, 2020. 

Thank you to everyone for the kind words and notes of support, patience and grace during the last several  challenging months. As we look toward the future, your City Council and staff will continue to work to  ensure that Coppell not only remains a stable partner with businesses and residents, but also continues to  innovate to improve municipal services. More challenges lay ahead, and we are not out of the woods yet.  But I am hopeful for the future and appreciate your patience and grace. 

Karen Hunt 

Mayor, City of Coppell

Here is a summary of how the City was able propose a decrease to the current rate:  • City was able to propose a rate of 0.5800 as a result of Council and staff’s careful planning and  conservative approach  

• City began planning for the loss of revenue resulting from SB2 in 2019 

• Planning for revenue reductions intensified as a result of the proposal of Rule 3.334 in December  2019 

o Rule 3.334 describes the allocation of sales tax revenue in the State of Texas o Rule was proposed by Texas State Comptroller of Public Accounts 

• Departments budgets were analyzed line-by-line to identify expenditure reductions • Hiring freeze immediately instituted 

• Select capital projects postponed 

• City identified approximately $5.6 million in expenditure reductions prior to COVID-19 • Existing fund balances were identified to mitigate impact of the expected remaining revenue loss o Funds Council had previously set aside in the City's designated fund balance  o Fund that Council had previously set up to be used in case of revenue threats o Transfers from the Water/Sewer Fund and allocations from other fund balances • City has identified expense reductions for 99% of the expected $9.2 million revenue loss due to COVID-19 while maintaining continuity of government and without drastic changes to necessary  staffing levels  

• City continues to receive recognition for financial practices 

o AAA and Aaa rates reaffirmed, lowering City’s interest rate and saving money for taxpayers  

Here are a few new definitions that could be helpful when you review budget document:  • Per Senate Bill 2, City is required to present additional tax rate information to residents o Proposed Rate – 0.5800 Based on certified property values provided by the County Tax Offices 

o No-new-revenue rate – 0.638729 - Previously known as effective rate.  At this rate, city generates no new revenue from existing property over previous  year.  Will not be presented to Council for approval.  Based on certified estimated property values provided by Dallas County on July  27, 2020 

o Voter-approval rate – 0.654106 - Rate at which Council would need to hold an election to allow for voter approval Under SB2, an election must be called if the proposed tax rate generates more than  a 3.5% increase in revenue from existing property.  Will not be presented to Council for approval.  Based on certified estimated property values provided by Dallas County on July  27, 2020

Aug. 27, 2020 — Coppell — Coppell ISD Board Trustee Nichole Bentley has earned the designation of Master Trustee upon completion of the Leadership TASB program, sponsored by the Texas Association of School Boards (TASB).

“Participating In this program has helped me grow and thrive as a leader and as a Trustee,” Bentley said. “I was able to learn from my Trustee peers across Texas, as well as gain an enhanced knowledge of how to continue to be an engaged advocate for public education in my district and beyond.”  

Trustee Bentley, who serves as the Board Secretary, joins CISD Trustees Leigh Walker, Tracy Fisher and Anthony Hill, as well as Board President Thom Hulme, as Master Trustees.  CISD is one of only a few School Boards in Texas to have five Master Trustees. 

Bentley is the CEO, Prio Consulting, LLC, and the co-owner of Cruise Planners.  She and her husband, Brett Schneider, have four children, all boys who have graduated from Coppell High School and New Tech High @ Coppell.  She was elected to the CISD School Board in 2018. 

She participated in a virtual graduation hosted by TASB Aug. 9-18. School board members in the 2019–20 Leadership TASB class gathered for their unique travelling tailgate graduation. At seven parking lots in seven different locations — Kingsville, Uvalde, Channelview, Cypress, Georgetown, Allen, and Coppell portions of the class of 36 participants met to receive their graduation honors.

Upon graduating, Leadership TASB participants joined the ranks of more than 900 school board members statewide who are Leadership TASB alumni.The 2020 Leadership TASB class represents Texas school districts of all sizes and property wealth. Participants who completed all required elements of the study program earned Master Trustee status, the highest designation recognized by TASB. Leadership TASB is sponsored in part by H-E-B.

