Reflecting on the year 2022, the city of Farmersville experienced several changes often associated with a growing municipality.

The most impactful event that changed the operational latitude of the city was the passage of the home rule charter on the May ballot, according to City Manager Ben White.

The main benefits of the home rule charter option include increasing the extraterritorial jurisdiction (ETJ) from half-mile to one mile, paving the way for high-speed fiber installation and allowing the city to pass ordinances allowed under home rule that would otherwise be prohibited under general law.

Home rule gives the city more flexibility locally without needing state approval on certain decisions.

One example of progress under home rule charter includes the installation of fiber downtown in which the city has completed the request for proposal and received five or six interested vendors in the bid process, according to White.

The city has grown over the past year at a rate of approximately 6%, which results in approximately 5,000 inhabitants.

“I’m extremely proud and excited how the city of Farmersville has taken steps to effectively and strategically begin to build for the future,” Mayor Bryon Wiebold said.

Projects accomplished in 2022 include those under both the 4A and 4B designation of economic development.

Ongoing activity includes development of a hotel on the west side of town near Lexington Medical Lodge.

On the east side of town, work on an industrial park has slowed, but continues to progress cautiously.

Other projects successfully funded in 2022 included four Collin County Open Space grant applications.

By Cole McClendon

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