[{"_1":2,"_87":-5,"_88":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6548027,"mediaKeyId","3424202-249c93a2ffe921f805e89e65b74cc5d3","parentId",3424202,"title","Forney council approves alcohol variance, downtown sidewalk grant; names Helm mayor pro tem","audioSeconds",71,"startMs",2960000,"endMs",3031000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3424202-249c93a2ffe921f805e89e65b74cc5d3&start=2960&end=3031","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3424202-249c93a2ffe921f805e89e65b74cc5d3/thumbnail_2960000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6548027/Forney/Kaufman-County/Texas/Forney-council-approves-alcohol-variance-downtown-sidewalk-grant-names-Helm-mayor-pro-tem","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6548027-b6dba60ffb3d4d36e04bb3d98b47be9b/orig.mp4?Expires=1773078606&Signature=Z8F1bT-X45RiK6REpL9rbQ7oykcsIs1T4tZzVMUCk8a1zLnohvSbdG5b8k9Rv1VSVPONpQv3yoM9lwgIpOT2nOThmbt9vah0lKkcYv9DiKID0uU317Qfs1Zq1oLZQEf-qnlsMOCDY5nqf9qmeUnA7UfyYoxGcOC4QzTxg7Rsg5~m8ZOFPr5qRYOO6doEzR~RqCYqngoWQVKknvWtu68-hEEqeZ6P3tIAlt7DzKkK~xCQ-hB0vhMFfGrYxWkGD~PSa3kC67-ZkD88DFgDRO4eWPm8cl8Pq7yv3NQ~kygBDMEwsmctWycBZXK5B2zsu2~pISYCwJ2gmNksEwtafaswvQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Forney","date","2025-05-20T00:00:00Z","article","The Forney City Council voted on several routine and land-use matters during its May 20, 2025, meeting, approving an alcohol-spacing variance for a downtown restaurant, accepting corrected grant funding for downtown sidewalk improvements, appointing a mayor pro tem and completing its consent agenda.

Why this matters: the ordinance and grant affect downtown development and sidewalks; the variance allows on-premise consumption at a restaurant within 300 feet of school property only after council approval under local ordinance and Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission rules.

The council approved an ordinance (assigned Ordinance No. 2508) granting a variance from the City of Forneys 300-foot spacing requirement that otherwise prevents sale of alcoholic beverages for on-premise consumption within 300 feet of a school, church, childcare center or hospital. The request concerned property at 212 South Bodark Street, the Stashes Table and Fable Restaurant. Planning staff said two public responses were received in favor and that the Planning and Zoning Commission provided no recommendation. The motion to adopt the ordinance was made by Councilmember Schlitzker and seconded by Councilmember Helm; the ordinance passed on a show-of-hands vote.

Mr. Casey, presenting a consent-item correction, told council the grant figures had been updated: \"The corrected grant number that we're proposing is $1,120,909.84 with a city match of $443,150.4 and it should be noted that that is a eightytwenty split of the construction dollars with the City also assuming the cost of the design fees,\" he said. Council approved the resolution accepting the grant funding for engineering and downtown sidewalk improvements; the motion passed unanimously by voice or show of hands.

The council approved the minutes of the May 13, 2025 special meeting on a motion by Councilmember Helm, seconded by Councilmember Schlitzker. It then approved the consent agenda (items 1 and 312) by motion of Helm, second from Schlitzker; the motion passed unanimously. Staff asked that one discussion item (action item 1) be postponed to a future meeting because it was not ready for presentation; the council agreed to postpone without naming a new meeting date.

Councilmember Cecil Chambers was issued elected-officer documents and sworn in as the council member for Place 2. Mayor Jason Robertson read the certificate of election and administered the oath of office; Chambers briefly thanked supporters and posed for photographs.

Council member nominations resulted in Councilmember Helm being named mayor pro tem for a one-year term. Councilmember Chambers nominated Helm, the nomination received seconds, and the council approved the appointment by show of hands.

