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Regular Council Meeting <br />April 13, 2015 <br />Page 2 <br />decision making process, who made the decision and where the management oversight was <br />because this could possibly lead to a financial liability and was an embarrassment to the City. <br />Vic Ressler, 4020 Holbrook — he said it was his understanding the Glicks were appealing <br />the revocation letter. He said it was also his understanding that State law, a Supreme Court ruling <br />and the information on the City web -site limited their appeal process to administrative actions <br />that were taken by City employees or City officials. He said in this case, that was not the case, <br />that this item was voted on by the City Council and it was his understanding that same State law <br />says the Board of Adjustment could not override a decision made by the Planning and Zoning or <br />any of the elected officials. Mr. Ressler questioned why this was going to the Board of <br />Adjustment and said he saw that they had no standing whatsoever, no jurisdiction over this <br />question and he thought it was a mistake to let this go forward to that board. Mr. Ressler said if <br />this goes forward and that board takes action on it, the City would have even bigger problems. <br />Ed Ellis, 1015 SE 42'd Street — he said he served as the president of the Greater Paris <br />Development Foundation. He said the foundation received the railroad corridor from the middle <br />of Paris all the way to Clarksville, Texas' west city limits from a deed from Union Missouri <br />Pacific Railroad back in 1996. Mr. Ellis said that was after a Federal Statute was passed <br />allowing railroads to transfer ownership of their rails they were no longer using under the Rails <br />to Trails Program. He also said the requirement was that those properties would follow the <br />guidelines and in effect created trails along the guidelines and could not erect any permanent <br />construction in the event the railroads wanted to bring back their rail lines. Mr. Ellis said some <br />years ago the foundation did a lease with the City and the City was to maintain part of the trail. <br />Mr. Ellis also said the trail between Collegiate and the loop was in bad need of repair and <br />expressed concern about possible hazardous issues if something was not done quickly to improve <br />it. He said the trail counter reflected there was up to 700 people a day using the trail. Mr. Ellis <br />reported that the Lamar County Commissioners' Court approved an extension of the trail from <br />Blossom all the way to the Red River County line. He also said the Red River County <br />Commissioners' Court also approved an extension of the trail from the west boundary line of <br />Red River County all the way to the City of Clarksville. On behalf of the foundation, Mr. Ellis <br />requested that action be taken to maintain the trail. <br />Greg Wilson, 3155 Clark Lane — he reiterated Mr. Ellis' comments about the trail and <br />added that it would not be long before the NETTC would be very similar to the Katy Trail and <br />that Paris should anticipate hundreds of thousands of people riding through the town when the <br />trail was completed. He also said it was an asset and felt strongly that it needed to be maintained <br />to the best of its ability. Mr. Wilson said it was the future for economic development through <br />tourism and encouraged the Council to support maintenance of this portion of the trail. <br />Jill Drake, 3605 Summerhill — she said she was an avid trail supporter. She reiterated <br />Mr. Ellis and Mr. Wilson's comments and added the trail was in need of repairs for safety <br />reasons. <br />