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21 In Mayor Dale Dingley’s final Rollingwood Update on page 7 of this issue, he states that it was his pleasure to serve. He used the column during his tenure to help explain the difficult issues facing the city, and we are sure that the majority of Rollingwood residents join us in saying thanks for doing a job too few people are capable or willing to do.
During his tenure, the city has dealt with a variety of difficult issues, from the controversial exit of former city administrator Vicky Rudy to improving the city’s water system and streets. There were a lawsuits to deal with, as well.
Through it all, Dingley demonstrated the admirable ability to remain cool under fire, and he showed a high level of tolerance when residents were critical of him or the City Council during some extremely long meetings. Whether during a six-hour meetings or attending to routine operations City Hall, Dingley did his job with the class that most Rollingwood residents appreciated.
Many people are surprised to learn that none of the elected officials in Rollingwood or neighboring West Lake Hills get one cent of pay. Their pay is only in the form of the satisfaction they receive for giving back to their community.
The bottom line is that serving as mayor of Rollingwood is an incredibly difficult and often thankless job. Dingley is a gentleman who served with no ulterior motives other than his love of your city and sincere desire to see the best interest of the majority of citizens served.
We encourage residents to take time to thank him for doing his absolute best to serve their city.
Sometimes ones idea of “service” can be detrimental to a community.
There are often plenty of motives by those who “serve” …
Thank you to Dale Dingley for his service and efforts over the past several years.
Thank you to those who work hard on behalf of our community. I look forward to a continuing move towards honesty in our council, improved appreciation of citizens, and service that is truly on behalf of citizens.
Thank you to our wonderful council, and the strong voice we now have on behalf of the citizens.
I so agree with #2! Yes, indeed there are often times many “motives” and we have moved away from that nonsense. Take for instance that awful stuff from the last election. That should never have been allowed to happen. Good leadership should nip that in the bud.
I look forward to continuing with our peaceful, forward moving, fiscally prudent, neighbor-oriented council and will vote in May to ensure that continues!
I am a citizen of Rollingwood and I don’t think we all need to say “thank you” just because someone was in office. Citizens can be hurt in direct ways by those who “serve” to please a certain few.
I am thankful that our city is continuing to make positive steps and move forward. Lets support this effort. Shanthi Jayakumar and Barry Bone will continue this positive leadership for the benefit of all of Rollingwood. I am appreciative of their offer of time and service to our city.
Kelli Carlton and Sara Hutson would make a valuable, positive contribution to our City Council. Go Kelli and Sara!!
Ask the council candidates if they will listen and report truthfully on issues concerning the people they represent. At least one candidate chose not to.
I support Shanthi and Barry.
Ask questions of candidates, see which candidates listen to the concerns of residents, ignore ad hominem attacks that have nothing to do with issues, focus on the real issues concerning our city, its finances, and our homes, and then vote!
This election is a follow-up to the last election.
There is one question to resolve: will the next Rollingwood City Council move slowly forward on a path to maintain and improve the cities infrastructure and amenities (such as our little park) OR will it be content to bemoan the street pavement, water/wastewater rates and (relatively low city) taxes, and carp about “outsiders” who eat a snack under the pavilion and watch kids play baseball.
My vote is for candidates who support family- friendly improvements to the city.
To Rainbows and butterflies: Huh? A follow up election?
Our park is in excellent shape and has a huge amount of money reserved just for it. It is given loads of attention. Our streets are not. What is the problem with being concerned about our streets and our ridiculously high water and wastewater rates? Who is carping about outsiders? I think the problem is carping about recent spending of limited city money on the park instead of on areas that are in dire need.
That is important stuff I think. I’m happy with the direction things are going. How dare anyone carp. On the other hand, I haven’t heard much carping at all in the last six or seven months. Something must be going well.
Dear Stirring up….
who is carping about outsiders? Alderman John Hinton.
I received a “Dear Rollingwood Neighbor” letter from Mr. Hinton today. The letter came straight from the playbook of Mr. Hinton’s mentor Barack Obama, e.g. throwing dirt on the prior administration (but I digress).
Anyway, the letter states ” …This new park, which is proposed to be located in the Endeavor tract (behind Wachovia Bank), could cost hundreds of thousands of dollars and would, like our existing park projects, be used primarily by nonresidents of the city.”
Mr. Hinton may be correct that the city had higher needs than a second park but, if the source of park funding is 4B economic development sales tax revenue then state law limits the purposes for which that revenue may be used. Public park development is an allowable use and residential pot hole repair is not.
Back to park use: Who is Rollingwood would like to take a pledge not to tread on the Town Lake Hike and Bike Trail, or Barton Creek since we are not residents of Austin?
Rainbow: I think your point is completely off the main topic which is our tax money, the city budget, and the mismanagement and overspending by the former city administrator and the council majority at the time. The abuses are just beginning to rise to the surface.
John Hinton was stating facts in his letter to the citizens.
One half of the 4B money is now dedicated to our streets. Remember our election where the majority of citizens voted to redirect half of the 4B sales tax?
Also, fortunately Barack Obama has nothing to do with what is happening in Rollingwood. The focus now is fiscal restraint and proper accounting. Reread the letter.
How dare Mr. Hinton ask for prioritizing our projects and expenditures! Who does he think he is?
Oh darn, I drank the Rollingwood kool-aid.
There is NO plan for a second Park. They are studying the uses of the property because it is an awkward shape and is in a rather obscure location. The only thing that has been discussed for the tract is a community garden at the request of many residents.
Mr. Hinton’s letter failed to mention that a large portion of the Park funds that were spent were donated funds from the Friends of Rollingwood fundraiser that went directly to the construction of the Field House-$106,000+25k in donated materials . WHLL funds were paid to the City at the beginning of the contract 6 years ago- 10k to be exact with the remaining contracted amount of 20k paid to the City at the time of construction specifically for the construction of the Field House. Under the contract with WHLL RW was required to spend 40k on such a structure. All of these funds become City Funds once they are received and flow through our General Fund. Mr. Hinton’s gross misrepresentation of these funds is out of line.
Deceptive mailers with the intent to stir the pot should be thrown in the pot and burned.
Yes, Catherine, deceptive mailers should be thrown in the pot! It is the pot calling the kettle black as the saying goes.
One of these words doesn’t go with the others….one of these words does not belong… tra-la-la:
deceptive, misrepresentation, mailer, failed, out-of-line, Catherine, gross, integrity.
Mrs. Horne simply stated details that were lacking in Mr. Hinton’s letter. I appreciated knowing that of the Park Funds that were spent there were over $100,000 in donated funds. I was also not aware that WHLL helped pay for the building, I had been left with the impression that they had not contributed. So thank you to both for helping fund a nice addition to the City of Rollingwood park complex.
Also, it would be the pot calling the kettle black if she sent something to the entire neighborhood as Mr. Hinton did which she has not. And I am a Rollingwood resident who was offended by Mr. Hinton’s letter to the citizens.
WOW. It’s not every day that you get to see one adult call another adult “gross”.
How do you know she did not send another letter to the entire neighborhood? Many believe otherwise. IT looks like the words listed in post #17 are those Ms. Horne used in her post #15 condemning John Hinton. Another word Ms. Horne has used in emails to citizens while serving on a commission is not printable here. Ask her what that word is then say “Wow”.
I agree with eanes taxpayer. Catherine Horne should not have used the term “gross” in her attack on John Hinton.
WHLL had an obligation to provide a certain portion of the funding of the structure as part of their lease agreement. They also lease out the city’s fields for a profit while the city does not benefit.