fbpx

Small Local City Deciding Whether to Exist

State

Reno City Limit in Parker County | Image by Reno Farm and Ranch

A small city in Parker County is currently wrestling over whether or not it will vote itself into nonexistence.

The city of Reno, which lies about 20 miles northwest of Fort Worth, has a population of only 3,000. Across the roughly 13 square miles, there are no traffic lights, gas stations, or stores. There is no post office, but it does have a city hall and a police station.

Its former mayor, Eric Hunter, does not believe the city can sustain city hall and police station operations with only funds from property taxes. If the city decides to disincorporate, it will merge its essential services with the county.

Supporters of disincorporation have pointed to various city issues, such as a lack of road maintenance and a high turnover rate in the police force, as reasons to dissolve the city’s charter.

Under the former mayor’s dissolution plan, the county sheriff would be responsible for emergencies in the area, and the county would assume responsibility for road maintenance.

A group led by Hunter organized a petition signed by almost 500 people for the city’s disincorporation. The decision was set to come to the ballot in May 2023.

However, the current mayor and city council have suggested that there are not enough valid signatures to bring the decision to the ballot yet.

Furthermore, some residents believe disincorporating would damage the small town’s rural feel. Resident Sharon Abner fears that large new developments will start to crop up without local city management and crowd out the long-time residents.

Another Reno resident, Tim Thornburg, told NBC that “everybody here likes their space, their peace.”

Hunter still has not given up, however, and has even considered taking the town to court to force the issue.

If you enjoyed this article, please support us today!

Formed in 2021, we provide fact-based, non-partisan news. The Dallas Express is a non-profit organization funded by charitable support and advertising.

Please join us on the important journey to make Dallas a better place!

We welcome and appreciate comments on The Dallas Express as part of a healthy dialogue. We do ask that you be kind. Kind to each other and to everyone else in your comments. For more information, please refer to our Complete Comment Moderation Policy.

Subscribe to Comments
Notify of
guest

2 Comments
Oldest
Newest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
Steve Shockley
Steve Shockley
6 months ago

He must have skin in the game

Snarkie
Snarkie
Reply to  Steve Shockley
6 months ago

He does. This is all about development of a large housing community. City has smallest lots at one acre developer wants quarter acre lots. They have no wastewater treatment plant and have to have septic systems. You need an acre to do that. The developer wants Azle to swoop in and annex the area and then put in water and wastewater connections.