East Texas

By ADAM RUSSELL
Staff Writer

BULLARD — Mayor A.W. Hines, after more than a year in office, announced Tuesday morning that he will resign his position effective Aug. 1.

Hines, a seven-year resident of Bullard, has decided to spend more time in Waco where his land development firm’s main office is located. Prior to becoming mayor in 2007, Hines served on the City Council since 2004.

“It’s been rewarding, giving something back to the city,” Hines said.

During Hines’ time as mayor, the city underwent changes to its building codes and ordinances pertaining to new developments. This included implementing construction standards that met or exceeded ordinances in larger cities, including Tyler. Bullard’s continued growth made the move toward stronger ordinances imperative, Hines said, and will ensure that developers add quality additions to the community.

Under Hines’ guidance, the citizens also enacted a half-cent sales tax to be used for economic development and created an Economic Development Corp. that, he said, will open the area for more growth. One of the first EDC projects was an agreement to match $250,000 in grant funding from the Texas Department of Agriculture to extend the city’s sewer system beyond a projected commercial area located at the intersection of U.S. Highway 69 and Farm-to-Market Road 344.

Hines said that, although he is leaving his official capacity within the city, he still has a vision for the future of Bullard. He said he has confidence in the council and city manager Larry Morgan’s abilities to address future challenges.

“They don’t need me,” Hines said, after speaking highly about the level of professionalism within the city government and offices. “This place is going to be fine without me.”

Council member Pam Frederick said Hines’ service on the council and as mayor came at a critical time in the city’s history. The importance of Hines’ leadership and expertise he brought to the table as a developer may not be acknowledged by the public at this point, but future growth in Bullard will define his legacy, she said.

Ms. Frederick said she never felt the mayor’s role as a businessman ever infringed upon his oath to the people of Bullard. In fact, she said, many of the ordinances implemented under his supervision infringed upon his developments by creating more stringent construction requirements.

“It cost him more to do it the right way,” she said. “He was always looking to the future and always for the city.”

Council member Lindsey Bradley echoed many of the sentiments shared by Ms. Frederick, calling Hines a visionary leader who brought sound business practices from day-to-day budgeting to planning the new sewer and water systems. He said Hines has invested a tremendous amount of time to the city since taking the position, and has left Bullard much better off than when he started and that he is sad to see him go.

Hines said the credit should go to city officials. He said past and future preparation for growth will protect the city and its citizens’ interests as it moves forward.

“I took an oath of office to put the citizens’ interests above my own,” he said. “I am a businessman but above all things I am a Christian man and that means doing the right thing.”

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