[{"_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",6491742,"mediaKeyId","5671819-b487c8cde12c7449f75322417d6e95b5","parentId",5671819,"title","Council appoints Dr. Christopher Perkins to Economic Development Type A board","audioSeconds",321,"startMs",2095000,"endMs",2416000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5671819-b487c8cde12c7449f75322417d6e95b5&start=2095&end=2416","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5671819-b487c8cde12c7449f75322417d6e95b5/thumbnail_2095000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6491742/Balch-Springs/Dallas-County/Texas/Council-appoints-Dr-Christopher-Perkins-to-Economic-Development-Type-A-board","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6491742-8e43410c53893368ca923482952f3112/orig.mp4?Expires=1770561949&Signature=dY4nhWFICzsEyyUwd-U8l1s-orPKtG3nzz6TzzhXa6gU3D01qQQ768ns8jkCuOEsMIfQtxtq5PKpC~rLgoIHXbprDXM6isXbAgc0S38VUA87un3GtkWhuxdJitqy5LWpe2uye6gQgLufwPM-NIknKRm4BxAUuk9jPnCv-RIEIUKVtMMcca9P4Nrp-yCettQwNR-aYQZRfHMQEwG2Df~J5bbpf8vGlBRxlWrn9MTbpdp-Xk9Jjm1pllXeyyRuSYP7gBxItZCHPAQ1RlZMBfbxXHqsWPP7SwJnmIbTfSvkh1SHsgetnKQDztgf2yyXKdSDoZ5z0WgFGFuJJil2mxI-WQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Balch Springs","date","2025-08-25T00:00:00Z","article","The Balch Springs City Council on Aug. 25 voted to appoint Dr. Christopher Perkins to the Economic Development (Type A) board as an alternate member.

Perkins introduced himself to the council, said he moved to Balch Springs in December 2013, and described his professional background in medicine and education. He told the council he taught middle‑school science in Balch Springs before attending UT Southwestern’s PA program and later serving in pediatrics and as a faculty member in UT Southwestern’s PA program. “I just wanna contribute back to the community as much as it contributed to me,” Perkins said.

Councilmember Hill moved to appoint Perkins; the motion was seconded. Councilmembers Hill, Mayor Pro Tem Garcia, Patino, Miles and Salah voted yes. The mayor announced the motion passed.

Why this matters
The appointment fills an alternate seat on the city’s Economic Development Type A board after recent resignations. Perkins said he has local ties through previous work and residence in Balch Springs and expressed interest in contributing to local development efforts.

Context
Council members welcomed Perkins and commented on the city’s growth and the need for community members with professional experience on boards. No other applicants or alternatives were discussed during the item.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Balch Springs - City Council","oneSentenceSummary","The Balch Springs City Council unanimously appointed Dr. Christopher Perkins as an alternate to the Economic Development Type A board following his remarks about community ties and professional background.","taxTitle","Balch Springs, Dallas County, Texas","taxId",69448,"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},6491750,"Balch Springs explores facilities agreements and neighborhood block‑party model for parks, events",1113,3002000,4115000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5671819-b487c8cde12c7449f75322417d6e95b5&start=3002&end=4115","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5671819-b487c8cde12c7449f75322417d6e95b5/thumbnail_3002000.jpg","/articles/6491750/Balch-Springs/Dallas-County/Texas/Balch-Springs-explores-facilities-agreements-and-neighborhood-blockparty-model-for-parks-events","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6491750-1d01450620036125b4bed876f06d2f1b/orig.mp4?Expires=1770561949&Signature=DEbC9XZ~N2pIulwhraHd5n1wLQffU-Mxtr35tR8hSLqvIP6WhDb0HLVoBWQXJvVNJx-UsgMgfj1x3Kus2sjP6wDq4sBIAY5W0jR~8gGt0Qchx2~BsEsJZwQErP~~iZXsBJdKzO4X3PzUbGld~VKjy9jyXP8-XzyBvGumUv-G9~AxorJzPe8pAKNIYlorZPES1sR3wwaNvHbnBdUC3zAgwCZh6XffMwtMLiHt0BrDhSkPY~shEK26UovrdZrqQNwkp~SNR4cdtZ8mPfNVeIZl42hEZnfWpX4X9z3IyOUhkgqFA3tyKjizyijAyNWRqB9T0k9OZYXpC6baNGmzj~ej3g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Balch Springs City Council on Aug. 25 discussed developing standardized facilities agreements with local youth and sports associations and heard a detailed presentation from the community experience (SPARK) department proposing district‑level block parties and a focused set of citywide signature events.

City staff and council members described options for structuring agreements with associations that manage leagues or sports activities. Staff explained the city could either negotiate separate agreements for a single, citywide youth association or create sport‑specific agreements (football, baseball, soccer). In prior experience, staff said, multiple competing associations with different rules had created complications; staff recommended a single association per sport or clear rules in the facilities agreement for field preparation, uniforms and responsibilities.

Council directed staff to send a draft facilities agreement to the Parks and Recreation Board for review and to return the agreement to council with recommended edits and a review timeline. Councilmember Patino suggested sending the draft to the parks board first; staff and council agreed.

