John_Willis
Joined Dec. 11, 2006
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3 months, 3 weeks agoJohn_Willis's comment on:
UPDATED: Flying Saucer will open off Lake Ray Hubbard in Garland in late July
Ann, consider it an opportunity to refresh your memory!
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2 years, 2 months agoJohn_Willis's comment on:
UPDATED: Garland and Lancaster ISDs come up "substandard" in Financial Integrity Ratings
With respect to the Substandard rating for the GISD, after some additional research, it has been explained as the result of changing over to Oracle and the resulting delays due to software problems. The accounting switch caused the delays and this was the reason for the wrong answer to indicator number 3, which is also what caused indicator number 5 to show "weak internal controls."
Since the accounting software issues have been addressed, it is expected that the next rating by the Financial Integrity Rating System of Texas will list GISD as Superior.
These are not trivial errors, by any means. Various State funding sources rely on this rating as a part of providing additional, much needed funds to school districts. An unacceptable rating means fewer funds from the State. For GISD, the delays caused by the switch in accounting software was a much more expensive process than just the cost of the software. It may have also resulted in less State of Texas funding for education.
A very expensive proposition indeed.
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2 years, 7 months agoJohn_Willis's comment on:
Pegasus News Election Survey: Rick Williams, candidate for Garland City Council - District 7
Mr. Williams,
Do you have any ideas about economic development and redevelopment in your council district and city wide?
Firewheel Mall, Bass Pro, and whatever may happen downtown are badly needed, but are a drop in the bucket when compared with what Garland actually needs.
What is being asked is, do you have any thoughts on how to improve Garland's sales tax base? What more can the City and Chamber do, or do differently, that may help in this arena?
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2 years, 7 months agoJohn_Willis's comment on:
Pegasus News Election Survey: Scott LeMay, candidate for Garland City Council - District 7
Scott,
Thanks for the reply. Your reply sheds a lot of light on your positions and suggests that you are open to ideas and approaches that may be (by traditional governmental standards) somewhat novel or innovative.
That is what’s wanted in Garland.
Most of Garland's neighborhoods are older developments. They simply do not share the same problems as newer areas. As such they require different approaches to solving their problems. You seem to demonstrate you want to look at these kinds of ideas to solve difficult problems.
You reference the Neighborhood Vitality grant monies. It seems, and you may agree, that an appropriate use for these monies, city wide, might be sidewalks. It’s been said that Richardson used similar resources to fix sidewalks in their city. Sidewalk damage was indexed and repairs were made starting with those with the worst damage. That sounds like the kinds of use, city wide, you may be advocating for Neighborhood Vitality grant monies that aren't used within a certain time frame.
Thank you for taking the time to thoughtfully consider and answer questions. This is an attribute to be cultivated in any City Council Member.
John Willis
Launching it softly, with this post
Mike..maybe it just takes some time for it to show up under the Fans tab.