Ending: The city manager reported on upcoming franchise relocations tied to TxDOTs FM 548 expansion, the start of a two-year construction project for an Encore switch site on Trinity Street and a June 14 free paper-shredding event at Forney Community Park. Council adjourned at 7:29 p.m.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Forney - City Council - May 20, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","At its May 20 meeting the Forney City Council unanimously adopted an ordinance allowing on-premise alcohol sales at 212 S. Bodark Street, approved a corrected sidewalk grant and match, appointed Councilmember Helm as mayor pro tem, approved minutes and consent items, and postponed one staff item to a future meeting.","taxTitle","Forney, Kaufman County, Texas","taxId",69540,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6548032,"Forney police report: overall crimes drop slightly; family violence and narcotics incidents rise",1129,659000,1788000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3424202-249c93a2ffe921f805e89e65b74cc5d3&start=659&end=1788","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3424202-249c93a2ffe921f805e89e65b74cc5d3/thumbnail_659000.jpg","/articles/6548032/Forney/Kaufman-County/Texas/Forney-police-report-overall-crimes-drop-slightly-family-violence-and-narcotics-incidents-rise","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6548032-175443e96f33450e2bb56e0e0b63fa55/orig.mp4?Expires=1773078606&Signature=lZhyTFJQYtWc8ciYP5FSAHkXGzw8AplGOaSkHmr-63cqomcsdBxFRdbvNRHBBbzUC0LLQcbzEv6gZWH~VSAQ4LZpyAwMIqF9yoSoM4Mwh377kQjLMhozTnmHV9IDtybpd5zyP5f6DohyqeU0sDd8NgAEcWEdCviO3IAhl3LtilsrCVgfDbFokjBWF6lq6S4dj8TbqORqLOZu1yKzsYw-OkGJOdrtQL63XVP99plTiHJgwkWe1sWDRfyaAocxXiN1QHOharvsujj9miKZrqDNOejxrNY4nzzHmv39g51bYvdRAPGFv37XSg9J2aqMgZr1sdKaNliFgGT9NEjiK4fhvA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Chief White of the Forney Police Department presented the citys 2024 annual crime report to the Forney City Council on May 20, 2025, saying overall reported offenses fell modestly while certain violent and narcotics categories rose. The report compared 2024 data to 2023 and explained methodological differences driven by the FBIs National Incident Based Reporting System (NIBRS).

The report matters because it guides where police allocate personnel and technology and informs council decisions about public-safety funding. Chief White told council members that while the department recorded 25 fewer total offenses in 2024 (1,704) than in 2023 (1,729), some categories increased and warranted attention.

Chief White said the departments overall decline was small: \"I'll take a win when I can get it. It's only about 1.5%.\" He explained that NIBRS reports charges rather than unique incidents and that can make some counts appear higher (one 2024 homicide registered as three on the chart because two people were charged in one case). Murder totals in 2024 were two incidents, both family-violence related, the chief said.

The report highlighted aggravated assault rising by 25 incidents to 49 in 2024; Chief White said 40 of those 49 were family-violence related. \"Understand domestic violence is very difficult to deter, and has its challenges because you just don't know what's happening behind a closed door,\" he said, and added the department had recently met with the county district attorneys office to coordinate victim services and advocacy.

Property crimes declined by 84 incidents compared with 2023, including decreases in theft-from-vehicle and shoplifting categories. Crimes classified as \"against society,\" notably narcotics offenses, increased. Chief White cautioned that higher narcotics counts often reflect proactive policing and detections rather than a pure growth in drug activity: \"The only way to see zeroes in those categories is for them to not be necessarily proactive. And that's just not what they're about.\"

To place totals in context, the chief calculated offenses per 1,000 residents. Using a 2023 city population figure of 35,470 and a preliminary 2024 estimate of 39,000 from the citys economic development office, he reported violent-crime rates of roughly 6.19 per 1,000 in 2023 and 6.23 per 1,000 in 2024. He noted the 2024 population figure was an estimate and said updated population data would affect per-capita ratios.

Chief White also showed a hot-spot map of priority 1 and 2 calls for service to illustrate geographic concentrations of calls, and told council the department plans geographic (district) policing when additional CCPD funding arrives. He said the first tranche of CCPD funding is expected in July and that the police department already included two narcotics detectives in the most recent budget cycle.

Council members asked about specific responses, including technology and personnel tied to the CCPD funding and how district assignments would work. The chief said officers would be assigned to districts by call load, likely three to four districts initially and possibly five when new developments open, and that rotations typically last six months so officers can learn the district and build relationships with residents and businesses.

The council praised the reports context, especially the hot-spot mapping and the focus on family-violence prevention. Chief White said the department plans to increase October outreach for domestic-violence awareness and to continue coordination with county victim services.

Ending: The report will be published in a printed edition for council and will be included in future agendas. Council members and the chief said they expect the department to return with updates as CCPD funding, new personnel and CAD-system improvements permit more district-focused policing and as population estimates are refined.","At a May 20 Forney City Council meeting, Police Chief White presented the 2024 crime report showing a 1.5% overall drop in reported offenses, a rise in family-violence–related assaults and increased narcotics detections tied to proactive enforcement.","actionData","errors"]

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Forney council approves alcohol variance, downtown sidewalk grant; names Helm mayor pro tem

Forney police report: overall crimes drop slightly; family violence and narcotics incidents rise