No one should worry too much about Highland Park Mayor Will Beecherl, even if he did feel like he was seeing double on Aug. 5.
The Town Council meeting began with him bestowing “Mayors for a Day” status on incoming Armstrong Elementary fourth graders Sofia and Rania Shah.
The twins were later given a tour of the police and fire stations.
“One fun fact: the way to tell the difference between you two?” the mayor pointed out, turning to Rania. “You have glasses. Both have braces. You could switch seats, and I wouldn’t get it.”
New look for officers?
Neighborhood Spotlight
Park Cities
Where the Park Cities Stay Connected.
Town leaders are considering uniform changes for Highland Park Department of Public Safety officers.
Police Chief Chuck McGinnis suggested that cowboy hats with black felt and blond straw options for winter and summer weather would increase protection from the elements as well as improve officer approachability and community engagement.
“I don’t have a slideshow; I brought a live model,” the chief said, as an officer modeled one of the black felt hats during the post meeting study session. “The men and women of DPS have been asking for this for a long time. I like the idea, personally. I think it looks very Texas tradition-based, it looks appropriate for the uniform, and I think it looks good.”
In other business, the council:
- Discussed the proposed budget for 2025-26 and set Sept. 2 as hearing for the proposed tax rate of $0.199296 per $100 of taxable assessed value.
- Approved the creation of Lots 6A and 6B, a replat of Lot 6, Block 98 at 4529 Fairway Street (between Roland & Lomo Alto)
- Approved the creation of a Lots 1A and 1B, a replat of Lot 1, Block 99 at 4551 Westway Avenue (at Roland/Tollway).
- Appointed a Zoning Ordinance Advisory Committee for the purpose of assisting with rewriting the Zoning Ordinance – nonresidential property representative Dustin Bullard (Highland Park Village), residential property owner Paul Schoonover, and Preservation Park Cities chair Amy Beale.
- Heard DPS proposals for stop signs on Lomo Alto at Westway, on Westway at La Salle, and on Roland at Edmonson. DPS also mentioned Westway traffic now hovers around 1,100 cars a day.
