Cross Roads Podcast
Cross Roads Podcast
Councilman Ron King reveals how Cross Roads is growing without raising property taxes
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Crossroads might be small in size, but its vision for the future is anything but limited. In this fascinating conversation with Councilman Ron King, we discover how this unique North Texas town is managing explosive growth while maintaining its remarkable property tax-free status - a distinction held since its founding in 1973.
Councilman King, a 10-year resident and four-year council member, takes us deep into the Vision 2035 plan that's transforming Crossroads. This citizen-informed blueprint guides development decisions, ensuring new businesses align with community values and needs. Most impressive is the innovative partnership with Denton ISD for the new high school project. Rather than simply surrendering valuable land to institutional use, Crossroads negotiated a revenue-sharing agreement for 29 acres of commercial development adjacent to the campus - a masterclass in municipal-educational cooperation.
Highway 380's status as a development "hotspot" gives Crossroads tremendous leverage with potential investors, despite temporary disruptions from ongoing construction. The strategic location near Frisco and major regional developments positions the town perfectly for sustainable growth without sacrificing its small-town character. While challenges remain - including increasing citizen engagement and managing traffic concerns - the town's proactive approach to planning ensures a bright future.
Beyond governance talk, we get to know Ron as a family man deeply invested in his community's future. His passion for transparent, citizen-focused leadership shines throughout our discussion. For anyone interested in how small towns can thrive amid rapid regional growth, this conversation offers invaluable insights and inspiration.
Don't miss upcoming town meetings and development presentations - your voice matters in shaping Crossroads' next chapter. Subscribe to the podcast for regular updates on local governance and community events!
Good morning Cross Roads. Welcome to Cross Roads Podcast. I'm your host, Steven Killfoil, and on the show today I am calling one of our distinguished town councilmen from Cross Roads, Councilman Ron King. Here goes morning steven. Good morning Ron. Uh, are you? I'm great. Are you ready to get this show on the road? First, Ron all want to thank you for coming on the show today, Ron. Okay, and so right now, why don't you just tell our listeners a little bit about yourself? I know most folks definitely in your neighborhood know you well, we know you well, but I still think there are quite a few folks here in Cross Roads and the area who may not know about Mr. Ron King. So why don't you tell us a little bit about yourself and what you do for the town of Cross Roads?
Ron King:here on council as an Steven elected official and it's been great. It's been a great opportunity to get to know people and learn about what the town's priorities are and what the people want to do with the Vision 2035. It's been really exciting.
Ron King:But yeah, my name is Ron King. I've been Cross Roads now for almost 10 years. We bought our house there in the village of Cross Roads, got a great neighborhood. A lot of great people there Came about maybe about four or five years ago that I decided to run for town council and just to get involved and be a decision-making. That's been exciting, just seeing things kind of rolling through the town ideas, developments and I want to be a part of that. I've got my wife, Christy, and she's been wonderful. We've been married oh, probably 23 years now November uh and we've got four children. So Derek, Chase, Mary and Ally are my children, and what an exciting family. What an exciting place to be living in Cross Roads, Texas.
Steven Killfoil:Absolutely, I agree. 100 percent, yeah, we, we fell in love with this area when we were house hunting and, um, when we first moved up here where my neighborhood is now, it was nothing more than a horse pasture with a trailer in the middle of it. Oh yeah.
Steven Killfoil:And I've got to pick out the lot and all this good stuff and I'm so glad I chose the crossroads side of the development because, wow, no property taxes. That, just that's our city property taxes. There's county but there's no city property tax, and that's amazing. But why don't you tell us some of your goals as a councilman
Ron King:So, 2035 vision has been something that has been put into play. Two years ago the town was issued an opportunity to be involved with decision-making on all fronts. You know what they'd like to see in the town, what they'd like to see developed, the kind of restaurants they'd like to go to places, they'd like to have bigger park areas, you know. And so it's been exciting seeing the Vision 2035 take off because it gave us a chance to get an idea, kind of feedback or input from the citizens, and so we ran with that and we implemented that. That was approved by the town council in 2021.
