Thursday, September 23, 2004

Fire Chief Moellenberg on Plans for Pfluger Hall

Pfluger Hall was originally built in a cooperative manner between the
Volunteer Fire Department and members of the Pfluger Family and others
in the community. The purpose was to establish a memorial to the
founding family of our community. Members of the Volunteer Fire
Department assumed a large debt in order to make the building a reality.

The Hall was to serve as a memorial and once the debt was paid off, any
additional funds realized in its operation were to help the Fire
Department provide service to our community. That was pretty much the
story from the beginning.

Now that the Volunteer Fire Department finds itself less capable of
handling this responsibility and fire protection is now the
responsibility of the ESD.

Presently, the ESD is in talking stages with ACC for bringing the Fire
Training Academy to our community. ACC already uses our Training Field
for the hands on portion of this Academy. They would like to move the
classroom portion of the Academy to Pflugerville.

We see this as a real benefit to the community for a lot of reasons.
While being a part of the equation, the acquisition of the Hall is not
the key.

If we are able to bring about moving the Academy to Pflugerville, we
plan to build a classroom building behind the Hall. It would be
separate and apart from the Hall itself and not affect that venue.
District Commissioners are also adamant that this classroom facility
will be funded using funds from a long term lease agreement with ACC and
or others.

The ESD Commissioners Board of Commissioners wants to continue making
the Hall available to the community in a very similar fashion as it now
is. They also want to expand its use and make it more available for
weekday meetings and other civic type functions. This actually expands
the community nature of the facility. Currently less than 20% of the
rentals at the Hall are from our community.

The ESD actually takes possession of the building and property on
January 1, 2005. There will be a brief period of time during which
rental will not be possible as we plan to do some needed property
repairs improvements. In the mean time, plans are being made for rental
agreements and how management of the facility will be handled.

I hope that you can see Pfluger Hall will continue to serve our
community as it was originally intended, it will also have an expanded
role in the community, and we hope that we are able to bring more
benefits to the community in an agreement with ACC.

Monday, September 13, 2004

What is your position on horse racing track/gambling/concert venue?

How do you feel (pros/cons) about such a venue off E. Pecan past Gatlinburg and Bohl's Place/Crossing subdivisions. What are the short-term and long-term benefits and risks? [Link is to City Comprehensive Plan map showing tourism/entertainment district that includes E. Pecan. Track is planned for 200 acres near Northeast Metropolitan County Park near SH130.]

What is your position on revitalization of downtown central business district?

Please post your comments on how you feel about revitalizing downtown Pflugerville over the next 10-25 years? You may wish to make specific suggestions regarding development of Gin Tract; MoKan corridor; Pfluger Tract; Main St. area; extension of Main St. (to east and/or west); and, location of a new city hall.