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Special City Council Meeting <br />February 13, 2001 <br />Page 9 <br />Dr. Don Wikoff, 5120 Oak Creek Drive, stated that he was speaking on behalf <br />of the development of the area. As a member of the school board of North <br />Lamar, he stated that they are always in the process of trying to find dollars <br />for needed public education funding. Dr. Wikoff said that comes from a tax <br />base that we all feel in our pocket book as we find that the tax rate has to go <br />up to support the infrastructure that is needed. He said we should look at <br />the resources of Paris and see how can we attract more industry or more <br />revenue to Paris and Lamar County. Dr. Wikoff said Lake Crook is a <br />tremendous resource. He thinks one of the other resources is the health care <br />industry in Paris. The people that have been talking about leaving Dallas <br />and coming here embellishes what he would say and that is that the elderly <br />are looking for a safe place to retire and they do not want to stay in the <br />crime ridden areas of Dallas. He said they want to come to areas that are <br />accessible to the big cities but are still safe and have ready access to health <br />care. Dr. Wikoff said the Lake Crook area could be developed to become a <br />very important drawing card for Lamar County if developers were to come <br />and master plan it to a facility that will attract seniors like Hot Springs, <br />Arkansas has developed over the years. He said he would like to see the <br />city move in that direction for Lake Crook. <br />Larry Fendley, 635 42"d S. E., appeared before the City Council stating that <br />Cooper Industries has been a rumor or fact for the last two years and he <br />would like to see it drawn to a conclusion. Mr. Fendley said in doing so, he <br />would like the City Council to answer a few questions for him. Does the <br />Council support full valuation and the proposal of Cooper Industries? If so, <br />who is the project manager? What is the progress on the project? When will <br />you visit Cooper and when will Cooper visit us? What is the schedule for <br />getting that proposal on the table so that we have an alternative to consider <br />it with numbers? Mr. Fendley said if the answer to these question are <br />negative, then you need someone to facilitate meetings between the Council <br />and Cooper. Mr. Fendley said he volunteers to do the job at no charge, and <br />he is qualified. <br />Johnny Scroggins, 2515 Ballard, advised that he is for recreational <br />development at Lake Crook. But it seems like we are thinking if there is not <br />residential and commercial development done at Lake Crook, there will not <br />be any in Paris. Mr. Scroggins pointed out that there are thousands of acres <br />in Lamar County where there can still be commercial and residential <br />developments if that is what we need. He encouraged the Council to keep <br />Lake Crook for the people. <br />