Ron King:And so we, from that point on, we began working on developers and people that were interested in making, you know, taking parcels of land in our town and developing them into something that we are that, you know, that is consistent with our 2035 vision, into something that is consistent with our 2035 vision. And so, by doing so, some of the goals that we have are attending certain ICSC show, regional shows, which is kind of a developer show where realtors come and developers come and they learn about who you are, what your town is who the mayor is and we talk about. Why is it worth developing in town and in our town off of 380? Why is our town a place that would be a great development site? Looking at the parcels of land that we have a lot of land around us and it gives us a chance to talk with them about how busy 380 is that's the main highway going right through our town and so, with these kind of goals in mind, they'll talk to us about what they see a vision on. 380 is. That's that's the main highway going right through our town. And so, with these kind of goals in mind, they'll talk to us about what they see a vision on on three. You know 380 and what they could do for us as far as developing some of these parcels.
Ron King:And so that's been exciting, kind of getting to see and know them and giving their feedback because, as you know, uh, this whole area in the state of texas, if you were to go to any kind of a developer's trade show and you would say to them, hey, are you in Texas? They say yes, we are, and you say, well, I'm on 380. I'm on 380. And we are in this town of Crossroads and all of a sudden you either get two looks. You get a look that says, oh, I know exactly where you're at because that's a hotspot for the state of Texas right now that Highway 380 is blowing up, it's going into PGA Tour towards Frisco, and then you got all the different companies coming in. So that is definitely a hotspot.
Ron King:And so we would either see that or we'd say I don't really know much about that area, that, or we'd say I don't really know much about that area and so gave us two. You know, we had to come out. Come out of that, those regional shows, as either people know our area and they know it well, or they don't. And that's kind of our goal is to find those developers that know the area, they're, they're in the north texas area and they develop these areas. You know the frisco area, that people that have had experience doing that, and so all of a sudden they look across and say you know you, you are a hot spot, you are a place we would love to develop. And so that's kind of what our goals have been in the last two years is just talking to developers.
Ron King:And then, aside from all that, you have the DISD that came in to build school high school number five and their CTE school, which is going to be located right on the west east side of Naylor Obviously it's under construction right now, so most people can see it and with the CTE school and with the high school number five, or DISD, these are exciting times for the town. You know there's a lot going on with that. We have council meetings where we discuss the MOU, and the MOU is important because it has our opportunity for us to be have our input in with the DISD and for them to to hear what we want to say about how they want to develop that area around the high school. And they've been very, very good partners and so that's. We've been very busy in the last two years with that absolutely.
Steven Killfoil:Well, I'm gonna ask you real quick, Uh, the groundbreaking obviously has started for our Cross Roads esteemed High crossroads School finally. yes if anybody drives down Naylor heading towards work or coming back from work, you can see that it looks like somebody took a giant cake knife and cut the top of the cake off. I mean, that used to be really hilly and now it's just flat. Pretty amazing how fast those machines can really move that earth. It's pretty cool. But can you tell the listeners about this a little bit more and how it ties directly in with that 2035 vision for our town?
Ron King:Darrell Bock. Oh sure, yeah, there was. You know, that whole area of land, that parcel of land that the school is being built on currently was considered to be the additional phases of the Oak Hill Ranch subdivision, and so when the landowner decided to sell out the last phase of that, the future last two phases of that, then the DIC came in and told us that they were interested in, you know, building a high school there. And so we said, okay, well, let's have a meeting. And we started talking with many of their leaders and their board members and we kind of had to come up with some ideas. And the nice thing that was about you know how they approached us was look, we know this is going to take a good section of land out of your town and we don't want to just come in and build a high school and be done. We want to actually partner up with you and we'd like to see how we can come and make it feasible for both you and us both. And so we began putting together the MOU, which is the Memorandum of Understanding, and we began to lay out all the bullet points and the mayor was very, very good at how he got into these meetings and was able to express to these leaders, these DISD leaders, how this MOU would have to be written up, and they agreed on many of these items, and so we developed the idea that maybe having a 50-50 split of developing the remaining 23 acres of land located in front of the school, which is on the north side of the school, and they allowed us to have the 29 acres to develop.
Ron King:And they gave us and granted us a 2.5 acre track of land for future government facilities so that we could develop the 29 and a half acres as commercial and retail with the help of the town. They said we really want to develop that with you, and so the great thing about all that was they said we'll be able to give you the ability to have 50% of the developing part of the revenue. In other words, if you're going to get all you know, the revenue tax from that or the sales tax, because we know that you do not have property taxes here. So they gave us the opportunity to be a partner with them on developing that, and so that whole 29 acres of land is going to be going into developing stages as we are talking to certain developers on it.
