The beauty of fall in Salado

Friends,

    This fall is especially beautiful with all the trees decorated in their finest clothes of splendor.  The oranges, the reds, the golden yellows, and rich browns have added color to our village making it more picturesque than ever.

    We cannot lose the charm of this village.  Salado is not a "brand," it is a way of life that few places in the world enjoys.  May we work together to protect the beauty and charm of Salado as we go forward.  Progress will eventually come but if we plan and manager our resources carefully; we can maintain our way of life as well as the beauty that surrounds us.

Thank you for making Salado special!

VR/Skip

A talented Man

Friends,

In his early years, he worked for J.C. Penny.

At the age of 35, he started painting as a hobby.

His wife recognized his talent and sold some of his paintings.

Before leaving J.C. Penny, he painted for them, too.

He opened a gallery in Dallas and started going to Art shows on the weekend.

One of the shows he especially enjoyed was the Salado Art Show.

In 1999, their love for Salado brought them here and he opened a gallery in Old Town Salado.

When you walk into his shop, you feel the friendly, kind spirit of a man who has mastered life.

Meet Mr. B. Herd, a very talented artist and a wonderful gentleman.

VR/Skip

Soup Heaven

Friends,

What a great event -- the empty bowl project!

The best tasting soups ever!

The fellowship that makes you extremely proud to live in Salado!

The generosity that will help the less fortunate!

And, the beautiful, creative bowls that will grace our homes and be passed to the next generation.

This is Salado -- neighbors with neighbors, sharing friendships and breaking bread.

"So many beautiful bowls!  Which shall I pick?"

Thank you, volunteers, for giving your time.  Thank you, bowl makers for beautiful bowls.  Thank you, friends, for sharing your lunch with others.  Thank you, businesses, for the great soup.

Each of you makes Salado a wonderful place in which to live.  You are the best of the best!

VR/Skip

The news we are expecting

Friends,

We are awaiting news on the following:

1.  Our 1.5 million dollar sewer grant we submitted to Economic Development Agency in October is still working.  The last heard was that it was out of committee and on the Regional Director's Desk.  (Do not get too excited, that does not mean much).  This is a matching grant.  The Federal Government gives us 1.5 million that does not have to be paid back and the Village matches it.  We can do that because of the sewer bond election.  It will give us 3 million which will help keep the overall costs down significantly as well as your property taxes.

Many, many thanks to Senator Cornyn and Congressman Carter for their significant support.  THEY BELIEVE IN SALADO and want the best for you and your village.  They will help identify more available grants.

Yes, we are going after more grants.  Kim is working on a spring grant offered by the State of Texas to refurbish downtown -- curbs, sidewalks, lighting, etc.

Like all grants, there are no guarantees.  They must be written well and involve political networking.
We can do both.

2.  Stagecoach Inn.  People are always asking, "Have you heard anything?"  The answer is "No, we have not heard anything."  To the best of our knowledge, it is still working.  We are patiently waiting and do not want to upset any negotiations by asking questions.  Stagecoach is important to our community.

3.  Robertson Land Sale.  Outside there being a contract, nothing else is new.

4.  A group of citizens and professionals with sewer engineering experience is being formed to discuss the sewer development and a time line.  This committee will begin working shortly after the Holidays.  If you are interested, please call Kim, Village Administrator, 947-5060.

5.  The Village Office gets a number of telephone calls and visitors from developers asking questions about future development.  They are usually very guarded with their plans.  As soon as there is solid, accurate information, it will shared with you.  We are not going to be saying, "Received telephone call from such and such developer and they are interested in us."  That only produces uninformed gossip.  As soon as we know something for sure; you will be the first to know along with the Planning and Zoning Committee.

Just wanting to keep you informed of what we know and do not know.

VR/Skip

Sanctuary -- the latest.

Friends,

    Tuesday night, 18 November, was the 2nd meeting hosted by Sanctuary.  Over 70 people met in the Municipal Building to hear the Sanctuary developers' plans.

    With each meeting, new details come forward.

