[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-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",[32,75,87],{"_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",6787057,"mediaKeyId","5595877-c4dc25da4f52188467228ae95a68410e","parentId",5595877,"title","DeSoto staff outline $200,000 bridge beautification plan, target seven bridges","audioSeconds",576,"startMs",3915870,"endMs",4492854,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5595877-c4dc25da4f52188467228ae95a68410e&start=3915&end=4492","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5595877-c4dc25da4f52188467228ae95a68410e/thumbnail_3915870.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6787057/DeSoto/Dallas-County/Texas/DeSoto-staff-outline-200000-bridge-beautification-plan-target-seven-bridges","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6787057-8af910664e8f988bd5fb042e003f076b/orig.mp4?Expires=1770709253&Signature=mE9Y~MMiylW-xEkVTlYiRM3JfWNxch1XwsoG-qLNICQQYn0ZSzlKIjBcvWXJA91L2aw6IgrnLIWajwrp6i-RdKzYlGsCMKbkBWVlW2TwV~cpEXGL4NVMjwoDp5bvKmlF0uT7phC0yGaVzI-taKM8mKvHJUMFzfWMuoaDI2wz7g27qarofc~fapgNwGyIwAwJEbLp05AV82IyObcz0kbkSs44cG~1PzIeG5THl2NkNGYYLNwZWEKtVBcz~JliRQVWCkJmgBs69Uyxx2IHnMBM~qfVpUL8o2NV5V1sEkwLc~P~ualhYxrEJyJNQGC9219C3-wUujJEtQFwenA5eb7Yqg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","DeSoto","date","2025-08-18T00:00:00Z","article","The City of DeSoto presented an informational proposal on Aug. 18 to create a bridge beautification program intended to improve visibility, pedestrian experience and gateway aesthetics.

Ahmed Alkasey, director of development services, said the program is part of the city’s 2025 business plan (goal 16). Staff plan to build a GIS‑based bridge inventory using Texas Department of Transportation data, review inspection reports, apply selection criteria (structural condition, visibility/gateway status, community impact, equity, feasibility and synergy with planned projects) and prequalify a list of candidate bridges.

Alkasey said staff intend to select seven bridges for the initial program and estimated roughly $25,000 per bridge as a planning figure, with an initial requested budget of about $200,000. He said the department can complete initial data collection and criteria development in house, noting potential one‑time savings of about $120,000 compared with hiring a consultant.

Council members praised the proposal as a way to improve community image and equity, and asked about funding. Alkasey said the department has identified approximately $150,000 in capital outlay for 2025 and will seek additional funds in the 2026 budget; staff also said they will explore grant and partnership opportunities for follow‑up structural work identified in inspections.

The item was informational; no formal council action was requested.

What’s next: staff will share a prequalification list of candidate bridges with council and seek council input on decorative features and bridge selection.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","DeSoto - City Council Special Meeting","oneSentenceSummary","The development services department proposed a bridge beautification program to assess and enhance up to seven bridges using GIS and in‑house staff; staff estimated an initial $200,000 request and suggested $25,000 per bridge as a rough planning figure, with $150,000 available from 2025 capital outlay.","taxTitle","DeSoto, Dallas County, Texas","taxId",4572,"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},6787062,"Interim finance director: DeSoto fiscal year about 83% complete; sales tax lags at 66.8%",403,414935,818540,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5595877-c4dc25da4f52188467228ae95a68410e&start=414&end=818","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5595877-c4dc25da4f52188467228ae95a68410e/thumbnail_414935.jpg","/articles/6787062/DeSoto/Dallas-County/Texas/Interim-finance-director-DeSoto-fiscal-year-about-83-complete-sales-tax-lags-at-668","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6787062-2799ea941cdd40cc2964eb98bca7aa13/orig.mp4?Expires=1770709253&Signature=XEY9OC~7Q8YGpiqbIxGaMilRSSHywLG7zg~SiI~1M5prsDuysxMjvko8nM7TJcGE-oQ5r8ZCAx0d54RwD~TeZbkW9OD6UK-YnD8a0QPMGs7kNUC0suhZTH1VWG-3ML2hrLbd3UFFYUMG1nFrqCula1pwcxMA~lt5XE6zedsRqCW35dPjn5QTVzLFiEZ9Ct8xTuSMaHDuFuBnh93fYSWBUIxkwJoeg3-6lj~T6gr1mhGT75QruuAnBOLDy3KIavRg32ZdAZAVpxWNilftUx1chvrfRBkM8IBnEQ-uV4~1qUGsuBCA7ZCxXJg7ZGEkGKp44Q-LA9xmT8ZkXiHPEtexLg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Interim Finance Director Lakita Sutton presented the city’s July 2025 financial report to the City Council on Aug. 18, saying the fiscal year is roughly 83% complete and highlighting collections and department spending.

Sutton reported property tax collections are nearly complete — \"we're just about finished collecting those for the year, already at 97.2%\" — and said general fund revenues stand at about $58.3 million of a $64.3 million budget (approximately 90.7% collected). She said interest revenue has exceeded expectations, contributing just over $1 million to the general fund so far.

Sutton told council that sales tax collections are lagging compared with typical seasonal expectations: “We’re currently at 66.8%,” she said, and staff are tracking regional trends indicating other nearby cities show similar shortfalls. Sutton said the city still expects to collect additional sales tax in the 60‑day accounting window after the fiscal year closes and believes it will approach budgeted targets.

