Locally, at least, the projects of Cleburne’s 4B Economic Development Corp. are well known and often in the news. Many are familiar with Splash Station, the Cleburne Youth Sports Complex, the Booker T. Washington Community and Recreation Center and the other completed or in-the-works projects approved by Cleburne voters in 2001. Lesser known, perhaps, is that other Johnson County cities also have 4B corporations. But most also have 4A corporations, unlike Cleburne. l Although smaller in funding and ambition than those of Cleburne and Burleson, the corporations all strive to improve the quality of life for their residents.
Godley, Grandview, Joshua and Keene have 4A and 4B boards. Alvarado and Rio Vista have 4B only.
Their projects are generally smaller in scope than those of Cleburne and larger cities. Rio Vista, for example, employs 4B funds strictly for street repair and paving, City Secretary Brenda Marbut said. All funds, city leaders said, go toward improving the quality of life or attracting business and jobs to their respective cities.
“It’s pretty exciting for us,” Alvarado finance director Kelle Whitfill said. “Without [4B] we wouldn’t have a lot of the things we do now.”
Alvarado used 4B funds to purchase land adjacent to the existing city park. The city added a pavilion, playground equipment, landscaping and a recently opened skateboard park. The park remains a work in progress with plans for walking trails and other amenities, Whitfill said.
4B also helped fund early-warning sirens for the city, 4B President John Percifeld said.
Most Johnson County cities tend to focus their 4B money on parks.
4B money partially funded Keene’s Elisa Carver Park. The park includes playground equipment, basketball courts, baseball diamonds, walking trails and a concession stand.
“We’re out here probably three or four times a week,” Keene resident Daniel Gathings said. “It’s a nice place. I just wish we could get a skateboard park put in.”
Megan Canedy said she recently began jogging in the park.
“It’s nice, this is my second time here,” Canedy said. “I live out in the county and got attacked by a stray dog not long ago, so this is kind of a safe haven place from that sort of thing.”
Future 4B projects in Keene include a skate park, sprinkler park and covered picnic tables, 4B President Rick Neighbors said. Other projects include updating and improving city Web sites.
“We meet the second Monday at city hall, and everyone’s welcome,” Neighbors said. “People come in with proposals, and we consider the pros and cons and pick the best ones. The way I see it, we’ve been entrusted with Keene tax dollars, so we want to spend it wisely in a way that best promotes Keene.”
Grandview 4B funds contributed to the Grandview City Park, said 4B board member Laura Morgan, although a Texas Parks and Wildlife grant funded much of that project. 4B funds paid for a fountain park downtown and helped fund a matching-grant program for downtown business owners to fix up their historic buildings. The board hopes to install old-style lighting downtown and a “Welcome to Grandview” sign on Interstate 35W, Morgan said.
“I think [4B] adds to the quality of Grandview,” Morgan said. “It gives children a place to play and gives adults a downtown place to relax on their lunch hour.”
Joshua has, so far, not done a lot with either 4B or 4A, City Manager Paulette Hartman said. The 4B board plans to undertake park projects in the future, she said. A master plan covering Joshua parks and open space, set to go before the city council for approval in May, would spur future park projects, Hartman said.
The city plans to put 4A funds towards infrastructure repairs and additions for the planned Joshua Station addition, Hartman said. The station will be used as a stop on a light-rail route planned to go through Joshua and other Johnson County cities, Hartman said. The station, to be built on Texas 174, will also include retail development, she said.
Keene used 4A money to purchase land for use as an industrial park, 4A President Wayne Tomblinson said. 4A provided land in the industrial park free to Texas Pocket Springs, and the board is in talks with two other companies about relocating there, Tomblinson said.
“At least one of which will pay partial value for the land,” he said.
Such incentives help attract business to Keene, Tomblinson said.
“We needed an anchor company to get a Texas Capital Fund grant to put in water and sewer service out there,” Tomblinson said.
