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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Proud residents of Rockwall County are gathering in |
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Austin on February 28, 2011, to celebrate Rockwall County Day at the |
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State Capitol; and |
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WHEREAS, Situated on the gently rolling Blackland Prairie of |
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North Texas, the region was originally inhabited by Caddo and |
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Cherokee Indians; the first European resident, John O. Heath, |
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settled on the East Fork of the Trinity River in 1846; Rockwall |
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County was established in 1873, taking its name from an underground |
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rock formation discovered by farmers who were digging a well; and |
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WHEREAS, An important center for cotton production for many |
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years, Rockwall County today boasts a population of more than |
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78,000 people who enjoy being in close proximity to the Dallas-Fort |
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Worth Metroplex while savoring the relaxed and comfortable way of |
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life in the county's many thriving communities; and |
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WHEREAS, The City of Rowlett, on the shore of Lake Ray |
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Hubbard, is emerging as an important regional center and will be the |
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site of the intersection of the eastern extension of the President |
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George Bush Turnpike and the new Blue Line Extension of DART |
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Commuter Rail; and |
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WHEREAS, The nearly 7,000 residents of Heath benefit from the |
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rustic beauty of its spectacular lakeside setting, as well as from |
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the city's prudent, low-density residential growth strategies; |
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with soaring property values and low tax rates, the community is |
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further strengthened by superior public schools and by recent |
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commercial and professional development, including the Baylor |
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Medical Center at Rockwall; and |
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WHEREAS, The fastest-growing city in the state, the |
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population of Fate rose from 497 in 2000 to 6,357 in 2010, an |
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increase of 1,179 percent; in 2008, the city's voters passed a |
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home-rule charter by an overwhelming majority; this development |
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promises to make that community an even more important component of |
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the county's economy; and |
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WHEREAS, Positive change and preparation for the years ahead |
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are also taking place in the City of McLendon-Chisholm; this is the |
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newest city in Rockwall County but was formed from two of the oldest |
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area communities, McLendon and Chisholm, both of which date back to |
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the mid-1800s; and |
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WHEREAS, Designated as a Main Street City in 2009, Rockwall |
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is a fast-growing suburban community that is dedicated to |
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preserving its heritage and its pleasant, family-friendly |
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atmosphere; as part of that effort, the city's Historic |
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Preservation Advisory Board has worked with residents and civic |
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leaders to develop a preservation plan for the Old Town Rockwall |
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Historic District, which will help the district to remain the |
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vibrant heart of the city; and |
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WHEREAS, Residents of Royse City are also making it a |
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priority to carry forth the small-town way of life that has long |
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characterized their community; designated as a Main Street City in |
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2008, the town has established a Heritage Committee and ordinance |
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and design guidelines in order to revitalize the historical |
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district, and it also benefits from a strong chamber of commerce |
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that supports local businesses; and |
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WHEREAS, Helping to build a bright future for the region is |
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the Leadership Rockwall County Class of 2011; members of this |
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outstanding program are working to become local leaders by learning |
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about the challenges and opportunities of the county's civic and |
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business community; and |
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WHEREAS, Throughout Rockwall County, citizens have done an |
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outstanding job of building on long-cherished hometown values as |
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they plan for a dynamic future, and their ongoing success in these |
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endeavors has made the county an exceptional place to live, work, |
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and raise a family; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 82nd Texas |
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Legislature hereby recognize February 28, 2011, as Rockwall County |
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Day at the State Capitol and extend to all those residents here |
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today best wishes for a memorable and enjoyable visit. |