Madison Inselmann

Director of Development

Sanctuary Development, emailed the themes from Workshop #2 as they interpreted the evening:

Themes from Workshop #2

1. Sanctuary Rights-of-Way – In order to achieve a connected community with vehicular, bike, and pedestrian pathways, Sanctuary and even Main Street will want to have alternatives to the roadway designs.
2. Annexation - Annexing Sanctuary into Village contingent upon Development Agreement with Village of Salado and must be a “win-win” for both.
3. Sanctuary AND (not “or”) Salado (GROWTH) – Sanctuary’s focus on managing growth and assimilating target consumer groups that are pre-kids, families, and empty-nesters (aka, post-kids). Sanctuary expects to build 20-40 homes per year, not 100. This is going to be an exercise in craftsmanship.
4. Sanctuary AND (not “or”) Salado (CONNECTIVITY) – Linking Main Street to FM 2268 through pathways and theme remains the key issues for meeting attendees. The December 2nd meeting will devote much time to this effort.
5. Waste Water Treatment Plant – Step 1 was passing the bond. Step 2 is a plant to design and onstruct the facilities and lines. Effluent (repurposed) water that is safe will be used for streams and irrigation systems of the community.

A number of telephone calls were made to the Village Office with questions. The best answers at this point cannot be given because it is evolving with each session.  This being said, please know:

      1.  At this point, the Village is not involved in negotiations with Sanctuary.  Like you, we are listening intently to the plans.  Please, this needs to be repeated:  "We have not been and are not currently involved in negotiations."  

     2.  Our city lawyer will be involved in any negotiations.  Yes, it is costly but the Village cannot afford to make a mistake.  The intent is to be cautious.  In the future, "what we do for one developer, we have to do for all."  We must be very clear in all matters and expectations.

     3. The saying of old, "Haste makes waste," is true and it also causes life-long heartache.  Common sense, balance, and clear, intelligent thinking must be a part of progress.  

The elected village officials need you to attend these meetings and let us know what you are thinking -- concerns, questions, and opinions.  The next one is 2 December, 6 P.M., City Municipal Building. 

Some guidance:

    Listen well.

    Compare what has been said and what is being said.

    Ask hard questions, but keep them positive.  This is not a time for negative comments.

    Be Salado -- smart, intelligent, a cut-above, independent, and balanced. 

You are a great community -- a great village.  Together will protect our past, plan for the present, and design for the future.

VR/Skip

  

      

Salado style decorating -- only in Salado!

Friends,

The Holiday Season is here.  Whatever happened to Thanksgiving?  Christmas is here.

Last Saturday should have been entitled "How many Salado citizens does it take to hold a pole that is about to become the spine of a Christmas Tree?"  The following picture will give you some idea:

George and Frank discussing which end goes into the ground.  "If the star goes into the ground, no one will see it."

"I know, but it will make a good base."

Through cold, off-and-on-rain, and lots of laughter, 12 big electric Christmas trees, Angels, and lights became a part of this year's Christmas decorations.  Starting early and going until 5 P.M., the motley crew worked diligently getting things ready.  And like all work details, there has to be a boss.  Say hello to:

" Move it to the right.  No, to the left.  No, I like it where it was.  Well, maybe a little to the right.  Too much.  Go left."

This is a super great community.  Be a part of it.  Lots of fun and things get done.  Decorating last Saturday will live in the memories of all of us.  

VR/Skip

Sanctuary Development meeting, Tuesday, 11 November

Friends,

The Sanctuary Development meeting last Tuesday evening in the Community Room, Library, was interesting and informational.  The room was full of citizens and Sanctuary personnel.  Mr. Robert Sulaski led the meeting.

It started with him asking if we knew anything about the property.  His geologist and others had researched/examined the property and discovered that there was a cave and water under the land.  Other than this, nothing.  The citizens had no other information.

Robert asked if there were questions?

For the next 90 minutes, it was question and answer time.  There were many, many questions and Robert answered each question patiently and with as much information as he could.  The development is still in the research/planning stages.

There were too many questions to list, much less to remember.  However, here are a few of the answers given:

There will be:

Homes ranging from $225,000 to $850,000.
A Wellness/fitness Center
Senior care facilities
An amphitheater for concerts, plays, etc. (over 1500 seats with very professional productions)
Many walking and biking trails
8 lakes
Shops
A boutique hotel (i.e. Hilton, Sheraton)
WildFire will remain as part of the Development
Medical care facility

The Development will

Help the city with the Sewer
Come into the City limits
Take 15-20 years to complete
Respect the Historical District of Salado to include shops
Directly Connect Main Street with Holland Road
Will NOT have a golf course; Salado's golf course will be used exclusively

The Developer

Has talked with the potential buyers of Stage Coach
"looked at" the Robertson Ranch land which is under contract with another Developer"
Will work with both potential buyers in planning
Will make Salado his home as well as have another home on the East Coast

The next meeting of Sanctuary is next Tuesday, 18 November, in the MUNICIPAL BUILDING, 6 P.M.

If the second meeting is anything like this last meeting, you will leave with much information.  The more you know; the better it will be.

VR/Skip