Separately, Jessica from the community experience/SPARK department presented a model to centralize three signature events — trunk‑or‑treat, Christmas tree lighting and Fourth of July — while decentralizing other programming into council‑adopted district block parties. Jessica said the district events would give councilmembers an opportunity to host a signature district event annually with SPARK support, activate parks across neighborhoods and build resident ownership. She proposed beginning district block parties in spring next year after the city’s current signature events run through the holidays.

Councilmembers expressed support for the proposal, noting the approach could increase council visibility in neighborhoods and involve police, code and other departments to address local issues. Councilmembers also discussed youth engagement and the potential to coordinate the proposal with a youth advisory council and neighborhood services to reduce code compliance issues.

No formal action was taken; council voted later to adjourn.","Council discussed standardizing facility agreements for youth and sports associations and heard a SPARK department presentation proposing district block parties and a smaller roster of city signature events to boost neighborhood engagement.",{"_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},6491755,"Balch Springs council approves Hickory Tree Road design amendments, awards $6.2M street‑maintenance contract",352,164000,516000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5671819-b487c8cde12c7449f75322417d6e95b5&start=164&end=516","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5671819-b487c8cde12c7449f75322417d6e95b5/thumbnail_164000.jpg","/articles/6491755/Balch-Springs/Dallas-County/Texas/Balch-Springs-council-approves-Hickory-Tree-Road-design-amendments-awards-62M-streetmaintenance-contract","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6491755-c79c80543275463f2e321ebb760cedbc/orig.mp4?Expires=1770561949&Signature=PRGRB6~0AJSKx6p2X2MXpPqYs1ApfFOV4mrkfgrGRnkVm222Q6kfje8V04R1OmgHZ10a1sJIp4C05VTxXZGZH2HVa6zFd-QgmwvW2cogm9sQfmGRN-JOmM9GV-s~bsM-WZZGjKbkm8hehEaHDEDDsnLsN4krQvVDWn5yFVsuKrPQYOyjAeJr~hKXV01~bPL-Su-crYj9urZCCOuupkxpwYZjYWpMYUTMQsANte~aGcYJ5A--NvriigSwd1XWDheE7lYkM3mzxV4bGr1yMwtSFv9Kt2SqFxvwzb-Uszu9eM~EJd3vr518LkkthfIRCS1MezkeA8NBI3SlYOFNW1H52A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Balch Springs City Council on Aug. 25 approved a consent agenda that included amendments to professional‑services contracts tied to the Hickory Tree Road reconstruction and a contract award for the 2024 street maintenance project.

City staff said the Hickory Tree Road project carries a $13,500,000 grant award for design and reconstruction of Hickory Tree Road from Elam to Lake Genera[l] Road and that the design portion of the project is funded with a $3,700,000 contract. Staff told the council the grant is “100 percent reimbursable” but that the city must pay for utility upgrades that coincide with the roadway work; staff said $339,500 for those utility-related tasks will come from the water and sewer capital improvement program.

The consent agenda included five listed items. Among them were a task authorization amendment with Freese and Nichols for a technical memorandum (not to exceed $35,000), an amendment to water/wastewater engineering and design services with Schumbach & Polk, Inc., an engineering/design amendment for the Hickory Tree Road project (not to exceed $3,700,000), and acceptance of a bid and contract award for the 2024 street maintenance project to GMG LLC (not to exceed $6,200,000). Councilmember Miles asked staff to explain the C and D amendments; staff provided the explanation summarized above.

Councilmember Hill made the motion to approve the consent agenda (items A–E); Mayor Pro Tem Garcia seconded. The five members present — Hill, Garcia, Patino, Miles and Salah — voted yes. The mayor stated the motion carried.

Votes at a glance
- Consent agenda (items A–E): motion to approve by Councilmember Hill; second by Mayor Pro Tem Garcia; vote 5–0 (Hill, Garcia, Patino, Miles, Salah — yes). Items described on the agenda as: revised meeting schedule for November/December 2025 (A); Freese and Nichols task authorization amendment for a technical memorandum (B) not to exceed $35,000; a professional‑services amendment for water/wastewater engineering related to the Balch Springs/Hickory Tree Road pedestrian and road improvement project (C) (amount on agenda summarized as 335,500); an engineering/design amendment for Hickory Tree Road (D) not to exceed $3,700,000; and acceptance of a bid/contract for the 2024 street maintenance tax project to GMG LLC (E) not to exceed $6,200,000.

Why this matters
The council’s approvals advance design and preparation steps for a federally funded roadway reconstruction that staff described as a $13.5 million grant project. Because the grant covers design and construction on a reimbursable basis, the city will carry some upfront costs — including utility work — paid from the water and sewer CIP. The awarded street‑maintenance contract affects the city’s pavement program and budgeted maintenance work.

Context and next steps
Staff said the city has previously briefed the council on the Hickory Tree Road project through monthly CIP updates and the city manager’s report. The council also scheduled budget‑related work separately on the agenda; staff later proposed a workshop for Sept. 2 to continue budget work and noted procedural deadlines for a public hearing and tax‑rate adoption in September.","The Balch Springs City Council on Aug. 25 approved a multi-item consent agenda that included amendments to engineering contracts for the Hickory Tree Road project and authorization to award a street‑maintenance construction contract, and the council recorded unanimous votes by members present.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Council appoints Dr. Christopher Perkins to Economic Development Type A board

Balch Springs explores facilities agreements and neighborhood block‑party model for parks, events

Balch Springs council approves Hickory Tree Road design amendments, awards $6.2M street‑maintenance contract