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Special City Council Meeting <br />February 13, 2001 <br />Page 7 <br />considers Lake Crook to be a really valuable asset for the whole city and for <br />Lamar County. Dr. Love said he is concerned with the fact that there seems <br />to be an almost disproportionate representation of the sportsmen versus the <br />people who are more in favor of development. He stated that he felt that the <br />city should look at all aspects of the development of the area. Dr. Love said <br />that two of the people that spoke about not developing the area happen not <br />to be from Paris. He pointed out that the property is the City of Paris's <br />property and is primarily for the citizens of Paris to be good stewards and <br />get the benefits from it. Dr. Love felt that the city should evaluate all aspects <br />of the development of the area, and before any decisions are made, he would <br />favor that the city set up a referendum to find out what the citizens in Paris <br />would like to do with that property. <br />Bret Ables, 2625 N. W. Loop 286, was present stating that he is a member of <br />the Wildlife Conversation Societies such as Ducks Unlimited and National <br />Rifle Association. He is a hunter and fisherman, but he felt that this is much <br />more important than that. Mr. Ables told the City Council that anytime you <br />have an investment it is going to have a cost, and we are not looking at just <br />the next year or two years, but you will have to look at the next ten to twenty <br />years. Mr. Ables said we are not talking about money, but the third quality <br />of life, better choices and better shops. Mr. Ables pointed out that people <br />from Paris go to other cities to shop because they can not find the things <br />and they do not have the selection here in Paris that they would like to have. <br />Larry Fancher, 3930 Miranda, came forward stating that he first moved to the <br />City of Paris in 1968, and at that time he had the good fortune to live on <br />property that joined the Lake Crook property on the northwest side. Mr. <br />Fanchersaid during the seven years he lived there, he eitherwalked or road <br />a horse over much of this property, and during that time, he grew to love <br />natural beauty. Mr. Fanchersaid thatthe City of Paris has a unique situation <br />with this property, and in his opinion, this is the greatest asset that Paris <br />has, and it should be used with great stewardship. Mr. Fancher said the <br />property should be used to its highest and best use. Mr. Fancher stated he <br />would like the City Council to look into the possibility of dredging the lake <br />because you have 80 years of sediment. This would greatly improve the <br />property. He would also like to see the property produce revenue rather <br />than drain revenue. <br />Dr. Richard B. Swint, 2510 Stillhouse Road, came forward and discussed the <br />two types of people that have appeared speaking for what they believe and <br />expressing their opinion about how the Lake Crook property should be <br />