Dozier resigning as city secretary

After serving the City of Willow Park for three years, Crystal Dozier has announced her resignation as city secretary. The decision was approved, albeit with some sadness, by the city council at their meeting on Oct. 22.

"She's the best city secretary I've ever worked with. Period," City Manager Bryan Grimes said, looking at Dozier and adding, "I can't imagine anybody better at this job than you. Staff and I are gonna miss you. We're gonna miss your laugh."

Dozier is leaving to become the city secretary and deputy city administrator at Westworth Village. She came to Willow Park in September of 2021.

"It was a difficult decision. I sat on the decision for a whole week," Dozier said. "The community has been amazing. Y'all graciously opened your arms and accepted me three years ago."

Mayor Pro Tem Lea Young said, "You have been a wonderful face for our citizens to communicate with. I cannot thank you enough."

The search is underway for Dozier's replacement. Toni Fisher, who is also the assistant city manager in charge of parks and development, will serve as interim city secretary until a new one is hired.

Road work

The council also approved an agreement with Infrastructure Management Services (IMS), an engineering firm that conducts automated pavement condition assessments. They provide the data and analysis to develop long term, cost optimized street rehabilitation plans.

The 2024 Pavement Condition Assessment project will include driving all concrete and asphalt streets in the City (approximately 80 miles) with a van that is outfitted with instrumentation to record on a continuous basis the surface condition, rutting, roughness, and the location by global positioning system (GPS) coordinates. Upon conclusion of the mobile field data collection, IMS will provide a final report with all the street segments listed with their pavement condition index (PCI). This pavement assessment will provide the city with an updated and in-depth

understanding of its current road infrastructure. The data will assist in the city’s future maintenance and resurfacing plans.

The cost of the work to the city will be $31,320.

Department report highlights

The evening included reports from several city departments. Highlights included:

*Planning and development - New certificates of occupancy to Western Charms Boutique, 337 Shops Blvd., Suite 103; and Com'on Play Kids, 225 Shops Blvd., Suite 107. Total projects and permits in the 2023-24 fiscal year were 399.

*Police department - Total theft, fraud, property damage, burglary, DWI and assaults was down from 65 in the third quarter to 45 in the fourth. Citations were also down from 982-811, as were arrests from 73 to 61. Breaking down further, thefts dropped 19-15, property damage 8-0 and DWI 17-8, while assaults went up 11-16, sexual assaults stayed the same at 1-1 and fraud stayed at 5-5.

*Fire department - Since April the department has conducted 66 fire inspections and addressed 15 code enforcement cases.