Godley has so far used 4A funds to install sewer lines to attract several businesses, City Administrator Stephanie Hodges said. City leaders hope to undertake additional 4A and 4B projects in the future.
Local money
The local sales and use taxes — imposed through voter approval in a local-option election — finance economic development efforts in a city. 4A money goes toward industrial development. It may be used to acquire land, buildings and equipment or make infrastructure improvements related to improving or attracting manufacturing, industrial, recycling, research and development, aviation-related and other business to the city.
4B taxes fund projects meant to contribute to a community’s quality of life. Parks, museums, entertainment facilities, tourism concerns and other matters fall under 4B’s purview. 4B funds may also be used for streets, water and sewer facilities and affordable housing.
A board of directors must be appointed by the city council to administer and oversee the projects. Although the councils retain oversight authority; they approve program and expenditure recommendations made by the boards.
Cities may adopt a sales tax rate of one-eighth, one-quarter, three-eighths or one-half or 1 percent, so long as the total rate of all local sales and use taxes does not exceed 2 percent. The 2 percent ceiling prevents city sales taxes from exceeding 8.25 percent overall. Cities may also limit the duration of the tax and use funds.
Local News
Related Photos
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Johnson County resident Megan Canedy called Elisa Carver Park in Keene a “safe haven” and good place to jog. Matt Smith/Times-Review
Discussion
4A, 4B put cities on a path to improvement
- Cleburne
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Front, from left, are Grandview’s Caleb Hollingsworth, Cleburne’s Zach Haler, Joshua’s Jordan Garrett, Alvarado’s A.J. Castillo, Xavier Holbert, Kenny Adams and Marcus McNeil, Cleburne’s Conner Martyniuk and Godley’s Drew Benge. Standing, from left, are Alvarado’s Ronald Thomas, C.J. Johnson and Alex Gentrey, Grandview’s Austin Wylie and Caleb Armstrong. Not pictured is Alvarado’s Marcus Villarreal.
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First team offense, defense features host of area standouts
The 2011 Lone Star Chrysler Dodge Jeep Autoplex All-Johnson-County football team has been announced. The team was chosen by the Times-Review sports department based on all-district selections and coaches’ nominations.
The first-team offense included Alvarado quarterback Kenny West and Burleson quarterback Barrett Cain. -
Cleburne, Grandview, Burleson lead second team offense, defense
The 2011 Lone Star Chrysler Dodge Jeep Autoplex All-Johnson-County football team has been announced. The team was chosen by the Times-Review sports department based on all-district selections and coaches’ nominations.
The second-team offense was led by Cleburne’s Quade Coward and Godley’s Rhett Brawner as the second-team quarterbacks. -
Cleburne pulls away from Burleson, 62-48
The Cleburne Yellow Jackets beat Burleson, 62-48, on Friday night at Yellow Jacket Gym to move to 2-7 in District 7-A play. Burleson fell to 2-7 in league play with the loss.
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Lady Jackets pick up first District 7-4A win
On Friday night at Yellow Jacket Stadium, Cleburne picked up its first win of the District 7-4A season, 66-60, over Burleson, which fell to 3-8.
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Up-and-down Yellow Jackets split Friday’s matches at Little Elm Tourney
Both Cleburne soccer teams had mixed results on Friday in their respective tournaments.
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First team offense, defense features host of area standouts
- Johnson County
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Stage 2 drought plan still in place
Johnson County Special Utility District will keep its Stage 2 drought plan in place despite this week’s rain.
- Tuesday marks property tax payment deadline
- Drought no more
- Number of sex offenders increases
- Council approves trash truck purchases
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Stage 2 drought plan still in place
- Alvarado
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Standing, from left, are Grandview’s Ryan Breton (offensive most valuable player) and Austin Martinez (Ironman award winner), Alvarado’s Wayne Onderdonck (county MVP) and Brazos Fuller (co-newcomer of the year), Burleson’s Ayinde Alaajiy (co-newcomer of the year), Godley’s Blake Washinton (co-linemen of the year), Alvarado’s Tyler Bates (defensive MVP), Alvarado Head Coach Jeff Dixon (coach of the year) and Grandview’s Davis Scarbrough (co-linemen of the year).