TASB is a voluntary, nonprofit association established in 1949 to serve local Texas school boards. School board members are the largest group of publicly elected officials in the state. The districts they represent serve more than 5.43 million public school students. Learn more at www.tasb.org. 

Among 16,000 national high school students named National Merit Scholars are the following Coppell students:

COPPELL H. S.

450 Anderson, Katherine E.

999 Belathur, Niyati

628 Choi, Dojin

606 Choi, Minwoo

999 Jayaraman, Preethi S.

300 Joseph, Tanya C.

303 Kamtam, Tejas R.

200 Karuppiah, Karthik M.

999 Kashyap, Arnav S.

302 Kommaraju, Pranav V.

303 Lee, Dongkyu

160 Mahfuz, Meer M.

999 Mobley, Sarah N.

906 Narayanan, Keertana V.

600 Palaniappan, Sidhaartha

457 Potts, Ella L.

628 Pulugurta, Rishab S.

740 Rao, Siddharth P.

712 Ravindra, Divya

000 Sabhnani, Sidaarth K.

168 Saxena, Anushri

300 Shah, Maya J.

200 Shen, Yiwei

999 Shi, Tony H.

303 Shibu, Nisha M.

218 Tan, Kaitlin L.

300 Tramel, Cole B.

162 Tran, Khang N.

000 Upreti, Neil

303 Varghese, Joel J.

162 Zhang, Raymond R.

NEW TECH H. S.

000 Plawecki, Matthew J.

OCTOBER LIBRARY NEWS

VIRTUAL WRITER’S GROUP 

Seeking inspiration and support for your writing practice? Bring your notebook and pen and join our discussions on all things writing!  We share tips and tricks from a wide variety of sources and offer optional writing prompts, timed exercises, and chances to share your writing in a friendly, relaxed atmosphere. Facilitated by Amanda Kennedy and Tara Henderson. This class is for adults aged 18 and up. Space is limited and registration is required. 

1st and 3rd Thursdays at 7 pm 

For adults 18 and older. Registration required. 

RACIAL EQUITY (VIRTUAL PROGRAM) 

The community conversation on racism continues with this event in collaboration with the Institute for Urban Policy Research at The University of Texas at Dallas. During this presentation, topics including structural racism, institutional racism, white privilege, and racial equity will be explored. We will also look at actions that individuals can take to combat racism. There will be an opportunity for attendees to ask questions.  

October 3rd at 2 pm. 

For adults 18 and up. Children may attend with an adult. Registration required. 

TEEN MENTAL HEALTH SERIES 

We all need help with coping strategies and learning the best methods to take care of ourselves. Teens and parents are invited to join us for the final part of this series focused on teen mental health strategies presented by Chris Guzniczak, LPC, a Licensed Professional Counselor at Flower Mound Counseling. 

October 6th at 7 pm. 

For those in grades 6th through adult. Registration required. 

GOT YA: VIRTUAL TEEN BOOK CLUB 

Join us for an informal chat about the books, movies, television, and music we're currently enjoying. Once we finish chatting, we'll have a creative writing and/or drawing prompt. Maybe you'll find your next favorite read or connect with others who like the same books as you! There is no required reading for this book club. Just come prepared to share a title you enjoyed and create!  

October 8th and 22nd at 7 pm 

For teens 6th - 12th grade. Registration required. 

INTRO TO MEDITATION (VIRTUAL CLASS) 

Meditation has many recognized benefits including reduction of stress. Whether you'd like to try out meditating or have meditated for years, join us for an introduction class. The instructor will start with a relaxation exercise and then move into guided meditation.  

October 10th at 2 pm. 

For adults age 18 and up. All ages may attend with an adult. Registration required. 

PAGE TURNERS BOOK CLUB  

Join us for an evening of discussing books! Each month the members choose a different book to read. Participants will be able to interact with the host and other participants through video and audio. The book for October is The Last Year of the War by Susan Meissner. 

2nd Mondays at 7 pm 

For adults 18 and older. Registration required. 

VIRTUAL HANG TEEN  

We'll have different activities each week. Participants will be able to interact with the host and other participants through video and audio. 

