Burleson council rejects proposal to delay $86.5 million bond election on growth
Burleson voters will head to the polls in May after council members rejected a request to reconsider holding a bond election to improve streets and public safety.
During a specially called meeting Friday morning, mayor pro tem Dan McClendon made a motion to reconsider the May 1 bond election, saying the council needed more time to study and discuss priorities and options to address the city’s growth.
But the vote to reconsider failed 2-4-1, with mayor Chris Fletcher and Dan McClendon voting in favor, council members Victoria Johnson, Rick Green, Jimmy Stanford and Ronnie Johnson voting against and Tamara Payne abstaining.
The council voted 4-3 on Feb. 7 to ask voters to pay for street improvements, the renovation and expansion of the police station and the construction of a fourth fire station in the rapidly developing Chisholm Summit area.
The ballot will have two propositions: one for $33.6 million for street improvements and another for $52.4 million for public safety construction and improvements.
McClendon said he was not opposed to having a bond election in the future, but he did not want to rush into decisions without a clear majority of council members agreeing to pay for needed projects as Burleson continues to grow.
“We’ve gotten ourselves into a very unsettled dilemma. All we need to do is put a pause on it and cancel the election,” McClendon said.
Mayor Chris Fletcher agreed with McClendon and urged the council to put off holding the election.
“We need to be together on this. There is no problem with you saying no,” Fletcher said.
Fletcher said council members need to speak out when they are opposed to proposals, such as having a bond election.
Payne said she didn’t support forming a bond committee, and that council members should review priorities like public safety on their own.
But others on the council weighed in saying that discussions about projects can continue, but that it isn’t a good idea to reverse a vote on having an election.
Ronnie Johnson said, “There’s never been a do-over in Burleson where we called an election and then canceled an election. It’s never been done.”
Johnson said he always expressed his opinions at council meetings.
“I can tell you that I always speak my piece, and those of you who know me, know that.”
This story was originally published February 22, 2022 at 3:09 PM.