Colleyville mayor claims he wasn’t out of step with county on coronavirus declaration
Colleyville Mayor Richard Newton says he was never out of step with the state or Tarrant County in terms of how far his city should go to curb the spread of the coronavirus.
He added that current emergency declarations from Gov. Greg Abbott and the city of Colleyville are nearly identical in intent, even if they are not worded exactly alike.
“Things are changing daily, if not hourly,” Newton said. “I’ve said all along that we will follow what Abbott decides and what the president decides.“
But Newton and Colleyville didn’t follow what Tarrant County decided. On Wednesday, Judge Glen Whitley issued an order closing restaurant dining rooms, bars and public facilities across the county.
City Council member Chuck Kelley last week wrote on Facebook that his city would not close restaurants without the governor’s order.
“We are not required to follow Tarrant County mandates,” he wrote.
On Thursday, Abbott issued his statewide order closing all dining at restaurants and bars effective at midnight Friday.
Colleyville’s disaster directive came out hours after Abbott’s initial emergency declaration, Newton said. Dining in at Colleyville restaurants have temporarily ended and businesses such as barbershops, salons, and massage parlors have temporarily shut their doors, he added.
Abbott’s actions made any earlier questions about local authority moot, according to Newton.
“We are working together and there is no real difference,” Newton said. “Our strategy has always been to ensure the safety of our citizens and our first responders.”
Newton said residents will soon receive or have received $35 gift cards meant to use at Colleyville businesses.
This story includes information from Star-Telegram archives.
This story was originally published March 22, 2020 at 5:25 PM.