October 13th at 4 :30 pm  

For teens in grades 6 - 12. Registration required.  

OLD TIME RADIO-LIGHTS OUT, EVERYBODAY (VIRTUAL) 

This virtual presentation uses sound clips from some of the best known mystery and horror programs from the Golden Age of radio (including Escape, Inner Sanctum and Lights Out) to illustrate how radio could truly be a "Theater of the mind" and use music, voices and sounds to create indelible — and often frightening — "pictures."   

October 18th at 2 pm. 

This program is suitable for all ages.  Children under 12 must have an adult present. Registration required- only one person per household needs to register. 

VIRTUAL GOT BOOKS 

Find your next read at our book club, where everyone shares some of their favorite books. Participants will be able to interact with the host and other participants through video and audio.  

3rd Mondays at 7 pm. 

For adults age 18 & up. Registration required. 

VIRTUAL TEEN CRAFTERNOON 

Teens 6th-12th grade can join us for an instructor-led crafting session with Teresa Mungo. We'll be making a color-blocked canvas painting, which will be a stylish addition to anyone's Zoom background! Supplies for this craft are included in the October Teen Craft Bag. Bags are limited. This craft bag will be available in October (date TBD) in the library lobby and will remain available while supplies last. 

October 24th at 2 pm 

For grades 6th – 12th. Registration required. 

VIRTUAL LIT FIX: FRANKENSTEIN 

The creature from Mary Shelley's famous novel bears little resemblance to the Halloween version of Frankenstein's monster.  Learn how this radical female author broke all the rules by writing one of the first science fiction novels at the age of 18.  We will also discuss her very personal struggles that emerge between the lines of this classic horror story.  You don't need to have read the text to participate, just come with a curious mind.  

October 26th at 7 pm. 

This program is designed primarily for adults; however teens age 15 and up are also welcome to attend. Registration required. 

HALLOWEEN VIRTUAL FAMILY FUN NIGHT 

Join us for spooky stories, crafts, and fun! 

October 27th at 6:30 pm. 

For all ages. Registration required. 

COPPELL, TX – Over the past many months, the Coppell City Council worked diligently to ensure that Coppell maintains its high-quality services while also respecting residents’ pocketbooks. At a special called meeting on September 15, City Council voted to approve a fiscal year 2020-2021 budget and tax rate of $0.5800 per $100 valuation. This tax rate is a decrease from the current tax rate, is below the no new revenue rate and will take effect on October 1, 2020.  

“The 2020-2021 budget represents a 13% decrease [in expenditures] over our current year budget and that is in spite of the sales tax loss expected as a result of Rule 3.334 and, quite honestly, the very unexpected impact of COVID-19,” said Councilmember Wes Mays. “This budget will allow the citizens of Coppell to enjoy a very high level of service for public safety, including our police, fire and EMS. It will also allow us to continue the maintenance of our public works for our streets, our trails and our infrastructure.” 

City of Coppell staff began scrubbing departmental budgets line-by-line in 2019, as a result of legislative action. The Texas Legislature passed Senate Bill 2, which adds restrictions to revenue sources, and the Comptroller of Public Accounts proposed Rule 3.334, which significantly negatively impacts the City’s sales tax revenue. In order to mitigate the revenue shortfalls that will result from these changes – in addition to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic – staff analyzed departmental budgets in depth to determine how to make the necessary expenditure reductions while maintaining the high level of quality city services Coppell has come to represent. 

Other budget highlights include: 

 Current vacant City staff positions are frozen and seasonal staff numbers were reduced 

 Budget contains no salary increases for City staff 

 Select capital projects were postponed, resulting in a 77% decrease in capital expenditures from the current year budget 

“At this time last year and in the last six months, I was afraid that we couldn’t get from there to where we are today,” said Councilmember Cliff Long. “With what we have, the efforts of the staff and the consent of the Council, we have done an excellent job of taking the revenue that we have and applying it in a proper fashion.”   

For more information or to review the budget, visit coppelltx.gov/budget.  

