Mayor Steve Riley and City Council Member (Mayor Pro Tem) Robert Jaska

Story and photos by Mary Jane Farmer. Photos are from previous City Council meetings.

If there’s one thing for certain around Van Alstyne, it is that changes will happen. One upcoming change is that City Mayor Steve Riley will be chairing his last session of the Van Alstyne City Council.

He and his wife, Karen, will be moving to Sherman, the mayor said. Van Alstyne Public Library Director Judy Kimzey said, “Mr. Riley and his wife Karen are and were an integral part of Van Alstyne, dedicating much of their lives to our community.”

The City Council regular meeting will be 6:30 p.m. Tuesday night (June 9) at City Hall, and although it is still open to the public, it is still Corvid 19 season, and so viewing will be available by watching the meeting on YouTube and its Van Alstyne channel. (Link/Click here) Those needing to address the Council will need to get hold of City Clerk Jennifer Gould to make arrangements. Call 903-482-5426.

Riley talked freely about his tenure as Van Alstyne mayor, and others who commented indicated that he leaves the city and the Council in better shape than when he arrived.

Riley took over the mayor’s job in June 2018, when he was elected to complete the unfinished, two-year term of the previous mayor, who had resigned. Then, he was re-elected to a new term in 2019. So, after this week’s meeting, he will have served the city for two years, almost to the day.

Riley said it was several business owners and leaders who asked and encouraged him to run for the office. “There was a feeling that previous leadership was not prepared to meet future demands on city resources, and that maybe an outside could bring a new perspective,” he said.

Kimzey said, “Mr. Riley stepped into the role as Van Alstyne’s mayor at just the right time. Effective and diplomatic, Steve continues to run Council meetings with a strong hand.  I didn’t know Mr. Riley before he became ayor and admit some apprehension. He proved to be just as kind and funny on a personal level as he is effective in his role of mayor. Mr. Riley cares about each city department and took special time to ensure library needs were addressed. I will miss his humor and smile and wish he and Karen all the best.”

“What Council and management have been able to do,” Riley added, “is bring a sense of stability and order to daily operations. The budget has been managed and now we plan for the futre rather than react. This gives Council and the (city) manager the ability to manage by objective as opposed to crisis management. We were able to design a system to select volunteers to the various boards. We have much more harmony than before and a sense of common purpose. There are still many different personalities and people don’t always agree. But that is nature and it reflects diverse opinions.”

For himself, the experience has added to his personal growth. “I tell people that as a police commander, there were scores of officers who would immediately move to enact any directive I gave. But, I’m no longer in that environment, and I had (with this volunteer job) to learn patience and a sense of relying on other people to move at a pace comfortable to them.”

Left to right — City Manager Lane Jones, Council members Ryan Neal and Marla Butler, Mayor Steve Riley, and Council Members Robert Jaska, Lee Thomas, and Katrina Arsenault

Riley has been observed at every Council meeting remaining calm and fair, even when he had to be firm. When asked about that sense of fairness and how it developed, he answered, “My sense of fairness has developed from many years of law enforcement. The rule of law is black and white, but people’s issues seldom are. So, I had to learn to work within the system to try and find the best outcomes. But the hardest lesson I had to learn was that sometimes there is not a best solution, sometimes there is only the least worst. So, stand up for your decisions and move on.”

The city will continue to face challenges, and the Covid 19 situation still going on, affecting sales tax income to the city. Riley explained, “We don’t know the entire financial impact of what we have experienced this year. The manager and I have had several conversations and meetings about it. He has developed several plans with various scenarios to present to council.

“The main thing is to have options and let the public know what we are doing. I will say this, with this council and its cohesiveness, what could be thought of as problems will probably never materialize as council and city staff have a great working relationship. Our city manager also almost never presents a single solution to a problem. He presents options so everyone has an understanding and can make the most informed decision.”

City Manager Lane Jones thanked Riley for all he has done as mayor, saying, “Thanks to Mayor Riley for his service to the community of Van Alstyne. You have done an outstanding job of leading. Your kindness, wisdom and love for Van Alstyne will be missed and I, along with the entire staff, express our appreciation for all that you have done.  Thank you, Steve, and we wish you the very best on all your future endeavors.”

City Council Member Robert Jaska, who has served as a city council member longer than the others now serving, is Mayor Pro-Tem

The Mrs. Riley has not sold The Quilt Shop, Steve Riley said, although their classic home has already been sold. He said he has no aspirations to go into Sherman politics, and that it’s “yet to be determined” what personal assets he has learned serving in Van Alstyne that will be carried into his day-to-day life.

Another question asked of our future former mayor was if he was seeing the ‘small-town’ feel still in effect.

“Certainly. Growth is coming, Growth has been coming,” Riley said. “What we have tried to do is manage growth in a positive way. When I began to run for office, I was told over and over how important our downtown was. From what I can tell, this has not changed and almost every citizen I speak with believes our downtown is a gem. Do we need to commit resources and do some development? Absolutely. But everyone wants to preserve downtown and make it better.

“Look at the plans for the (new downtown) park. This will make our downtown a destination and bring a lot of foot traffic. We just had a new retail operation (Van Alstyne True Value) open in downtown. I have heard more positive comments about this than just about anything else. The people in this town take pride in having this hardware store. It gives everyone a sense of community.”

And finally, given a chance in the interview to say anything else he wanted to say, Riley’s smile could be seen when he answered, “Never miss a good opportunity to be quiet.”

