[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6481613,"mediaKeyId","5706774-e902582404b95f8a3a088ce97959bfb4","parentId",5706774,"title","Council adds school-zone speed restrictions on Vineyard Way near Johnson Elementary","audioSeconds",139,"startMs",1703000,"endMs",1842000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5706774-e902582404b95f8a3a088ce97959bfb4&start=1703&end=1842","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5706774-e902582404b95f8a3a088ce97959bfb4/thumbnail_1703000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6481613/Forney/Kaufman-County/Texas/Council-adds-school-zone-speed-restrictions-on-Vineyard-Way-near-Johnson-Elementary","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6481613-2d78e7a0997f6d0cb76c96e3bbbbd5cf/orig.mp4?Expires=1770428070&Signature=JrcXiR~7VvwVU9CHWHdiA~PFsI8NUkV3K5LKOgz4g-oNy0zxaB69iRDui2ptT2zr2QS92O1VSB2nUMzGbtlrAZ9eFV744ScJZSwZ7PpWvdsjLVRlftGFvL2q5ib1vikdBK3Qgu681MrIPcAjSayiF3v4zPfLwxt-8GMvCAWtKeFabk3oTE~nLu93v5g9A4f3nyidKhjGhEDN-YPOnsArh2iP37JZtKQmiSpwMrhp4Nsg71Ov~slENCT9LCwnRtfbX5-Hvnn77r2TWehBpHppXcoZRcNKA2-iU7xmUUbEcQ6L0vMK3SLYv6X67yv6exGEcXem3t3Z2w3YWA1NcFIW4w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Forney","date","2025-09-02T00:00:00Z","article","The Forney City Council approved an ordinance amending the City Code to add school-zone speed restrictions on Vineyard Way, which now functions as a through street serving Johnson Elementary School.

Mr. Casey, a city staff member, told the council that Forney ISD opened Johnson Elementary in 2022 and that Vineyard Way originally acted like a private drive. The city has recently accepted the public improvements for the Vineyard Way extension, which connects to the remaining portion of the Overland Grove subdivision. Staff asked the council to establish school zones on Vineyard Way now that it will serve through traffic.

“...we're asking to establish the school zones on Vineyard Way which will now act essentially as a through street,” Casey said.

No members of the public signed up to speak on the item. Councilmember Ms. Schlinsker moved to approve the ordinance and Mr. Weatherford seconded; the council adopted the ordinance (recorded in the meeting as Ordinance No. 02/2021 in the record) by voice vote.

Why it matters: Designating school zones adjusts speed limits and enforces driver behavior near an elementary school, intended to improve safety for students and pedestrians as Vineyard Way transitions to a through street.

Next steps: City staff will implement the code amendment by installing signage and modifying traffic-control devices as required by the ordinance and standard traffic-engineering practice.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Forney - City Council","oneSentenceSummary","The council amended the city code to add school-zone speed limits on Vineyard Way following acceptance of public improvements there, establishing traffic restrictions to reflect the road's new role as a through street serving Johnson Elementary School.","taxTitle","Forney, Kaufman County, Texas","taxId",69540,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6481617,"Forney council authorizes condemnation authority to advance sanitary sewer expansion",289,1394000,1683000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5706774-e902582404b95f8a3a088ce97959bfb4&start=1394&end=1683","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5706774-e902582404b95f8a3a088ce97959bfb4/thumbnail_1394000.jpg","/articles/6481617/Forney/Kaufman-County/Texas/Forney-council-authorizes-condemnation-authority-to-advance-sanitary-sewer-expansion","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6481617-41739399113cfa25c6c806f2866859ef/orig.mp4?Expires=1770428070&Signature=AFIm~8pFdOIQSW8qh8whcTfUyyf45b1u5M~6DOrwHKIXxxRi5sraVhaJxuuZK2hYGCSXmoF7A-EHv9g27Dn7MDy91H6d4fNfm5C2qZxBqSHZ4UnDcrxD4Fid4SvPVTW3DHkorpliBmH2Z8no5QRio6uftPinbxWs9CyysltyZSFh-PdSvGEPHutOHcX6HOSNJzfwncAuCthdebRnAYBoXiAr0WybTPVFaQ~lnTwDzvr2G6v4GrLlwclxpJddJQ4ul7sSTSqYLR9x3OSYdyplNgkr3r5A8J32n3sVeohzFFCNQzF8ONIekqR3HqsmRh89yLOC107QlxLK9~8uEd6MkA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Forney City Council voted to adopt an ordinance authorizing the city to determine the necessity of acquiring easements and to prepare for potential condemnation for a sanitary sewer expansion project adjacent to U.S. Highway 80.

City staff member Mr. Thatcher told the council the project involves expansion of sewer lines and related facilities on the south side of U.S. Highway 80, with some work on the north side as well. He said negotiations with property owners for required easements have been ongoing and that communications with two or three property owners have stalled, prompting the city to seek authority to initiate condemnation only if negotiations fail.

“...we might need to initiate some condemnation proceedings,” Thatcher said, adding that staff remain hopeful condemnation will not be necessary and that state law requires bona fide offers, appraisals and good-faith negotiations before eminent-domain action.