Lion Margaret Meek, Lion Mary Ann Higgins, and Lion Julie Madden bring over 350 lbs of non-parishables items to Metro Crest. The Lion club asked friends and neighbors to help collect items.

Lion Margaret Meek, Lion Mary Ann Higgins, and Lion Julie Madden bring over 350 lbs of non-parishables items to Metro Crest. The Lion club asked friends and neighbors to help collect items.

The Biodiversity Education Center would like to invite residents to celebrate Arbor Day this year at the Fall Frolic Trail Day, Saturday, November 7th from 11:00 a.m.-1:30 p.m. The mile-long, one-way nature walk will have three stations for young explorers to learn about the three main ecosystems of Coppell Nature Park. Each station location will have hand sanitizer and allow for social distancing.

Arbor Day Walk Event

Is November 7

VISIT COPPELL'S VIRTUAL LIBRARY
The Coppell Public Library is currently offering the following virtual programs for all ages:

POLICE ACTIVITY REPORTED

FOR OCTOBER 2020

Though there were fewer vehicle and habitation burglaries, building burglaries more than doubled. One forgery arrest was made. A forgery may be a misdemeanor or felony depending on the item involved and whether the victim is an elderly person. As with the crime of fraud use/possession of identifying information, if the victim is an elderly person, the offense automatically increases to the next higher category of that crime. 

- 11 burglaries of vehicles were reported

- 2 habitation burglaries

- 7 burglaries of a building

- 6 incidents of property theft ($2500-30k)

- 1 incident of criminal mischief ($2500-30k)

- 5 incidents of fraud use/possession of identifying info (2 involving elderly)

- 1 assault causing bodily injury

- 1 aggravated assault w/deadly weapon

- 2 DWI arrests

- 1 forgery

Historically, credit cards fees charged to the City of Coppell when residents elected to pay for services via credit card were absorbed by the City, meaning that all Coppell taxpayers and utility customers have contributed to these fee payments through property taxes and utility rates. In order to be more equitable, the City will begin passing these transaction fees, which amounted to $231,000 in fiscal year 2019, along to customers of the facility or service.

In early September, the City announced that it would begin passing credit card transaction fees on to customers effective October 1, 2020. As a result of unforeseen circumstances with the City’s vendors, the City has announced that it will delay the transfer of fees to customers until November 1, 2020.

“We have received new information from our vendors and, as a result, we are going to take a step back to reevaluate,” said Director of Finance Jennifer Miller. “Instead of passing the fees on to customers effective October 1, we have postponed the implementation of the change until November 1.”

Due to technological challenges with City’s financial software vendor, Tyler Technologies, the City will be unable to make the necessary changes to financial processes to implement the change by October 1.

In addition to this technological delay, the City is working with one of the credit card processors utilized by Coppell Parks and Recreation, ActiveNet, to reevaluate the current fee structure and rates paid by the City. The fee rate that will be charged to customers and information about additional options to make payments will be made available as soon as possible.

In a press release, the City apologized for the lack of clarity and confusion that resulted. "Thank you for your continued patience and understanding," the release ssid.

About credit card fees:

As a result of the implementation of Senate Bill 2 from the Texas Legislature and Rule 3.334 from the Texas Comptroller, which changed the system of property taxation as well as local sales tax sourcing, Coppell, along with other Texas cities, has been tasked with maintaining a high level of service despite projected reductions in tax revenue.

The City of Coppell is meeting the challenge with a multi-pronged approach, which includes exploring revenue opportunities through new or updated user fees, evaluating capital expenditures, freezing vacant City staff positions, and adjusting service levels where appropriate.

The City currently uses multiple credit card processors that charge a transaction fee each time a credit or debit card is used to pay for a bill, fee, or service both online and in-person. The City has historically paid these fees, which added up to $231,000 in fiscal year 2019. In order to be more equitable, the City plans to begin passing these transaction fees along to customers of the facility or service.

Current legislation permits the passage of credit card fees onto customers, and surveys revealed that this is a common practice in some surrounding cities.

