Cedar Hill City Council considering expanding Best Southwest Chamber of Commerce

by Steve Snyder of TODAY Newspapers

Expand the Best Southwest?

Not a geographic redefinition of southwest Dallas County, and the cities of Cedar Hill, DeSoto, Duncanville and Lancaster. Rather, the Cedar Hill City Council held discussion Jan. 27 on expanding the membership of the Best Southwest Chamber of Commerce, which includes representatives of the chambers of commerce, cities and school boards of the four cities.

The idea has been aired before, but may be gaining momentum. The idea is adding an associate-level membership for cities adjoining the Best Southwest, such as Red Oak, Glenn Heights, Midlothian, Ovilla, Grand Prairie, Hutchins and Wilmer. Each associate member would have one non-voting member on the BSW's board.

The four Best Southwest cities have a population of about 170,000. Grand Prairie would add about 130,000, and the other cities about 60,000, greatly boosting the demographic “throw weight” of the coalition.

The item was on the council's agenda for discussion only; council opinion seemed generally favorable.

The Lancaster Chamber of Commerce approved the concept Feb. 4.

In another briefing item, members of Impact Cedar Hill described their mission to help combat underage drug and alcohol use.

Impact Cedar Hill's mission is to prevent and eliminate youth substance abuse, specifically high-risk drinking, using environmental prevention strategies. Started last October, activities of IMPACT Cedar Hill includes community collaboration, law enforcement partnerships, policy advocacy, community education, and social marketing.

The group, currently meeting at Metro Church of Christ, would like to use city facilities, such as the Cedar Hill Recreation Center, for meetings.

Impact Cedar Hill and Impact groups in other Metroplex cities are all part of Drug Prevention Resources, Inc., which says it has been in existence for 74 years.

In other items at the meeting, Fire Chief Steve Pollock said the new Fire Station No. 4 in Lake Ridge should open about March 15.