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The Farmersville Community Development Corporation spent this meeting on practical next steps. Board members talked through a new website, hiring part-time help, cleaning up financial tracking, moving a long-discussed demolition forward, and setting firmer rules for future grant requests. The decisions affect local groups, downtown visitors, and residents watching how city-backed projects move from talk to action.

Website work moves toward photos, video and board emails

The board said M7 plans to visit Farmersville during the March 28 Margarita Crawl to gather video, drone footage and other images for the new website. Board member headshots are also being planned. If everyone cannot make that date, members may use free photo appointments at Collin College so the site can still move forward.

Board wants a cleaner, more official online presence

Board members also said they want everyone to have a farmersvilletx.com email address. The goal is simple: make communication look more official and make it easier for residents to know who they are hearing from. Once the website is ready, social media work is expected to follow with it.

Part-time admin job moves ahead at $25 an hour

The board approved moving forward with a part-time administrative assistant posting. Members said the job description needs a few updates first, including a clearer weekly time commitment. The board discussed setting it at about 25 hours a week, including attendance at the monthly board meeting.

Financial reports get easier to read

Board members approved the January and February 2026 minutes, then reviewed financial statements. They praised the new report format but asked for full-size copies of signed checks in future meeting packets because the bank images were too small to read. They also want interest entries to stay in the reports so they can better track revenue over time.

Budget categories still need cleanup

The finance discussion also showed some money is not being sorted into the right buckets yet. Items such as special events, maintenance costs and utilities may need to be reorganized. Board leaders said they plan to meet with city staff and bring back a cleaner version so the budget is easier to follow.

Orange Street demolition finally starts moving

One of the biggest updates came on the Orange Street property. The board said demolition has started after months of coordination, with help from the Farmersville Outreach Alliance, police, fire, Rotary, the senior center and volunteers. Before teardown began, crews salvaged items including two stoves, two microwaves, window units, bathroom fixtures and most of the windows.

Property could be cleared by the end of the month

The police department has already finished training at the site, and the fire department is using it as well before demolition crews fully move in. Construction work is expected next, followed by tree service. The board said its goal is to have the lot leveled by the end of the month or before the next meeting, which could open the door to long-requested parking improvements.

Kayak launch gets county money

The board also shared that the county approved funding for the other half of the kayak launch project for South Lake. Members said the work could move quickly now that the money is in place. Board members did not give a final construction date, but they expect to have another update by the next meeting.

Trail project grows into a major regional job

The board also reviewed a major trail update tied to outside grant funding. Members said a separate $5.1 million TxDOT grant will fund 7.3 miles of 10-foot-wide trail, along with bridge work, drainage, signage and crossings. The local match is expected to be about 20%, or roughly $1 million. Construction is expected in 2028.

Tablet purchase moves closer

The board said a shared tablet purchase is close to happening. The plan is to split the cost four ways, with eight tablets total. Members said that would make it easier to keep documents in one place and reduce the need for paper binders, which they joked have become outdated.

Board says no to taking over Old Time Saturday

The board made clear it does not want to take over coordination of Old Time Saturday. Members said supporting community events through grants is part of their job, but running an event is not. They said the board does not have the manpower or mission to manage the full operation, even though the event has clearly outgrown its current structure.

Grant rules get stricter before May 1 deadline

The board also approved updates to its 2026 to 2027 special grant application form. Members want a hard May 1 deadline, no late exceptions, and they want the main contact listed on the form to be the same person who shows up to present. They also want grant recipients ready to sign performance agreements the night awards are made so checks are not delayed.

The meeting ended with the board locking in its next regular meeting for April 13, with a training session planned an hour early at 5 p.m. Between demolition moving forward, website work picking up, hiring plans advancing and grant rules tightening, the board spent this meeting putting more structure around projects it expects to revisit next month.

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Farmersville’s TIRZ board spent this meeting sorting through delayed projects, road money and how to spend limited funds faster. The biggest talks centered on the downtown square, Farmersville Parkway, a new street project list and a tablet purchase for boards and council. These choices affect drivers, downtown businesses and taxpayers watching where the money goes.

Square repair still has money but no clear start

Board members said the downtown brick repair was approved earlier at about $228,000 and City Council also signed off. The problem now is simple: nobody gave a firm update on who is actually doing the work. The city may do it in-house, or it may go to a contractor. Either way, the board said the square project needs to start soon.

Big rebuild got cut down to patch work

Engineers first looked at a much larger downtown square fix that could have cost about $2.3 million. That plan would have pulled up bricks and rebuilt what sits underneath. The city backed off that idea and shifted toward smaller repairs in the worst spots. That keeps costs down, but it also leaves the board still waiting on action.