The City of Coppell offers multiple payment options: 

 Sign up for bank drafts for utility bills or cemetery contracts

 Drop utility payment off in the secure drop box outside of Town Center, 255 E. Parkway Blvd. The drop box is located next to the book drop in Town Center's north parking lot.​

 Deposit payments to the Justice Center or Municipal Court in the secure drop box located to the left as you enter through the main entrance at 130 Town Center Blvd.

 Mail payments to City of Coppell, P.O. Box 9478, Coppell, Texas 75019. 

 Mail Municipal Court-related payments to the Coppell Municipal Court, 130 Town Center Blvd., Coppell, TX 75019.

 The Coppell Animal Shelter, Justice Center, Municipal Court, Cozby Library and Rolling Oaks Memorial Cemetery accept cash payments. Please note, there may be restrictions on hours of operation and in-person transactions due to COVID-19.

The Coppell ISD Education Foundation (CEF), which launched the Give for Grants initiative last school year, provides donors a means to give funds directly to teacher grants of their choice. The Give for Grants program offers flexibility, ease of use and will increase funding given directly to classrooms in Coppell ISD (CISD).

The CEF supports the educators in CISD through their annual grant program. The Classroom Grant Program is designed to encourage, facilitate, recognize, and reward effective, innovative, and creative, instructional approaches that directly impact students while transforming classroom learning. For example, during the 2019-20 school year, the CEF awarded more than $63,000 in classroom grants. The Give for Grants program will allow parents, educators, and community members to donate at any giving amount directly to a specific grant of their choosing. Whether a donor would like to support a specific campus, specific educator or a specific project, the Give for Grants program gives donors the flexibility of choice.

Donors can select specific grants to support financially through the www.Give4GrantsCISD.org website. Additionally, a donor can select to give to the Give for Grants campaign in general and not to a specific grant here. The donation window will be open from October 1 through October 31. The donation process is simple:

1. Choose the campus

2. Select the grant to support (or give to the general Give for Grants campaign here)

3. Donate at any giving amount and make an impact

This year, 12 grants were submitted by educators totaling more than $29,000. The goal of the Give for Grants program is to make a lasting impact in the classrooms in CISD. Together with individual donations and the funds raised by the CEF, more grants will be funded transforming the learning in CISD. The CEF will continue to financially support the grants as in years past through donations raised in other fundraising efforts.

Donors can choose the specific grant to support at www.Give4GrantsCISD.org website from October 15-November 15.

About The Coppell ISD Education Foundation 
Chartered in 2000, the Coppell ISD Education Foundation is a non-profit organization of volunteers whose efforts have raised and donated more than $1.2 million in support of the schools, students and teachers of Coppell ISD.  In 2019, CEF awarded more than $63,000 in classroom grants as well as $10,000 in new teacher grants to first-time educators in Coppell ISD.  To date, CEF has given more than $1,127,000 to Coppell ISD.  To learn more about the Coppell ISD Education Foundation, visit www.coppellisdef.com and follow us on Facebook and Twitter.

Coppell Lions Club members (back, l-r) Kris Pollard, Margaret Meek, Andrew Noel, Mary Ann Higgins, Dan Madden, Ron Harrison, Luis Martinez, with Judy Conger and Julie Madden in front, and Tim Decker, taking the photograph, worked on the Coppell Duck Pond  cleaning it for the group's environmental project every month. 

TITLE OF EVENT: INDIE AUTHOR DAY

DATE: NOVEMBER 7TH

TIME: 11:00 AM – 1:45 PM

LOCATION: ZOOM

Writers of all kinds are invited to join us for an Indie Author event as part of the 5th annual national Indie Author day. We will have 3 separate (virtual) events.

11 am: The Beginning

We will begin in that space where pen hovers over page; the beginning. Drawing inspiration from our favorite authors, we will dive into establishing your own writing practice, the importance of rituals, and the rules of writing. Plan on getting excited about the power of “first thoughts”, censoring your internal editor, overcoming writer’s block, and more! Don’t forget paper and pen; we have writing exercises aimed at strengthening your writing muscles and inspiring your practice.

Noon: Author Talk

Are you interested in writing and getting published? Grab your lunch and listen to one of Coppell's local authors, Miriam Shumba, talk about the writing process and how she published her books.

