New Fairview council discusses partnership for police services

The Messenger
By Jillian Nachtigal 
on June 06, 2023

The New Fairview City Council discussed a potential city-service partnership, moved forward with funding street improvements and reviewed revenue projections for the fiscal year 2023/24 budget on Monday. 

Conversations between the cities of New Fairview and Boyd have been ongoing regarding exchanging services for law enforcement and court services, with both cities discussing a potential partnership during council meetings in June.

New Fairview has a level three municipal court administrator, and City Administrator John Cabrales said Boyd plans to bring in two to three new police officers, adding that the department would have the capacity to provide policing services to New Fairview. 

In exchange, he said New Fairview could offer its municipal court services to Boyd.

“While I was talking to the City of Boyd, they inquired about us possibly running their municipal court operation because they heard what a great thing we’re doing here,” Cabrales said. “I know we have the knowledge, skills and abilities to be able to do it.”

Cabrales said residents raised concerns about the lack of policing in the city’s 2022 citizen survey, adding that the Wise County Sheriff’s Office cannot enforce New Fairview’s city ordinances.

Since forming a New Fairview police department is not currently feasible, Cabrales said the only way to have those ordinances enforced would be to contract with another city police department. The council agreed to continue conversations regarding a potential partnership.

The council also authorized the publication of intention to issue $3.5 million in certificates of obligation to fund road and drainage improvements at the meeting. Three priorities for road reconstruction were established in the May 15 city council meeting. Priority one includes Chisholm Hills Drive and Aydelotte Court, priority two includes Lange Way and Hilltop Trail, and priority three includes phase two of Chisholm Hills Drive. 

The city also is beginning to work on its budget for the next fiscal year. The council will have budget workshops at their next three meetings and adopt a tax rate and budget on Sept. 4. While reviewing revenue projections Monday, Cabrales said he hopes the addition of restaurants could improve the city’s sales tax revenue.

“The council passed a strategic plan, and in that plan, one of the objectives given to us was to come up with an economic development plan,” Cabrales said. “It would be nice if we could get some restaurants, even if it was just a coffee donut shot, or a pizza joint, just something that would start to generate more sales tax.” 

In the 2022 New Fairview citizen satisfaction survey, 72.8 percent of the 92 respondents said they are dissatisfied or very dissatisfied with the availability of dining options in the city. 

In other business, the city filled four of five positions on its new Parks and Recreation Board and Keep New Fairview Beautiful Committee. In order, places 1 through 4 are held by Deborah Greene, Jenifer Kozlowski, Julie Burger and newly appointed John Rodriguez. The board is an advisory body to the city council and staff regarding the recreational needs of the community, recommending policies to carry out recreational programs and initiatives, reviewing maintenance of recreation facilities, recommending funding for recreation facilities and informing the public of recreation opportunities or needs.

The council also approved moving the June 19 regular meeting to June 20 in observance of the Juneteenth holiday, and canceled the July 3 regular meeting in observance of Independence Day.