Council members asked for clarifications and more detailed line‑item information. Councilmember Parett Parker requested a breakdown of the 'non‑departmental' line (which is 105.8% of expected) and details about the economic incentive overrun, which Sutton described as one incentive agreement that increased costs modestly. Sutton said some IT overspend reflects professional services and that capital purchases for IT would be funded from the capital budget.

Sutton also reviewed enterprise funds: the public utility fund has collected about $26.1 million of a $30.4 million budget (roughly 85%), with water and sewer receipts contributing most revenues, and the sanitation fund is at about 83% of budget. She concluded by offering to provide follow‑up details requested by council.

What’s next: Sutton will supply the requested breakdowns to council and continue to monitor sales tax trends and collections as the fiscal year closes.","Interim Finance Director Lakita Sutton reported July numbers showing property tax nearly fully collected (97.2%), general fund receipts at $58.3M of a $64.3M budget (90.7%), and sales tax collections tracking at 66.8% year‑to‑date, a regional trend staff said they are monitoring.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6787067,"DeSoto outlines quadrant pilot, extra‑cart fee and outreach plan for brush and bulk collection",900,1309395,2209975,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5595877-c4dc25da4f52188467228ae95a68410e&start=1309&end=2209","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5595877-c4dc25da4f52188467228ae95a68410e/thumbnail_1309395.jpg","/articles/6787067/DeSoto/Dallas-County/Texas/DeSoto-outlines-quadrant-pilot-extracart-fee-and-outreach-plan-for-brush-and-bulk-collection","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6787067-56e7d2a99861612f11ab56a123860a91/orig.mp4?Expires=1770709253&Signature=mGZthl8ToodlVICBaGw8VV1zB6oC~rEh-BnuAgWW0SxYQ52tzL-a6FZk~4S2dIw2L-eJjXjzVhdsS5YkSuu3~fqKGIjZLMBIi-Jez5ao6F6hiCJj1j0iLHwGx~6h4PzbfwS30RzgLvXRQPN1bxPi6Fm-6IFRt0mpFjiaGRsKcJaiFgpBPH6PXaHFz54W9ZBiZmOKYMIC-q9V-ege-j679EOdF5qHrS9ogkOIdtWx5n2Oa8IuuNQPNvd-j4~TV2evnLCyXMzWnJUYBxPGM6BnILrSph4S3Tx0WEoAbAX59AgaxnC7B13IvdJ41geXDQFmGCczExvYhBiUZL5BXhRNjg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","DeSoto city staff proposed major changes to the city’s bulk and brush collection program on Aug. 18, unveiling a quadrant‑based schedule, a pilot program and new outreach plans.

Deputy City Manager Isom Cameron told the City Council the city would move “instead of having to call in for monthly brush and bulk” to a system that divides DeSoto into four quadrants, with each quadrant assigned a designated week every month for brush and bulk pickup. Cameron said the change is intended to remove sporadic, neighborhood‑by‑neighborhood pickups and make routing more efficient.

Cameron said the pilot will run Sept. 1 through the end of November, with staff scheduling town halls from October through December and aiming for a citywide implementation on Jan. 1 (the city manager later referred to a January 2026 transition). He said the pilot area is the centrally located “week 2” quadrant and that residents there received mailed notices on Aug. 13; a community meeting for the pilot area was set for Aug. 23.

Under the proposal, an on‑call option would remain for move‑outs or emergency set‑outs but would carry a fee. Cameron said the vendor, Republic, can provide additional 95‑gallon trash carts for residents at a proposed rate — “we’re looking at a pass potentially $8.50 per month” — and said recycling carts would not be available for purchase as extras.

Council members pressed staff on outreach and operational details. Councilmember Parett Parker asked for the exact letter sent to pilot residents so council members can help drive turnout and requested a virtual town hall option for residents who cannot attend the in‑person meeting. Mayor Rachel Proctor suggested a standalone web map or address lookup so residents can confirm whether they are inside the pilot boundary.

City Manager Majid Del Gaffrey said the pilot is the beginning of an “elaborate public information program” and flagged a continuing engagement period through December. He also said the city could use utility‑billing lists for targeted phone outreach but cautioned that mass‑notification systems such as Everbridge are typically reserved for emergencies.

Council raised concerns about service backlogs and the possibility that the contractor might later try to pass costs to the city or residents. Cameron said the contract includes out‑clauses for nonperformance, that liability and cost discussions are part of procurement and monitoring, and that staff will continue to track backlog timelines and contractor performance.

Other operational proposals in the presentation included creating a solid‑waste coordinator position to manage communications among Republic, residents and city departments (including code enforcement), adding a second street‑sweeper position and working with GIS to notify households in each quadrant. Staff also said they will explore integrating Republic’s app, deploy two dynamic message signs in the pilot neighborhood and provide translated materials for Spanish‑speaking residents.

What’s next: staff will conduct the pilot Sept. 1–end of November, hold local town halls and return with implementation updates; citywide roll‑out is targeted for January (staff used both “Jan. 1” and “January 2026” when describing the timeline).","City staff proposed replacing call‑in monthly brush and bulk pickups with a quadrant‑based schedule, beginning with a pilot Sept. 1–end of November and a target citywide roll‑out in January; residents may pay for on‑call pickups and an extra trash cart (proposed $8.50/month).","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

DeSoto staff outline $200,000 bridge beautification plan, target seven bridges

Interim finance director: DeSoto fiscal year about 83% complete; sales tax lags at 66.8%

DeSoto outlines quadrant pilot, extra‑cart fee and outreach plan for brush and bulk collection