Ron King:But you know, that's a really, really nice way for a school district and the first that I've ever seen to say, hey, we're not just going to come in and build what we want to build. We know that we're taking a dent on your town, so let's figure out how we can be partners and how we can help each other out. And if they're going to be able to take the property taxes, because they're going to own that land, they're going to make revenue for the DIC and the town is going to be able to make its tax revenue, which is going to keep us further and further away from having to ever have to pay a property tax, because we're such a small town, we have six square miles, and here's the DIC partner and up with us and saying, hey, we want to come along and be a partner.
Steven Killfoil:Yeah, and the driving force behind that was the population explosion in our area. I High School Braswell is busting out at the seams and more and more people keep moving into this part of the of state and it's just it's just incredible.
Steven Killfoil:So I'm pleased that we were able to actually do that and feed many, many more of the bullet points from that 2035 vision. I'm really happy about that. Here's a question for you, though, and I think you'll agree with me this I think you'll agree with me this uh, it is a bit of a challenge to getting our citizenry more involved, wouldn't you agree?
Ron King:yeah, I'd have to totally agree on that.
Steven Killfoil:I'll say in kind of a how is a way, and you guys that are listening out here, I know most of my listeners you participate, you advocate, you come to meetings, but we need to get our neighbors more involved. So what is a way that we can get the citizens of Cross Roads more involved and active with the town council in participating in our meetings, with our growth becoming more informed? I mean, you guys are doing a great job. You put out that newsletter. I get it in the mail, I get the electronic copy of it, I'm on top of it, I'm always in and out of the town website, um, but I still. I still don't see more people there and there needs to be more people there. So what is a way that you think we could strategically encourage people to participate more?
Ron King:That's that's a great question. the million-dollar million-dollar question that we've always asked ourselves. How do we get people to come out and be a part of the town and celebrate being part of it and volunteering their time, whether they're on a committee board or whether they're on any kind of a volunteer board that they're just giving input in, whether it's Parks parks, whether it's MBD, whether it's P&Z hasn't been any communication with the people, and so he was encouraged to go ahead and start putting out the mailer, which was important. It kind of gives an update week, month to month, on what's going on, and we've enhanced our websites, we've put out emails and sometimes the council members and committees just put out texts to different people that they know in the community. I think we're trying to figure out if it's worth investing in an app where people can just go on their phones phone. We've talked to several institutions that offer that service services.
Ron King:expensive, so we have to be sure that we're not able to uh become, you know, over over, done up with too much um electronics and apps, and is it really working so? It's going to be an interesting, an interesting.
Steven Killfoil:Well, I've proposed and it's still an open invite If, if you guys want to do this, I'll be happy to do this. Once a month we meet and unfortunately the only place we really could meet would be the Prairie House uh, but we could set up a time for a one-hour segment coffee with the mayor or coffee with the town manager. They do it up at Pilot Point. All the time, their town manager goes into the local coffee house. I frequent that coffee house. He does it early in the morning and people come in and they just ask questions and, uh, it's been a very effective uh deal. If you, if you go and look at the Pilot Point Podcast, you can go and get those clips and see how well that does work. And I'm in the process of getting Cross Roads Podcast put up on visual on a YouTube channel. So, yeah, yeah, this is coming. This is going to be both audio and visual eventually.
Steven Killfoil:I'm hoping to do that within the next 30 to 60 days. So once that's done, then yeah, that'd be great. Like I said, it wouldn't take me very little time at all to do this at the Prairie House. And if you didn't want it on video, fine, we'll do it all. Audio one, no problem. But that's not the point, audio or video. The point is trying to get more people to come out and to enact with him, ask him questions, get to know him. That's what it's all about.
Steven Killfoil:So I'm willing to do it.
Steven Killfoil:He just, you know, tell him, tell, mayor, next time you see him reach out to me, let's, let's get together for a cup of coffee and plan it out. I'm all for that, yeah.
Steven Killfoil:That is a great idea. Sure, sure.
Steven Killfoil:And you know it doesn't have to be but once a month and it'd be perfect, I think. But again it's up to him, so I shall wait for him to call me on that. Have you heard when the construction will be scheduled to start on the actual building of our town square? Is it going to be after the high school is finished?