Parkway project is moving but may cost more

The Farmersville Parkway project is under construction, with bids opened on May 6, 2025 and work starting under a 365-day timeline after a September 2, 2025 notice to proceed. Staff said the project was expected to wrap up around September 2026, but delays tied to land access and utility conflicts have slowed parts of the job.

Utility delays and stop-start work slowed progress

Crews were able to work in some areas but had to pause in others while waiting on utility companies to move lines. Staff said the contractor has had to work in pieces instead of moving straight through the corridor. That matters because stop-and-start work usually drags out schedules and can add pressure to both residents and the budget.

Some savings showed up but a small overrun is possible

Staff said the city found about $250,000 in savings by changing temporary access plans for nearby properties. Even with that, the project may end closer to break-even or slightly over budget instead of returning the earlier estimated $126,000. Right now, staff said the overrun could land in roughly the $100,000 range, not a major blow but still extra money.

Water line add-on could help later but costs more now

The city is also considering adding a 68-inch steel casing under the road for a future 48-inch North Texas Municipal Water District line. That change would add about $140,000 to the current contract, but city staff said it could save trouble later by keeping a finished road from being torn up again.

New street plan replaces the not-ready Raymond project

The board learned the Raymond Street project was not actually ready to build this year, so officials moved to a backup plan. Instead, they recommended work on Orange Street from 380 to Beach, South Rock Street from 380 to Beach, and South Main from 380 to Summit. The goal is to get real street work done this year instead of waiting.

South Main fix grew from patching to full panel work

At first, South Main was discussed as a patch job only. Then the engineer explained that patching only some concrete panels could create awkward breaks and repeated setup costs. For about $30,000 to $40,000 more than a partial repair, the board was told it could rehab nearly the full stretch, keeping the project cleaner and likely more efficient.

Board wants one contract and extra square work if money is left

The board approved the revised street plan and said it wants the projects bundled together under one contract if possible. Members also voted to include downtown square brick repairs as an add-on bid option. With $2 million set aside for streets, officials hope any leftover money can still go back into more square repair work.

Boards approve tablet buy to move more work digital

Later in the meeting, Tanya Fox asked the board to help fund eight shared two-in-one laptops or tablets for city boards and council. The full quote came in at $11,114, with each funding entity covering about $2,780. The devices would stay in city hall, not go home with members, and would be used during meetings and trainings.

Tablets passed, but paper packets are not disappearing yet

Board members approved amending their budget to cover their share of the device purchase. Supporters said the tablets will help keep documents, city email and board work in one secure place. Still, officials admitted the move will not fully eliminate emailed packets or paperwork, especially for boards that still handle large agenda packets.

The meeting ended with the board asking for a fuller financial report next time and tentatively setting April 14 for its next meeting. By then, officials expect firmer numbers on the Parkway project, a budget update tied to the tablet purchase, and possibly the first real sign of when county tax money will arrive.

💜 Fundraiser Event for Blake
📅 March 14 | 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM
Lakehaven Community, 3700 Richland Drive, Farmersville, TX 75442

A community fundraiser supporting the Tedesco family and their daughter Blake’s medical needs. Expect food trucks, a bounce house, face painting and a community picnic while neighbors come together to help Blake fight Mowat-Wilson Syndrome.

🍹 Farmersville Margarita Crawl
📅 March 28 | 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM
Historic Downtown Farmersville

Stroll through downtown Farmersville and sample margaritas while exploring local shops and businesses. It is a lively afternoon on the square where neighbors gather, music fills the air, and the town’s small businesses get a moment in the spotlight.

🌾 Farmersville Market
📅 April 4 | 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM
The Historic Onion Shed
154 S Main St, Farmersville, TX 75442

A classic small-town Saturday morning setup. Local vendors, fresh finds and Main Street charm all under the Historic Onion Shed. It is the kind of stop where you run into neighbors and leave with something you did not plan on buying but are glad you did.

Chamber Community Easter Egg Hunt
📅 April 4 | 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM
📍 The Onion Shed
A community favorite with an egg hunt for the kids and photo time with the Easter Bunny. The Farmersville Market will also be open, making it an easy family morning downtown.
See details

🌙 Havanna Nights | Annual Chamber Banquet
📅 April 18 | 7:00 PM to 10:30 PM
The Hidden Jewel

A Chamber favorite and always a sell-out, this annual banquet celebrates Citizen, Volunteer and Ambassador of the Year. Expect a full room, strong community energy and a night dedicated to recognizing the people who help Lavon thrive.
See details