Story and all photos by Mary Jane Farmer, Scene In Town

After many months of tirelessly making the property compliant with city ordinances, of choosing which hardware provider would be used, and building a new building on the two acres the family owns, the Van Alstyne True Value Hardware Store opened its doors Monday.
And it was a good opening, with hundreds of people attending, either to make purchases or to just get a good look at this highly-anticipated retail store. Family met each shopper at the door, welcoming them with smiles and tours.
The hardware store is locally-owned and operated by Gerald and Jahron Strother, their daughter Amanda, and her husband,   .
Choosing True Value as supplier over the other options was based on the company’s policy of allowing their stores to decide what they will stock.
The store is resplendent with not only construction-type hardware, but also with (among other things) barbeque, yard and garden, pet, crafts, pool, farm animal feed, and fishing equipment and supplies. True to the ladies’ desire, there is even a section available for their home-preserved and baked items. That section can expand, and much of it was sold on the first-day open.
The Van Alstyne True Value Hardware Store is at 330 E Van Alstyne Parkway, which is the corner of Van Alstyne Parkway and N. Main Drive. They will be open from 7 a.m.-7 p.m. Monday-Fridays, and from 8 a.m.-4 p.m. on Saturdays. Amanda said they haven’t yet decided if they will be open Sundays. They do accept debit and credit cards, checks with ID, and yes, even cash. The owners are willing to set up charge accounts.

One can go onto Facebook — Van Alstyne True Value, for updates on that and other information. The phone number is 972-658-4234.

Library Director Judy Kimzey addresses the Welcome Newcomers crowd at its first (January) meeting.

First printed in the Van Alstyne Leader, 2.7.20 edition. This month’s  Welcome Newcomers gathering is at 6 p.m., Wednesday, February 26, at City Hall. And please go to the Facebook “Van Alstyne Newcomers” and give it a like to keep up.

Mary Jane Farmer, For the Van Alstyne Leader

Van Alstyne newcomers and longtimers met over coffee to get acquainted with one another in a welcoming atmosphere.

Numerous newcomers joined Van Alstyne Steve Riley and city officials for coffee and a feast of donuts and other delicacies January 29 for the first of an on-going “Welcome Newcomers” gatherings at City Hall.

Resident Judy Womack led the introductions, first introducing Riley. He explained that the current city council is “a really good council. They have the hearts in them for the work.” Riley added that with the rapid growth coming, the “town is really involving and the population may double in the next couple of years.”

Judy Kimzey, library director, explained the programs the library offers for people of all ages. Police Chief Tim Barnes told the crowd about its yearly National Night Out celebration, “it brings out between 800-1,000 people every great. We put the family and community first.”

Andy Albertini, who moved his family here from McKinney, said they wanted to get away from the hustle of the bigger city. They were looking at building a home when a contract fell through on a new house near Sanford Park, and they grabbed it up. His daughter is in Van Alstyne Middle School, and his son commutes to Collin County College. His wife works in McKinney and “the commutes work well for us.” His daughter, he said has a ‘friend group’ at school and they all have made friends with neighbors. “People call us by name when we walk into the pharmacy and the post office. I grew up in a small town and this feels more like home.”

Myra Hammonds and her husband, Walt, from to Van Alstyne from California about five weeks before the Newcomers Gathering and live in Greywood Heights. He’s a retired pastor and she’s a retired librarian.

“We have already connected with the (public) library and met Judy (Kimzey). We have already read two history books, and learned that the Boy Scouts here are the third oldest troop in the state and that, in 1889, a college opened in town.” They have been visiting churches before settling in but believe now that they know what church they will make their home. “We want to be involved,” Hammonds said. “It’s the spirit of the people we like best, the friendliness and openness of this town. We want to meet people. This is a good example of the warmth of the people — this get-together. I like to hug and the people here, when they get to know you, they hug.”

The next Welcome Newcomers gathering will be at 6 p.m., February 26, at City Hall.

Mary Jane Farmer / Scene In Town / Courtesy photos

The city has purchased this playground set for McKinney-Wilson Park, aka East Park, just off of East Jefferson (FM 121) at Ball Park Way.

A quick glimpse of the side view gives one the impression of an alien, and a close look at the same side view shows small alien images on the silver-colored play area, ideal for sparking imagination in school-age children. It includes four slides, climbers and stairs, bridges and tunnels, and a play deck.

City Manager Lane Jones said the playground equipment is scheduled for delivery in late February, but he has yet to select an installer. He plans to have this in place and ready for blast-off in March, along with park benches and a new trash receptacle.

Mary Jane Farmer, Scene In Town

The May city and school board elections will be cancelled for both government agencies, as only incumbents filed for election, or re-election, in this most current time frame.

For the Van Alstyne City Council, open seats were Places 1, 2, and 3, currently held by Ryan Neal, Marla Butler and Robert Jaska. All three signed up to continue their volunteer work for the city.

The two Van Alstyne ISD Board of Trustees incumbents whose seats came available also filed to continue their duties, which is also unpaid, voluntary work. Those were Places 3 and 4, which will continue to be filled by Randall Morgan and Debbie Nance,as reported by the District’s Lawana Merriman.

City Clerk Jennifer Gould told the council, via email, that “Since all places are unopposed, I will have an item on the March 3, 2020, agenda to cancel the election.”

Cost of these elections would have been, roughly $7,500 for both government groups, paying for personnel for early voting and election day voting, and other expenses. Voting will still be in place for Grayson County and other government races. Voting in Van Alstyne is at the Grayson College South Campus, on Van Alstyne Parkway east of U.S. Highway 75. Information on those issues and campaigns will probably be in the Herald-Democrat.