Ron King:, a of , MOU a deal . Agreements a district and town official not because certain that we and want and not it's considered be binding yet But good is is and is forward that a step now
Ron King:How do we look at this development phase on the 23 acres, on the 29 acres, I'm sorry?
Ron King:And looking at what do we want to how to?
Ron King:The first thing that we decided to do was let's get some consulting from some developers that have been in this area and know the area well and we've shown them our parcel of land, the 29 acres, and they are developing it and they are putting into into play renderings and building locations in town square and all that has been been very well, you know, very well received by the town.
Ron King:We've had open forums at the government building there on 424, where we've last year invited everybody to come and take a look at what we're developing on that parcel of land, and so we got some really good feedback from people and that's been a big help. And so now it's going to go into the second phase of its design and as soon as we get to the point where the MOU is solid and the school district and the town are completely satisfied with all the arrangements, then we go ahead and start making that design idea, that rendering, into something where developers can begin looking at it. So it's still in the process phase, but we've moved very far ahead in the last year on it and it's been really, really exciting to see it coming along.
Steven Killfoil:That's great, yeah, yeah, hey, do me a favor the the next time, because I know that they have to do these updates with you guys to show you new processes, plans of how it will look the next time we have a big one come up like that where we're going to have to go over to the county building. Let me know in advance so I can get the word out on the podcast and hopefully we can. Uh, I'll put it out on my HOA website and everything and maybe we can get a little bit more, uh, citizenry participation, because I'm I'm positive that these people around here would love to see that. Wow, this is coming. You know it. Oh, no, this is an idea or a plan. No, this is coming and this is potentially what it may look like, and I think that just excites me and I'm pretty sure that will excite our listeners too. Absolutely, absolutely. Well, Ron, what do you think about the progress of TxDOT in regards to the construction that directly impacts the residents of Crossroads?
Ron King:No, there's no doubt about it, it's been an eyesore to see them kind of, you know, running behind schedule and we're hoping to see them wrap this up, you know, hopefully within this year. They were giving us dates earlier than this year, but and they were supposed to be meeting those dates but they weren't able to do that. So it looks like we're just going to have to kind of hang in there a little bit longer. I know it's kind of been affecting sales revenue. It's been, you know, cause most people that are kind of caught up in that will just go around that to a different place to eat, and we kind of felt that a little bit on that side of the side, you know, the revenue side. Oh, yeah.
Ron King:It's definitely the talk of the council and the mayor, and the faster we get them out of here and get them done and move on, the better off we're all going to be and happier we're going to be.
Steven Killfoil:So, no, I feel your pain, brother yeah. Has Commissioner Williams uh communicated when Denton County is planning on widening Fisht rap Road from 380 to Main Street? It's on the books I know that I have an answer for you yeah, that one has to be almost has to be done, but it seems like they won't be able to do that until after they get 380 lined out and running because right now they've got to get that one completely done.
Steven Killfoil:Yeah, right now.
Steven Killfoil:Fish trap is the bypass go people around, all the construction on how well I know in the morning if I'm not out of my neighborhood by 6:15, I'm in a half-hour almost wait just to cross 380 on either side, either going down Naylor or going down Oak Grove Lane. It just is either going down Naylor or going down Oak Grove Lane. It just is. One thing I am very grateful for is TxDot fixed the timing on that light there at Oak Grove Lane where you cross over to go to 720. Oh wow, Once it turns green, if I'm as far back as the entryway to my neighborhood, I'm actually able to go across the highway on one green light.
Steven Killfoil:So I'm very happy with that. They've retimed that beautifully, so traffic is beginning to flow a lot better than it was previously. Previously, man, it was a half-hour painful wait getting out of your neighborhood. It was like no, this is not acceptable full weight getting out of your neighborhood. You know it was like no, this is not acceptable. So now we had this event, come up with um little elm approving another housing division and they're gonna slap 50 houses into a 10 acre lot yeah I saw it right on the corner there, right on the corner, yeah, yeah not good.
Steven Killfoil:So we we tried to, uh, we tried to buck that and it it failed. So I've actually got the district representative from the little town council scheduled to come on the show, uh, at the end of the month and to explain to the the citizens exactly what happened. Why, right, we went from a three, four and three against to a unanimous vote, and he's gonna lay it out and explain what happened there. So I can't wait to hear that explanation. So, yeah, and it was.
