13-05-2025
Plat under name that drew a crowd gets approval, frontage road projects move forward
The audience at Monday's Parker County commissioners' meeting was noticeably smaller than the last.
The court approved the final plat for a subdivision to be known as Muslims United Phase II, on 4.8 acres of property in the Peaster area.
The name of the entity drew criticism and multiple speakers last month who said they were concerned about the 'political agenda' of Islam, pointing to an uptick of mosques being built in Dallas and surrounding areas.
It's worth noting that Phase I was approved in February, with little fanfare. The property owners plan to carve off the 4 acres to set up two separate lots for their children, who graduated from Peaster ISD and are moving back to the area.
The platting process is legally necessary, as the new homes would need addresses for 9-1-1 among other things.
County official Becky McCullough, speaking as a citizen Monday, said she lives in that community and has known the family her entire life.
'These are good people, and I understand the name sounds scary, but we have personally let them read the comments and things that have been said [online]...' she said. 'I went to school with [the family], my kids call him uncle.
'They've met all the legal requirements. I understand a lot of people want to make this political ... I don't really understand why it's political.'
Precinct 3 Commissioner Jacob Holt said entity name was established in 1985, when the family bought the property.
He said questions about a non-profit status, ag exemption requirements and other concerns prompted him to personally drive out to the property to take pictures of cows, fencing and ag equipment.
Echoing other comments, 'there are things going on in this country and across the world that I don't think anybody in this room supports, with places where Shariah Law is heavily enforced,' Holt said. 'There's threats to the Bill of Rights, to the Texas Constitution ... but under the Bill of Rights and the Texas Constitution are very clear establishments of freedom of religion, freedom of ideology.
'We also value property rights very heavily in Texas.'
Other staff noted all requirements had been legally met for the plat to move forward.
Parker County Republican Party Chair Brady Gray thanked the county for handling residents' concerns and meeting them with diligence and understanding.
'As I said [at the last meeting], I think the concerns are well-founded, I understand why they exist and it makes sense,' he said. 'I have also heard testimony of people who know this family.
'I appreciate everything y'all have done to take precautions.'
Commissioners also approved a $17,700 credit to Precinct 2 from a cost saving to the turning lane project on Farm-to-Market 920. Commissioners also approved a $98,500 with Halff and Associates for traffic studies at intersections near U.S. Highway 180, Centerpoint Road and Bankhead Highway.
Freese & Nichols representative Chris Bosco said the funds had been anticipated in the original scope, but that the infrastructure consulting firm was moving faster than the Texas Department of Transportation, whom the county had thought would be doing the work.
The cost includes management, collection of traffic counts, analysis and a report provided to commissioners and to TxDOT.
A fee of $1.7 million was also approved for projects leading to the Interstate 20 expansion, in frontage road and ramp improvements from Dennis Road to Old Dennis Road/Bowie Drive.
Bosco said Graham Associates were originally selected for the work, during which it was planned that TxDOT would do the schematic and environmental, with Graham doing final design.
Projects had been put on hold, however, and Bosco said there'd been talks with the state and Graham to go ahead and let the firm do schematic work, a traffic study and environmental work to move the project forward.
Commissioners OKed an additional $134,540 to Freese & Nichols to manage the work, for a total of $1,892,760.
All monies were budgeted out of the county's transportation bond that passed in 2023.
A belated proclamation was also read Monday, established April as Sexual Assault Awareness Month.
County Attorney John Forrest read the order, noting several community organizations, such as Freedom House, that provide resources to victims.
'All of these are great programs, but without awareness and acknowledging they exist ... that's why we have these months, so individuals know these services are available to them and there's help out there,' he said.
Professional Victim Assistance Coordinator Lisa Mehrhoff said people come in to her office every day seeking protective orders.
'You've got applications versus final... we have over 120 protective orders,' she said in reference to the past year. 'There are some that don't meet all the elements, but they have things going on that we may need to pursue another avenue to give them help and protection.'