Councilmember Mr. Weatherford asked whether communication with the unwilling owners had been ongoing; staff replied negotiations have been under way for “probably going on a year” and that the ordinance would give the city additional tools if owners cease communication.

A motion to approve the ordinance was made by Councilmember Ms. Schlinsker and seconded by Ms. Elgato; the council adopted the ordinance (recorded in the meeting as Ordinance No. 2,520) by voice vote.

Why it matters: The ordinance allows the city to secure easements needed to complete the sewer expansion, including the legal authority to begin condemnation procedures if required by stalled negotiations. Staff emphasized that statutory procedures — appraisals and bona fide offers — must be followed before using eminent-domain authority.

Next steps: Staff will continue negotiations where possible and, if required, begin condemnation proceedings pursuant to state law and the ordinance. The project will proceed once easements are acquired.","Council approved an ordinance authorizing staff to pursue easement acquisition — including condemnation if necessary — for a sanitary sewer expansion project near U.S. Highway 80, after staff reported stalled negotiations with a small number of property owners.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6481620,"Forney council approves maintenance assessment for Fox Hollow Public Improvement District",749,558000,1307000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5706774-e902582404b95f8a3a088ce97959bfb4&start=558&end=1307","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5706774-e902582404b95f8a3a088ce97959bfb4/thumbnail_558000.jpg","/articles/6481620/Forney/Kaufman-County/Texas/Forney-council-approves-maintenance-assessment-for-Fox-Hollow-Public-Improvement-District","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6481620-a21937a97ffeaebebad3a7662add165b/orig.mp4?Expires=1770428070&Signature=YHt8vXpDvId6KwW3UEHYTPu1RB3iPwQiFliBBPlKSRyRVJv58fq6ZD5H1Gg1U6AktYhMu14mMJgtZz4TJLi7NwEQvRdF2m7rKldMqwms0CU2oBMe44vlquUhauO6RjXv5gFCONeUiWCHX9CdA-pnYieeLpWt-ycZ-oehLeoIby4TrAqFdI6dzfVGG9XJ~0GqHQTHFss7tWZ3iL5eSSmc5uOWfjOtk2LVG6uQ9wcQCKdz6qqIDKOILKFOED~jzrAqm-Oct-BGKz7BtTvxUOER8D1qehVkxtv3ng-Zu0Ksgt9o3H~RJIYPI-fFMy5ep2xPdRJX-T1DU4ai~SOXVQjmjQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Forney City Council on Tuesday held a public hearing and approved an ordinance adopting a service and assessment plan and assessment roll for Fox Hollow Public Improvement District No. 1, affirming a maintenance assessment rate of $0.12 per $100 valuation.

The ordinance, read into the record by city staff, authorizes levying special assessments to pay for common-area maintenance in the Fox Hollow subdivision, including perimeter walls, landscaping, lighting and pool/amenity upkeep. The council voted to approve the ordinance after a brief public comment period.

City staff member Miss Woodham told the council the PID’s proposed levy this year is $0.12 per $100 valuation, the same rate levied in previous years, and that the assessments are collected through the Kaufman County Tax Collector’s office. Woodham said the PID’s budget includes routine maintenance and that bids have been received for several projects.

Fox Hollow residents raised questions about how the assessment appears on mortgage statements and whether veterans who are exempt from property taxes are also exempt from PID assessments. Resident Catherine Scroggins said she received a bill for “over $600” and that the assessment had been placed on her mortgage escrow without her knowledge, increasing her monthly payment.

Mr. Batcher, a city staff member who responded during the hearing, explained the distinction: “A public improvement district is an assessment, it's not a tax.” He said PIDs operate more like homeowners association dues and therefore are not covered by property-tax exemptions for veterans. On the mortgage/escrow question, Batcher said because PID assessments are collected through the tax office they can be included in escrow payments and advised residents to contact their mortgage lender for specifics.

Jean Wise, another resident, pressed staff for an explanation of how an assessment that is not a tax can affect a mortgage payment; staff reiterated that escrow and mortgage procedures are determined by lenders and that the tax collector’s method of collection can lead to escrow inclusion.

After closing the public hearing, the council approved the ordinance (listed in the record as Ordinance No. 25-19) by voice vote. Councilmembers who moved, seconded and voted were recorded in the meeting minutes; the transcript does not capture a roll-call tally in the audio.

Why it matters: The assessment funds ongoing maintenance of shared neighborhood infrastructure and is billed in the same manner as property taxes, which can affect homeowners' escrowed mortgage payments even though PID assessments are not property taxes. Residents seeking exemptions from property taxes should not assume those exemptions apply to PID assessments.

Council action and next steps: The ordinance establishes a lien mechanism, specifies payment methods and authorizes penalties and interest on delinquent assessments. The city indicated bids for maintenance projects are pending implementation under the approved service plan.","The Forney City Council held a public hearing and approved an ordinance confirming a service and assessment plan for Fox Hollow Public Improvement District No. 1, keeping the maintenance assessment at $0.12 per $100 valuation and clarifying that PID assessments are not property-tax exemptions for veterans.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Council adds school-zone speed restrictions on Vineyard Way near Johnson Elementary

Forney council authorizes condemnation authority to advance sanitary sewer expansion

Forney council approves maintenance assessment for Fox Hollow Public Improvement District