The first thing one needs to know about Gunter, Texas, is that this town of 2,500 about 20 miles north of Frisco is pronounced “Gunner.” Say the “t” and you’ll draw the ire of locals.
The second thing is never, ever draw the ire of locals, whose outrage over a proposed massive railroad project led to the sudden resignation last month of all five City Council members who said they just couldn’t take it anymore.
Unfortunately, with an election to replace them not happening until May and their refusal to return to work, important city business in this normally quiet Grayson County town has ground to a troubling halt. And some real estate developers, many of whom believe Gunter is the next big North Texas boom town, are none too happy as they twiddle their thumbs.
“Two large developers need action, and it is going to cost them a lot of money if they have to wait until May,” Mayor Karen Souther told us. Basic city services are still being provided and employee salaries paid, but without a council to vote on major items like development agreements and budget changes, items awaiting approval are stacking up, she said.
The reasons for the sudden resignations are complicated and mired in allegations of betrayal and backroom deals. Still, it’s hard to disagree with Souther, who says the council members should get back to the people’s business until the May elections so Gunter doesn’t remain paralyzed. Souther says they’re legally allowed to do so but won’t, refusing to attend meetings.
The entire mess stems from a May meeting, Souther’s first as mayor, when the council unanimously agreed to approve a development agreement with railroad giant BNSF for a 950-acre logistics hub without any public discussion.
Residents soon found out and, concerned about noise, pollution and traffic, rallied against the project, which still needed zoning and annexation approvals. Meanwhile they accused the city and council of trying to pull a fast one in their rush to get more tax revenue at the expense of residents’ quality of life. Things got so heated that in July BNSF backed off its plans, vowing to work with residents to reach a compromise.
Still public anger persisted until December, when all five members submitted their resignations and turned in their city-issued laptops, Souther told us. Several of them told the Texas Tribune that they had grown to feel unsafe at times during the raucous council meetings. The city attorney has also quit amid the flap.
What a sad state of affairs in one of North Texas’ most beautiful rural communities, where the rolling green hills blend idyllically into golden sunsets. Just days after the council members resigned, the hardworking Gunter High School Tigers won their fourth state varsity football championship. There’s a lesson in that. It’s time elected city officials start working together as a team, too, if they’re going to properly manage the inevitable development headed their way.
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