1 pm: Filling the Pages

Beginning is one thing, filling the pages is another. We’ve compiled material that will help you generate ideas, build your writer’s toolbox, and troubleshoot your work. You can expect fun and interactive writing exercises designed to explore memories and uncover the power of verbs. We will also touch on elements of style, point of view, editing, and more!

For adults 18 and older. Registration is required.

For more information, please visit coppelltx.gov/library, call 972-304-3658 or email cozbyprograms@coppelltx.gov.

Indie Author Day

Zoom at Cozby Library

It all started for Ed Guignon, 65, over 35 years ago in 1985, when Coppell was a small town of only 7,000 residents and no grocery store.  Guignon had just started working at IBM as a single guy and wanted a house instead of an apartment.  Coppell was 15 minutes from his work.  Prior to this, he lived in Denton and worked for an engineering company.

Fast forward and Guignon is currently an active figure in Coppell, with wife Angie and three kids, who has accomplished dozens of volunteer projects for the Coppell community. 

But this is the story of a feat many miles away in a far different terrain.

Said Guignon, "There are 55 peaks in Colorado that are taller than 14,000 feet (called 14ers), and this summer, at age 65, I achieved the goal of climbing them all by summiting my 55th peak.  Not bad for someone who lived in the flat-lands of Dallas for all of the years that I've been climbing!"

Following in his footsteps, Guignon said  his wife Angie climbed a 14er with him.jyears ago, and his two sons who live in Denver joined him this summer for his climb of the 55th peak in Colorado over 14,000' tall. 

"Like me, my wife and three kids all love the outdoors and love to hike and climb in the mountains," he said.

Guignon's first climb of a mountain over 14,000 ft was on a guided climb up Mt. Ranier near Seattle in 1986.  

"I had been there on a trip with a friend a few years earlier, and I was awestruck by the beauty and immensity of that ice-covered mountain, and I decided right there that I wanted to climb that mountain and stand on top.  I went back with a different friend a few years later and of the 13 clients who started the two-day climb, only four made it to the top.  Two  of the  four were me and my friend.   Our guide on that climb was a guy named Ed Viesturs, who later became an internationally known sensation in the mountaineering world."

Regarding his original goal, Guignon explained, "Originally with Mt. Ranier, I just wanted the challenge of climbing it and experience the beauty of standing on a peak higher than anything else around it.  I loved that trip so much that I decided to climb more mountains.  I had some friends who lived in Colorado who climbed mountains there, and I started to go there during summers to climb some 14ers with them. Living in Dallas and only getting to climb 1-2 peaks whenever I got out to Denver during a summer trip, I didn't originally think of climbing all 55 14ers in Colorado, but as I started to get a few climbed over the next few years, and really enjoyed it, my friend Jon encouraged me to make a goal to climb all of them.  I did that, and over a 33 year period we planned a trip every summer for an outdoor adventure, which most of the time involved climbing a 14er."

As to why he climbs, Guignon said, "I get both an energy and a peacefulness from being in nature, and climbing all 55 peaks in Colorado has taken me to some of the most beautiful and remote areas of nature that I've experienced. Standing on top of a peak where everything around you is lower than you and you have such a beautiful open space in front of you, is an awesome thing to experience. Climbing requires me to focus on what is right in front of me in present time, and this focus removes me from the distractions and stresses of everyday life... resulting in me being able to clearly view any aspect of my life.  I love to challenge myself, and when I get to the top of a mountain, I feel like I have done something that has pushed me to my limits.  That makes me feel like I can handle anything that comes up in life."

Guignon has climbed with three friends he has generally climbed the 55 14ers with over the years-- Jon Hood and Dan Erickson (both live in Denver), and Stu Wilson who lived in Florida over those years.  "It became an annual tradition that brought us closer together than ever as friends," he said.

To prepare himself for the climb, he said,  "I have a multiple-month training program of mainly cardio work and quad strengthening.  One of the advantages of climbing every year for so long is that it gives me a reason to stay in shape year round."

