To Interested Parties:
On October 22, 2008, KristineMH posted a letter in opposition to the idea of changing the address and ZIP Code for those properties located in the City of Fort Worth but having Keller mailing addresses. We in the North Fort Worth Alliance appreciate and encourage public discussions of the issues that we and others bring before the community. In part, that is why we exist as an organization. At the same time, we want people to make their own decisions based on facts. This issue has a great deal of emotion involved, emotions that need to be overcome by accurate information to make a knowledgeable and informed decision.
Before the NFWA brought the issue of changing the ZIP Code for our area to the Fort Worth City Council, we talked to emergency services providers for the City of Fort Worth and Keller, some residents, businesses, the Postal Service, realtors, insurance agents and the Chief Appraiser’s office of the Tarrant County Appraisal District. We then discussed it with our membership which is comprised of appointed representatives of 19 of the homeowners’ associations in the northeastern section of the City of Fort Worth – we have no commercial or industrial members or support. We have no dues or fees for our members.
From these discussions, we voted to bring this issue to the people of north Fort Worth for their vote. Our reasons are simple: (1.) the provision of emergency services would be facilitated if residents, especially their children, knew they were located within the City of Fort Worth, who provides their emergency services response, rather than mistaking their location to be in the City of Keller; (2.) a new ZIP Code is inevitable for this area due to growth and reshuffling of ZIP Codes for people in the City of Keller; (3.) property insurance rates for property in the City of Fort Worth are lower than in the City of Keller – the reduced rate may not be available from some insurance companies because they go by your mailing address; (4.) no changes would occur to the property assessment values, since the property values of homes are based on sale of like homes, usually within the immediate area; and (5.) such a change may facilitate location of offices and other facilities of large corporations, thus adding to the tax base in our area and possibly increasing the value of the existing homes in this area.
KELLER
RESIDENT WILL NOT BE MOVED TO FORT WORTH
KristineMH is mistaken about “moving Keller residents to Fort Worth.” The properties involved in this proposed change are already within the boundaries of the City of Fort Worth. Fort Worth provides all the municipal and emergency services. In fact, were any of us within this area to call the City of Keller for say, a vicious dog attack, we would be directed to call the City of Fort Worth. It is only our mail that is handled through the Keller Post Office.
THE
SCHOOL DISTRICT WILL NOT CHANGE
There is no need to fear that the children will be moved to the Fort Worth ISD. The children in this area will continue to attend schools in and administered by the same school district by which they are currently served. First of all, there are currently 15 independent school districts that operate within the City of Fort Worth. Right within our Council District, District #2, Eagle Mountain-Saginaw ISD operates in a section of Fort Worth where the delivery address is Fort Worth with a Fort Worth ZIP Code 76131 and 76179. So there is adequate precedent for an ISD to operate in a Fort Worth ZIP Code area without being annexed by FWISD.
Second, there is absolutely no reason to fear a change in school district boundaries without a serious fight, which includes a vote by the affected people. A KISD source said words to the effect of “It would practically take an act of Congress.” You may research this yourself by going to http://www.statutes.legis.state.tx.us/DocViewer.aspx?K2DocKey=odbc%3a%2f%2fSOTW%2fASUPUBLIC.dbo.vwSOTW%2fED%2fS%2fED.13.8511.7305%40SOTW&QueryText=school%3cOR%3edistrict%3cOR%3eboundaries&HighlightType=1 and reading the Texas Education Code, Title 2. Public Education, Subtitle C. Local Organization and Governance, Chapter 13. Creation, Consolidation, and Abolition of a District.
If you go there you will find that a reshuffling of existing boundaries only takes place between adjoining ISDs when a petition is submitted to both school districts, they hold hearing and both decide to put the change to a vote. Fort Worth ISD does not adjoin Keller ISD. (See map at http://deleon.tea.state.tx.us/SDL/Forms/mapWin.aspx)
Finally, you may call Ms. Donna Walsh of the KISD Demographics and Security Department at 817-744-1206.
ALLIANCE
TOWN CENTER HAS A FORT WORTH ZIP CODE
The businesses in the Alliance Town Center, such as JC Penney, Best Buy, and others are located in an area that has a Fort Worth ZIP Code. They do not have a Keller ZIP Code.
WHO’S
SPEARHEADING THIS EFFORT
This effort is not being spearheaded by Hillwood Development, although they do agree the change would be advantageous to them. This effort is not being put forth by the Post Office. This effort is spearheaded by the NFWA based on the aforementioned reasons.
THE
EFFECT ON HOME VALUES
We have spoken to realtors with extensive experience in this area. Homes in the area that would be affected are already listed for sale as being in the City of Fort Worth. They, in fact, cannot be listed any other way. They are marketed as such, with the adder that the property is in the Keller ISD or Northwest ISD. It is a misconception that homes in this area can be marketed as though in the City of Keller. The Tarrant County Office of Chief Appraiser has told us that the property values will not be affected by the proposed change in address.
WHERE WE
LIVE
KristineMH says she bought her “home in Keller, Texas because she wanted to live in Keller, not Fort Worth.” She did not buy a home in Keller. She bought a home in Fort Worth with a Keller mailing address. Fort Worth provides all the services. She gets no benefits from the City of Keller and cannot market her home as being in Keller.
CONTINUED DELIVERY OF MAIL FROM KELLER POST OFFICE
The Keller Post Office will not have problems delivering to this area, nor have we or they claimed as such. What is true is that, because of the volume of mail that will be processed through that Post Office, an additional ZIP Code will have to be created. Additionally, that ZIP Code change would probably be applied to the area of the delivery zone within the boundaries of the City of Fort Worth. So, we are going to have to deal with the hassle and costs associated with changing our addresses anyway.
While we are in favor of the change of the city designation in the addresses and a new Fort Worth ZIP Code for this area, we will diligently seek to get complete, accurate, and unbiased answers to your questions. Please send your questions to Rusty Fuller nfwapubserv@gmail.com. We will personally respond to your questions and post your questions and corresponding answers on our website.
Rusty Fuller
Associate Director NFWA