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Indians on top of selections
The 2011 Lone Star Chrysler Dodge Jeep Autoplex All-Johnson-County football team has been announced. The team was chosen by the Times-Review sports department based on all-district selections and coaches’ nominations.
Four of Johnson County’s eight football teams qualified for the postseason in 2011 with Alvarado making it all the way to the Class 3A Division I state championship game at Cowboys Stadium against Tyler Chapel Hill. - Dixon repeats as AJC coach of the year
- First team offense, defense features host of area standouts
- Cleburne, Grandview, Burleson lead second team offense, defense
- Upcoming sports schedule
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Indians on top of selections
- Burleson
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Standing, from left, are Grandview’s Ryan Breton (offensive most valuable player) and Austin Martinez (Ironman award winner), Alvarado’s Wayne Onderdonck (county MVP) and Brazos Fuller (co-newcomer of the year), Burleson’s Ayinde Alaajiy (co-newcomer of the year), Godley’s Blake Washinton (co-linemen of the year), Alvarado’s Tyler Bates (defensive MVP), Alvarado Head Coach Jeff Dixon (coach of the year) and Grandview’s Davis Scarbrough (co-linemen of the year).
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Indians on top of selections
The 2011 Lone Star Chrysler Dodge Jeep Autoplex All-Johnson-County football team has been announced. The team was chosen by the Times-Review sports department based on all-district selections and coaches’ nominations.
Four of Johnson County’s eight football teams qualified for the postseason in 2011 with Alvarado making it all the way to the Class 3A Division I state championship game at Cowboys Stadium against Tyler Chapel Hill. - First team offense, defense features host of area standouts
- Cleburne, Grandview, Burleson lead second team offense, defense
- Cleburne pulls away from Burleson, 62-48
- Lady Jackets pick up first District 7-4A win
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Indians on top of selections
- Godley
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Standing, from left, are Grandview’s Ryan Breton (offensive most valuable player) and Austin Martinez (Ironman award winner), Alvarado’s Wayne Onderdonck (county MVP) and Brazos Fuller (co-newcomer of the year), Burleson’s Ayinde Alaajiy (co-newcomer of the year), Godley’s Blake Washinton (co-linemen of the year), Alvarado’s Tyler Bates (defensive MVP), Alvarado Head Coach Jeff Dixon (coach of the year) and Grandview’s Davis Scarbrough (co-linemen of the year).
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Indians on top of selections
The 2011 Lone Star Chrysler Dodge Jeep Autoplex All-Johnson-County football team has been announced. The team was chosen by the Times-Review sports department based on all-district selections and coaches’ nominations.
Four of Johnson County’s eight football teams qualified for the postseason in 2011 with Alvarado making it all the way to the Class 3A Division I state championship game at Cowboys Stadium against Tyler Chapel Hill. - First team offense, defense features host of area standouts
- Cleburne, Grandview, Burleson lead second team offense, defense
- Upcoming sports schedule
- Lady Cats win, Wildcats fall to Peaster
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Indians on top of selections
- Grandview
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Standing, from left, are Grandview’s Ryan Breton (offensive most valuable player) and Austin Martinez (Ironman award winner), Alvarado’s Wayne Onderdonck (county MVP) and Brazos Fuller (co-newcomer of the year), Burleson’s Ayinde Alaajiy (co-newcomer of the year), Godley’s Blake Washinton (co-linemen of the year), Alvarado’s Tyler Bates (defensive MVP), Alvarado Head Coach Jeff Dixon (coach of the year) and Grandview’s Davis Scarbrough (co-linemen of the year).