Ron King:It was definitely a good thing to see the bond package approved years ago and that's been a help, that $22.3 million Absolutely. Oh, we needed it Because they're just tearing up our roads, we know, with all the construction, and Judge Eads and Commissioner Ryan Williams and Ron Marchant have been kind of spearheading that together as a team and getting all that approved. So you know, I'm glad that they stepped up their game on that for those projects and, like you said, it's just a matter of time the bond package is approved and ready to roll. It's just you got to do it in certain sequences, certain time frames, you know.
Steven Killfoil:Right, yeah. Well, isn't it amazing that since we were founded as a town back in 1973, we have maintained our town property tax free status? I mean, we have the county tax, of course, but no, we don't have any ad valorem taxes. We've maintained that status all these years. Do you think we can hold it for a period of time, much longer?
Ron King:You know we're very, very optimistic about ES on that because we're really getting packed tight with businesses and restaurants and we have six acres of, you know, six square miles of land. But we have a very heavy front on Highway 380 with so many incoming businesses that are developing that area based off the 2035 vision and, of course, the overlay which has been put into place over the town, which basically allows us to have input of what comes in and what doesn't, and what's good for the town and what coordinates with the vision. But in all seriousness, it is looking very, very good for us. We have a big parcel line next to walmart and we have applications in for that, I know.
Steven Killfoil:Uh, yeah, I thought they were bringing a Lowes or something or Home Depot.
Steven Killfoil:That'd be nice yeah, they kind of have us on a list. Uh, you know, they only can build so many stores across the country, across the state. Oh, yeah.
Ron King:We're on that waiting list, yeah, but you would think with all the construction going on, that would be the place to put a Lowe's. Yeah, exactly, oh well, just saying right, yeah, yeah, all right, yeah, yeah, all right. Well, ron, thank you again for coming on the show and y'all heard it, ron, king crossroads towns councilman. Uh, things are happening and moving up and if y'all want to know more, start showing up to those meetings uh, oh yeah, we'd love to have people at council.
Steven Killfoil:We'd like to see some bodies in there.
Steven Killfoil:Yeah, it's nothing more boring than talking into a camera and nothing is in the chambers except your wives. So yeah, let's get a little bit more involved and come on out to some of those meetings. I know I'll do my best to try to get out to them. So anyway, thank you again, Ron, and you have a blessed day.
Ron King:Thank you, Steven. Appreciate it, enjoy your week. Thank you.
Steven Killfoil:You too. Thank you so much Okay.
Steven Killfoil:Bye-bye, okay, local events around the area. Cross Roads Town Hall will be closed Friday, April 18th, in observance of Good Friday. Monday, April 21st, Town Council meeting is at 6 pm. Saturday, April 26th, from 11 am to 3 pm there will be a homeschool and resources expo at the park in Crossroads at 2042 Farm to Market Road 424 and Fishtrap Road. There will be raffles. Live music with Greg Davis of Greg's Guitar Studio in Providence Village. For more information, email: aubreyhomeschoolers@ gmail. com.
Steven Killfoil:Up in Pilot Point Tuesday, April 15th, at the Pilot Point Coffee House, starting at 6 to 9, sessions, Jimmerson and his lovely wife Wendy bring us a wonderful time of entertainment. So bring your voice or favorite instrument out and jam with us old timers, have some suds and show off your duds. Be there or be square. If you want a chance to chat with the Pilot Point City Manager. Go on out to Jimmerson's coffee house on Thursday morning bright and early, just after the rooster crowed on April 17th, 7 am, and grab a great cup of joe and an amazing egg sandwich from the bar and join in with the conversation. Mark, mark your calendars for April 26th. From 8 am to 12 noon, the Pilot Point Market starts up. For more information, contact Wendy Atkins at 940-293-7434.
Steven Killfoil:Don't forget to go to Amazon and check out the latest book by local Cross Roads author, Stefan McDermott Achieve Optimal Brain Health with Nutrition. The book was written so anyone at any level could read it and it includes great practical recipes that anyone can use daily. The name of the book, again, Achieve Optimal Brain Health with Nutrition by Stefan McDermott. It's a great read, folks. Anyway, beautiful been a day and thank you all for coming on the show and listening. Until next week I'll see you at the top!