"A number of the 14ers are fairly remote and require backpacking in and setting up a base camp site the day before climbing.  In those cases we backpack in with tents, sleeping bags, water filters, freeze-dried food, gas stoves and lanterns," said Guignon. "The 55 14ers in Colorado have a difficulty rating from 1-4, with 4 being the most technically challenging.  None of these require being roped into anchors in the mountain, though some people do that on some of the more difficult climbs.  So mainly we climb with good climbing boots and a daypack that includes water, snacks, rain gear, cold weather gear, headlamp, climbing poles, first aid kit and emergency items like a compass, whistle, firestarter, signaling mirror, foil thermal blanket, and so forth."

"There is a big variation in the length of climbs, but an average might be 10 miles round trip and 3,800 foot of elevation gain.  They can take anywhere from seven to 16 hours to climb," he said.  "Knowing that it would take many years for me to climb all 55 14ers, I strategically climbed the most challenging and difficult ones in my younger years.  My last of the 55 climbs this years was a peak called Huron Peak, which was about 9 miles round trip and 3,600' elevation gain.  The climb took about 10 hours, but we spent some good time on top celebrating my completion of the 55 peaks!  The most rewarding aspect of it was being able to share it with my three lifelong climbing buddies and my two sons."

Regarding experiences along the climbs, Guignon said,  "On most of the climbs we experience beautiful forest trails and streams at the start, and then once we get above treeline, we get awesome vistas of mountain ranges and bowls, snow-covered peaks and high mountain lakes.  As far as animals we see lots of birds, marmots and pikas on every trip, but also regularly come across mountain goats and sheep.  Occasionally we have met up with bears, elk, and moose."

"Generally we climb during July or August to avoid heavier snow near the top of the peaks.  Rain and lightening storms are common in the afternoons in the mountains.  Often we have sunny days and can climb in shorts and t-shirts.  However, at higher altitudes we have experienced below freezing temperatures, sleet, high winds and snow, including complete whiteouts where you can't see more than a couple of feet in front of you," he said.

Regarding most memorable moment of climbing, Guignon said, "Mount Ranier, since it was my first mountain that I climbed.  North Maroon Peak, since it was my favorite climb, even though it was one of the most challenging.  Grand Tetons, since it was the most technically challenging climb I've ever done.  And Huron Peak, since it was my last of the 55 Colorado 14ers and I got to share it with my three lifelong buddies and sons."

"Lightning strikes above treeline is the #1 way that people die when climbing mountains.  And it storms in the mountains almost every day in the afternoon, so you need to always plan around that.  I have two memorable lightening experiences while climbing.... 1) Uncompahgre Peak... My friend Stu and I were climbing this peak together, and about 300 ft from the top, a white-out snow storm hit us.  The unusual thing with this snowstorm was that it had lightening with it as well.  Being well above treeline, there was almost no shelter, so when the lightening started, Stu and I hunkered down in our rain gear next to a small boulder, trying to get low enough so that lightening wouldn't strike us.  We stayed there hunkered down for hours and the storm never passed over.  So even though we were so close to the top, we turned around and went down.  A few years later we went back and climbed to the top.   2) Capitol Peak... near the top of this mountain there is a section called the "Knife Edge".  It is a ridge section that is a couple hundred feet long that comes to a point and falls off 1000 ft on both sides.  You have to straddle it like a horse and scoot across it while straddling the pointy ridge.  There is nothing to hold onto except the ridge that you're straddling.  On the way down from the top of the peak, a lightening storm came in while I was halfway across the Knife Edge.  I could hear static electricity crackling around me, and that is a sign of where lightening is about to strike.  I didn't want to go back up and be more exposed, so with lightening around us I scooted across the Knife Edge as fast as I could while straddling the ridge.  It was extremely exposed and dangerous, but we obviously made it out alive."

As to dangerous experiences,  Guignon said,  "Class 4 climbs are technically challenging, but don't require ropes and anchors.  However, I have been on many climbs without safety ropes where we were climbing up steep sections with small hand and foot holds, with a 500' or 1000' below/behiind you and nothing to catch you.  These sections of high-exposure are always dangerous.  On one Class 4 mountain called North Maroon Peak, we were climbing up little ledges that were maybe 6" to 8" wide, with 500 feet of air behind and below us.  We lost our route and got into a section that wasn't meant to be climbed without safety ropes, and the rock was wet, icy and loose.  I was way beyond my comfort zone and I seriously considered turning around and going down, but we inched our way through that tough spot and continued to the top."