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Indians on top of selections
The 2011 Lone Star Chrysler Dodge Jeep Autoplex All-Johnson-County football team has been announced. The team was chosen by the Times-Review sports department based on all-district selections and coaches’ nominations.
Four of Johnson County’s eight football teams qualified for the postseason in 2011 with Alvarado making it all the way to the Class 3A Division I state championship game at Cowboys Stadium against Tyler Chapel Hill. - First team offense, defense features host of area standouts
- Cleburne, Grandview, Burleson lead second team offense, defense
- Upcoming sports schedule
- Tuesday basketball roundup
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Indians on top of selections
- Joshua
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Front, from left, are Grandview’s Caleb Hollingsworth, Cleburne’s Zach Haler, Joshua’s Jordan Garrett, Alvarado’s A.J. Castillo, Xavier Holbert, Kenny Adams and Marcus McNeil, Cleburne’s Conner Martyniuk and Godley’s Drew Benge. Standing, from left, are Alvarado’s Ronald Thomas, C.J. Johnson and Alex Gentrey, Grandview’s Austin Wylie and Caleb Armstrong. Not pictured is Alvarado’s Marcus Villarreal.
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First team offense, defense features host of area standouts
The 2011 Lone Star Chrysler Dodge Jeep Autoplex All-Johnson-County football team has been announced. The team was chosen by the Times-Review sports department based on all-district selections and coaches’ nominations.
The first-team offense included Alvarado quarterback Kenny West and Burleson quarterback Barrett Cain. - Cleburne, Grandview, Burleson lead second team offense, defense
- Upcoming sports schedule
- Tuesday basketball roundup
- Kicking into high gear
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First team offense, defense features host of area standouts
- Keene
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Upcoming sports schedule
A look at the sports schedule for Thursday, Friday and Saturday.
- Tuesday basketball roundup
- Burleson leads AJC superlatives
- Grandview, Burleson, Cleburne lead first team selections
- Centennial places two on second team; Alvarado lands three players
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Upcoming sports schedule
- Rio Vista
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Front, from left, are Grandview’s Caleb Hollingsworth, Cleburne’s Zach Haler, Joshua’s Jordan Garrett, Alvarado’s A.J. Castillo, Xavier Holbert, Kenny Adams and Marcus McNeil, Cleburne’s Conner Martyniuk and Godley’s Drew Benge. Standing, from left, are Alvarado’s Ronald Thomas, C.J. Johnson and Alex Gentrey, Grandview’s Austin Wylie and Caleb Armstrong. Not pictured is Alvarado’s Marcus Villarreal.
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First team offense, defense features host of area standouts
The 2011 Lone Star Chrysler Dodge Jeep Autoplex All-Johnson-County football team has been announced. The team was chosen by the Times-Review sports department based on all-district selections and coaches’ nominations.
The first-team offense included Alvarado quarterback Kenny West and Burleson quarterback Barrett Cain. - Cleburne, Grandview, Burleson lead second team offense, defense
- Upcoming sports schedule
- Tuesday basketball roundup
- Burleson leads AJC superlatives
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First team offense, defense features host of area standouts
- Venus
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Fallen deputy Clifton Taylor’s sister, Megan Davis, takes a picture of a painting of her brother on Monday during a dedication to the deputy. The Johnson County Sheriff’s Office renamed its building to the Clifton Taylor Law Enforcement Center in honor of the deputy who lost his life during a disturbance call in April. The picture was painted by Fort Worth artist Gary Crouch. Three pictures were made and one will hang in the Clifton Taylor Law Enforcement Center. The other two paintings were presented as gifts to Taylor’s parents and his fiancee.
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Never forgotten
The eyes of fallen deputy Clifton Taylor’s family began to swell with tears during a dedication hosted by Johnson County Sheriff Bob Alford and the sheriff’s office.
- Man defends himself against two suspects
- Venus registers minor quake
- USGS registers minor county quake
- Trained rescue dogs look to be adopted and loved
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Never forgotten
