Killeenâs leaders need to take a closer look at how theyâre governing.
In the space of just a few hours last week, a city council memberâs key vote was negated by a technical problem on a Zoom conference, a council member who has consistently opposed a proposed housing development was named president of the board overseeing the project; and the council member who nominated the board president put his own name in nomination for the board vice presidentâs position.
When taken together, the developments reflect a lack of oversight, planning and governing standards.
In the first instance, the council was considering bringing back for discussion a proposed city camera surveillance system. Members were split on the merits of the nearly $1 million system, with three members voting to end discussion and two voting to bring the subject back at a future meeting.
The Killeen City Council, by a 4-3 vote Tuesday, approved the creation of a public facility corporation, which paves the way for a $51 million housing development on the north
At Tuesday night s meeting, the Killeen City Council voted to create a Public Facility Corporation that will make way for a new $51 million apartment complex in North Killeen near E. Veterans Memorial Blvd and WS Young Drive.
Mayor Jose Segarra cast the tie-breaking vote for both the creation of the PFC and rezoning the 22.54-acre piece of land that will be part of the North Killeen revitalization program. The City is in discussions with The NRP Group to construct the planned apartment complex.
According to the Killeen Daily Herald, the establishment of the public facility makes it only available to municipalities and not private developers.
The creation of a public facility corporation is just a vote away. The topic of creating one is on the agenda for Tuesday’s Killeen City Council meeting.
For many, perhaps everyone, 2020 will go down as a year theyâd rather forget. However, the huge news that came in 2020 is unforgettable.
By March, the coronavirus had swept into the world, the nation and Central Texas, drastically changing the way people work, shop, eat and live. It ushered in changes to the Killeen-Fort Hood area that will likely leave lasting impacts to the local landscape. It impacted everyone.
A month later, on April 22, a Fort Hood soldier went missing. Frantic searches, protests, blame and a national spotlight on Fort Hood followed. Eventually it was discovered that Spc. Vanessa Guillen had been reportedly killed by a fellow soldier. Her body was found more than two months later near the Leon River south of Temple.