"My friend Stu has one more of the 55 Colorado 14ers to climb and so next summer I will go share that memorable climb with him, though it will be the second time up that peak for me.  I expect I will keep climbing into my 70s as long as I am physically able to do it safely," he added.

Regarding how climbing might relate to his volunteer work, he said,  "Growing up, my family did a lot of camping out in nature and I came to absolutely love the outdoors.  I became a firm believer that getting out in nature regularly provides an energy and calmness that balances out the hectic nature of life.  I obviously carried this over to my adventures with backpacking and climbing in my adult years.  It's what also drove me to want to volunteer on the Coppell Parks and Recreation Board, since that Board deals so much with engaging the community in nature and the outdoors."

Guignon said that years ago,  he felt the desire to volunteer in Coppell and "give back to the community that my family and I had benefited from for so many years."  His volunteer work in Coppell includes:

- 10 years on the Coppell Parks and Rec Board, currently Chairman of the Board

- Board member of the Coppell Arts Council

- Board member of the Coppell Arts, Cultural and Heritage Foundation

- Co-Chair of Living Well in Coppell non-profit organization

- Past Co-Chair of the Coppell Kid Country community playground reconstruction

- Past member of the Coppell Pedestrian and Bicycle Master Plan Committee

- Past volunteer coach of two sons' Coppell youth soccer teams for 14 seasons

And if all Guignon's previously mentioned pursuits weren't enough, in addition he has parachuted, ridden in an open-cockpit acrobatic biplane while it did aerial acrobatics, bungy jumped head-first off a 150 foot tall bridge over a river, rappelling, white water rafting, caving, and canyoneering.

Ed Guignon hiking above the tree line (below left) and standing triumphantly on top of Mount Lincoln (above).  Hugging son Braydon (below) after a successful climb.

On October 15, 2020, the Texas Municipal League (TML) and its 1,160 member cities announced that City of Coppell Mayor Karen Hunt was elected TML president.

Originally from Fargo, North Dakota, Hunt has worked in DFW’s commercial banking industry for more than 40 years, and she currently serves as the Market President for Frost Bank in Coppell. Her experiences in the banking industry put Hunt in a position to forge partnerships with businesses and individuals, but she was also given the opportunity to nurture her volunteer spirit. Since moving to Coppell in the late 1990s, Hunt has served in leadership roles for numerous organizations, including the Coppell Chamber of Commerce, Coppell Rotary, and Assistance League of Coppell, among others. Hunt currently serves on the Board of Directors of the North Dallas Chamber of Commerce and as the Vice Chair of the Executive Board of the North Texas Commission. In addition to her service in other civic organizations, Hunt was elected to the Coppell City Council in 2008. In 2012, she was elected to Mayor and is currently serving in her third, three-year term.

“TML allows us the opportunity to come together as municipal leaders to discuss and share solutions and strategies,” said Hunt. “It will be our combined voice that gives us more power to move the needle forward for all Texans. I am so honored to be the incoming president for TML. I look forward to all of the great things members will be able to accomplish together through partnerships with agencies across the state and with our representatives in Austin.”

Hunt will serve as TML president for one year. She previously held the TML positions of president-elect and director for Region 13 (North Central Texas-Dallas), a nine-county region with 133 cities.

Hunt is the first official from the City of Coppell to be elected TML president.  

TML is a voluntary association established in 1913. Today, more than 16,000 mayors, councilmembers, city managers, city attorneys, and department heads are member officials of TML by virtue of their cities’ participation. Guided by its purpose statement—Empowering Texas cities to serve their cities—the league provides legislative, legal, and training services to city governments.  

The TML Board of Directors elected Hunt president on October 15 during the virtual 2020 TML Annual Conference and Exhibition. Houston Vice Mayor Pro Tem Martha Castex-Tatum was elected president-elect. The conference attracted more than 1,000 city officials who gathered to explore best practices and solutions for response and recovery during the pandemic.