Danie M. Huffman wdreporter2@yahoo.com Weatherford City Council Member Johnie Herbert did not attend the regularly scheduled meeting Tuesday evening. Herbert reportedly purchased a home outside Weatherford city limits. Weatherford Mayor Joe Tison said being a council member requires each member to live in the city of Weatherford. Herbert resigned after becoming ineligible to serve. His seat on the council will leave a vacancy, which is to filled by someone meeting city charter requirements. Tison said members will look for someone to fill the spot. He publicly thanked Herbert for his service and said he always did a “tremendous job.” Weatherford Assistant City Manager Jennifer Fadden announced a reception for Herbert will be held from 5 to 6 p.m. Tuesday, May 8. Invitations will be sent out for the reception, and additional details will be made public as they are concrete. Other business conducted during the meeting included an update of the problems law enforcement has been facing with Cypress View Villa Apartments. Weatherford Police Chief Jerry Blaisdell spoke to council members about the situation saying officers have responded to about 500 calls at the complex in the last 12 months. Blaisdell said at least 200 of those calls were reported for assaults, fights and domestic disturbances. Those kind of numbers send a “red flag,” Blaisdell said. Authorities spoke with the apartment management staff to “cure” the problems and entered into a partnership with local law enforcement. “We can’t continue with that many calls,” Blaisdell said. “The management has been helpful and cooperative.” Police logged the times they responded to the complex and stationed an officer during those times who will continue to be assigned to the area. Blaisdell said his goal is to reduce the number of calls and make the apartments as secure as any other part of the city. If that means they will be spending a substantial amount of time patrolling the complex, Blaisdell said, “We go where our service demands are until we see a significant change.” Mayor Pro-Tem Clem Smith asked Blaisdell if reports of the amount of calls are being attributed to Hurricane Katrina victims moving to the area. Blaisdell replied they were “not related.” An area drug investigation was also recently conducted by Weatherford investigators. Blaisdell again said there was no connection to New Orleans. Tison told Blaisdell the department did a good job in responding to the incidents. Additional business conducted at the meeting took a lighter approach as Parker County Master Gardeners were presented with a proclamation of observing Friday as Arbor Day in Weatherford. Council members voted unanimously to plant three trees at Weatherford ISD schools in honor of three students who died in accidents within the last year. A tree will be planted at Bill Wright Elementary in honor of Valerie Ramirez who lost her life in a car/bicycle accident. Another will be planted at the Ninth Grade Center in honor of local rodeo star Celie Carnley who died in a crash, and one will be planted at Weatherford High School in remembrance of Willie “BB” Fielder, the football player who was named homecoming king late last year and died in an auto accident on South Main Street. A rock will be placed at the base of each tree and a brief ceremony will be held at the ground breaking. During the open forum of the meeting, Weatherford resident Douglas Edmondson requested that the new park, temporarily known as Love Street Park, be named after council member and Mayor Pro-Tem Clem Smith. “He needs to get his name on something,” Edmondson said to council members, recalling he has done many things for the city. Tison said he would “certainly take that recommendation.” Members approved the final reading of recommendation of a city ordinance for voluntary annexation of a 45-acre tract of land northwest of the corner of William C. Martin Addition and approved the application of a seismic permit for TimeSlice Technology, Inc., leased by Devon Energy. The land for the testing site totals 3,300 acres, of which 274 are located in the city. Tom Novak, Brenda Stephens and Michelle Garcia-Martinez were reappointed to the Parks and Recreation Board, and a motion was passed to make a provision to the city’s retirement plan for employees. The new provision will include making the retirement age a minimum of 55 years and employees must be steadily employed for 20 years to receive the benefits. The city currently pays about $5,200 annually per city employee and retiree. The provision will be in effect June 1. Members stated the city will see what it can do to financially afford the benefits and preserve them. TimeSlice requested a permit for additional testing, to test on city properties located at the animal shelter, Girl Scout Camp Grounds and at Holland Lake. The recommendation was approved 4-0 in favor of granting TimeSlice access to the properties. A city transportation report was submitted by Terry Hughes, director of community development. Hughes updated council members on current projects including the Adams Street project, which bids were accepted last week. A contract is expected to be on the agenda for approval May 8, along with the Tin Top Road improvements. Hughes said crews are expecting a June construction date for both projects. August is the projected date of the South Denton Street project, which will include demolition work. Look in the Democrat for additional transportation improvement updates.